Theatre Support Worker

At Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH), our values of Together, Safe, Kind and Excellent guide everything we do. We are seeking compassionate and experienced Healthcare Support Workers (HCSWs)/Theatre Support Workers (TSWs) committed to delivering high-quality patient care.

This vacancy is only open to applicants with current or previous NHS Healthcare/Theatre Support Worker experience. You will work alongside nurses, doctors and multidisciplinary teams to provide safe, effective and dignified care. Flexibility is required to work days, nights, weekends and bank holidays. Fixed shift patterns are not available.

Applicants must demonstrate:

• Previous NHS Healthcare/Theatre Support Worker experience.
• Completion of an NHS-recognised National Care Certificate (NCC).
• Practical assessment against all 16 Care Certificate standards.
• Clinical competencies signed off in practice.
• Health and Safety
• Infection Prevention and Control / PPE
• Urinary catheter management and removal
• Vital signs monitoring and recording
• Manual blood pressure monitoring and recording
• Removal of an intravascular cannula
• Enhanced observations

Please note: Online-only Care Certificate training is not accepted. Evidence of practical assessment and competency sign-off must be provided.

Responsibilities include:

• Deliver a high standard of individualised personal care to patients, promoting their dignity and safety at all times.
• Set up theatres for next day’s list.
• Provide support for the surgical team.
• Support the peri-operative team in sending for and collecting patients.
• Cleaning of theatres at end of surgery.
• Assist with the moving, handling and positioning of patients in accordance with the Trust’s Moving and Handling policy.
• Regularly undertake a link role within the unit to support the safe delivery of care in the operating theatre e.g Infection control; diathermy machines; moving & handling; robotic surgery etc.

Applicants must have:

• Previous experience working as a Healthcare/Theatre Support Worker in an NHS hospital setting.
• An NHS-recognised Care Certificate with completed practical assessments.
• Experience delivering direct patient care.
• Experience undertaking clinical observations and basic clinical procedures.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• A caring, compassionate and patient-centred approach.

Please note: Vacancy is for experienced NHS Healthcare/Theatre Support Workers. Applicants without previous NHS HCSW/TSW experience will not be considered.

Interviews will be held face to face at Addenbrookes Hospital on Tuesday 27th October 2026, there are no remote interviews available.

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the country. It comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital. We provide accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge and regional and national specialist services.

Why choose Cambridge University Hospitals?

• Our values and reputation for outstanding care.
• Opportunities to experience a range of specialities.
• Career and development opportunities.
• Preceptorship and mentoring programmes delivered by a dedicated clinical education support team.
• Research experience and opportunities.
• Lovely location and quality of life.
• Excellent schools/colleges and transport links (road, rail and air).

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:

• applied for a Graduate visa
• or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment
• or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment.

Applicants unsuccessful for a CUH Band 3 Theatre Support Worker role within the last six months should not reapply, as applications will not be considered.

Please note this vacancy has been capped at 50 applications. Once this limit is reached the vacancy will automatically close.

As part of the interview process, you will be required to complete a Functional Skills Test. A pass is required before a conditional offer can be made. This does not apply to individuals currently employed by CUH as a Support Worker.

In order to start in this role as a Band 3 there is a requirement that the National Care certificate (NCC) has been completed alongside a practical/in-person competency booklet. Successful candidates that are unable to evidence completion of these requirements will be rejected and advised to re-apply for a Band 2. Successful candidates that are able to provide this evidence will be permitted to commence at a Band 3. Starting salary and eligibility for sponsorship, if requested, will be considered at conditional offer.

This vacancy will close at midnight on… 11th October 2026. Interviews are due to be held on… 27th October 2026.

Benefits to you:

• At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries.
• Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site.
• Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals.
• We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
• On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues.
• Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge.
• Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
• CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

This advert closes on Sunday 11 Oct 2026.