Surgical First Assistant *£6000 Incentive*

NHS; Colchester; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS organization in Colchester is seeking a dynamic Surgical First Assistant to join their elective orthopaedic team. The role involves providing vital support during surgical procedures, ensuring patient advocacy, and working collaboratively with a dedicated team. Rewards include a competitive salary and a £6000 recruitment incentive with flexible working opportunities.

Benefits

Generous pension scheme

27 days annual leave (pro rata)

Access to NHS discounts

Health and Wellbeing program

Wide range of training and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in collaborative patient-centred working with agencies.
• Proven experience in Orthopaedic theatre/ward setting.
• Ability to cope with responsibilities of leadership and update professional knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Support and assist the surgical team during theatre operations.
• Act as a patient advocate to ensure high quality care.
• Collaborate with Consultant Surgeons to optimise role.

Skills

Collaborative working

Patient advocacy

Clinical skills

Education

First Assistant training course

Registered Nurse with current NMC Registration

Student supervision and assessment training

Degree in Specialist Practice

Job description

Job summary

This post attracts a recruitment incentive of £6000 pro rata (conditions apply)

The Essex and Suffolk Elective Orthopaedic Centre at Colchester Hospital is one of the largest centres of its kind in Europe.

As a Surgical First Assistant, you will be a key member of the theatre team. You will provide support functioning to the entire patient journey, providing a key communication role between all members of the health care team.

You will assist the Surgeon and the wider team to facilitate the smooth and efficient running of the surgical programme within Orthopaedic Surgery. This will involve all aspects of surgical treatment encompassing Elective and there may be some potential for trauma work.

If you are a dynamic and motivated leader who is passionate supporting our patients, then this could be the role for you.

The Dame Clare Marx Building houses our elective orthopaedic centre (ESEOC) with a focus on elective orthopaedic surgery and day cases. The centre has eight laminar flow theatres, three wards, recovery facilities, and support services including radiology and EBME.

Please note, the minimum working hours is 19 hours per week.

Main duties of the job

You will be expected to perform these duties with a high degree of clinical skills and knowledge to achieve effective patient care.

You will work collaboratively with the Consultant Surgeons to ensure that the full potential of this role is utilised.

To act as a patient advocate to ensure the multidisciplinary team gives high quality co-ordinated care.

To work under the direct supervision of the medical staff.

About us

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes.

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what's widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.

Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A

Details Date posted

06 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

432-HR339-25

Job locations

Colchester Hospital

Turner Road

Colchester

CO4 5JL

Job description Job responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

Job description Job responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• First Assistant training course
• Registered Nurse with current registration on part 1 or 12 of the NMC Register or registered AHP
• Student supervision and assessment training

Desirable

• Degree in Specialist Practice

Experience Essential

• Experience of collaborative patient-centred working with statutory and voluntary agencies
• Proven experience in either Orthopaedic theatre/ward setting

Knowledge Essential

• Demonstration of professional development and ability to cope with responsibilities of leadership
• Demonstration of regular updating of professional knowledge

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• First Assistant training course
• Registered Nurse with current registration on part 1 or 12 of the NMC Register or registered AHP
• Student supervision and assessment training

Desirable

• Degree in Specialist Practice

Experience Essential

• Experience of collaborative patient-centred working with statutory and voluntary agencies
• Proven experience in either Orthopaedic theatre/ward setting

Knowledge Essential

• Demonstration of professional development and ability to cope with responsibilities of leadership
• Demonstration of regular updating of professional knowledge

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information 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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Colchester Hospital

Turner Road

Colchester

CO4 5JL

Employer's website

https://www.esneft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Colchester Hospital

Turner Road

Colchester

CO4 5JL

Employer's website

https://www.esneft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)