Theatre Practitioner/Registered Nurse - Scrub and Anaesthetics

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust; Torquay; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Theatre Practitioner/Registered Nurse - Scrub and Anaesthetics to join our General Theatres team. You will deliver patient-focused perioperative care across scrub, anaesthetic and recovery areas, supporting anaesthetists, surgeons and the multi-disciplinary team to ensure safe, high-quality outcomes.

The role requires registration with NMC or HCPC, theatre experience or anaesthetic training, and a collaborative, proactive approach.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse (NMC) or HCPC registered with anaesthesia background.
• Experience in theatre scrubbing or anaesthetic delivery preferred.
• Ability to assess, plan and evaluate patient care.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality, patient-focused perioperative care and maintain a safe theatre environment.
• Support anaesthetists and surgeons; ensure equipment is prepared and ready for use.
• Plan workload for a theatre list and manage resources efficiently.
• Provide perioperative care throughout the pathway and support patients and families.
• Work across anaesthetic, surgery and recovery areas; respond to emergencies.
• Supervise students and junior staff in the theatre setting.

Skills

Analytical skills

Teamwork

Communication

Problem-solving

Leadership

Multiskilling

Education

NMC/HCPC registered

Anaesthesia care principles

Job description

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

Theatre Practitioner/Registered Nurse - Scrub and Anaesthetics

The closing date is 13 November 2026

We're looking for dedicated ODP's, anaesthetic trained theatre nursing and scrub staff to join our friendly and compassionate General Theatres team covering a wide range of specialities including, UGI, Colorectal, Urology, ENT, Max Facs, Robotics, Gynae, Breast, T&O and obstetrics where you'll have the opportunity to make a real difference in delivering exceptional care to our patients throughout their surgical journey.

In this hands-on, vocational role, you'll work alongside skilled and supportive professionals, including anaesthetists, surgical consultants, resident doctors, nurses, and other theatre trained staff, all united by a common goal of ensuring patient safety and achieving high-quality outcomes.

With 17 theatres across the Trust, 10 of which sit on level 5 within our general theatres, you'll play an essential role in an environment where your expertise is valued, and your contributions directly impact the patient journey. In addition to the work we provide in theatres our anaesthetic trained staff also work across, Cath labs, Obstetrics, endoscopy, MRI, IR and CT as well as take part working on the emergency bleep and providing support alongside our Anaesthetists to areas of the hospital such as resus and wards for arrest calls as well as intra and inter hospital transfers.

Main duties of the job

• You will be responsible for the delivery of high-quality patient focused care; providing and maintain a safe environment for all patients attending theatres and perform comprehensive assessment of patient's intra operative care.
• Support anaesthetists and surgeons, ensuring all equipment is set up and ready for use
  • Assist anaesthetist and surgeons in a wide range of surgical procedures, ensuring patient safety and comfort
  • Responsible for planning the workload for a theatre list, considering the efficient and effective use of all available resources.
  • Provide expert care during the whole perioperative phase, ensuring patients wellbeing has been considered at every step.
  • Support patients and be the patient advocate during their peri-op pathway, offering emotional support to them and their families
  • Work across the anaesthetic, surgery and/or recovery areas, you will also be responsible for responding to emergency treatment situations in areas such as ED/Resus, CT, MRI, Cath Labs and Obstetrics.
• Co-ordinating and carry out perioperative care with minimal supervision, acting as a role model and working with all members of the multi-disciplinary team.
• Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team in achieving a high standard of patient care and having a positive impact on patients' perioperative journey.
• Supervision of students of Nursing, Operating department practitioners, nurses on adaptation programme and post registration learners.

About us

Every member of the team is a highly skilled, competent practitioner who provides exemplary care to people as they emerge from anaesthesia, which can often be a very vulnerable time.

Where to find us?

Torbay Hospital provides acute care for the local community and has several communities' hospitals and is a hot spot for those who are considering living by the sea or within half an hour of Dartmoor National Park and an hour to Exmoor National Park. Meanwhile, Plymouth and Exeter are also both within a short drive to enjoy the culture, maritime history, and shopping experiences.

Why work with us?

You will work alongside the nursing team to ensure a first-class patient experience streamlining the patient journey to optimize efficiency and effectiveness, whilst developing a greater knowledge and understanding of our General Theatres teams.There are plenty of opportunities to learn new skills when joining our supportive, welcoming, and friendly team!Care to join us?

Job responsibilities

We are looking for candidates with a background in theatre and welcome applications for those who are also in addition to scrub trained, anaesthetically trained (either as ODP's or who have done the Anaesthetic bolt on course)and are registered with both NMC and/or HCPC, provided they possess the required experience and qualifications.

Ideally you'd posse

• Analytical skills to assess, plan and evaluate patient care
• Have strong teamwork skills and the ability to work under pressure.
• Be passionate about our patients care and providing high-quality clinical support.
• Display excellent communication skills and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

Our service operates 24/7. Below is an overview of our some of our main shift patterns:

• Main Day Shift:08:00 18:00
• Late Shift:12:30 21:30
• Night Shift:21:30 08:30

Full Vacancy details can be found on the attached Job Description/Person Specification.

Please refer to your suitability to the post in your supporting information from the role requirements or person specification

Qualifications and Training

• Registered Nurse (NMC) / Registered Operating Department Practitioner (HCPC)
• Principles of anaesthesia Care +/- equivalent

Knowledge and experience

• Ability to assess, plan and evaluate patient care
• Evidence of continuous education and professional development

Specific Skills

• Organisational and leadership skills
• Research and development awareness
• Multiskilling - demonstrate competency in anaesthetics, surgery and recovery

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.

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust