Nursing Associate – Assistant Theatre Practitioner

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust; Slough; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK NHS Trust is seeking a dedicated Nursing Associate / Assistant Theatre Practitioner to join their Theatre team. This role involves supporting surgical teams, ensuring a safe environment, and assisting with surgical procedures. Candidates must be NMC registered or have completed ATP training, with previous healthcare experience preferred. This fixed-term position offers a salary range of £28,860 to £31,671 yearly, alongside opportunities for professional development and a commitment to a healthy work-life balance.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Flexible working patterns

Qualifications

• Previous experience working in any healthcare setting is required.
• Experience in handling surgical instruments is an advantage.
• Previous operating theatre experience is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Support the theatre team in establishing a good working atmosphere.
• Assist in effective communication between team members and departments.
• Ensure equipment is regularly checked and maintained safely.

Skills

Collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary teams

Ability to follow guidance from senior colleagues

Participate in reflective practice

Education

NMC registered nursing associate or assistant theatre practitioner qualification

Evidence of clinical practice

Perioperative practice courses

Job description

Nursing Associate – Assistant Theatre Practitioner

Nursing Associate (NA) / Assistant Theatre Practitioner (ATP) - Theatres

18-Month Fixed-Term Contract (Band 4)

We are seeking a dedicated and motivated Band 4 practitioner to join our dynamic Theatre team. This role is open to a registered Nursing Associate (NA) or individuals who have completed their Assistant Theatre Practitioner (ATP) training.

NAs and ATPs working within the operating theatres play a vital role in delivering high-quality perioperative care. Acting as a bridge between healthcare support workers and registered nurses, they work closely with the surgical team to maintain a safe and sterile environment and act as the patient's advocate throughout the perioperative journey.

You will learn and apply surgical scrub techniques to assist the operating surgeon, including the safe handling of sterile instruments. In Wexham Park Theatres, this often involves supporting a range of minor procedures across specialties such as General Surgery, Urology, Gynaecology, ENT and Plastic Surgery.

Nursing Associate roles are regulated by the NMC and require completion of a foundation degree specific to the NA qualification. Assistant Theatre Practitioners must already hold their ATP certification. While previous theatre experience is desirable, it is not essential. We offer a comprehensive supernumerary period during which you will double-scrub and work alongside highly trained senior staff who will support you in gaining the required competencies and confidence for the role.

Main duties of the job

To support the theatre team in the establishing good working atmosphere and participate in effective and efficient use of staff, supplies and services.

To participate as a skilled member of the theatre team.

To assist in effective communication channels between team members , medical staff, wards and departments.

To participate in achieving the stated quality assurance and risk management objectives set by the organisation.

To ensure all equipment is regularly checked and maintained in a safe manner.

To participate in training programmes for junior staff and other disciplines seconded to the department.

This role is working Monday to Friday.

About us

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme. We provide first class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available.

Here at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we know how important it is to have a healthy work life balance; this benefits not only individuals but the patients we care for too.

We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service and its users.

Frimley Health Trust benefits on Vimeo

Job responsibilities

For a full list of responsibilities and tasks associated with this role, please refer to the job description/person specification attached to this vacancy.

Person Specification

Experience

• Previous experience working in any healthcare setting
• Operating Theatre experience
• Experience in handling surgical instruments

Qualifications

• NMC registered nursing associate OR qualification as assistant theatre practitioner
• Evidence of clinical practice
• Perioperative practice courses
• Courses which relate to the care of the patient undergoing surgery

Skills and Knowledge

• Demonstrates the capacity to follow guidance from senior colleagues and collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary team
• Ability to participate in reflective practice
• Able to recognise the limitations of a Nursing Associate or Assistant Theatre Practitioner
• Knowledge of the clinical workings of surgery for a variety of specialities

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.

£28,860 to £31,671 a yearper annum incl HCAS