BEDFORDSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS CHARITY

31,049 - 37,796 per year

Luton

Full-time

13th October 2025

Job Vacancies

Band 5 Theatres Scrub Practitioner

NHS AfC: Band 5

Operating Theatres
NHS AfC: Band 5
Permanent
- Full time
- Flexible working
418-THE5935-VR

Luton
Luton
£31,049 - £37,796 pa, pro rata
Yearly
13/10/2025 23:59

Job overview

Band 5 Scrub Practitioner- Major Vascular/Interventional Vascular

We have exciting opportunities for Band 5 Scrub Practitioners with Theatre experience looking further their careers with our forward thinking Operating Theatres team. We are particularly looking for Scrub Practitioners with Major Vascular and Interventional experience due to these specialties moving from our Bedford Theatres to the Luton site. If you have experience in other Theatre Specialties, you are exactly what we are looking for.

We cover a range of clinical specialties including Trauma & Orthopaedics, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Urology, ENT, OMFS, Upper GI and Colorectal, Bariatrics, Breast, Paediatrics and Pain.

There may also future opportunities to multi-skill and work in Recovery or Anaesthetics following appropriate training , or carry out more Specialist Advanced Scrub roles.

if you are successful in securing a role with us, you will be supported by our Practice Educated team, have a structured induction and a mentor to guide you through your Probation period in Theatres.

Main duties of the job

To be a skilled member of the Operating Theatre team providing the highest standard of care and ensuring the safety of patients at all times.
To plan, assess, implement, evaluate and reflect on all care provided, working with the multi-disciplinary team to bring about agreed changes wherever necessary.
To ensure patient documentation and all safety measures are carried out in accordance with trust and departmental policy/guidelines.
The post-holder will work closely with other Operating Theatre colleagues and other MDT members in following and monitoring policies, standards and guidelines, alerting senior colleagues to issues that may arise during the carrying out of duties.
The post-holder will be expected to carry out all relevant forms of care without direct supervision and is required to demonstrate procedures, and support/ supervise registered staff/ support workers/ learners in training and ongoing development.
To participate in the management and organisation of the Operating Theatres Department.

Working for our organisation

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics.

It is an exciting time at the Luton and Dunstable University Hospital as maternity, neonatal, critical care and theatre services will be moving to the brand new Acute Services Block (ASB) and New Ward Block in October 2025. Care will be delivered in modern, uplifting and fit for purpose environments and will enhance the patient experience.

You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high-quality training and development to help you grow your career.

We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting-edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Communication

To promote and participate in an effective communication dialogue with colleagues and other members of the multi-disciplinary team within Theatres and across the Trust.
To care for patients where there are barriers to understanding including those who do not speak English as their first language, those who are anxious , those with sensory impairments (including those who are blind, deaf or mute), those with mental health impairments and issues, and those at various stages of the age spectrum (e,g. infants through to the elderly).
To receive and relate complex clinical information (in conjunction with senior theatre staff and medical staff) to patients based on their diagnosis, treatment and care.
To demonstrate empathy and provide reassurance to patients undergoing a wide range of surgical procedures and treatments.
To support patients (in conjunction with medical staff and senior colleagues) after distressing news/prognosis has been imparted.
To exercise judgement, planning and analysis as a means of participating in the decision making process within Theatres, the Surgery Care Group and the Trust.
To attend and actively contribute to relevant meetings within Theatres, the Surgery Care Group and across the Trust.

Clinical Responsibilities

To be a skilled member of the Operating Theatre Team either in a variety of surgical specialities, or in an anaesthetic or recovery role.
Assess patient care needs and the development and implementation of programmes of patient care and participate in the evaluation of these.
To ensure a high standard of nursing care is performed at all times and assist in the review and regular update of these standards.
Ability to recognise and respond appropriately to changes in the patient’s condition and safety.
Adhere to all Trust Policies to maintain professional, clinical and patient safety.
Be aware of the principles of infection control and the prevention of cross infection in relation to patient care and the clinical environment.
To inform Senior Practitioners of any untoward incidents or problems affecting patients or staff and participate in the related investigations.
To ensure all equipment is in good, safe working order and ready for immediate use. Any defective equipment must be reported immediately to Senior Practitioners and using Trust guidelines.
To participate in the evaluation of stock levels and ordering/unpacking supplies. Inadequate supplies or provisions and possible improvements must be discussed with Senior Practitioners.
To act at all times, as the patient’s advocate, to ensure their safety, well-being and dignity.
To assess the patient’s level of anxiety or discomfort and to provide advice, re-assurance or any other actions as necessary.
To participate in a variety of Patient Safety initiatives as directed by the Head of Theatres and Senior Practitioners.
To uphold patient confidentiality for patients and relatives at all times and in all situations.
To provide accurate and timely patient information onto the Theatre Management System to ensure theatre activity data.

