Job summary
Join Our Dedicated Theatre Team as a Theatre Support Worker
Are you passionate about making a real difference in people's lives? Whether you're new to care or looking for a career change, this is an exciting opportunity to join our supportive and dynamic healthcare team as a Theatre Support Worker.
We're looking for enthusiastic individuals with a caring nature and a willingness to learn.
As a Theatre Support Worker, you'll play a vital role in supporting our theatre staff and patients throughout their surgical journey. Excellent communication skills are essential, as you'll be working closely with our qualified theatre team and directly supporting patients.
Main duties of the job
Your responsibilities will include:
- Assisting with patient check-in, monitoring, and completing documentation
- Supporting theatre staff during procedures, including circulating and assisting with counts
- Cleaning and restocking theatres between cases to ensure readiness
- Transferring patients safely on beds, trolleys, or wheelchairs across hospital departments
This is a physically active role and includes working nights and weekends.
We are committed to helping you grow -- with excellent opportunities for career progression for the right candidates.
Application GuidanceIn your supporting statement, please include:
- Your understanding of how the role Theatre Support Workers play in patient care
- The personal qualities and skills you would bring to the role
- A full history of your employment and education
If you are committed to delivering high-quality care and want to build a rewarding career in healthcare, we'd love to hear from you.
About us
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 and 2024 NHS Staff Survey.
We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre.
Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day-care beds, diagnostic services (X-ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms.
Looking for flexible working?
We are a flexible working-friendly organisation. Whether it's adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.
Click here to hear what our staff say.
Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:
o At least 27 days of annual leave plus public/bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time staff).o Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with a 20.6% employer contribution and life assurance benefitso Blue Light card eligibilityo Additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below
Job description
Job responsibilities
Weve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children).
All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date had been agreed.
Following your Corporate Induction you will be expected to attend the Trusts Clinical Induction Programme for Clinical Support Workers (which starts on the first day of employment). The programme is full-time (please contact the CSW Induction Programme Lead if this is going to be problematic: rallen@nhs.net),lasts for two weeks and will involve travelling to both Trust sites. The programme includes 2 supernumerary shifts in the clinical area (an early and a late shift),all of the other days are classroom-based and run from 9am to 5pm.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Weve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children).
All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date had been agreed.
Following your Corporate Induction you will be expected to attend the Trusts Clinical Induction Programme for Clinical Support Workers (which starts on the first day of employment). The programme is full-time (please contact the CSW Induction Programme Lead if this is going to be problematic: rallen@nhs.net),lasts for two weeks and will involve travelling to both Trust sites. The programme includes 2 supernumerary shifts in the clinical area (an early and a late shift),all of the other days are classroom-based and run from 9am to 5pm.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Functional skills English and maths level 1 or GCSE English and maths grade G/1 or above.
Desirable
- Functional skills English and maths level 2 or GCSE English and maths grades A*/9 - C/4.
- The Care Certificate
- NVQ/Diploma level 2 in Healthcare (competencies assessed in a healthcare environment) or equivalent healthcare qualification, e.g. successful completion of a level 2 Healthcare Support Worker apprenticeship.
Experience
Essential
- Insight into role and responsibilities of post.
- Able to describe the importance of delivering high quality care to patients.
- Knowledge of the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers and Adult Social Care Workers (2013).
Desirable
- NHS experience
- Knowledge of current healthcare issues
- Full- time equivalent experience as a healthcare support worker or trainee in a care setting
Skills
Essential
- Ability to work within the multidisciplinary team
- Demonstrates ability to use own initiative
- Effective & concise communication skills demonstrated.
- Reliability and flexibility
- Can understand and communicate factual information correctly
- Good interpersonal skills
- Basic information and communications technology (ICT) skills.
- Ability to prioritise workload with supervision.
Desirable
- Organisational skills
- Experience to take delegated responsibility
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Functional skills English and maths level 1 or GCSE English and maths grade G/1 or above.
Desirable
- Functional skills English and maths level 2 or GCSE English and maths grades A*/9 - C/4.
- The Care Certificate
- NVQ/Diploma level 2 in Healthcare (competencies assessed in a healthcare environment) or equivalent healthcare qualification, e.g. successful completion of a level 2 Healthcare Support Worker apprenticeship.
Experience
Essential
- Insight into role and responsibilities of post.
- Able to describe the importance of delivering high quality care to patients.
- Knowledge of the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers and Adult Social Care Workers (2013).
Desirable
- NHS experience
- Knowledge of current healthcare issues
- Full- time equivalent experience as a healthcare support worker or trainee in a care setting
Skills
Essential
- Ability to work within the multidisciplinary team
- Demonstrates ability to use own initiative
- Effective & concise communication skills demonstrated.
- Reliability and flexibility
- Can understand and communicate factual information correctly
- Good interpersonal skills
- Basic information and communications technology (ICT) skills.
- Ability to prioritise workload with supervision.
Desirable
- Organisational skills
- Experience to take delegated responsibility
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.
