Job summary
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) has a rich tradition of developing perioperative practice, and of delivering excellence in patient care. Whilst proud of our heritage, our focus is the future, and central to our vision is providing evidence and value-based individualised care to the people we support. OUH is an exciting and dynamic place to be a nurse, ODP, researcher, educator and leader, but is only as innovative as the people in our amazing teams. Providing the best evidence-based individualised care is core to everything we do. Within our theatres we have a strong desire to develop perioperative practice through a shared governance approach to enhance care delivery and effective outcomes for patients. In practical terms, this means the Trust is developing ways in which practitioners across all levels of the organisation can actively contribute to driving forward the changes required to deliver outstanding nursing care.

Main duties of the job

• Provide exceptional patient care which is underpinned by the best evidence-based practice and OUH values.
• Work in partnership with the patients' family and friends, and to be actively involved in the caring process on behalf of the patient where agreed.
• Manage, direct and evaluate the perioperative care for a defined caseload of patients.
• Communicate effectively with patients/relatives/carers and all members of the multi-disciplinary team.
• Maintain and develop high standards of perioperative care, reflecting the professional perioperative practice and patient care.
• Maintain and develop general and specialist knowledge of perioperative practice relevant to the clinical area.
• Conduct oneself in a professional manner and be a role model to others at all times commensurate with The Code (NMC 2018) or The Standards of conduct, performance and ethics (HCPC 2023).
• Develop skills to provide senior nurse/ODP cover for the department in the absence of the Team Leader or their deputy.
• Work proactively to ensure every hospital visit meets the needs of the patient and that patients are discharged in a timely manner ensuring effective communication as planned and agreed.

About us
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury. For more information on OUH please view OUH At a Glance by OUHospitals - Issuu

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.

We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.

These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.

Job responsibilities
This job description outlines the core requirements expected of a Staff Nurse/ODP Band 5 nurse and is aligned to the Trusts clinical nurse/ODP career ladder. The clinical ladder outlines the minimum requirements for progression against each of the nursing/ODP levels. The list below is not exhaustive and specific requirements related to any specialist area of practice will be outlined with the prospective post holder. These requirements will be included as an addition to these generic descriptors as role specific prior to employment together with the clinical skills ladder as a point of reference for development and progression.

Patient Care

• Demonstrate and promote a patient and family centred style of clinical practice.
• Be responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care from admission to discharge.
• Accurately document and report to other members of the nursing team, multi-disciplinary team and family/carers regarding the care given to patients and communicating changes as they occur.
• Respond to emergency situations with composure, maintaining patient safety and seeking immediate support, and supporting the patient, family/carers and other staff as required.
• Identify and discuss patient needs with the team/staff, patients, carers and the multi-disciplinary team.
• Be able to plan own workload.
• Demonstrate a problem-solving approach to effectively execute planning, implementation and evaluation of individualised plans of care based on a person centred model of care.
• Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively to patients, carers and other staff, overcoming barriers to understanding and providing support during distressing or emotional events.
• Maintain patient dignity and confidentiality at all times.

Professional Practice

• Ensure clinical practice is evidence based or peer reviewed best practice.
• Develop and maintain clinical skills and knowledge necessary to provide person centred, evidence-based care.
• With supervision and assistance, take on increased responsibility recognising own limitations and seeking help appropriately.
• Set and maintain standards of practice, conduct and decision making commensurate with The Code (NMC 2018) or The Standards of conduct, performance and ethics (HCPC 2023).
• Be competent in the use of all relevant Trust information technology (IT) systems including the use of electronic patient records (EPR), email and associated professional media ensuring that data is entered in an accurate and timely fashion, in accordance with Trust policy and procedure.
• Engage in and promote a paper light approach to information management.
• Maintain use of email and other modes of communication in order to keep abreast of information disseminated across the Trust.
• Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of accountability, responsibility and duty of care.
• Work towards the provision of support and education for less experienced and non-registered staff on the implications for practice.

