(**) Advanced Surgical First Assistant

VerseOne Group; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust in Chelmsford is seeking a Band 7 Surgical First Assistant to deliver direct patient care and support operative procedures. The post requires autonomous clinical practice and adherence to NMC/HCPC guidelines, with ongoing professional development and MDT engagement.

The role includes pre-operative assessments, contributing to research-based practice, and maintaining a high standard of clinical competence within the Surgical specialty.

Qualifications

• NMC registration as a healthcare professional.
• Completion of specialist training in surgical first assistant or equivalent.
• Ability to practice within NHS policies and guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Deliver direct care to patients within caseload following Trust policies and guidelines.
• Work within Surgical First Assistant parameters and core clinical competence.
• Maintain ongoing clinical competencies and identify training needs.
• Participate in user groups, MDT meetings and research-based practice.
• Undertake pre-operative assessments and assist the surgeon with operative procedures.

Education

NMC Registered

Evidence of completion of specialist training or equivalent

Job description

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is one of the biggest trusts in the country, following the merger of Mid Essex, Basildon and Southend hospitals in April 2020.

Main area Breast Grade Band 7 Contract Permanent: 37.5 hours per week Rota Hours

• Full time
• Job share

37.5 hours per week (Job Share Option Available) Job ref 390-NM-MED-BR-8451

Site Broomfield Town Chelmsford Salary £49,387 Per Annum Salary period Yearly Closing 11/11/2026 23:59

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is the onlyacute hospital provider in the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS), which is a system of health and care partners working together for our local population.

Within Mid and South Essex there are 149 GP practices, operating from over 200 sites, forming 27 Primary Care Networks and one Ambulance Trust. There are also three main community and mental health service providers who work together through a community collaborative.

We collaborate with other valuable partners, including three Healthwatch organisations, nine voluntary and community sector organisations and three top tier local authorities, with seven district, borough and city councils, as well as our local universities.

Job overview

This role is multi-dimensional and requires the post holder to apply specialist clinical knowledge and skill, to integrate and fulfil all the identified dimensions within it.

This includes specific clinical autonomous practice performing a degree of surgical intervention having gained the under-pinning knowledge and competence within an agreed core and individual clinical specialty scope of practice, which is identified within this job description.

Main duties of the job

Deliver direct care to patients within their caseload in accordance with the trusts policies and NMC / HCPC guidelines.

Practice within the parameters of the Surgical first Assistant, adhering to the NMC / HCPC codes of clinical conduct and in accordance with trust policies, guidelines and specific practice requirements identified within this job description.

Maintain core and specific clinical competencies, recognising role / skill limitations identifying, additional training and education required to support continued safe practice and knowledge.

Participate in user groups, forums, and multidisciplinary team meetings weekly including specific clinical speciality meetings.

Participate and engage in research-based practice.

care to patients and demonstrate knowledgeable clinical competence.

Undertake pre-operative assessment of the patient in-order to assess and identify the patients physical, psychological, and spiritual peri-operative needs.

Report and proactively initiate the management of the patients’ pre-operative concerns/needs reassuring and employing anxiety management therapies to the patient if necessary.

Possess advanced knowledge and understanding of stages of operative procedures, and of anatomy and physiology in-order to provide skilled anticipatory assistance to the surgeon.

Working for our organisation

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and well being of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Additional details on responsibilities and expectations of the role are included in the attached Job Description

Qualifications

• NMC Registered
• Evidence of completion of specialist training or equivalent.

Knowledge & Experience

• Evidence of thorough and broad training and experience in the specialty.
• Comprehensive knowledge in the specialty.
• Demonstrates good knowledge of the structures and culture of the NHS, roles, responsibilities and relationships across the MDT and the multi-professional team
• Knowledge of the principles of research/audit and ability to interpret and apply clinical research.
• Ability to apply research outcomes to clinical and surgical problems

Communication Skills

• Excellent verbal and written skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with clinical colleagues, other specialties and support staff
• Advanced communication course

Personal & People Development

• Ability to develop effective working relationships on an individual and multi-disciplinary basis with all levels of staff
• Able to organise and prioritise workload
• Ability to adapt and respond to changing circumstances
• Professional indemnity insurance

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work under pressure
• Flexibility within contracted hours to meet the demands of the department
• Ability to meet the physical requirements of the role, able to stand and concentrate for prolonged periods.
• Caring, honest and reliable

Please be aware as per the new Immigration guidelines we cannot sponsor candidates with a salary (full time or pro Rata) under the current minimum threshold.

Please note, the selection processes at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust are in place to ensure we recruit candidates with the right skills and values, please be advised that the use of AI in applications are monitored. We remain vigilant against candidates who misuse these tools to generate an application that doesn’t accurately reflect their skills, and you will be required to declare on your application if AI has been used before submitting your application.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.

Name Becki Lord Job title Assistant Service Manager Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 07552212599 Additional information Please contact me via Teams or WhatsApp with any queries