Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Staff Nurse/Operating Department Practitioner - Theatres
The closing date is 26 November 2026

Job summary
FIXED TERM MATERNITY COVER (12 MONTHS)
Theatres are looking to recruit enthusiastic Band 5 Staff Nurse or Operating Department Practitioners to support this busy Department. We are looking for all round trained Theatre Practitioners. An interest in Anaesthetics, Recovery or Orthopaedics is desirable.

The Theatres Complex at Dorset County Hospital includes: Main Theatres (8 Theatres), Day Surgery Unit (2 Theatres), Weymouth Community Hospital (1 Theatre) and the Procedure Suite at South Walks House. All staff are expected to work across all sites, depending on the needs of the service.

We currently have fixed term contracts (full time and part time) for committed and enthusiastic individuals to complement the established team in delivering high quality care that is rapidly adapting to meet the needs of a diverse local population.

We can offer superb career and professional development opportunities with a structured orientation programme whilst the unit provides a challenging work environment.

We are a Trust that celebrates diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We would welcome applications from people in groups which are under-represented in our organisation.

Please note: If you are due to qualify as a fully registered Nurse/ODP before December 2026, we may be able to consider your application through our Newly Qualified route but this must be detailed in your application.

Main duties of the job
You will:

• Be required to work as part of a motivated team as well as being able to work on your own initiative.
• Be expected to work shifts to cover the needs of the service which is 24 hour a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

You have:

• Good communication skills
• Current NMC/HCPC registration

About us
At DCHFT, we pride ourselves on the care we provide for our patients, and on the culture, we are creating for our staff. We work hard to create a fair, inclusive environment for our staff

Our Mission is to work in partnership to provide high quality, compassionate services and to nurture an environment where people can be at their best. Our vision is healthier lives, empowered citizens, thriving communities.

We are a Trust that celebrates diversity, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from people in all under-represented groups.

We understand that AI can be a useful tool when completing your application. However, we are seeing an increasing over-reliance of AI tools, which can negatively affect your application as it reduces a candidate's individuality, and makes it difficult for us to gain a clear and authentic understanding of your experience, skills, and in turn your suitability for the role.

All submissions must be truthful and if you do use AI, it should only be used to enhance your application and not create your supporting statement in its entirety. Your supporting statement should be in your own words and must accurately reflect your personal experience and achievements. Where we have concerns that AI has been used to generate content that misrepresents your experience and suitability for the role, we may withdraw your application.

Details
Date posted: 13 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year Pro Rata Per Annum
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 405-26-NM563THE
Job locations: Dorset County Hospital, Williams Avenue, Dorchester, DT1 2JY, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities
Our DCHFT Job Description and Person Specification (attached) tells you all about this role, what to expect and what is needed to succeed. When completing your application please make sure to tell us how your experience and skills fit the person specification.

Please contact us at dch.recruitment@nhs.net if you are unable to view or download the attachment.

For all our roles, we are looking for staff who hold our Trust Values of Integrity, Respect Teamwork and Excellence, and who are passionate about providing the best patient care. To read more about our Trust and our Values search Dorset County Hospital online.

UKVI Sponsorship: This role is eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). We welcome applications from individuals who require sponsorship to work in the UK. Sponsorship will be offered subject to meeting UKVI eligibility criteria.

Person Specification
Education and Training
Essential: Registered Practitioner (NMC or HCPC), Evidence of CPD
Desirable: Teaching course/qualification

Experience
Essential: Minimum 2 years' experience at Band 5 in surgery or theatres in the NHS
Desirable: Understanding of professional Theatre Practitioner (staff nurse/ODP) issues

Skills and Knowledge
Essential: Evidence of ability to practice as competent practitioner; Evidence of ability to maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, patients and visitors; Demonstrate an understanding of confidentiality
Desirable: Evidence of an ability to manage time effectively; Understanding of clinical governance and its requirements; Evidence of ability to develop leadership skills; Evidence of an area of special interest; Knowledge of clinical audit; Evidence of critical appraisal skills

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: Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Dorset County Hospital, Williams Avenue, Dorchester, DT1 2JY, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.dchft.nhs.uk/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Senior Sister Rachel Wood, Rachel.Wood@dchft.nhs.uk, 01305255205

Details
Date posted: 13 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 405-26-NM563THE
Job locations: Dorset County Hospital, Williams Avenue, Dorchester, DT1 2JY, United Kingdom

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