Theatre Healthcare Assistant

Transformation Unit; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Part time

Job summary

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Theatre Healthcare Assistant (NHS AfC Band 3) for a 30-hour part-time role in surgical theatres at Blackpool. The post offers a fixed-term contract and provides an induction with opportunities for development within operating theatres.

The role requires caring for patients, maintaining asepsis, and supporting perioperative teams. DBS checks may apply and the Trust supports flexible working patterns.

Qualifications

• Educated to GCSE level in literacy and numeracy or equivalent.
• Experience as a healthcare assistant.
• Ability to communicate with patients of varying levels of understanding.

Responsibilities

• Maintain asepsis and follow the Infection Control Policy.
• Carry out circulating duties and assist with perioperative documentation and the Count policy.
• Assist in the Anaesthetic Room, positioning the patient and preparing for procedures.
• Manage stock and help set up the peri-operative environment for routine and emergency cases.

Skills

Quality & change

Communication

Factual information

Sensitivity & diplomacy

IT skills

NHS knowledge

Interpersonal skills

Standards maintenance

Physically demanding

English communication

Education

GCSE level

Job description

Main area Surgical Theatres Grade NHS AfC: Band 3 Contract Fixed term: 9 months (Not known at this time) Hours Part time - 30 hours per week Job ref 382-SWC173-26

Employer Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Town Blackpool Salary £25,760 - £27,476 weekend shifts Salary period Yearly Closing 26/11/2026 23:59

Theatre Healthcare Assistant

NHS AfC: Band 3

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people.

We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. Plus, we provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries.

We welcome and encourage application from anyone with protected characteristics, as well as supporting reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals encourages flexible working in all our roles to support staff in maintaining healthy home-life balance. Working patterns such as: part time working, self-rostering, compressed hours, annualised hours, term time, reverse term time and flexitime working can be explored.

Job overview

To assist qualified staff to meet individual patient’s needs and maintain a healthy theatre environment. Will be required to take part in internal rotation and on calls.

Main duties of the job

An exciting opportunity has arisen within our Surgical Theatres.

We currently have opportunity for a Theatre Healthcare Assistant

We have a dedicated Education and Training team who will facilitate a robust induction programme. Development will be integral part of this role and would suit those who wish to pursue careers within the operating theatres.

PLEASE NOTE: If a high number of applications are received the post may close earlier than advertised.

Working for our organisation

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is ideally situated just a forty five minute drive from Manchester. The Trust provides services to the 440,000 residents of Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre and North Lancashire, as well as specialist tertiary care for Cardiac and Haematology patients.

it’s not just a good place to work; it’s a great place to live

In addition to its bustling centre and historic seafront, the town is world famous for its many attractions, including the famous Blackpool Tower. Blackpool also offers a number of scenic cycling routes round our local parks and across the surrounding countryside, as well as boasting panoramic views of the coast on its picturesque Promenade. Further afield, Blackpool also benefits from less than three-hour connections via rail to Edinburgh in the north and London in the south.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• a) Maintenance of asepsis

Understand the Control of Infection Policy

Checking procedures and traceability labels.

Open packs and supplementary items using aseptic technique

Gown up scrub team.

Understand how to move around theatre during procedures.

• b) Circulating Duties

Demonstrate knowledge of “The Count” policy.

Maintain perioperative documentation – use of traceability

system

Good communication skills, understanding the “chain of command”.

Anticipation of scrub teams requirements.

Connection of air supply/diathermy.

Opening and delivery of sterile packs and supplementaries onto the sterile

field in an aseptic manner.

• c) Anaesthetic Room Duties

Communicate with the patient and Qualified Practitioners & Medical Staff

in a sympathetic and timely manner.

Assist with positioning of the patient.

Assist with preparation of the patient.

Assist with documentation.

Check, rotate and replace stock as required.

Assist with the setting up of peri-operative environment for

emergency/routine cases.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Educated to GCSE level in literacy and numeracy or equivalent.

Experience

• Experience as a healthcare assistant

Skills

• Understanding of quality and change in the clinical setting.
• Ability to communicate in a variety of settings with patients of varying levels of understanding.
• Able to present factual information and refer questions to others where appropriate
• Able to deal with sensitive issues with tact and diplomacy.
• Basic I.T. skills in E-mail
• Basic understanding of NHS issues.
• Ability to develop effective Interpersonal relationship with colleagues in the health care setting
• Maintenance of standards in the area of responsibility.
• Able to perform a wide range of duties including those which are physically demanding.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English

Any invitation to interview will be sent to the email account stated on your application form.

If the role you have applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this as part of your pre-employment checks. Please note, you will be required to repay the cost on appointment. This will be collected via a salary deduction. You can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months from your salary or as a one-off payment on commencement in post. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently the charges are - Basic DBS check £24, Standard DBS check £24 and Enhanced DBS check £45.

You are encouraged where possible, to register for the DBS update service. This is an annual registration fee of £15. By registering for the update service you will not have the additional cost of repeated disclosures.

Should you withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check.

DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions.

By submitting an application for this vacancy you are confirming your agreement to the above in the event you are successfully appointed.

The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here .

Please ensure that you read the Person Specification attached below as your application will be judged against this.

Please note that every effort will be made to keep the vacancy live until published closing date, though there may be instances where such interest is generated, that for administrative reasons the post may close earlier.

Please note that in line with national NHS guidelines this Trust operates a strict non-smoking policy. Members of staff are not permitted to smoke on Trust premises or grounds at any time nor take breaks during working hours for the purposes of smoking.

The Trust does not offer interview expenses to shortlisted candidates unless indicated in the advert.

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.

Name Darren Howe Job title Senior Lead Theatre Theatre Practitioner Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 01253 953489 Additional information

Siji Kooran

01253 55870