Job overview
We are currently seeking highly motivated and diligent theatre practitioners with a passion for patient care to join our team as Senior Theatre Practitioners. You will bring a wide range of knowledge and skills to this role, with theatre experience, including colorectal, bariatric and robotics. You will be committed to providing the highest standard of individualised, holistic patient-centred care within the multi-disciplinary team, be ready to lead by example, and show exemplary communications skills.
Whether you are a Registered Nurse or Operating Department Practitioner, if you fit that description we want to hear from you.
This is an extremely busy department where the team are dedicated to providing excellent patient care in a fast-paced environment.
Tunbridge Wells Hospital has eleven theatres providing inpatient and day case elective surgery for orthopaedics, gynaecology, general surgery, bariatrics, ENT and ophthalmology, and emergency surgery in trauma, CEPOD and obstetrics.
This position includes weekend working, night shifts and on-calls
Main duties of the job
• Ensure the provision of a high standard of care to all service users
• To work within the framework of the NMC/HCPC Code of Professional Conduct at all times
• Be aware of legislation and policies governing theatre practice
• Responsibility to ensure care is patient focused and underpinned by evidence-based practice and continual knowledge and skills of staff
• Support systems for measuring and improving the quality of the patient experience within the Directorate
• To effectively run theatre lists, leading junior staff
• Teach your knowledge and skills to students and new starters
Working for our organisation
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 and 2024 NHS Staff Survey.
We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre.
Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day-care beds, diagnostic services (X-ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms.
Looking for flexible working? We're a flexible working-friendly organisation. Whether it’s adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.
to hear what our staff say.
Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:
• At least 27 days of annual leave plus public/bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time staff).
• Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with a 20.6% employer contribution and life assurance benefits
• Blue Light card eligibility
• And more, additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
We’ve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children). If a role involves regulated activity and requires a DBS check with a barred list check, you cannot apply if you are on the barred list.
All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date had been agreed.
Following your corporate induction you will be expected to attend the Trust’s 2-week Induction Programme for RNs, NAs, RMs, ODPs and Paramedics. The programme is full-time (please email if this is problematic) and will involve travel to both Trust sites. The programme includes supernumerary shifts in the clinical area, classroom-based sessions and e-learning.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. RN Part 1 or 2/RSCN part 8 or 15 C&G 752/ODP NVQ level 3 Diploma/Degree
2. Or ODP Level III, evidence of CPD
3. Practice Supervisor or equivalent training or willingness to undertake
4. Relevant specialist Course (183/176/100)
Desirable criteria
5. First assistance course
6. Leadership Course
7. Front line management course
8. Degree/Masters
Experience/Knowledge
Essential criteria
9. Post registration experience, including experience within the appropriate specialty
10. Demonstrate evidence based practice
11. Change Management
12. Managing clinical area as delegated
13. Clinical Governance
14. Facilitation of learning environment.
15. Risk Management
16. Audit & research
Desirable criteria
17. Recruitment & selection under undertaking IPR
18. Evidence of involvement in change resulting from research
19. Budgetary Control
20. Current NHS Issues
Skills
Essential criteria
21. Specialist clinical Knowledge & skills
22. Ability to work within the multidisciplinary team
23. Demonstrates ability to use own initiative
24. Basic Computer Skills
25. Effective & concise communication skills demonstrated.
26. Demonstrate & understanding /use of constructive analysis to improve team performance.
27. Team leadership skills
28. Organisational & resource management skills