Leadership and Management

• Ensure compliance with the Health and Social Care Act regulations 2010 by adhering to the Care Quality Commission standards at all times raising concerns to the Team Leader or an appropriate senior person.
• Contribute towards quality and improvement initiatives being undertaken in the department, as directed by Team Leader or deputies.
• Ensure the appropriate management of clinical and general waste.
• Ensure staffing resources are used appropriately when prescribing and implementing care and treatments.
• Report near misses and untoward incidents, complaints, clinical emergencies, injury or medicine administration errors as detailed in departmental and Trust protocols and procedures, assist the Team Leader in investigating incidents as required.
• Be proactive in seeking a response to the issues raised in order to disseminate the actions identified and provide own account of events if asked to support an investigation.
• Demonstrate an awareness of and compliance with Health and Safety Regulations that apply to staff and patients.
• To escalate concerns to senior staff in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Be familiar with and ensure that all key performance indicators are met as agreed.
• Maintain and contribute to the development of standards of practice, conduct or decision making in conjunction immediate line manager.
• Discuss personal and professional development needs during an annual appraisal, developing, agreeing and documenting action points in the electronic recording and personal development plan.
• Ensure that a smart, professional image that enhances the public perception of the Trust and the professionalism of its staff is portrayed.

Education and Training

• Be actively involved in and support departmental and Trust wide education programmes as agreed.
• Complete or be working towards any local and Trust competency frameworks within a time frame agreed with the Team Leader and with the support of a named mentor.
• Take all opportunities to contribute to the education and practical training of learners and less experienced staff in order to provide uniformity and promotion of professional standards.
• Develop the skills to supervise, mentor, support and educate less experienced and nonregistered staff in the clinical practice setting.
• Undertake all relevant Core (statutory & mandatory) training using the Trust E-Learning packages and study opportunities.
• Demonstrate a commitment to research-based practice and clinical excellence and play an active part in the introduction of research-based change to improve patient centred care.

Improving Quality and Developing Practice

• Comply with post-registration education and practice requirements for NMC Revalidation or HCPC re-registration, identifying own learning needs and ensuring own professional development is maintained by keeping up to date with practice developments.
• Utilise skills to work collegiately to promote innovation and work within the perioperative team in the provision of an excellent standard of patient care in line with Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) values.
• Develop and share own clinical knowledge with other members of the multi-disciplinary team and as relevant with practitioners locally.
• Act as a role model for the perioperative team promoting consistent professional and clinical excellence.
• Provide guidance to less experienced staff to improve quality and develop practice.
• Engage in Clinical Supervision in order to gain an appreciation of its value in clinical practice.
• Identify own development needs, aligning these to service requirements and personal aspirations.
• Proactively develop and improve own practice through appraisal, the Trusts clinical development ladder and other available resources.
• Understand and contribute to the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies/protocols/guidelines relevant to the specialist area.
• Participate in the OUH culture of audit and research in practice.
• Keep up to date and reflect upon professional issues that influence perioperative practice relating to the area of clinical practice, management, education and research.
• Promote and practice, evidence based perioperative care, embracing new ideas and changes for the benefit of patient care.
• Openly question and challenge nursing practice in a constructive way so that standards of patient care are continually evaluated and improved.

Person Specification
Essential

• Professional Registration (NMC/ODP)
• Degree qualification in chosen field
• Theatre experience
• Acute hospital experience
• Student RN/ODP with placement experience in theatres

Desirable

• Theatre experience

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: Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address: John Radcliffe Hospital, West wing Theatres, Headley way, Oxford, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Theatre Sister, Madelaine San Pedro, madelaine.sanpedro@ouh.nhs.uk, 01865234086

Details
Date posted: 28 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year, per annum pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 321-NOTSS-8261114-B5
Job locations: John Radcliffe Hospital, West wing Theatres, Headley way, Oxford, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom

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