About this role
Job summary
We're hosting a recruitment event on 22nd October 2026 for Band 5 Theatre Practitioners to join our team at Whiston Hospital and St Helens Hospital!
Candidates will be required to hold NMC/HCPC registration at the time of application. This event is by invitation only and candidates must be able to attend in-person on the day.
Due to current service demands, we are only able to consider applicants who have relevant UK experience. Candidates must also be available to commence employment immediately or within a very short timeframe. We regret that we cannot progress applications that do not meet these essential requirements.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will gain experience in General Surgery, Urology, Trauma and Orthopaedics, Burns and Plastics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and be exposed to a busy Emergency and Trauma Theatre.
As a Theatre Practitioner you would be expected to adapt to both Scrub and Anaesthetic duties on the department. You will be responsible and professionally accountable for working within the HCPC/NMC 'Scope of Professional Practice'. For the provision, delivery and maintenance of high quality, best practice individualised perioperative patient care under the supervision of the theatre Team Leader.
The post demands a research-based approach to underpin clinical decisions and actively contribute to supporting provision, delivery and maintenance of a safe, effective and efficient perioperative clinical environment.
The post holder will work across the 2 theatre sites and is responsible as a team member of the operating department to actively contribute to achieving improvement in services and key performance indicators for the Care group/Trust. Having experience working in anaesthetics is essential to this post, as a ODP or RGN with a post registration anaesthetic qualification.
About us
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 10,500 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.
We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.
Our services:
Acute Care
Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
Primary Care
Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
Community Services
Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.
Specialist Regional Services
We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.
Achievements:
Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018 Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal) National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme
Job description Job responsibilities
Please ensure you have read through the attached Job Description and Person Specification before submitting your application.
Advertising date: 9th September 2026
Closing date: 16th September 2026
Shortlisting date: 23rd September 2026
Proposed Interview date: 22nd October 2026
Please note, this post may close earlier than advertised if a sufficient number of applications are received.
Person Specification
Values Essential
We are kind We are open We are inclusive
Qualifications Essential
Registered Nurse/Operating Department Practitioner with current NMC or HCPC Registration
Desirable
Relevant diploma or degree, or working towards Teaching and assessing/mentoring qualification Related ENB/Theatre courses
Knowledge Essential
Knowledge of clinical skills required to undertake the role Knowledge of current professional & clinical issues Knowledge of Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults procedures
Desirable
Substantial post registration experience Substantial post registration experience within an acute hospital setting
Skills Essential
Excellent communication skills Excellent time management, record management and organisational skills Ability to work well in a multi-disciplinary team
Other Essential
Motivated individual, commitment to personal & professional development Flexible and adaptable approach
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Address Whiston Hospital
Warrington Road
Prescot
L35 5DR
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)