Management Responsibilities

To manage the maintenance of an acceptable environment for patients, reporting and taking appropriate action on hazards and faulty equipment.

To report incidents using the Trust electronic incident reporting system.
Management of patients with regard to their nursing /clinical needs as directed by the Team Leader/Senior Theatre Practitioner.
Report to and request advice from the Team Leader/Theatre Co-ordinator in regard to patient care when appropriate.
Ensure that communication is used effectively, both written and verbal, in the interest of patient care and with the multidisciplinary team
To contribute to the discharge planning of patients informing the discharge team of issues and patient /relative requirements/requests.
Ensure that the Theatre environment is well maintained, clean and safe.
To be economic in the use of ward stocks and clinical requisitions, avoiding waste wherever possible.
To be courteous and helpful to patients, families/carers, colleagues and all users to the trust.
Have basic computer skills and be able to access patient details and reports via the Trusts IT systems
To take charge as required in the absence of the person with continuing responsibility for the Department area but only after completion of preceptorship programme and local induction period.

Education, Training & Development

To attend mandatory annual update of Manual Handling, Fire, Basic Life Support and other aspects of the Statutory Training programme provided by the Trust.
To be proactive in taking part in the Trust’s Appraisal/Individual Performance Review (IPR) system, contributing to setting a Personal Development Plan (PDP) with the appraiser in compliance with the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF).
The post-holder will undertake further additional in-service training as required, in order to comply with the Trust’s protocols and procedures, and locally adapted theatre guidelines. He/she will also bring relevant information back to the department for discussion and implementation where appropriate.
Skills, knowledge and ability will be maintained by participating in team rotations and the completion of competencies relating to the Band 5 role.
The post-holder will participate in the training of all learners allocated to the department during clinical placements. This will include practical demonstrations of work that is normally carried out and teaching sessions as part of the post-holders range of duties.

NB: This job involves the manual handling of heavy loads, for which training will be given. If there is any reason why you should not do this, it is your responsibility to inform your manager immediately.

Care and Compassion

The post holder must be able to actively demonstrate and proactively deliver effective and personal care, which is safe for the patients, in a calm and compassionate manner to every patient, every time. This should be at the core of all planning which actively involves the patient and where appropriate, their relatives /carers. We actively encourage all our staff to escalate areas of inter-professional and multi-agency care concerns to Senior Practitioners, Lead Nurse or Head of Theatres in a timely manner.

PERSON SPEC

Qualifications: Current Adult Registered Nurse with the NMC or working towards; Degree in Nurse related specialty; ODP registered with HCPC

Experience: Experience of working in an acute hospital setting particularly in the operating theatres; Evidence of further education, training and ongoing learning

Knowledge: Demonstrates awareness of changes in the NGS- in particular related to Perioperative care, infection control and related to the Nurse/ODP role in Theatres

Personal attributes: Flexible; role model professional behaviours and attitudes- as prescribed by the NMC/HCPC; ability to work under pressure and be able to seek help when required; team player

Skills: Ability to prioritise and organise workload; ability to use computers and IT Programmes

Communication skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills; interpersonal skills

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Current Registered Nurse with NMC or ODP registered with HCPC
Degree in Nurse related specialty or working towards. Diploma or Degree if ODP

Desirable criteria

Mentorship or teaching qualification (in trust this is Practice Assessor/Practice Supervisor training)

Experience

Essential criteria

Experience working in a Theatre environment in a scrub role
Experience in a range of specialties including Major Vascular or Interventional Surgery

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Evidence of current CPD activity- extra training and courses
Current Knowledge of Perioperative environment, practice and issues relevant to specialty
Understanding of under-pinning knowledge and practice related to infection control, decontamination, risk and moving and handling within theatres

Desirable criteria

knowledge and practice of audit, infection control

Personal Attributes

Essential criteria

Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to prioritise and organise workload
Able to problem solve
Flexible and team player approach to working
computer skills
role models NMC/HCPC standards of behaviour.professional attitudes

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Pauline Grandison-Jones
Job title
Interim Theatre Operational Manager
Email address
pauline.grandison-jones@bedsft.nhs.uk
Telephone number
07972 114528
Additional information
Lesley Bill

Urology Lead and Lead Practice Educator- Scrub

07957603893

List all jobs in Nursing and Midwifery or all sectors