Band 5 Recovery​/PACU Practitioner

An exciting opportunity has opened up for Band 5 Recovery Practitioners on our fast‑paced Recovery Units. If you are working as a Band 5 in Recovery/PACU or have experience in Surgery/Critical Care or A&E and wish to move to Theatres, we want you.

We are located in our new Acute Services Block, which offers state‑of‑the‑art facilities, eight new theatres (two hybrid for interventional work including major vascular) and a 14‑bed Recovery Unit for first‑stage post‑operative care. The 21‑theatre complex handles orthopaedics, trauma, ENT, urology, ophthalmology, general surgery, colorectal, breast, bariatric, head & neck (regional expertise) and robotics, and will add major/interventional vascular surgery from April.

Applicants must be able to work core hours, nights and weekends.

Safe, timely, person‑centred care for patients in the immediate post‑operative period is essential, including monitoring, symptom control, wound care and communication with patients, relatives and multidisciplinary team members.

• Monitor patients during the immediate post‑operative period.
• Administer medications for symptom control, manage wounds and perform other patient care activities.
• Inform Senior Practitioners of any incidents or problems and participate in investigations.
• Ensure all equipment is safe and ready for immediate use, reporting defects promptly.
• Participate in stock level evaluation, ordering and unpacking of supplies.
• Advocate for patients, ensuring their safety, well‑being and dignity.
• Assess patient anxiety or discomfort and provide reassurance or other actions as necessary.
• Participate in patient safety initiatives directed by the Theatre Services Operational Manager and Senior Practitioners.
• Uphold patient confidentiality at all times.
• Enter accurate and timely patient information into the Theatre Management System.

• Manage allocated patients during the shift.
• Supervise, mentor and support staff and students, providing delegation, guidance, training, support and feedback.
• Plan the duty rota and maintain flexibility to ensure department cover.
• Ensure compliance with professional, ethical, Trust and local theatre guidelines.

• Attend mandatory annual updates of Manual Handling, Fire, Basic Life Support and other statutory training programmes.
• Participate proactively in the Trust’s Individual Performance Review (IPR) and Personal Development Plan (PDP).
• Undertake additional in‑service training as required to meet Trust protocols and procedures, bringing relevant information back to the department for discussion and implementation.
• Maintain skills, knowledge and ability through team rotations and completion of competencies for the Band 5 role.
• Train all learners allocated to the department during clinical placements, including practical demonstrations and teaching sessions.

• Provide holistic, evidence‑based care in the Theatre Suite as part of the multidisciplinary team.
• Comply with Trust protocols, policies and local theatre guidelines.
• Ensure patients and carers receive necessary support and information.
• Promote the right of parents and guardians to accompany children to the operating theatre.
• Maintain a calm, courteous and efficient manner at all times.
• Report all accidents, incidents and complaints according to agreed policies and assist in investigations.
• Adhere to legislation relating to patient information, including the Data Protection Act.
• Uphold the NMC and HPC codes of professional conduct and meet CPD and registration standards.

Established experience in Recovery or related areas (Surgical/Critical Care or A&E). Registered staff from other areas may be considered based on experience.

Ability to communicate effectively with staff at all levels and with patients (and relatives or carers) who may have complex health care needs, sensory, communication, physical, mental or language challenges.

Evidence of excellent interpersonal skills and written and verbal communication skills.

Complaints procedure training.

• Sound knowledge of recovery, theatre practice and peri‑operative issues.
• Working…