Job summary
Interviews for this position will require face-to-face attendance as there will be a practical assessment. We are not able to accommodate requests for alternative dates or remote interviews.

Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (KGH) is looking for a confident, ODP/Theatre Nurse with at least 2 years' experience in a fast-paced theatre environment within an acute hospital setting. Join our dynamic theatre team offering a 24/7 elective and emergency service across a wide range of specialties, including ENT, Maxillofacial, Trauma and Orthopaedics, General Surgery, Urology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Plastic Surgery, and Breast Surgery. Many of our ODPs are dual-skilled, giving you the chance to work both anaesthetically and surgically. If you are experienced, confident, and ready for a new challenge, we want to hear from you.

Applicants must be either a Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered Operating Department Practitioner or a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registered Nurse with a recognised and accredited post-registration qualification in anaesthetics.

Closing date: 19 November 2026

Main duties of the job

• Ensure a welcoming, safe environment for patients, maintaining high standards of care in line with NMC/HCPC and CQC guidelines.
• As an ODP/Theatre Nurse, support patients undergoing surgery by preparing, managing and maintaining specialist equipment and medications, including anaesthetic machines, IV access and airway devices, ensuring safety throughout the perioperative pathway.
• Work collaboratively within the multidisciplinary theatre team to support the effective day-to-day running of the unit, promoting patient flow and safe care delivery.
• Plan, implement and evaluate individualised, evidence-based care for a diverse patient group.
• Provide supervision and support to junior and unregistered staff, particularly in the absence of the Senior ODP/Theatre Nurse, ensuring consistent high standards across the team.
• Demonstrate motivation, flexibility and the ability to work under pressure, contributing as an integral member of the perioperative team to deliver a safe, efficient and high-quality anaesthetic service.

About us
Please submit your application as soon as possible, as we reserve the right to close adverts once sufficient applications have been received.

We recognise that AI tools can support application writing; however, candidates are asked to keep their use to a minimum. Responses should reflect your own experience, skills and knowledge, as over-reliance on AI-generated content may result in generic answers that do not accurately represent your abilities.

University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) brings together Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust. As a group, we are committed to improving services for our communities through collaboration, modernising care delivery and striving for excellence. Working together enables us to share expertise, strengthen services and create greater opportunities, and there may be a requirement to work across sites depending on service needs.

Our Excellence Values are Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Integrity and Courage. UHN welcomes applications from all backgrounds and is committed to an inclusive working environment. We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and hold the Gold Award under the Employer Recognition Scheme. Candidates who identify as members of the Armed Forces community and meet the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview.

Details
Date posted: 05 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 264-8305223-SUR-A

Person Specification
Qualifications

• Essential: Registered Nurse level 1 or Registered Operating Department Practitioner
• Essential: Evidence of post registration study in peri-operative care, NVQ level study or equivalent
• Essential: Evidence of Accredited Post-Graduate Anaesthetic Module/Course
• Desirable: Leadership qualification
• Desirable: Relevant degree/willing to work towards

Knowledge

• Essential: Post Registration experience as band 5 staff nurse/ODP or equivalent in Theatres
• Essential: Relevant experience in a peri anaesthesia care environment
• Desirable: Evidence of involvement in teaching and mentoring learners
• Desirable: Evidence of ability to supervise members of the team

Skills

• Able to deliver a high standard of evidence based individual patient care
• Computer/IT Literacy
• Effective communicator with good leadership and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work under pressure and effective time management
• Resuscitation skills and the knowledge to initiate appropriate action in a clinical emergency
• Airway management skills
• Safe administration of intravenous drugs and the preparation and programming of PCA and epidural pumps
• To input and retrieve patient and staff information from computer-based systems
• Maintain accurate and contemporaneous patient records
• Dealing with difficult situations/people
• Being able to react to sudden changes in patient condition and having the knowledge to deal effectively with the situation
• Delivers nursing care in line with Trust policies and protocols

Key Competencies/Personal Qualities and Attributes

• Empathetic
• Strong desire to improve service standards
• Projects a professional image
• Punctual, adaptable and flexible
• Willing to learn new skills

Employer contact details
T&O Theatre Lead: Sheeja Nair, sheeja.nair2@nhs.net, 01536491028

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. Applicants must have current UK professional registration. Apply through our website.