Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Band 5 Recovery Practitioner

The closing date is 23 October 2025

Job summary

Band 5 Recovery/PACU Practitioner

An exciting opportunity has opened up for Band 5 Recovery Practitioners our fast paced Recovery Units.

You may already be working as a Band 5 in Recovery/PACU in another hospital but looking to move elsewhere. We are also looking for experienced, enthusiastic, adaptable and self-motivated Band 5 working in Surgery/Critical Care or A&E wanting to move to Theatres and extend their skill set.

This is an exciting time to join our Theatre's Team as we move into our new Acute Services Block which will provide state of the art facilities for our clinical teams to work (including 8 new Theatres- two of which are hybrid to undertake interventional work, including major vascular). There is also a new 14-bed Recovery Unit for first-stage post-operative care.

We are seeking applicants who can work a variety of shifts to cover core hours, nights and weekends.

Our 21-theatre complex carries out a wide range of procedures for a number of surgical specialties including Orthopaedics, Trauma, ENT, Urology, Ophthalmology, General Surgery, Colorectal, Breast, Bariatric and Head & Neck surgery (the last two of which are regional centres of expertise) and more recently, Robotics. We will also be undertaking Major/Interventional Vascular Surgery from December opening up more opportunities for learning and development for our Theatre teams.

Main duties of the job

Care of patient's in the immediate Post-Operative period after surgery and anaesthesia, preparing for transfer to Day Surgery or overnight hospital stay.

This includes patient monitoring, symptom control (e.g pain control and nausea control), wound care, and a range of patient care activities.

See Job description, Person Spec and Functional Skills needed for more information.

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. It is an exciting time at the Luton and Dunstable University Hospital as maternity, neonatal, critical care and theatre services will be moving to the brand new Acute Services Block (ASB) and New Ward Block in Autumn 2025. Care will be delivered in modern, uplifting and fit for purpose environments and will enhance the patient experience.

You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.

Please review all documents attached to this advert to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job.

Date posted

10 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year pa, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

418-THE7736-VR

Job locations

Luton

Lewsey Road

Luton

LU4 0DZ

Job description

Job responsibilities

COMMUNICATIONTo promote and participate in an effective communication dialogue with colleagues and other members of the multi-disciplinary team within Theatres and across the Trust.

To care for patients where there are barriers to understanding including those who do not speak English as their first language, those who are anxious , those with sensory impairments (including those who are blind, deaf or mute), those with mental health impairments and issues, and those at various stages of the age spectrum (e,g. infants through to the elderly).

To receiving and relate complex clinical information (in conjunction with senior theatre staff and medical staff) to patients based on their diagnosis, treatment and care.

To demonstrate empathy and provide reassurance to patients undergoing a wide range of surgical procedures and treatments.

To support patients (in conjunction with medical staff and senior colleagues) after distressing news/prognosis has been imparted.

To exercise judgement, planning and analysis as a means of participating in the decision making process within Theatres, the Surgical Directorate and the Trust.

To attend and actively contribute to relevant units within theatres, Directorate and across the Trust.

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIESTo be a skilled member of the Operating Theatre Team working in a Recovery/PACU role.

To provide monitoring for a variety of patient's in the immediate post-operative period.

Symptom control (including administration of medications), wound management and other patient care activities.

To inform Senior Practitioners of any untoward incidents or problems affecting patients or staff and participate in the related investigations.

To ensure all equipment is in good, safe working order and ready forimmediate use. Any defective equipment must be reported immediately to Senior Practitioners and using Trust guidelines.

To participate in the evaluation of stock levels and ordering/unpackingsupplies. Inadequate supplies or provisions and possible improvements must be discussed with Senior Practitioners.

To act at all times, as the patients advocate, to ensure their safety, well-being and dignity.

To assess the patients level of anxiety or discomfort and to provide advice, re-assurance or any other actions as necessary.

To participate in a variety of Patient Safety initiatives as directed by theTheatre Services Operational Manager and Senior Practitioners.

To uphold patient confidentiality for patients and relatives at all times and in all situations.

To provide accurate and timely patient information onto the TheatreManagement System to ensure theatre activity data.

MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIESTo manage allocated patients during the course of the shift.

To provide supervision, mentorship and support to a variety of staff and students working in the department. This will include appropriate delegation and offering guidance, training, support and feedback.

To participate in planning the duty rota maintaining a flexible approach to ensure department cover.

To liaise with Senior Practitioners to ensure that all working activities comply with professional, ethical, Trust and locally adapted theatre guidelines.

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENTTo attend mandatory annual update of Manual Handling, Fire, Basic Life Support and other aspects of the Statutory Training programme provided by the Trust.

To be proactive in taking part in the Trusts Individual Performance Review (IPR) system, contributing to setting a Personal Development Plan (PDP) with the appraiser in compliance with the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF).

The post-holder will undertake further additional in-service training asrequired, in order to comply with the Trusts protocols and procedures, and locally adapted theatre guidelines. He/she will also bring relevant information back to the department for discussion and implementation where appropriate.

Skills, knowledge and ability will be maintained by participating in teamrotations and the completion of competencies relating to the Band 5 role.

The post-holder will participate in the training of all learners allocated to the department during clinical placements. This will include practicaldemonstrations of work that is normally carried out and teaching sessions as part of the post-holders range of duties.

PROFESSIONAL AND LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIESTo be one of the members of the multi-disciplinary team caring for patients in the Theatre Suite. The post-holder will demonstrate a holistic approach to care that is current, effective and evidence-based in accordance with department, Trust and national guidelines, and in collaboration with otherdisciplines.

To comply with Trust Protocols and Policies, and locally adapted theatreguidelines.

The post-holder will ensure, under the direction of senior theatre and medical staff, that patients, and where appropriate their carers, receive the support and information relevant to the patients condition..

The post-holder will also implement agreed policies to promote parents and guardians accompanying their children to the operating theatre at allreasonable times.

The post-holder is responsible for ensuring a calm, courteous and efficient manner at all times.

To report all accidents, incidents and complaints in accordance with agreed policies and assist in the investigations of these as required.

The post-holder will ensure they are aware of, and comply with, all legislation retaining to patient information. This includes the Data Protection Act.

To uphold the principles of the NMC and HPC codes of professional conduct, and meet their standards of CPD and registration.NB. The role involves the manual handling of heavy loads, for which training will be given. If there is any reason why you should not do this, it is your responsibility to inform your manager immediately.

PERSON SPEC

QUALIFICATIONS:

RGN / orODP with City & Guilds 752, NVQ (ODP) Level 3, orDiploma in Higher Education in Operating departmentPractice.NMC or HPCP registration

EXPERIENCE

Established experience in Recovery or experience working in related area- Surgical/Critical Care or A&E areas.Registered staff from other areas may be considereddepending on experience. Ability to communicate with staff at all levelswithin and outside the Trust.Ability to communicate with patients (and theirrelatives or carers) who may have some a rangeof complex health care issues, and a variety ofsensory/communication/physical/mentalhealth/language needs .

Evidence of excellent inter-personal needsExcellent written and verbal communication skillsComplaints procedure training

KNOWLEDGE

Sound knowledge of recovery, theatre practice andperioperative issuesWorking knowledge of the NHS andstructures/procedures.Working and practical knowledge of theatrespecific and monitoring equipment.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

ProfessionalFriendlyCommittedEnthusiasm and flexibilityAbility to motivate self and others in teamThe ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team

SKILLS

IT skillsTime ManagementAbility to meet deadlinePlanning and organisation skills