Senior Healthcare Support Worker - Theatres | Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (BFT)


Company:	North Bristol NHS
Salary:	£24,937 - £26,598 per annum, pro rata
Hours:	Part-time
Location:	Bristol, BS10 5NB
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	4 Sept 2026
Closing date:	4 Oct 2026

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Summary

We're seeking experienced Healthcare Support Workers to join our Operating Theatres at NBT!

In this role, you will be an integral member of a multidisciplinary team, supporting Scrub Practitioners, Operating Department Practitioners, Surgeons, and Anaesthetists. You will work in highly technical operating theatres, caring for patients whilst they are undergoing a variety surgical procedures.

You will also be involved in the preparation and maintenance of the theatre throughout the operating list, cleaning and infection control procedures.

The role is demanding; the right candidate will demonstrate exemplary professionalism, with the resilience to care for patients in high pressured environments.

Your tasks will include:

• Communicating with the whole theatre team including participating in team safety briefs

• Ensuring good infection control procedures are being followed

• Preparing the theatre before procedures, cleaning the theatres between procedures and at the end of the day

• Understanding the equipment that is being used and being able to position and check it correctly

• Collecting and instruments checking disposable items with a registered practitioner that will be used during surgery

• Assisting the scrub practitioner to prepare the instruments ready for surgery including taking part in essential safety checks

• Helping with the safe collection of clinical specimens

• Assisting with patient documentation

• Participating in all aspects of the patient’s care such as correctly positioning them for surgery, maintaining their privacy and dignity, keeping them warm and safe during surgery

• Sitting and talking with patients who are undergoing procedures under local anaesthetic as a way of supporting and reassuring them

• Helping ensure that patient safety is at the heart of all we do in theatres

The successful candidate should be enthusiastic about their ongoing development and will need to be either willing to work towards or already have achieved their Level 3 NVQ/ QCF Diploma in Healthcare.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. 

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

For a full overview of the Job Description, please refer to the PDF Job Description attached as an additional document to this advert.

• Deliver clinical and therapeutic care to patients as required within set protocols/policies and within the scope of the Health Care Support Worker remit.

• Participate in patient assessment (with direct supervision and after appropriate delegation from the Registered Practitioner/Assistant Practitioner), to deliver high standards of care.

• Perform area specific clinical competencies to enhance the delivery of patient care/therapy.

• Under supervision follow individual care treatment plans, and report any changes immediately to the Registered Practitioner/Assistant Practitioner.

• Work effectively as part of a team.

• Maintain effective communication with patients, relatives and members of the Multidisciplinary team regarding all aspects of care demonstrating a variety of communication skills in accordance with the patient group.

• Contribute to clear concise patient records and documentation adhering to national standards and trust policies and procedures.

• Obtain consent prior to giving care/therapy in accordance with Trust Consent Policy.

• Provide information to other members of the Multi-disciplinary team on the care/therapy provided.

• Undertake transfer/escort of patients from one area to another after appropriate delegation from the Registered Practitioner within their scope of practice.

• Provide clinical care/therapy in accordance with infection prevention and health and safety policies and procedures.

• Promote Health Education specific to the clinical area and in line with national and local policies.

• Initiate and participate with cardio-pulmonary resuscitation procedures

Environment Support

• Ensure clinical area is prepared and maintained as appropriate to individual patient needs.

• Maintain the work environment in line with Trust Infection prevention and Health and Safety policies.

• Identify requirements for and availability of equipment stores, CSSD as appropriate for patients clinical care/ therapy.

• Identify and take appropriate action when equipment malfunctions.

• Identify potential risk issues, which could affect the patients’ health or social care needs

Professional

• Be familiar and comply with all Trust Policies and Procedures.

• Act at all times in a manner, which illustrates respect for privacy, dignity and confidentiality.

• Exhibit professional behaviour and attitude at all times, and demonstrate excellent customer care skills and ensure actions support equality and diversity.

• Act within limits of own competence, ensuring actions support care, protection and wellbeing of others.

• Maintain responsibility for the identification of own continuing educational and development needs, including audits of own work practice. Formulate a personal development plan, and participate in the annual appraisal process.

• Ensure all required mandatory training is undertaken in line with Trust policy.

• Participate where needed, during investigations relating to incidents involving patients and/or staff

Administration

• Use IT systems for e.g. data collection, patient records, information and treatment investigative requests.

• Effectively utilise resources within departmental budgetary requirements.

• Ensure that correct procedures are followed in the event of an incident or accident involving patients, staff or visitors.

• Participate in ward and departmental meetings.

• Participate in the induction and orientation of newly appointed staff, learners and other visitors to the ward/dept.

• Ensure safe custody, return or disposal of patient’s property in accordance with Trust Policies.

This advert closes on Friday 18 Sep 2026

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