Health Care Assistant - Theatres

NHS; Greater London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Greater London is seeking a Health Care Assistant for its Operating Theatres. This role involves providing high-quality care and supporting registered practitioners while ensuring a safe environment for patients. The ideal candidate will have previous experience in healthcare and possess strong communication skills. Responsibilities include maintaining equipment, participating in surgical procedures, and ensuring patient comfort and dignity. This position offers a competitive salary and various benefits.

Benefits

Salary including High-Cost Area Supplement

Opportunity to join the NHS Pension Scheme

Free counselling service

Learning and development opportunities

Access to NHS Discount Schemes

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Previous experience in healthcare or operating theatre support preferred.
• Knowledge of how an operating department works.
• Ability to communicate effectively.

Responsibilities

• Ensure all equipment is available and in good working order.
• Maintain stock levels of specialist items.
• Participate as a circulator in surgical procedures.
• Foster effective working relationships across the multidisciplinary team.
• Support in the transfer of patients and perform clinical observations.

Skills

Computer Skills

Good communication skills

Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team

Education

GCSE in Maths and English

NVQ level 2

Care Certificate

Working towards NVQ level 3

Job description

Health Care Assistant - Theatres

The closing date is 03 December 2025

The Health Care Assistant in Operating Theatres will work clinically as a key part of the specialty team. They will work under the direct supervision of the registered practitioners and will have responsibility for ensuring the provision of equipment and stock for the day to running of the theatre lists. The post holder will also perform the circulating role.

You will be responsible for the provision of high quality care and a safe environment for patients under the supervision of a registered practitioner as well as support the Team Leader in ensuring the provision of physical resources in the delivery of clinical care.

Main duties of the job

• To ensure that all departmental policies, procedures and guidelines, are adhered to.
• Maintain a professional appearance and demeanour.
• Uphold the Trust's values and behaviours and behave in a manner befitting the leadership role, maintaining public and colleague confidence.
• Maintain professional and courteous working relationships with staff and respect the equality and diversity of each and every person he/she comes into contact with.
• Uphold the privacy and dignity of the patient and respect the equality of patients at all times.

About us

At Moorfields, we provide more than just an excellent career and great colleagues to work with. We also offer:

• Salary including High-Cost Area Supplement
• Opportunity to join the NHS Pension Scheme
• Free 24/7 independent counselling service
• Learning and development opportunities
• Easy and quick transport linksA range of attractive benefits and discounts
• Access to Blue Light Card and other NHS Discount Schemes
• Free Pilates classes
• Full support and training to develop your skills
• Flexible working friendly organisation

And so much more! To see the full range of benefits we offer please see our Moorfields benefits document.

Job responsibilities

The post holder works to support the registered practitioner and will aim to work without supervision in the delivery of some key tasks:

• Ensure that equipment is available and in good working order being mindful of specialty specific requirements, highlighting any deficits in a timely manner to the Team Leader.
• Take responsibility for the delegated tasks including maintaining stock levels of specialist items associated with their specialty.
• Ensure the safer surgery checklist principles are adhered to, and be mindful of their role within it. Escalate immediately to the Team Leader any concerns they may have regarding any aspect of patient safety.
• Develop and maintain electronic records for the provision of stock and the use of implants to ensure adequate traceability.
• Contribute to the delivery of high quality evidence based care.
• Work to deliver a customer focused culture acting as a role model.
• Participate as a member of the theatre team as circulator in surgical procedures and carrying out safety checks with regards to swabs, instruments and needles working as the second checker.
• Prepare, and make ready for use all equipment and instrument trays required for surgical procedures.
• Working as delegated by the registered practitioner ensure the correct care, labelling and dispatch of laboratory specimens according to Trust and local policies.
• Ensure written records are accurate and legible, enter data into theatre IT system, taking action in situations where the quality of the data may be affected.
• Maintain personal contact with patients, relatives and visitors being sensitive to their needs for courtesy, dignity and privacy and ensuring an appropriate professional environment at all times.
• Foster effective and efficient working relationships across the multidisciplinary team.
• Take the lead in ensuring that specialist equipment is available for use within the speciality, working with the procurement and supplies team to ensure their timely delivery to the department.
• Ensure that equipment requirements are planned and that equipment is used flexibly to ensure effective service provision across all specialities, highlighting any deficiencies immediately to the Team Leader.
• Take responsibility for the delegated tasks including maintaining stock levels of specialist items associated with their speciality.
• Ensure the correct cleaning of clinical equipment.
• Work with the Team Leaders to ensure new staff receive an adequate orientation to the department.
• Work to develop and maintain new skills including the application of monitoring, warming blankets and anti embolism devices.
• Support in the transfer of patients from trolley/ wheelchair to table and back.
• Support the anaesthetic and recovery practitioners in the performance of clinical observations.
• Under the delegated authority of a registered professional; collect patients from the ward, deliver them to recovery and/ or the ward post procedure.
• Work as second checker during surgical counts.
• Contribute to all Departmental meetings.
• Attend speciality meetings if appropriate.

Person Specification

Experience

• Knowledge of how an operating department works and the roles and responsibilities of all team members.
• Previous experience in healthcare or operating theatre support is preferred.

Skills

• Computer Skills.
• Evidence of good communication skills including verbal, non-verbal and written.
• Able to work and communicate effectively within a multidisciplinary team setting.

Education/Qualifications

• GCSE in Maths and English or demonstrable ability.
• NVQ level 2.
• Care Certificate.
• Working towards NVQ level 3.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer name

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

£30,546 to £32,207 a year per annum incl. HCAS