Job summary
- Main area
- Operating theatres NGH
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 190-0508-DIR
- Employer
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Northern General Hospital
- Town
- Sheffield
- Salary
- £37,338 - £44,962 pa/pro rata for part time staff
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 06/07/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 21/07/2025
Employer heading

Surgical First Assistant/Senior Practitioner Generals
NHS AfC: Band 6
We are committed to helping our staff balance their work and home lives and ensure they feel supported, valued and appreciated so whilst you care for our patients and clients, we’ll take care of you. We offer many different ways of helping staff including career development opportunities, flexible working, good annual leave and pension schemes , health and wellbeing packages and financial support systems. Joining the Trust also allows you access to a number of saving options via our salary sacrifice schemes and a wide range of discount opportunities with retailers and service providers.
Job overview
We have an excellent and exciting opportunity for a highly motivated and suitably experienced Senior Practitioner/Sister/Charge nurse to Operating Services at Northern General Hospital
We are looking for dynamic, enthusiastic, committed and aspirational people who want to do a good job and fulfil their own personal objectives and goals and make a difference to patients and the staff alike.
As we are a highly skilled area you will get support and be mentored into success. There are opportunities for promotions and training and courses you can attend to gain knowledge and qualifications to aid your practice and maintain high standards.
Applications are invited from Operating Department Practitioners who have extensive experience in Theatres.
Candidates must be able to demonstrate clinical expertise and management and leadership skills. It would be expected that applicants would be able to demonstrate excellent skills in clinical practice and organisational ability, together with superb communication and interpersonal skill.
Main duties of the job
- The post holder will undertake the role of surgical first assistant or undertake the required study assistant in Robotic and Open surgery.
- Incorporate evidence/research-based practice.
- Recognise the rights, dignity and confidentiality of the patient, staff and visitors.
- Co-operate with staff from other departments to develop effective channels of communication and to provide a safe and caring environment.
- Have a working understanding of the seamless surgery process.
- The post holder may assist/ undertake audits to ensure that the service provision complies with agreed clinical standards, policies and procedures.
- To promote innovation in clinical practice by obtaining, evaluating and disseminating information to support clinical decision making.
- Empower and motivate team members to develop their skills and knowledge.
- Initiate and respond to change in a positive, flexible and strategic manner.
- Develop a conducive learning environment.
- Ensure the maintenance of accurate records.
- The post holder may be asked at the discretion of the Nurse Director to work in any Unit of the Trust, as required.
- The postholder is required to manage frequent interruptions of an unpredictable/urgent nature that require an immediate response. The peri-operative process involves frequent exposure to highly unpleasant working conditions.
Working for our organisation
You will be working for an organisation which values and respects all its staff and the community it serves. The Trust is a leader in the NHS and research sectors and provides excellent benefits for its staff. This includes commitments to professional development but also many policies to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.
We are open and honest to feedback and encourage our staff to get on board to help us make the changes and improvements we need to improve patient care and encourage their positive experience.
We take staff health and well being seriously and have link staff to assist you throughout the trust as well as offering a range of health and wellbeing services available to support you in your personal life as well as your work.
We want to look after our staff and create a positive environment and together we can achieve a department that continues to be successful.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.
When completing your application please ensure that you clearly demonstrate how you meet the role criteria.
Person specification
Special Skills/Aptitudes
Essential criteria
- Manual dexterity
- Ability to work as a member of a team.
- IT skills
- Ability to work under pressure
Desirable criteria
- Ability to provide training for other staff groups including junior staff and students
Further Training
Essential criteria
- Will be expected to undertake further professional development courses as defined by role
Experience
Essential criteria
- Considerable experience working in General Surgery Operating Theatre
Desirable criteria
- Previous Robotic experience
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- RGN/ODP
- Professional education to Degree level
- Current NMC/HCPC Registration
- To have completed the national practice assessor training or equivalent teaching and assessing qualification for those with ENB998.
Desirable criteria
- Evidence of ongoing professional development
- Level 6 programme of study for surgical first assistant open and Robotic
- Postgraduate Certificate
Other Factors
Essential criteria
- Excellent communication skills
Desirable criteria
- Completion of relevant university study and Intuitive Surgical First Assist Training
- Completion of Robotic First Assist competences
Applicant requirements
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Sinead Peckham
- Job title
- Lead Practitioner
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0114 2714819
- Additional information
List jobs with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Nursing and Midwifery or all sectors