Apprentice Operating Department Practitioner


Company:	University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
Salary:	£25,760 - £31,157 per annum
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Derby, DE22 3NE
Job type:	Contract
Posting date:	25 Jun 2026
Closing date:	1 Aug 2026

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Summary

A Vacancy at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust.

Operating Department Practice is an exciting and rewarding career that involves working with many different patient groups undergoing a variety of anaesthetic and surgical interventions.

We have an exciting opportunity to join our successful Apprentice Operating Department Practitioner programme here at UHDB. This will be a 3 year long apprenticeship working in partnership with Staffordshire University. Your time will be spread across block placements both clinically and at the University.

The entry requirements for this apprenticeship include:

Applicants must hold maths and English functional skills level 2 or GCSE C/4 or equivalent

Care certificate or willingness to complete prior to undertaking programme

Level 3 qualification or greater study which could include;

BTEC national diploma (pass) or certificate (merit)

2 ‘A’ Levels

Access Course to health care professions (or Higher Education)

Applicants must have been resident in the UK for 3 years and have a work visa that will cover the entire length of the programme

The apprenticeship will be commencing from September 2026.

You must be able to work all shifts patterns expected of an Operating Department Practitioner and be able to work across all our hospital sites: Derby, Burton, Tamworth and Ilkeston.

You will need to be passionate, motivated and well organised. You will have a caring nature, effective communication skills and work well within a multi-disciplinary team. You will also need the physical ability to withstand long days on your feet and extensive manual handling.

ODPs have expertise in the management and maintenance of a patient safe environment within the operating department. In doing this they utilise highly specialist skills, equipment and materials to deliver a high standard of patient care. As an apprentice working at the UHDB you will learn from experienced Theatre Practitioners and members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team to ensure every patient is treated safely and with the dignity and respect they deserve, encompassing our trust values.

Why Choose UHDB?

Earn While You Learn: Get your degree paid for while receiving a competitive apprentice salary.

Diversity of Experience: From orthopaedics and obstetrics to cutting edge robotic surgery, you’ll see it all.

A Guaranteed Future: Upon successful completion and HCPC registration, you will step into a vital, highly respected profession with endless career pathways.

As a trusted organisation at the heart of our communities, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the public, patients, our own people and local partners in achieving the best of health for the local population and the communities in which they live by providing Exceptional Care Together

Our fundamental Values of Compassion, Openness and Excellence underpin how we intend to work as a Trust and the associated behaviours are becoming embedded in all aspects of how we work.

In return we will offer:

• Development opportunities, both professional and leadership development

• On-going support from recruitment to when you join our team and beyond.

• Staff benefits including employee assistance programme, discounted gym membership, onsite fitness classes, car schemes

Key Facts:

• We see on average 4810 OP appointments a day.

• We are the 4th busiest Trauma & Orthopaedic outpatients department in England – an average of 2077 per week.

• An average of 1115 patients are seen in A&Es across our network every day – 3rd largest in the country.

• Our hospitals admit an average of 195 emergency patients daily.

• Last year we undertook almost 33,700 planned surgical operations in our 57 operating theatres.

• We are one of only 7 Trusts nationally with more than 50 operating theatres.

• We carry out more than 140 elective procedures each working day.

• UHDB is a research active University Hospital with a large and varied portfolio of clinical trials and research opportunities for all staff.

Closing date: 02 July 2026

Interview date: 16 & 17 July 2026

Working under the direction of the registered practitioners working in the operating department, develop, establish and maintain communication effectively and clearly with dignity and respect and always in a courteous manner, especially during stressful and emergency situations.

Complete the apprenticeship standards for the operating department practice degree apprenticeship including all academic and clinical components.

Provide effective communication between wards, departments, and medical teams; develop negotiating and reassuring skills to overcome barriers to poor communication.

Working with the university education provider and the clinical placement areas, develop the skills and knowledge to recognise role in the theatre multidisciplinary team, contributing to the delivery of safe, secure and quality patient centred care.

Frequent physical accuracy and manual dexterity is required to deliver clinical care. Moving and handling of individuals and equipment. Ability to stand for long periods of time in limited spaces. Highly developed precision and hand and eye coordination.

Develop professional integrity, maintaining a professional approach whilst working in challenging, distressing and emotional situations.

When faced with stressful and traumatic situation, can offer support to individuals.

Please see attached Job description and Person Specification. To apply please click APPLY FOR THIS JOB – this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site. You will need to register if you do not already have an account.

UHDB is committed to fair and transparent recruitment. We welcome authentic applications that reflect your own skills, experience and motivations for the role. While we understand that candidates may use AI tools for grammar, formatting or accessibility purposes, applications that appear to be substantially AI‑generated may be subject to additional review. If this applies to your submission, we will let you know and may ask for clarification. Please ensure your application accurately represents your experience and is written in your own words.

Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa, please click on the link to check your eligibility before applying for this post as we may be unable to provide sponsorshipImpacts of the changes to the UK immigration policy | NHS Employers

Your application (for shortlisting purposes) is assessed based on the Person Specification in the job advert (below).

This advert closes on Thursday 2 Jul 2026

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