Surgical First Assistant

Main area Surgery and Families Division Grade NHS AfC: Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (can cover 7 day working week) Job ref 331-8195153-UHMB

Employer University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Town Kendal Salary Holds SFA qualification or working towards Closing 07/10/2026 23:59

Surgical First Assistant

NHS AfC: Band 6

''Creating a great place to be cared for and a great place to work''

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay has a firm commitment to strengthening the diversity of our workforce, and therefore welcome and encourage applications from likeminded people who can support our ambition to become effortlessly inclusive. We are particularly keen to hear from protected groups – including BAME, LGBT+ and people with a disability.

Job overview

We are seeking a highly motivated and experiencedSurgical First Assistant (SFA) to join our dynamic Theatre Team. This is an exciting opportunity for a registered healthcare professional with recognised Surgical First Assistant qualifications to play a vital role in delivering safe, effective, and high-quality perioperative care across a range of surgical specialties.

As an integral member of the multidisciplinary team, you will work closely with surgeons, anaesthetists, and theatre colleagues to support patients throughout their surgical journey. You will provide skilled intraoperative assistance, contributing to excellent patient outcomes and helping to maintain the highest standards of care.

Main duties of the job

As a Surgical First Assistant, you will:

• Provide competent and safe surgical first assistance during operative procedures.
• Assist the operating surgeon with tissue handling, haemostasis, wound closure, and other delegated tasks within your scope of practice.
• Maintain and promote high standards of patient care and safety within the operating theatre environment.
• Work collaboratively with the wider multidisciplinary team to support efficient theatre utilisation.
• Ensure compliance with professional, organisational, and national standards, policies, and guidelines.
• Contribute to teaching, mentoring, and supporting junior team members and learners.
• Participate in clinical governance, audit, quality improvement, and service development activities.

Working for our organisation

We operatefrom three main hospitals-Furness General Hospital (FGH) in Barrow, the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI), and Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) in Kendal, as well as a number of community healthcare premises including Millom Hospital and GP Practice, Queen Victoria Hospital in Morecambe, andUlverstonCommunity Health Centre.

FGH and the RLI have a range of General Hospital services, with full Emergency Departments, Critical/Coronary Care units and various Consultant-led services.

WGH provides a range of General Hospital services, together with an Urgent Treatment Centre, that can help with a range of non-life threatening conditions such as broken bones and minor illnesses.

All three main hospitals provide a range of planned care including outpatients, diagnostics, therapies,daycase and inpatient surgery. In addition, a range of local outreach services and diagnostics are provided from community facilities across Morecambe Bay.

Our Community Service for adults are provided in people's homes ,community centres, clinics, GP Practices, community hospitals. Our aim is to work with people to help them remain independent , improve their health and manage their conditions through high quality care , advice and support.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further details on the advertised position and the principal job duties/responsibilities, please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification found under the supporting documents section. Additional information about the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay can be accessed on our website.

Person specification

Education and qualifications

• 1st level Registered Nurse or Registered ODP.
• Completion of the First Assistant Course Level 1
• Post qualification experience working as a scrub practitioner
• Teaching / mentoring qualification / assessors qualification or equivalent (or willingness to undertake).
• Evidence of recent professional development in relevant clinical speciality
• Recent leadership development or willingness towards a leadership qualification
• Royal College of Surgeons Basic Surgical Skills Course (or willingness to undertake)

Experience

• Experience as a scrub practitioner within perioperative care.
• Able to assume a lead clinical role as appropriate
• Experience of implementing change management.
• Experience of Clinical skills and competent in required surgical skills as defined by the Perioperative Care Collaboration Surgical First Assistant scope of practice (2018).
• Experience of being able to work autonomously and as part of a team with a proven ability to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of own and others
• Experience in leading clinical teams and coordinating resources
• Proven experience of working as a Surgical First Assistant in the theatre environment.

The Trust promotes flexible working opportunities where ever possible to enable staff to balance their work and home life. We are committed to Equal Opportunities and aim to be EffortlesslyInclusive .

The Trust operates a No Smoking Policy.

We reserve the right to close a job advert early where sufficient applications have been received.

We do not offer interview expenses to shortlisted candidates unless indicated in the advert.

If the post is subject to Disclosure & Barring Service checking, (formally CRB) a charge of £49.50 for Enhanced and £21.50 for Standard clearance and additional to this a £4.90 administration fee will be made to the successful candidate(s). This currently only applies to roles Band 6 and above and Medical & Dental posts.

Anyone newly appointed to the trust under the Agenda For Change contract, will be subject to the completion of a satisfactory 4 month probationary period. This will give the new staff member an opportunity to become familiar with the role and working environment.

We have introduced a new system called Pre-Onboarding, specifically to support you right the way through to your first few months in your new role with us atUHMB. This bespoke site has lots of useful information to help you settle into your new role including: what to expect from the recruitment clearances process, where to get a uniform, when you'll get paid etc. As well as information on a number of our services i.e. Infection Prevention, Anti-fraud, Inclusion and Diversity, Care Certificates and much more. To access click on this link https://www.uhmb.nhs.uk/uhmbt-pre-onboarding .

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.