Theatre Assistant (Apprentice)

Wwl; Wigan; Hybrid; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

WWL is offering a Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (Perioperative Support) Apprenticeship. The two-year fixed-term programme trains you as a Theatre Assistant while you work within the perioperative environment, with teaching at partner college and on-the-job learning.

Successful apprentices may transition to a permanent Theatre Assistant role. Maths and English Functional Skills Level 1 or GCSE are mandatory, and secondment rules apply for internal/NHS candidates.

Qualifications

• Maths and English Functional Skills Level 1 or GCSE are mandatory.
• Evidence of these qualifications must be provided at interview.
• Ability to study the Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (Perioperative).
• Internal candidates and other NHS Trusts require secondment approval.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain knowledge, skills and competencies for Theatre Assistant (Perioperative) within operating theatres.
• Support registered nurses and ODPs in safe perioperative care delivery.
• Combine work with clinical placement learning and 20% off-the-job training.
• Upon successful completion, apply for a permanent Theatre Assistant role within the Trust.

Skills

Team Working

Communication

Interpersonal Skills

Education

Maths and English Functional Skills Level 1 or GCSE

Job description

People at the Heart. One Team. Your Career at WWL.

Job overview

We are seeking enthusiastic, proactive and motivated individuals to undertake the Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (Perioperative Support) Apprenticeship. If you enjoy working within a multidisciplinary team and are passionate about delivering high-quality care to patients and their relatives in the perioperative environment, this could be an excellent career pathway for you.

This nationally recognised, work-based qualification is delivered in partnership with Wigan & Leigh College. Apprentices will be employed by the Trust throughout the two-year programme and will undertake work-based learning and clinical assessments within operating theatres and other care environments across the Trust. Theoretical teaching and assessments will be delivered at Wigan & Leigh College.

This is a fixed‑term training post for two years and may lead to a permanent position on successful completion of the programme.

Maths and English Functional Skills Level 1 or GCSE equivalent are mandatory requirements. Evidence of these qualifications must be provided at interview.

Internal candidates and employees of other NHS Trusts must obtain secondment approval from their current line manager before applying, as this will be a condition of any offer made.

Although advertised as a temporary position, successful candidates may be offered a permanent Band 3 role on completion of the qualification, subject to funding and service needs.

Main duties of the job

This is a developmental role. The apprentice will work towards the successful completion of the Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (Perioperative Support) qualification. The apprentice will develop and maintain knowledge, skills and competencies related to the role of a Theatre Assistant (Theatre Health Care Assistant) predominantly within operating theatres and through completion of the apprenticeship programme, will support the delivery of person‑centred perioperative care.

You will learn a diverse set of skills and knowledge to support registered nurses and ODPs in the delivery of safe and effective perioperative care.

The Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (Perioperative Support) Apprenticeship allows you to combine work and clinical placement learning with formal study to achieve the required 20% off the job apprenticeship training.

Upon successful completion of the Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (Perioperative Support) apprenticeship, apprentices will be able to apply for a permanent Theatre Assistant position within the Trust. As a Theatre Assistant, you will be supported to further develop your skills and competencies.

You will be employed as member of the theatre team as an Apprentice Theatre Assistant on a 2-year fixed term Band 2 contract and will be working predominately in the perioperative environment.

Working for our organisation

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is proud to provide high‑quality acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, our staff are central to everything we do — we believe that happy staff make for happy patients, and this ethos underpins our culture and our success.

We have a strong, recognised track record in staff engagement and in living our values:

People at the Heart

Listen and Involve

Kind and Respectful

• ONE Team

We are committed to placing patients at the heart of every decision and delivering safe, effective care that protects dignity and enhances experience. We seek to recruit people who share our values, our passion for high‑quality care, and our belief in working together as One Team.

At WWL, we recognise the strength that comes from a rich and diverse workforce. We welcome applications from all sections of society and are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Planning and Organisational Duties

The post holder will be required to:

• Arrange for the transport and disposal of clinical, domestic, sensitive and confidential waste in accordance to Trust Policy.
• Assist with the preparation, identification, recording and dispatch of specimens from the theatre unit.
• Assist with the collection of blood and blood products.
• To participate in the management of supplies ensuring the theatre unit has sufficient levels of all essential supplies to meet the service demands.
• Receive and dispatch sterile supplies ensuring SSDU to fulfil the needs of the service.
• Ensure that the pharmacy stock items are received and stored in accordance with COSHH and Trust guidance; any in balance in stock is reported and addressed.
• Maintain the cleaning/decontamination and checking of all patient trolley’s including the additional oxygen and suction apparatus.
• Manage and maintain the stock of medical gas cylinders.
• Ensure that essential equipment is decontaminated and sterilised in line with Trust policy reporting any defects to the person in charge of the department at the time.
• To be aware if the need to maintain the dignity and privacy of the patient and to maintain confidentiality in all matters concerning patients and their relatives.
• To act as a circulating member of the theatre team, following policies and procedures, for the counting, recording and checking of swabs, needles and instruments.
• To assist with the safe positioning and transferring of patients during the peri-operative process.
• To participate in bone donation and retrieval process and ensure compliance with protocols and documentation.
• To ensure safe working practices are maintained and the use of protective clothing is maintained.

