Job summary
Surgical First Assistant - Colorectal Surgery UnitLiverpool University Hospital
Liverpool University Hospital offers an exciting opportunity for an experienced theatre practitioner to apply for the role of Surgical First Assistant in the Colorectal Surgery Unit. The role involves working across both Royal Liverpool Hospital and University Hospital Aintree sites.
The inpatient wards are based at both hospitals--Royal Liverpool Hospital with 28 beds for colorectal patients and Aintree with 8 beds. Both hospitals also offer day case and outpatient services.
The unit treats conditions such as colorectal cancers, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), and complex pelvic surgeries. It manages numerous complex cases annually with a multidisciplinary team, collaborating with oncology, dieticians, stoma care specialists, and more. The colorectal team also works with other surgical departments, offering advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgeries.
Core activities include trauma, emergency, and elective colorectal surgeries. The Surgical First Assistant will support the surgical teams and work closely with consultants to ensure high-quality care.
The unit has regular access to three robotic lists at Royal Liverpool and one robotic list at Aintree with the da Vinci single-port robot, the first of its kind in the NHS.
This is a fantastic opportunity to join a dynamic, fast-paced team.
Main duties of the job
- Assist scrub staff in setting up specialized equipment for colorectal surgeries.
- Ensure the safe positioning of patients for optimal surgical access and comfort.
- Support the operating surgeon with tasks such as cutting sutures, ligatures, inserting drains, securing hemostasis, and retracting tissues to the highest standards.
- Correctly handle and operate specialized colorectal surgical equipment, including laparoscopic instruments, endoscopes, diathermy units, staplers, and other tools.
- Understand wound healing principles and perform skin closure using sutures or stapling techniques as directed by the surgeon.
- Follow sterile procedures and theatre protocols to maintain a sterile environment.
- Demonstrate safe patient handling and positioning, using appropriate aids and equipment during colorectal surgeries.
- Take responsibility for the care and maintenance of surgical equipment, ensuring its safe and effective use.
- Perform peri-operative catheterization when required.
- Practice proper draping techniques to ensure patient privacy and prevent contamination.
- Contribute to creating a safe, patient-centered environment that prioritizes well-being throughout the surgical process.
About us
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients.
UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.
For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.
Aintree University Hospitalis the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility.Broadgreen Hospitalis home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation.Liverpool Women's Hospitalspecialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK's largest single site maternity hospital each year. TheRoyal Liverpool University Hospitalis the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.
For roles at Liverpool Women's, visit theircareers page.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Assist scrub staff in setting up specialized equipment for colorectal surgeries.
- Ensure the safe positioning of patients for optimal surgical access and comfort.
- Support the operating surgeon with tasks such as cutting sutures, ligatures, inserting drains, securing hemostasis, and retracting tissues to the highest standards.
- Correctly handle and operate specialized colorectal surgical equipment, including laparoscopic instruments, endoscopes, diathermy units, staplers, and other tools.
- Understand wound healing principles and perform skin closure using sutures or stapling techniques as directed by the surgeon.
- Follow sterile procedures and theatre protocols to maintain a sterile environment.
- Demonstrate safe patient handling and positioning, using appropriate aids and equipment during colorectal surgeries.
- Take responsibility for the care and maintenance of surgical equipment, ensuring its safe and effective use.
- Perform peri-operative catheterization when required.
- Practice proper draping techniques to ensure patient privacy and prevent contamination.
- Contribute to creating a safe, patient-centered environment that prioritizes well-being throughout the surgical process.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Assist scrub staff in setting up specialized equipment for colorectal surgeries.
- Ensure the safe positioning of patients for optimal surgical access and comfort.
- Support the operating surgeon with tasks such as cutting sutures, ligatures, inserting drains, securing hemostasis, and retracting tissues to the highest standards.
- Correctly handle and operate specialized colorectal surgical equipment, including laparoscopic instruments, endoscopes, diathermy units, staplers, and other tools.
- Understand wound healing principles and perform skin closure using sutures or stapling techniques as directed by the surgeon.
- Follow sterile procedures and theatre protocols to maintain a sterile environment.
- Demonstrate safe patient handling and positioning, using appropriate aids and equipment during colorectal surgeries.
- Take responsibility for the care and maintenance of surgical equipment, ensuring its safe and effective use.
