Healthcare Assistant - Main Theatres

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is one of the biggest trusts in the country, following the merger of Mid Essex, Basildon and Southend hospitals in April 2020.

Main area Main Theatres Grade Band 3 Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Part time

37.5 hours per week (Includes Weekends, Nights and Bank Holidays.) Job ref 390-NR-TAC-SO-7963

Site Southend Town Westcliff on Sea Salary £25,760 Per Annum (Pro Rata for Part Time) Salary period Yearly Closing 26/10/2026 23:59

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is the onlyacute hospital provider in the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS), which is a system of health and care partners working together for our local population.

Within Mid and South Essex there are 149 GP practices, operating from over 200 sites, forming 27 Primary Care Networks and one Ambulance Trust. There are also three main community and mental health service providers who work together through a community collaborative.

We collaborate with other valuable partners, including three Healthwatch organisations, nine voluntary and community sector organisations and three top tier local authorities, with seven district, borough and city councils, as well as our local universities.

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for a Healthcare Assistant to join our dedicated and dynamic Theatre team at Southend Hospital, part of Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.

As a Healthcare Assistant, you will work alongside Registered Nurses and Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs) to deliver safe, high-quality, patient-centred care within a busy theatre environment. You will play a vital role in supporting patients throughout their surgical journey while contributing to the smooth and efficient running of theatre services.

This role offers the opportunity to gain experience across a range of surgical specialties, develop specialist theatre knowledge and skills, and be part of a supportive multidisciplinary team committed to delivering excellent patient outcomes. We are passionate about staff development and will support you in building your clinical knowledge and competencies in line with the Trust's career pathways and development opportunities.

If you are enthusiastic, motivated, and committed to providing outstanding patient care, we would love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

• To undertake all tasks requested by the Registered Nurses and ODP’s in theatres.
• Assist the theatre team in the preparation of the operating theatre.
• Help assist in the safe positioning of patients in theatre, pre-peri and post-operatively.
• Provide the theatre team with consumables and equipment, as required.
• Ensure the theatre is clean and tidy.
• Ensure adequate stock of scrub room consumables. eg: Surgical Gowns, Gloves etc.
• Remove dirty trays, linen bags and clinical waste bags after each case and ensure the theatre is ready for the next case.
• Clean theatres before and after each theatre session.
• To circulate during procedures, setting up for the list as required and taking part in instrument and final swab checks.
• Undertake equipment safety checks and trouble shoot as required.

Working for our organisation

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and well being of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For more information on this varied and rewarding role, please see the attached Job Description.

We look forward to your application!

Please be aware that we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should a high number of applications be received.

Unfortunately, there is no Visa Sponsorship available for this role. Whilst we are able to employ candidates on a graduate Visa, we are unable to offer sponsorship once the graduate visa expires.

Qualifications

• Literate and numerate to secondary school standard.
• Completion of Care Certificate
• NVQ in healthcare

Experience

• Experience of working in a Health care environment
• Significant experience at band 2 level and achieved all competencies.
• Previous Theatre or hospital experience

Please be aware as per the new Immigration guidelines we cannot sponsor candidates with a salary (full time or pro Rata) under the current minimum threshold.

Please note, the selection processes at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust are in place to ensure we recruit candidates with the right skills and values, please be advised that the use of AI in applications are monitored. We remain vigilant against candidates who misuse these tools to generate an application that doesn’t accurately reflect their skills, and you will be required to declare on your application if AI has been used before submitting your application.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.

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