Recovery Practitioner

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Bedford; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Specialist Recovery Practitioner to provide post-operative support across elective surgery, emergency care and maternity. The post holder will ensure safe, timely, and patient-centred care within the Recovery Department and across Bedford Hospital sites, aligned to local and national standards.

You will mentor and supervise nursing staff, contribute to education and training, and maintain high standards of documentation and communication

Qualifications

• RGN / ODP-qualified practitioner with current NMC or HCPC registration.
• Strong understanding of the post-operative needs of patients and service users.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work under pressure and adapt within a team environment.
• Highly motivated, punctual, adaptable, and consistently maintains a professional image

Responsibilities

• Work as a skilled member of the recovery team, undertaking nursing duties within the recovery area and delivering the highest standard of patient care.
• Develop and maintain the clinical skills and knowledge required to provide holistic, evidence-based nursing care.
• Participate in monitoring and maintaining standards in line with clinic policies and procedures, including the daily checking and secure management of controlled drugs.
• Communicate effectively and responsibly with colleagues across the multidisciplinary team.
• Maintain accurate, legible written and electronic records of care, ensuring patient safety, privacy, and dignity at all times

Skills

RGN/ODP-qualified

NMC/HCPC registration

Communication skills

Team player

Professional image

Education

NMC/HCPC registration

Job description

Job overview

To act as a specialist recovery practitioner, providing post‑operative support for patients across services including elective surgery, emergency care, and maternity.

The post holder is accountable for the provision, organisation, and delivery of patient care within their scope of responsibility and assessed competencies. They will contribute to the development and delivery of safe post‑operative care, working across Bedfordshire NHS Foundation Trust Theatres, Maternity, and community services, including the laser unit, OMF, MRI, and supporting acute pain management. The role also includes providing effective mentorship and supervision, and participating in the education and training of nursing staff. The post holder will ensure that safe, efficient, and timely individualised care is delivered in line with local and national standards.

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Key Duties

• Work as a skilled member of the recovery team, undertaking nursing duties within the recovery area and delivering the highest standard of patient care.
• Develop and maintain the clinical skills and knowledge required to provide holistic, evidence‑based nursing care.
• Participate in monitoring and maintaining standards in line with clinic policies and procedures, including the daily checking and secure management of controlled drugs.
• Communicate effectively and responsibly with colleagues across the multidisciplinary team.
• Maintain accurate, legible written and electronic records of care, ensuring patient safety, privacy, and dignity at all times

Skills & Experience

• RGN / ODP‑qualified practitioner with current NMC or HCPC registration.
• Strong understanding of the post‑operative needs of patients and service users.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work under pressure and adapt within a team environment.
• Highly motivated, punctual, adaptable, and consistently maintains a professional image

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. 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. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities.

Utilising the specialist peri‑operative care plan, the post holder will assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care within their scope of responsibility in the Recovery Department and across all peripheral service areas within Bedford Hospital.

• Maintain safe and effective airway management for patients arriving in Recovery, working alongside pain‑management processes to ensure high-quality post‑operative care.
• Ensure clear, effective communication with all members of the multidisciplinary team, patients, and relatives. This includes giving and receiving complex or sensitive information, recognising individual needs, and addressing any barriers to understanding.
• Competently undertake a wide range of clinical duties in line with professional training and departmental protocols, demonstrating proficiency across Recovery and other relevant areas within Bedford Hospital NHS Trust.
• Contribute to the setting, monitoring, and evaluation of care standards in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.
• Work effectively as a team member, supporting colleagues to deliver safe and coordinated care.
• Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date patient records in accordance with departmental policies, including care plans and systems such as OPERA, ensuring all documentation supports safe, high‑quality care.

It is an exciting time to join Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.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. Travel between hospital sites may be required. 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.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.