Main area Theatres - Emergency Grade Band 2 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Week days and out of hours (weekends and nights)) Job ref 153-SU05556
Employer University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Poole Hospital Town Poole Salary £24,465 pa Salary period Yearly Closing 15/02/2026 23:59 Interview date 20/02/2026
Theatre Care Assistant - Emergency Theatre
Band 2
As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.
We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.
In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.
We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.
We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.
At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.
As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.
We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.
Job overview
University Hospitals Dorset is looking to recruit motivated people, to join our expanding Theatre Department delivering a 24 hour service as a Theatre Care Assistant .
Within the department we offer great opportunities with an extensive educational program, to include the development of our Theatre Care Assistants including level 3 apprenticeships in Perioperative care and Operative Department Practitioner Apprenticeships.
We pride ourselves on our friendly working environment and our desire to lead on best practice in the perioperative setting. If you have the drive that we are looking for to join our friendly and supportive team, then our Theatres Department is the place for you.
We offer a range of specialities across both sites where you will become a valued member our team. Full training will be given and your peers, senior staff and the rest of the multidisciplinary team will support you to learn new skills and to expand your practice. After which, you will progress to a band 3 Theatre Care Assistant on completion of a care certificate.
Please be aware that this role is a support workers role and not a healthcare assistant role. It has limited patient contact and limited direct patient care responsibilities will involve supporting the theatre team within the circulating role and daily running of the theatre environment.
Informal visits are welcomed.
Base Location: Poole Hospital
Interview Date: 20th February 2026
Main duties of the job
To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.
Working for our organisation
UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.
This service has a planned move from Poole Hospital to Royal Bournemouth Hospital in July 2026.
If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.
UHD has active networks including Women’s, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.
AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.
Person specification
Qualifications
* Willingness to undertake additional training and education in relation to theatre skills
* Qualification in Maths and English
Experience
* Experience of working with the public
* Experience of working in a theatre environment
* Experience of working in a caring environment
* Willing to be in the operating theatre areas during surgery
* Keyboard skills and ability to read and write clearly
Knowledge
* Understanding of CQC and their key aims and goals.
* Willing to undertake the required training and development programmes as identified by the line manager/education department
Personal Attributes
* Ability to work under pressure and during emotionally draining situations.
Language Requirement
* Be able to speak English as necessary to undertake the role
Please note:
Staff recruited are expected to be available to work flexibly across all our Trust locations to meet service demands.
This advert may be closed early if sufficient applications are received.
COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst this vaccination is not a condition of employment we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated.
Internal Candidates: staff employed prior to merger who voluntarily change jobs will be appointed to UHD terms and conditions.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Name Erica Rodrigues Job title Senior Clinical Lead for Emergency Theatre Email address erica.rodrigues@uhd.nhs.uk Telephone number 0300 019 2405
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