Theatre Scrub Practitioner, Band 5

Gloshospitals; Cheltenham; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Band 5 Orthopaedic Scrub Practitioner to cover maternity leave for seven months in our orthopaedic theatres.

Responsibilities include perioperative care, instrument handling, and scrub support for hip, knee and shoulder procedures, while maintaining patient safety and professional standards. You will guide and supervise junior staff and participate in continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• UK recognised qualification in Adult Nursing or Operating Department Practice.
• Active registration with NMC or HCPC.
• Experience in an acute clinical environment.
• Good written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Able to supervise non-registered and less experienced staff to ensure effective service and care delivery.

Responsibilities

• Deliver safe, effective perioperative care within orthopaedic theatres.
• Prepare, check and manage specialist instrumentation, implants and theatre equipment.
• Provide skilled scrub assistance for elective and trauma orthopaedic procedures.
• Accurately document instrument and swab counts and participate in the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist.
• Support patient positioning, transfer and intraoperative safety.
• Contribute to infection prevention, governance, audits and continuing professional development.

Skills

UK healthcare experience

Communication skills

Supervisory skills

Team collaboration

Education

NMC/HCPC registration

Tools

TRAK computer systems

Job description

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Theatre Scrub Practitioner, Band 5

The closing date is 19 October 2026

We are seeking an experienced band 5 Orthopaedic Scrub practitioner to cover maternity leave for a period of 7 months. We operate five orthopaedic theatres specialising in procedures such as primary and revision arthroplasties (hips, knees and shoulder), ligament reconstruction and cold trauma cases.

Main duties of the job

- To assess, plan, implement, evaluate and provide high-quality nursing care within the theatre environment.

- To work effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary theatre team.

- Communicate effectively with patients, carers, relatives and all members of the multidisciplinary team while maintaining and further developing high standards of care.

- To manage a caseload of patients within a defined clinical area.

- Take responsibility for personal development and support the development and supervision of others by developing and maintaining specialist knowledge pertaining to theatres.

- Contribute towards the development of professional practice in the clinical area.

- Conduct oneself in a professional manner and be a role model to less experienced/ non-registered and new staff at all times.

- Work proactively to ensure that every patient's attendance meets with their expectations and needs with timely undertaking

About us

We are a close knit team of around thirty nurse ODPs and HCSWs. We operate five orthopaedic theatres specialising in procedures such as primary and revision arthroplasties (hips, knees and shoulder), ligament reconstruction and cold trauma cases.

Job responsibilities

The Band 5 Orthopaedic Scrub Practitioner is responsible for delivering safe, effective and evidence-based perioperative care within orthopaedic theatres, working in accordance with the NMC or HCPC Code, Trust policies and relevant clinical standards. The postholder will assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care; maintain aseptic technique; prepare, check and manage specialist instrumentation, implants, medical devices and theatre equipment; and provide skilled scrub assistance for elective and trauma orthopaedic procedures. They will undertake and accurately document instrument and swab counts, contribute fully to the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist, support safe patient positioning and transfer, anticipate the needs of the surgical team and respond appropriately to changes in the intraoperative environment.

The postholder will work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team, advocate for patients and maintain their safety, dignity and confidentiality, while contributing to infection prevention and control, safeguarding, clinical governance, incident reporting, audit, quality improvement and research-based practice. They will maintain professional competence through mandatory training and continuing professional development and will support the supervision, education and development of students, new starters, non-registered staff and less experienced colleagues, acting at all times as a professional role model.

Senior Sister Orthopaedic Theatres

[e-mail]

0300 422 4308

Person Specification

Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience

• United Kingdom recognised qualification in Adult Nursing or Operating Department Practice.
• Experience of working in an acute clinical environment.
• Previous experience in a relevant speciality.
• Active registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) or Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Good written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Able to supervise non-registered and less experienced staff to ensure effective service and care delivery.
• Experience of working in an acute clinical environment.
• Previous experience in a relevant speciality.
• Good knowledge of TRAK computer systems or a similar hospital computer system.

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.

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

£32,073 to £39,043 a year(pa, pro rata if part-time)