Staff Nurse/Operating Department Practitioner - Day Surgery Unit
At a glance
- Band
- Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Part-time
- Posted
- 22/09/2026
- Closes
- 06/10/2026
Sponsorship verdict
This contract type is not eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship.
NHS Trusts cannot issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for part-time, bank, locum, zero-hours, job-share or short fixed-term (under 12 months) contracts under current Home Office rules. This applies even when the wider Trust holds a Skilled Worker licence.
Role summary
The Day Surgery Unit is seeking a Band 5 Staff Nurse or Operating Department Practitioner to support its busy department, with a focus on Theatre-based practitioners. The role involves working across the Theatres Complex, including Main Theatres, and requires an all-round trained Theatre Practitioner/ODP with UK-recognised qualifications and an interest in Anaesthetics and Orthopaedics. The unit provides a variety of elective and day case procedures, operating Monday to Friday from 7am to 8pm. The successful applicant will rotate across various sites, including Dorset County Hospital and Weymouth Community Hospital, and may support other theatre areas.
Key responsibilities
- Support the busy Day Surgery Unit as a Band 5 Staff Nurse or Operating Department Practitioner.
- Work across the Theatres Complex, including Main Theatres.
- Provide care for a variety of procedures including ENT, General/Breast Surgery, Gynaecology, Colorectal, Orthopaedic, Urology, Maxillo-Facial, and Special Dentistry.
- Provide post-operative care to patients on the day case pathway.
- Rotate to work across all sites, including Dorset County Hospital and Weymouth Community Hospital.
- Support other theatre areas as required.
Essential criteria
- Registered Practitioner.
- Evidence of CPD.
- Significant and recent experience as a staff nurse/ODP at band 5 in the NHS
- Recent experience of working in the NHS
- Minimum of 2 years NHS experience
- Evidence of ability to practice as a proficient practitioner.
- Evidence of ability to maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, patients and visitors.
- Demonstrate an understanding of confidentiality.
Desirable criteria
- Teaching course/ qualification.
- Understanding of professional nursing issues.
- Evidence of an ability to manage time effectively.
- Understanding of clinical governance and its requirements.
- Evidence of an area of special interest.
- Evidence of ability to develop leadership skills.
- Knowledge of clinical audit.
- Evidence of critical appraisal skills.
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 5 at £29,970 – £36,483 a year, across England.
This advert: £32,073 – £39,043 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 1d ago · Closes in 14d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Staff Nurse/Operating Department Practitioner - Day Surgery Unit
The closing date is 06 October 2026
Job summary
FAMILY SERVICES AND SURGICAL DIVISION
Day Surgery Unit (Band 5)**
The Day Surgery Unit is looking to recruit enthusiastic a Band 5 Staff Nurse and Operating Department Practitioner to support this busy Department with an emphasis on Theatre based practitioners. We are looking for all round trained Theatre Practitioners/ODPs with a qualification that must be recognised in the UK with an interest in Anaesthetics and Orthopaedics.
Working in Day Surgery will help you maintain a good work life balance, enjoy the structure of elective procedures along with day case trauma and emergency procedures and the support to develop personally and professionally.
The successful applicants will be expected to work across the Theatres Complex which includes Main Theatres.
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.
Main duties of the job
We are an innovative and busy Day Surgery Unit being part of the Dorset County
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