Surgical First Assistant​/Senior Theatre Practitioner

Surgical First Assistant/ Senior Theatre Practitioner

Employer:

NHS Jobs

Location:

Manchester, M20 4BX

Pay:

£38,682.00 to £46,580.00 per year

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hours:

Full time

Disability Confident:

No

Closing Date:

22/02/2026

• Clinical delivery of peri‑operative patient care needs and planning of care delivery according to changing healthcare needs / technology and varying levels of complexity.

Maintain accurate patient records and theatre documentation.

Work collaboratively with other professionals and departments to ensure patient care needs are met.

When undertaking the SFA role, a current Patient/Procedure Logbook must be maintained.

SFA skills:
The practitioner will provide competent assistance under the direct supervision of the operating surgeon, without clinical intervention.

The scope of practice of the SFA is based upon the roles and responsibilities of the SFA as stipulated within Perioperative Care Collaborative Position statement 2018 (or subsequent amended versions). Which includes:

• Assisting with patient positioning, including tissue viability assessment.
• Skin preparation and draping prior to surgery.
• Superficial skin and tissue retraction with cutting of superficial sutures.
• Handling of tissue and manipulation of organs for exposure or access.
• Nerve and deep tissue retraction (The SFA can only move or place retractors under the direct supervision of the operating surgeon).
• Cutting of deep sutures and ligatures under direct supervision of the operating surgeon.
• Assisting with haemostasis to secure and maintain a clear operating field including indirect application of surgical diathermy by the surgeon.
• Use of suction as guided by the operating surgeon.
• Camera manipulation for minimally invasive access surgery.
• Application of dressings as required.

Possessing knowledge and understanding of stages of operative procedures, and of anatomy and physiology, to provide skilled anticipatory assistance to the Surgeon.

The SFA is required to maintain focused, calm, competent assistance during surgical procedures, inclusive of complex procedures / environmental stresses whereby there is increased risk of stress or mental tiredness.

SFA extended scope of practice:
The following extended scope of practice will only apply to the practitioner who has undertaken further formal academic training as stipulated within the Perioperative Care Collaborative position statement (2018). A credit bearing course or attendance to an approved surgical skills course.

• Administration of prescribed local anaesthesia in superficial layers.
• Suturing of skin layers.
• Suturing and securing wound drains.
• Superficial haemostasis including surgical diathermy.

Robotic

Skills:

The following scope of practice will only apply to the practitioner who has undertaken completion of local Robotic in‑house training.

• Assist with the insertion of secondary ports, and to be able to safely extract ports when requested.
• Maintain vision of the surgical site, including insertion and handling of endoscopic camera.
• Assist in the process of docking/undocking the Robot and positioning of the Da Vinci Robotic arms.
• Insertion and removal of the Da Vinci instruments under vision and supervision of the operating surgeon.
• Endoscopic retraction of tissues.
• Insertion, cutting and removal of sutures from the pneumoperitoneal cavity.
• Insertion and removal of swabs from the pneumoperitoneal cavity and application of haemostatic agents where required to support haemostasis.
• Within robotic surgery under direct supervision of the operating surgeon, apply endoclips / hem‑oloks as appropriate.
• Insert and retrieve specimen bags into pneumoperitoneum when requested.
• When uterine manipulation is required, the assistant must provide competent assistance in manipulation, including safe extraction of device and vaginal extraction of specimen.
• When required, handle and insert appropriate drain via robotic port, secure in place by suturing.

Leadership / Management

Support the perioperative team in the organisation associated with the daily workload of an operating list.

Assist the Senior Theatre Sister in ensuring the effective and efficient use of physical and financial resources, new…