Job summary
Band 5 Theatre Practitioner (General Theatres)

PLEASE NOTE: Sponsorship is not normally available for this vacancy - applicants must have the right-to-work in the UK for this role by their proposed start date.

You will be working as part of a highly skilled General and Emergency theatre team.

Candidates interested in developing a career in theatres will have the opportunity to develop a range of relevant skills as we have a dedicated education team in place with a comprehensive education strategy which underpins the development of all grades of staff within theatres, facilitating career development and progression.

As a Theatre Practitioner, you will play an important role within our multi-disciplinary theatre team, providing high quality care for our patients.

This opportunity is suited to a practitioner with or without theatre experience.

Main duties of the job
As a Theatre Practitioner you will:

• Act as scrub practitioner for general and Emergency surgical procedures.
• Communicate effectively within the MDT in order to provide excellent care for patients.
• Preparing operating theatre for surgery as required. To include equipment and supplies required for specific procedures, ensuring appropriate use of resources and minimal waste.

About us
Reading sits on the River Thames and is served by great road and rail links to London, Oxford, and Southampton. With excellent leisure and shopping facilities, and a thriving cultural scene, Reading is a wonderful place to live, work, and play and provides excellent facilities for families, including some of the best state and private schools in the UK.

The CQC rated the care provided by the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust as Good.

Our Trust "CARE" values: Compassionate, Aspirational, Resourceful, Excellent, reflect the type of Trust we aspire to be and you can join our dedicated and talented staff to make this happen.

Details
Date posted: 17 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 193-8320240PCG
Job locations: Royal Berkshire Hospital, Craven Road, Reading, RG1 5AN, United Kingdom

Person Specification
Qualifications

• Essential: Registered Nurse/ODP with current NMC or HCPC Registration
• Desirable: Relevant scrub experience
• Desirable: Teaching and assessing/mentoring qualification

Skills

• Essential: Excellent communication skills
• Essential: Adaptable to cope with change/ variable environment
• Desirable: Computer skills

Competencies

• Essential: Able to work as part of a multidisciplinary team

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Royal Berkshire Hospital, Craven Road, Reading, RG1 5AN, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Clinical Lead Practitioner Rita Pinto, rita.pinto2@nhs.net, 01183227594

The closing date is 01 November 2026. Apply through our website.