Patient/Service User Related Tasks/Duties

The post holder will be required to:

• Assist in maintain and monitoring cleaning standards within the clinical areas ensuring general fixtures/fitting and specialist equipment are cleaned in accordance with guidelines.
• Comply with the Trusts Infection Control Policy
• To support the transfer of all necessary documentation related to the patient when escorting the patient to theatre.
• Ensure sensitivity in relation to the emotional, cultural and religious beliefs/needs of individual patient’s relatives and/or carers.
• Provide emotional, psychological and physical support of the patient throughout the patient journey in the operating department.
• To provide support to the patient in the Anaesthetic room and handover to the Anaesthetic Nurse as appropriate.
• Ensure the patient’s privacy and dignity is maintained at all times.
• Support theatre practitioners in the preparation and use of complex technical equipment required during operative procedures.
• Assist registered personnel in carrying out ‘last offices’, in compliance with the Trust’s nursing procedure.

Responsibility for Communication / Information Resources

The post holder will be required to:

• Contribute to the updating of patient records, ensuring all entries are legible, accurate and completed within defined timescales.
• Display a pleasant and supportive manner when addressing patients / relatives / carers and colleagues alike.
• Maintain basic administration tasks, answering telephone when required and the taking of messages and passing on of relevant information.
• Maintain effective communication skills when liaising with patients; staff and visitors, using tact and empathy to receive and pass on information ensuring confidentiality is maintained.
• Ensure records/information are kept in a safe place to maintain security and confidentiality of all records.
• To participate in and attend all relevant departmental meetings.
• Maintain accurate and timely records

Responsibility for Human Resources

The post holder will be required to:

• Adhere to Trust policies and maintenance of the professional Code of Conduct.
• Demonstrate compliance with the Trusts policies and procedures.

Responsibility for Research & Development

The post holder will be required to:

• To participate in the collection of data for analysis to support the future development of the perioperative services.
• To participate in the strategic development of the organisational perioperative

Responsibility for Teaching

The post holder will promote life‑long learning through the use of appropriate coaching, teaching and assessment in practice by:

• Contributing to the provision of a positive learning environment, sharing individual knowledge with other staff.
• Act as a role model and participate in the support during training of other Theatre Assistants who are new to post.
• Accept responsibility for self‑updating and awareness of changes in unit‑based equipment particularly regarding the maintenance of specialist equipment and its decontamination/sterilisation processes.
• Participate in the appraisal process and have a personal development plan structured to meet the KSF outline for the post.
• Demonstrate commitment to personal development through work‑based programmes to enhance personal knowledge and skill.
• Support those developments, which contribute to the achievement of departmental, team and individual goals.
• Attend annual mandatory training updates in compliance with Trust policy.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Evidence of Maths and English functional skills level 1 or GCSE
• Science grade C/4 in either area.

Experience

• Team Working
• Experience of working in a patient care environment or hospital setting.

Skills

• Demonstrate good communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Ability to study the L3 Diploma in Perioperative Support
• Demonstrate self‑motivational skills.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of individualised patient care delivery

Additional

• Internal rotation
• Speak English to an appropriate standard relevant to their role, i.e. with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation

Using AI when writing job applications
If you choose to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) or other tools to assist in writing your application, it’s essential to personalise this information, particularly your supporting statement to reflect the skills and experience to match your job application. Relying solely on AI to write your application or supporting statement is not advocated by Wrightington Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as it could negatively impact your chances of success in the application process. Please refer to the attached "Applying for a role in the NHS guidance" for further information regarding the use of AI.

The Trust reserves the right to close adverts earlier than the stated closing date if there is a high volume of applications.

We endeavour to inform all applicants of the outcome of their application by email or SMS text message.

Guidance on Completing Your Application

Applications are assessed against the person specification. We strongly encourage you to use the supporting information section to demonstrate how you meet the essential and desirable criteria, providing clear examples where possible.

On-Call

Please note that some roles may require participation in an on‑call rota, particularly those that are operational in nature.

WWL is part of the Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment. We recognise continuous or ‘unbroken’ service from any Greater Manchester Local Authority, NHS organisation, Transport for Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service or the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. This ensures access to our service‑related benefits.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.