Lead Surgical Patient Care Assistant

If you are a current Linnaeus Associate, you will need to apply internally. In order to do this, please contact our Talent Acquisition team (details can be found via The Link) and someone will be in touch to discuss and progress your application.

Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service are excited to annouce they are recruiting for a Lead Surgical Patient Care Assistant. The Lead Surgical PCA will be responsible for assisting with the efficient and effective leadership of the Surgical PCA team. You will work closely and collaboratively with the Team Leaders and Head of Nursing Services to ensure the efficient delivery of outstanding patient care within the surgical department and the practice. You will work enthusiastically with the nursing team to help maintain a happy and efficient working environment, whilst ensuring practice and group policies are always adhered to. This role includes ensuring the provision of high standards of patient and client care, providing performance reviews, training team members, and coordination for all relevant personnel working within the team.

Main purpose & goals

• Maintain an overview of the Surgical PCA team and provision of patient care across the team that you supervise.
• Demonstrate an excellent work ethic and capability in all PCA duties including a high level of hygiene and the ability to recognise and undertake relevant actions with regards to infection control.
• Approximately 90-95% of the role will be clinical duties with 5- 10% of the role being designated to admin time.
• Ensure that you and those working in your area of responsibility provide a high and sustainable quality of PCA care.
• Provide leadership to those working within the Surgical PCA team.
• Ensure effective communication within the Surgical PCA team.
• Ensure that all patients in your team area are dealt with in a timely manner, and that unnecessary delays are prevented at all times.
• Ensure that the Surgical PCA team are implementing accurate patient record keeping and that all patient care instructions are followed by the Surgical PCA team.
• Ensure all associates within the Surgical PCA team are aware of their roles and are clear on their objectives.
• Work with the Team Leaders and HoNS where required to help develop a skills matrix for patient care requirements within the PCA team.
• Work with the Surgical Team Leaders and HoNS to help support the identification, prioritisation and implementation of learning, development and CPD for PCAs in your team where required.
• Work with the HoNS and Surgical Team Leaders to ensure all PCAs entering the business are supported to complete their induction.
• Provide effective leadership of those within your team including regular feedback to the Surgical Team Leaders to establish any associates who could benefit from mentoring, coaching and development discussions.
• Actively participate in the training of Surgical PCAs and identify those who require refresher training.
• Undertake appraisals if and when required by the Surgical Team Leader and/or HoNS.
• Participate in external CPD any training in-house, ensuring post-training feedback forms are completed/cascade of relevant information to appropriate team members.
• Assist with implementation of the Practice Standards Scheme across the practice.
• Assist with implementation and education of new policies.
• Encourage the use of Halo and lead by example in this area, providing support where necessary.
• Take on additional responsibilities, such as sitting on a clinical board.
• Assist with the production of SOPs and clinical audits
• Ensure equipment is appropriately maintained and serviced.
• Liaise with HoNS and Team Leaders regarding the cascade of information and actions from Linnaeus central office as necessary.
• Comply with the Health and Safety policies for the different areas of the practice/ hospital.
• Adhere to confidentiality relating to all aspect of the business including complying with and assisting with all requirements relating to GDPR compliance.

Benefits

• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays and Birthday Leave
• External CPD funded
• Extensive free online Linnaeus CPD program
• Career progression opportunities
• Staff discount schemes
• Life Assurance
• Enhanced sickness pay
• Enhanced equal family leave
• E-car salary sacrifice scheme
• Employer contribution pension scheme
• Wellness program including:
• Employee assistance program
• Eyecare voucher scheme
• Free annual Flu jab
• Cycle to work scheme
• Recruitment referral reward scheme

Willows is part of Linnaeus and Mars Veterinary Health, the largest family-owned veterinary company in the world. Being privately owned, we can truly be driven by our purpose, to create a better world, and think long-term as opposed to being focused solely on short-term profits.

At Linnaeus, A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS starts with a better world for our people. Our Associates are over 6000 strong and empowered to speak up, step up and deliver quality services. You’ll have access to a huge network of specialists, worldwide development opportunities and an easily accessible, comprehensive wellbeing package that prioritises your physical and mental health, allowing you to focus on what you do best – care for pets.

We are committed to fostering a culture that is inclusive and diverse, we care about you and want you to be authentic, with everything you need to perform at your best. We are all individual but two important things bring us together: a commitment to excellence and our passion to achieve our purpose.

All applications with the relevant skills and qualifications will be carefully considered. If you need any support in completing your application or simply want to find out more about [practice name], Linnaeus or the role please contact our Talent Acquisition team at [email protected].

We are proud to be Linnaeus, part of Mars. Linnaeus is a forward-thinking group of highly respected primary care and specialist referral practices in the UK and Ireland. Being family owned and part of Mars Veterinary Health, the largest veterinary company in the world, allows us to focus on advancing the veterinary profession to provide industry-leading pet care and unique career opportunities for our people. Why Linnaeus? - We pride ourselves in offering high-quality excellence of service and clinical care for our clients and their pets - We lead on sustainability and collectively drive positive change for people, pets and the planet - We prioritise your mental health and wellbeing – valuing equity, diversity and inclusion - We support your personal and professional development with best-in-class career frameworks and training programmes. We will empower and support you to grow your career from day one. We team up within our Mars family in partnership for a stronger future. Linnaeus is an equal-opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. We treat each other fairly and equitably and we are committed to fostering a culture that is inclusive and diverse for all our Associates. At Linnaeus, A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS starts with a better world for our people. If you would like to apply for this role, please click the Apply Button or for more information, please feel free to reach out directly to our Talent Acquisition team at [email protected]