Theatre Support Worker - Ophthalmology

NHS; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in York seeks a compassionate Theatre Support Worker for their dynamic Theatre Teams. Responsible for patient care, assisting practitioners, and ensuring theatre operations run smoothly, this role requires effective communication skills and an understanding of patient-centered care. Candidates will complete a Healthcare Support Worker Academy followed by in-depth training. Competitive salary and various benefits offered, including a relocation package and NHS Pension scheme.

Benefits

Access to NHS Pension Scheme

27 days holiday rising to 33 days

Generous relocation package

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work scheme

Learning and development opportunities

Discounts on various services

Qualifications

• Ability to work in a team and support patient care.

Responsibilities

• Support patients to make choices about care.
• Collect and escort patients to theatre.
• Inform practitioners of patient concerns.
• Dispose of bodily fluids and assist with patient procedures.
• Restock supplies and maintain equipment.

Skills

Understanding of patient-centered care

Effective written and verbal communication

Ability to prioritise tasks

Compassionate and caring individual

Education

Literacy and numeracy skills to Level 1 (GCSE Grade 2-3, D-F or equivalent)

Job description

Theatre Support Worker - Ophthalmology

Go back York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 28 December 2025

Are you a compassionate and caring individual who prides themselves on patient care and working in a team?

We are looking for someone to join our Theatre Teams as a Theatre Support Worker.

Our department is fast paced and dynamic with no two days the same. Once you have completed your 4 week Healthcare Support Worker Academy, you will complete extensive training in department across a supernumerary period with support from our 2 in house clinical educators. You will be supported to complete a theatres skills book to be able to give our patients the best care possible.

Our shift pattern is Mon to Fri 8am - 6pm, and occasionally there is an 8am - 8pm shift.

This role is a Band 2 post, running through to a Band 3 post upon attaining 1-year's experience in a Theatre Health Care Support Worker role, with completion of a HCSW Theatre Department Skills training program.

Please note this vacancy is for our Theatres at our York site. If you would like to apply for Scarborough Hospital or other departments, please visit our Trust website using the link below:

Vacancies at York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

We encourage you to watch the following video by clicking here.

Main duties of the job

• Supporting patients to make choices about their care and ensure that those choices are respected.
• Collect patients from the ward and escort them to theatre, act as the 3rd person in the anaesthetic room.
• Inform the registered practitioner of any concerns that you may have regarding the patient so that they can assess the patient in a timely manner.
• Dispose of bodily fluids, soiled linen, spillages etc in accordance with Trust policy and guidelines.
• Support patients who are undergoing procedures patients, both physically and psychologically during and after.
• Act as a messenger and porter for supplies, specimens, records and equipment or any other items required for patient care.
• Assist the registered practitioner with and support patients through admission, transfer and discharge.
• Support in assisting in the provision of basic life support skills procedures as per Trust policy.
• Assist as required in the restocking of supplies and maintenance of equipment, reporting any issues to the registered practitioner.
• Adhere to standards and procedures that ensure the effective and efficient use of resources.
• Keep areas clutter free.

About us

Trust Information Pack:

• Access to the NHS Pension Scheme, providing generous benefits upon retirement, as well as a lump sum and pension for dependants
• 27 days holiday rising to 33 days (depending on NHS Trust service)
• A generous relocation package of up to 30% of salary (capped at £18k) to support with relocation expenses for hard to fill positions where relocation would be an expectation to undertake the role fully. If you would like to discuss a potential relocation package, please speak to the recruiting department/manager.
• A variety of different types of paid and unpaid leave covering emergency and planned leave
• Confidential advice and support on personal, work, family and relationship issues, 24/7, from our Employee Assistance Programme
• NHS Car Lease scheme and Cycle to Work scheme
• An extensive range of learning and development opportunities
• Discounts on restaurants, getaways, shopping, motoring, cinema and finance from a range of providers

Please note, if you are under 18 or interested in completing an Apprenticeship please contact us at [e-mail].

Job responsibilities

Please note this advert may close early if a high number of applications are received, we advise you to submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

Interviews for this position will be held in person ONLY at the hospital site. Remote interviews will not be available.

Interested candidates are encouraged to make contact with the Recruiting Manager to have an informal discussion about the role.

A full description of the role is available in the attachment: job description.

You must be able to commit to our Full Time HCSW Academy for the first 4 weeks of your employment with our Trust. This must be within 3 months of your interview date. Please note our HCSW Academy takes place at our training site in Holgate, York and you must be able to transport yourself to this site (public transport is available).

Working for the Trust

Across our organisation, people are guided by values that were co‑developed with staff: we are kind; we are open; and we pursue excellence.

Our values play into our ambition to develop a more diverse workforce, truly representative of our communities. We welcome applications from everyone, while working with our Staff Networks - including our Race Equality, LGBTQ+, Disability and Carers Networks - to increase the number of applications we receive from different backgrounds. If there is anything we can do to make our application process more accessible to you, please contact: [e-mail].

As part of seeking to become more inclusive, we will consider requests for flexible working from the start of your employment. It may not be suitable for every role, but we will try and be supportive where we can. We would encourage you to speak to the recruiting manager named within this advert to discuss any requirements you may have.

Armed Forces Friendly Employer

We are holders of the Gold Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, which is helping actively promote SaBRE - Supporting Britains Reservists and Employers. This means that we have made a statement of intent to support all Defence personnel, including with applications for employment.

Person Specification

Education & Qualifications

• Literacy and numeracy skills to Level 1 (GCSE Grade 2-3, D-F or equivalent).

Experience

• Understanding of patient-centered care and the role of the THCSW
• Ability to prioritise tasks
• Demonstrable effective written and verbal communication skills
• Experience in a health or social care setting

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.

Employer name

York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

£24,465 to £26,598 a year per annum/pro rata