Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Recovery Practitioner

The closing date is 20 March 2026

Job summary

To act as a specialist recovery practitioner, providing post-operative support for patients across services including elective surgery, emergency care, and maternity.

The post holder is accountable for the provision, organisation, and delivery of patient care within their scope of responsibility and assessed competencies. They will contribute to the development and delivery of safe post-operative care, working across Bedfordshire NHS Foundation Trust Theatres, Maternity, and community services, including the laser unit, OMF, MRI, and supporting acute pain management. The role also includes providing effective mentorship and supervision, and participating in the education and training of nursing staff. The post holder will ensure that safe, efficient, and timely individualised care is delivered in line with local and national standards.

Main duties of the job

Key Duties

  • Work as a skilled member of the recovery team, undertaking nursing duties within the recovery area and delivering the highest standard of patient care.

  • Develop and maintain the clinical skills and knowledge required to provide holistic, evidence-based nursing care.

  • Participate in monitoring and maintaining standards in line with clinic policies and procedures, including the daily checking and secure management of controlled drugs.

  • Communicate effectively and responsibly with colleagues across the multidisciplinary team.

  • Maintain accurate, legible written and electronic records of care, ensuring patient safety, privacy, and dignity at all times

Skills & Experience

  • RGN / ODP-qualified practitioner with current NMC or HCPC registration.

  • Strong understanding of the post-operative needs of patients and service users.

  • Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work under pressure and adapt within a team environment.

  • Highly motivated, punctual, adaptable, and consistently maintains a professional image

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. 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. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Details

Date posted

06 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year pa

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

418-AHP40872-CW

Job locations

Bedford Hospital

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities.

Utilising the specialist perioperative care plan, the post holder will assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care within their scope of responsibility in the Recovery Department and across all peripheral service areas within Bedford Hospital.

  • Maintain safe and effective airway management for patients arriving in Recovery, working alongside painmanagement processes to ensure highquality postoperative care.

  • Ensure clear, effective communication with all members of the multidisciplinary team, patients, and relatives. This includes giving and receiving complex or sensitive information, recognising individual needs, and addressing any barriers to understanding.

  • Competently undertake a wide range of clinical duties in line with professional training and departmental protocols, demonstrating proficiency across Recovery and other relevant areas within Bedford Hospital NHS Trust.

  • Contribute to the setting, monitoring, and evaluation of care standards in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.

  • Work effectively as a team member, supporting colleagues to deliver safe and coordinated care.

  • Maintain accurate and uptodate patient records in accordance with departmental policies, including care plans and systems such as OPERA, ensuring all documentation supports safe, highquality care.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities.

Utilising the specialist perioperative care plan, the post holder will assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care within their scope of responsibility in the Recovery Department and across all peripheral service areas within Bedford Hospital.

  • Maintain safe and effective airway management for patients arriving in Recovery, working alongside painmanagement processes to ensure highquality postoperative care.

  • Ensure clear, effective communication with all members of the multidisciplinary team, patients, and relatives. This includes giving and receiving complex or sensitive information, recognising individual needs, and addressing any barriers to understanding.

  • Competently undertake a wide range of clinical duties in line with professional training and departmental protocols, demonstrating proficiency across Recovery and other relevant areas within Bedford Hospital NHS Trust.

  • Contribute to the setting, monitoring, and evaluation of care standards in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.

  • Work effectively as a team member, supporting colleagues to deliver safe and coordinated care.

  • Maintain accurate and uptodate patient records in accordance with departmental policies, including care plans and systems such as OPERA, ensuring all documentation supports safe, highquality care.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Nurse (NMC) or ODP

Desirable

  • Perioperative Care of Patients or Equivalent course for PACU
  • PILS
  • Student Assessor or SLIP equivalent

Experience

Essential

  • Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
  • Multi Skilled Practitioner

Desirable

  • Previous experience in Recovery/Critical Care/HDU setting

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of professional codes of conduct and practice
  • Knowledge of Patient safety
  • Postoperative Care of Surgical Patients
  • Knowledge of WHO checklist

Desirable

  • CPD (Perioperative Care of Patients)

Personal Skills

Essential

  • Autonomous Practitioner
  • Able to work under pressure
  • Able to meet deadlines
  • Able to adapt to changing needs of the service
  • Open and Team Focused
  • Reliable, Adaptable and Dependable

Desirable

  • Enthusiastic and self-aware
  • Creative and Adaptable
  • Warm and Reflective

Other

Essential

  • Able to work various shift pattern and unsocial hours
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Nurse (NMC) or ODP

Desirable

  • Perioperative Care of Patients or Equivalent course for PACU
  • PILS
  • Student Assessor or SLIP equivalent

Experience

Essential

  • Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
  • Multi Skilled Practitioner

Desirable

  • Previous experience in Recovery/Critical Care/HDU setting

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of professional codes of conduct and practice
  • Knowledge of Patient safety
  • Postoperative Care of Surgical Patients
  • Knowledge of WHO checklist

Desirable

  • CPD (Perioperative Care of Patients)

Personal Skills

Essential

  • Autonomous Practitioner
  • Able to work under pressure
  • Able to meet deadlines
  • Able to adapt to changing needs of the service
  • Open and Team Focused
  • Reliable, Adaptable and Dependable

Desirable

  • Enthusiastic and self-aware
  • Creative and Adaptable
  • Warm and Reflective

Other

Essential

  • Able to work various shift pattern and unsocial hours

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bedford Hospital

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bedford Hospital

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Senior Team Manager, Theatres- Recovery

Joel Abraham

joel.abraham@bedsft.nhs.uk

01234792125

Details

Date posted

06 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year pa

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

418-AHP40872-CW

Job locations

Bedford Hospital

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)