Theatre Practitioner – Scrub & Recovery

This permanent post sits in the obstetric theatres at George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, working as a scrub and recovery practitioner. The work centres on assessing, planning, delivering and evaluating perioperative care, and giving skilled assistance to surgical, anaesthetic and recovery teams. Hours are 37.5 a week and include weekends and unsocial shifts, with on‑call cover and support for extra‑theatre emergency teams.

Applicants need to be a registered nurse or operating department practitioner with at least 12 months' perioperative experience.

• Deliver high-quality, evidence-based perioperative care, assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating patient care
• Provide skilled clinical assistance to surgical, anaesthetic and recovery teams
• Manage the theatre area in the absence of team leaders as skills develop, including safe staffing and policy adherence
• Pre-check operating lists to ensure any special prosthesis has been ordered
• Cannulate, administer intravenous drugs and catheterise male and female patients
• Provide on‑call and stand‑by cover and cover extra‑theatre activities such as maternity, cardiac arrest, trauma and external transfers
• Maintain a safe, clean clinical environment in line with Trust policy
• Keep timely, accurate patient documentation, respecting confidentiality
• Ensure adequate resources and skill mix, escalating unavoidable deficits, and assist senior colleagues with rostering
• Maintain equipment in good working order and keep stock levels appropriate
• Contribute to preceptorship, mentoring and assessment of colleagues and students
• Take part in appraisal, audit, research and continuing professional development, reporting professional concerns promptly

• Registered General Nurse and/or Registered Operating Department Practitioner

• Minimum of 12 months post registration in the perioperative environment
• Significant experience as a scrub practitioner in orthopaedics
• Recovery experience

• Strong knowledge of orthopaedic instrumentation, implants and surgical techniques
• Ability to anticipate the needs of the surgical team and maintain a safe, efficient surgical site
• Excellent understanding of infection control, patient safety and perioperative standards
• Strong organisational and time management skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Able to work well under pressure and flexibly within a multidisciplinary team

• Mentoring and assessing qualification
• Positive working relationships
• Demonstrated clinical knowledge, skills and expertise
• Able to provide and receive complex, sensitive information, understanding barriers to communication

• On-site nursery
• 27 days minimum annual leave plus bank holidays
• Cycle to work scheme
• Flexible working
• In-house training and development
• Buying and selling of annual leave
• Subsidised restaurant and tranquillity garden
• Generous subsidised on-site parking