Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity to join our friendly Orthopaedic Plaster Technician Team working as a trainee Orthopaedic Plaster Technician.

This is a full-time permanent post, and will require the cross-cover at both St Helier and Epsom Hospitals, as part of a weekly rota Monday - Friday.

The training period is usually undertaken over a 24 month period, however there is an opportunity to sit the exam early for exceptional candidates.  Exams take place twice per year, May & September, at Stanmore Hospital, over a two week period.  You will only be required to attend one two week exam period.

Once training has been completed and the exam has been passed, candidates will be remunerated with a band 5 position in the department and work as a fully qualified practitioner.

You will be responsible for supporting the qualified Orthopaedic Technicians during fracture clinics during the morning and the elective clinics / ward patients during the afternoon.

We are looking for someone who has worked in an Acute Trust and has basic anatomy knowledge.  You should have experience of working directly with patient care.  An ability to learn quickly and enjoy working in a challenging environment is essential.

You should have a friendly and professional attitude, and a willingness to work flexibly as required for the service.

Main duties of the job

Once qualified you will be expected to provide the following role:

In consultation with the treating clinician select, apply, remove and maintain casts made of plaster, plastic resins or other materials in the Plaster room or within other wards or departments at Epsom and St Helier Hospital.

2.    To measure and apply braces and splints according to requests.

3.    To ensure that limbs are correctly positioned before, during and after the application of casts.

4.    Apply and remove all plaster casts without direct supervision.

5.    Provide information to patients and their carers on all aspect of care for their casts/splints in relation to their condition, both oral and written.

6.    Recognise symptoms of wound infections or inflammations and report to the nurse in charge.

Working for our organisation

St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey. Our sites include St George’s Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC). 

 After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.