- Perform peri-operative catheterization when required.
- Practice proper draping techniques to ensure patient privacy and prevent contamination.
- Contribute to creating a safe, patient-centered environment that prioritizes well-being throughout the surgical process.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- RGN/AHP/HCS/ODP
- To have undertaken post-registration advanced scrub practitioner surgical skills course
- To have evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable
- Advanced life support
- Evidence of extended clinical skills/assessment
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable post registration experience. Familiar with care of the critically ill/unstable patient.
- A competent practitioner with evidence of gaining and practicing some or all of the clinical and operational skills obtained it the job description.
- Proven leadership and management skills
- Experience of working effectively within a MDT setting. Flexible approach to work.
- To have experience as theatre nurse within surgical theatres
- Experience of working in a theatre environment
Knowledge
Essential
- To possess clinical credibility to influence across both professional and organisational boundaries
- To maintain basic life support skills
- Advanced IT skills
- Accept personal responsibility for identifying own learning needs and professional development in liaison with the Unit Manager for Theatres / Clinical lead
- Assist in facilitating a learning environment conductive to the acquisition of further knowledge and skills
- Contribute to the development of teaching strategies appropriate to the learning needs of junior medical staff/colleagues
- Share expertise with other areas
- To have knowledge of change management
- To understand the importance of teamwork as well as being able to work autonomously with an enthusiastic and self-confident manner
- To be aware of the physical demands of assisting and retracting for long periods
Skills
Essential
- Ability to anticipate any clinical issues that may arise during the course of providing treatment to patients. Excellent verbal and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information
- Has evidence of leadership ability and how this has impacted on recent roles. Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Demonstrate ability to work on own initiative. Demonstrate ability to prioritise. Ability to manage highly complex clinical and operational situations that involve staff from all levels within the organisation, in circumstances where information is often conflicting or not fully known.
- To have excellent problem solving ability To have good time management To be self motivated To be able to deal with sensitive issues with tact and diplomacy To be able to deal with occasional highly distressing or emotional circumstances
- To be able to deal with conflict in an effective manner
- To have excellent concentration to be able to assist competently during long complex cases
Desirable
- Computer literate/skills
- Leadership course evidence of change management and table to demonstrate the impact of changes
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- RGN/AHP/HCS/ODP
- To have undertaken post-registration advanced scrub practitioner surgical skills course
- To have evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable
- Advanced life support
- Evidence of extended clinical skills/assessment
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable post registration experience. Familiar with care of the critically ill/unstable patient.
- A competent practitioner with evidence of gaining and practicing some or all of the clinical and operational skills obtained it the job description.
- Proven leadership and management skills
- Experience of working effectively within a MDT setting. Flexible approach to work.
- To have experience as theatre nurse within surgical theatres
- Experience of working in a theatre environment
Knowledge
Essential
- To possess clinical credibility to influence across both professional and organisational boundaries
- To maintain basic life support skills
- Advanced IT skills
- Accept personal responsibility for identifying own learning needs and professional development in liaison with the Unit Manager for Theatres / Clinical lead
- Assist in facilitating a learning environment conductive to the acquisition of further knowledge and skills
- Contribute to the development of teaching strategies appropriate to the learning needs of junior medical staff/colleagues
- Share expertise with other areas
- To have knowledge of change management
- To understand the importance of teamwork as well as being able to work autonomously with an enthusiastic and self-confident manner
- To be aware of the physical demands of assisting and retracting for long periods
Skills
Essential
- Ability to anticipate any clinical issues that may arise during the course of providing treatment to patients. Excellent verbal and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information
- Has evidence of leadership ability and how this has impacted on recent roles. Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Demonstrate ability to work on own initiative. Demonstrate ability to prioritise. Ability to manage highly complex clinical and operational situations that involve staff from all levels within the organisation, in circumstances where information is often conflicting or not fully known.
- To have excellent problem solving ability To have good time management To be self motivated To be able to deal with sensitive issues with tact and diplomacy To be able to deal with occasional highly distressing or emotional circumstances
- To be able to deal with conflict in an effective manner
- To have excellent concentration to be able to assist competently during long complex cases
Desirable
- Computer literate/skills
- Leadership course evidence of change management and table to demonstrate the impact of changes
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
