Surgical First Assistant/Senior Scrub Practitioner

Job summary
The Essex and Suffolk Elective Orthopaedic Centre at Colchester Hospital is one of the largest centres of its kind in Europe.

As a Senior Theatre Practitioner (Scrub) / Surgical First Assistant, you will be a key member of the theatre team, delivering high-quality peri-operative care across the patient pathway. You will act as a vital communication link between members of the multidisciplinary team, supporting the safe and effective delivery of patient care.

You will support Consultant Surgeons and the theatre team to facilitate the smooth and efficient running of the orthopaedic surgical programme, including undertaking a senior scrub role and working as a Surgical First Assistant, contributing across both elective and trauma orthopaedic surgery.

As a senior practitioner, you will demonstrate strong clinical skills and leadership, supporting junior staff, maintaining high standards of practice, and contributing to the ongoing development of the service.

The Dame Clare Marx Building houses our elective orthopaedic centre (ESEOC), with a focus on elective orthopaedic surgery and day cases. The centre includes eight laminar flow theatres, three wards, recovery facilities, and support services such as radiology and EBME. Our two trauma theatres are based in Constable Theatre within the main hospital.

Main duties of the job
You will be expected to perform these duties with a high degree of clinical skills and knowledge to achieve effective patient care.

You will work collaboratively with the Consultant Surgeons to ensure that the full potential of this role is utilised.

To act as a patient advocate to ensure the multidisciplinary team gives high quality co-ordinated care.

To work under the direct supervision of the medical staff.

About us
We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes.

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what's widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.

Find out about living and working here -

Details
Date posted: 28 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time
Reference number: 432-HR736-26
Job locations: Colchester Hospital, Turner Road, Colchester, CO4 5JL, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• First Assistant training course
• Registered Nurse with current registration on part 1 or 12 of the NMC Register or registered AHP
• Student supervision and assessment training
• Evidence of professional development

Desirable

• Degree in Specialist Practice

Experience
Essential

• Experience of collaborative patient-centred working with statutory and voluntary agencies
• Proven experience in either Orthopaedic theatre/ward setting

Desirable

• Specialist qualification in one of the following: Orthopaedics, Theatres, Critical Care

Knowledge
Essential

• Demonstration of professional development and ability to cope with responsibilities of leadership
• Demonstration of regular updating of professional knowledge
• Evidence of experience of managing a team
• Implement and interpret policies and procedures
• Has a working knowledge of NHS and social care structures systems and processes
• I.T Skills
• Experience and understanding of clinical audit / research

Desirable

• Experience in implementing policy and procedures
• Evidence of developing nursing / AHP practice

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 (opens in a new window).

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.