About this role
Job summary
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced Theatre Practitioner to join the Maxillofacial Surgery team as a Surgical First Assistant, primarily based at University Hospital Aintree with close links across the wider Maxillofacial service.
The Maxillofacial service provides a comprehensive range of elective and emergency care across the Aintree and Royal Liverpool sites, including facial trauma, head and neck surgery, orthognathic procedures, oral surgery, skin cancer treatment, salivary gland surgery, and complex reconstructive work. The team works collaboratively within a multidisciplinary environment alongside oncology, radiology, anaesthetics, restorative dentistry, and specialist nursing teams.
As a Surgical First Assistant, you will work closely with consultants and senior surgeons to support the delivery of safe, effective, and high-quality peri-operative care. The role involves assisting in a broad range of complex surgical procedures, including facial trauma management, reconstructive surgery, and advanced Maxillofacial interventions using specialised equipment and technology.
This is an excellent opportunity to join a highly skilled and supportive specialist team, contributing to outstanding patient care while further developing advanced surgical and peri-operative expertise within a dynamic surgical environment.
Main duties of the job Key Responsibilities
Prepare and set up specialist Maxillofacial surgical equipment, instruments, implants, and consumables, ensuring readiness for OMFS procedures. Support safe patient positioning, maintaining airway protection, pressure area care, and optimal surgical access. Assist surgeons during procedures by providing tissue retraction, maintaining haemostasis, cutting sutures and ligatures, and inserting drains as delegated. Operate specialised surgical equipment, including powered instruments, diathermy, suction devices, endoscopic equipment, and OMFS-specific instruments. Undertake skin closure using sutures or staples within agreed competencies and under appropriate delegation. Maintain aseptic technique and comply with all theatre, infection prevention, and safety standards. Demonstrate safe patient handling practices throughout the peri-operative pathway. Ensure the safe use, care, maintenance, and storage of surgical equipment. Perform peri-operative catheterisation when required and within competency and Trust policy. Apply correct draping techniques to maintain patient dignity, privacy, and a sterile field. Promote a safe, patient-centred theatre environment, demonstrating professionalism, teamwork, and compassionate care.
About us
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients.
UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.
For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.
Aintree University Hospitalis the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility.Broadgreen Hospitalis home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation.Liverpool Women's Hospitalspecialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK's largest single site maternity hospital each year. TheRoyal Liverpool University Hospitalis the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.
For roles at Liverpool Women's, visit theircareers page.
Job description Job responsibilities
Support scrub staff in preparing and setting up specialised Maxillofacial surgical equipment, ensuring all instruments, implants, and devices required for OMFS procedures are available, checked, and ready for use.
Ensure safe and appropriate patient positioning for Maxillofacial surgery, maintaining airway protection, cervical spine alignment, and pressurearea care to optimise surgical access and patient comfort.
Assist the operating surgeon throughout Maxillofacial procedures, including cutting sutures and ligatures, inserting drains, maintaining haemostasis, and providing effective tissue retraction to facilitate safe and efficient surgical progress.
Correctly prepare, handle, and operate specialised Maxillofacial surgical equipment, including intraoral endoscopes, powered instruments, diathermy units, suction devices, and OMFSspecific retractors and tools.
Apply knowledge of woundhealing principles and undertake skin closure using sutures or staples as delegated by the surgeon.
Maintain strict adherence to sterile technique and theatre protocols, ensuring aseptic practice throughout all perioperative stages.
Demonstrate safe patient handling and positioning techniques, using appropriate aids and equipment during Maxillofacial procedures.
Take responsibility for the care, safe use, and maintenance of Maxillofacial surgical equipment, ensuring all devices are used appropriately and stored correctly.
Perform perioperative catheterisation when required, in line with Trust policy and competency assessment.
Carry out correct draping techniques to maintain patient dignity, ensure privacy, and prevent contamination.
Contribute to a safe, patientcentred theatre environment, promoting high standards of care, professionalism, and compassion throughout the surgical process.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
RGN/AHP/HCS/ODP post-registration Surgical First Assistant surgical skills course
Desirable
Advanced life support extended clinical skills/assessment
Experience Essential
Demonstrable post registration experience. Familiar with care of the critically ill/unstable patient. A competent practitioner with evidence of gaining and practicing some or all of the clinical and operational skills obtained it the job description. Proven leadership and management skills Experience of working effectively within a MDT setting. Flexible approach to work. To have experience as theatre nurse within surgical theatres
Knowledge Essential
To have knowledge of change management To understand the importance of teamwork as well as being able to work autonomously with an enthusiastic and self-confident manner To be aware of the physical demands of assisting and retracting for long periods
Other Essential
To possess clinical credibility to influence across both professional and organisational boundaries Contribute to the development of teaching strategies appropriate to the learning needs of junior medical staff/colleagues Share expertise with other areas
Skills Essential
Excellent verbal and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information. Has evidence of leadership ability and how this has impacted on recent roles. Excellent interpersonal skills Demonstrate ability to work on own initiative. Demonstrate ability to prioritise with time management. Ability to manage highly complex clinical and operational situations that involve staff from all levels within the organisation, in circumstances where information is often conflicting or not fully known.
Desirable
Computer literate/skills
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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 Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address Aintree Hospital
Longmoor Lane
Liverpool
L9 7AL
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.liverpoolft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)