Job summary
We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Surgical First Assistant (SFA) to join our dynamic Theatre Team. This is an exciting opportunity for a registered healthcare professional with recognised Surgical First Assistant qualifications to play a vital role in delivering safe, effective, and high-quality perioperative care across a range of surgical specialties.

As an integral member of the multidisciplinary team, you will work closely with surgeons, anaesthetists, and theatre colleagues to support patients throughout their surgical journey. You will provide skilled intraoperative assistance, contributing to excellent patient outcomes and helping to maintain the highest standards of care.

Main duties of the job
As a Surgical First Assistant, you will:

• Provide competent and safe surgical first assistance during operative procedures.
• Assist the operating surgeon with tissue handling, haemostasis, wound closure, and other delegated tasks within your scope of practice.
• Maintain and promote high standards of patient care and safety within the operating theatre environment.
• Work collaboratively with the wider multidisciplinary team to support efficient theatre utilisation.
• Ensure compliance with professional, organisational, and national standards, policies, and guidelines.
• Contribute to teaching, mentoring, and supporting junior team members and learners.
• Participate in clinical governance, audit, quality improvement, and service development activities.

About us
We operate from three main hospitals - Furness General Hospital (FGH) in Barrow, the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI), and Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) in Kendal, as well as a number of community healthcare premises including Millom Hospital and GP Practice, Queen Victoria Hospital in Morecambe, and Ulverston Community Health Centre.

FGH and the RLI have a range of General Hospital services, with full Emergency Departments, Critical/Coronary Care units and various Consultant-led services.

WGH provides a range of General Hospital services, together with an Urgent Treatment Centre, that can help with a range of non-life threatening conditions such as broken bones and minor illnesses.

All three main hospitals provide a range of planned care including outpatients, diagnostics, therapies, daycase and inpatient surgery. In addition, a range of local outreach services and diagnostics are provided from community facilities across Morecambe Bay.

Our Community Service for adults are provided in people's homes, community centres, clinics, GP Practices, community hospitals. Our aim is to work with people to help them remain independent, improve their health and manage their conditions through high quality care, advice and support.

Job responsibilities
For further details on the advertised position and the principal job duties/responsibilities, please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification found under the supporting documents section. Additional information about the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay can be accessed on our website.

Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential

• 1st level Registered Nurse or Registered ODP.
• Completion of the First Assistant Course Level 1
• Post qualification experience working as a scrub practitioner
• Teaching / mentoring qualification / assessors qualification or equivalent (or willingness to undertake).
• Evidence of recent professional development in relevant clinical speciality

Desirable

• Recent leadership development or willingness towards a leadership qualification
• Royal College of Surgeons Basic Surgical Skills Course (or willingness to undertake)

Experience
Essential

• Experience as a scrub practitioner within perioperative care.
• Able to assume a lead clinical role as appropriate
• Experience of implementing change management.
• Experience of Clinical skills and competent in required surgical skills as defined by the Perioperative Care Collaboration Surgical First Assistant scope of practice (2018).
• Experience of being able to work autonomously and as part of a team with a proven ability to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of own and others

Desirable

• Experience in leading clinical teams and coordinating resources
• Proven experience of working as a Surgical First Assistant in the theatre environment.

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. 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).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).