Join one of our innovative theatre teams across the Trust and take advantage of new facilities, all kinds of support and a unique range of career development programmes that are available to you.
About Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) was founded in 2017, combining the resources of several hospitals and services to provide better, more effective care for Greater Manchester.
We’re now the largest NHS Trust in England, and that means more room for you to grow your careers in theatres. With us, you’ll have opportunities to move around the Trust, work in the most cutting-edge units and expand your learning, becoming part of our high performing and supportive Nursing community. If you want to advance your specialism and progress your career, this is the place to be.
MFT offers a wide range of opportunities in all of our theatres across our hospitals ranging from Operating Department Practitioners (ODP)’s to Nursing Assistants, Nurse Associates, and Registered Nurses, each hospital with its own unique culture and key selling points. Right now, we have opportunities to join us in all of our theatres as an ODP – Theatre Nurse/ Practitioner.
You’d be working in (at least) one of our three main roles: anaesthetic support, scrub, and post anaesthetic recovery, with many of the team choosing to maintain skills in two areas rotating across surgical specialities. The information below tells you a little bit more about what you’d be doing in these three areas and the key skills you’ll need.
You will:
- Provide 1:1 support to patients often being the last person they see before they’re sedated and the first person they see after their operation
- Work closely with our anaesthetic consultants and colleagues to manage patients’ airways and ensure their safety is maintained throughout
- Have a mind for medical apparatus and be able to keep a number of systems in check simultaneously
- You’ll be front and centre of all of our cases from elective to emergency and everything in between!
You will:
- Be integral to the smooth running of the theatre, often taking charge and leading lists
- Drive the team brief and safer surgery checklists keeping the patient at the centre of care delivery
- Be organised and make sure you have everything to hand, having a vast knowledge of procedures and the instruments needed
- Maintain safety keeping check of equipment and working with the multi-disciplinary team throughout surgery to ensure it runs smoothly
- Be the link between the operating room, other areas in theatres and the wider hospital too.
You will:
- Develop relationships with patients and learn to recognise even the slightest signs of deterioration
- Maintain patient airways following their procedure
- Be confident under pressure responding to fast changing situations
- Deliver post-operative care of the highest quality to patients from the operating theatre to their destination ward
- Manage safe and effective flow through the theatre department to ensure efficiencies are maintained
- Support both the physical and psychological wellbeing of patients as they recover from their sedation.
Watch our short video featuring Shirma Kelly, one of our dedicated senior Nurse leaders, talking about her passion for working in MFT theatres, the opportunities it has enabled her to develop her skills and the amazing support networks she has experienced in her 19 years here at MFT.
Our Theatre Teams across MFT
Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI)
Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI), based at the Oxford Road site, is one of the largest operating theatre departments across the North West, consisting of 18 operating theatres and 21 post anaesthetic recovery bays. As part of an exciting redesign of the hospital’s emergency estate we are working towards building 6 new theatres and re-furbishing our existing estate to ensure we can provide the very best, cutting-edge care to our patients.
As Greater Manchester’s Major Trauma Centre we in the MRI provide the highest quality specialist care to patients in emergency situations, often at their most vulnerable times. The opening of our state-of-the-art elevated helipad – the only one of its kind in North West England – makes us even more accessible as a service to patients in the region. We operate an emergency theatre service 24 hours, 7 days a week including Cardiac emergency care.
Our emergency theatre service is also supported by our Emergency Anaesthetic Practitioners (EAP’s) who respond to clinical emergency situations across the hospital and support our anaesthetist teams in caring for critically ill patients.
We provide highly specialised elective care including Renal and Pancreatic Transplantation, Urology, Colo-rectal, Ear Nose and Throat and Maxillo-Facial surgeries. We are the Greater Manchester hub site for Vascular and for Head & Neck Cancer surgeries.
We also have a team of theatre practitioners who form part of the North West Organ Retrieval Service Team (NORS) going to hospitals across all of the UK to assist with the retrieval of abdominal organs – kidneys, liver and pancreas supporting the nationwide organ donation and transplant services.
Our size and scope means you’ll gain exposure to a variety of complex cases that are hard to find at other Trusts.
With all of this going on it has never been a better time to join us!
You’d be joining an expanding team of more than 250 multi-professional staff ranging from Operating Department Practitioners (ODP’s) to Nursing Assistants, Nurse Associates, and Registered Nurses.
Developing your career with us
First and foremost, all our teams are close-knit and highly supportive. With us, you’ll work in an environment where you can make the most of your skills, but also grow personally as well as professionally. And as we provide three month’s extensive training across our scrub and recovery areas, no experience is required before you join us. If you wanted to go into anaesthetics you would need the appropriate level of registration but we do support newly qualified ODP’s and nurses with anaesthetic qualifications.
We’re deeply committed to innovation too, so you can be sure you’re gaining experience at the leading-edge of medical technology. We were among the first units in Europe to introduce pioneering robotic technology to undertake keyhole surgery. We also host two hybrid theatres where we undertake complex vascular and cardiac surgery.
We are always looking to develop new ways of working and improve teamwork and we provide regular simulation training through our monthly ‘Theatre Thursdays’ sessions. Recent sessions have involved major haemorrhage and managing a difficult airway as well as exploring human factors in clinical decision making.
We encourage team development and would love for you to get involved in projects to help us to continually improve the quality of care we provide to patients. We have a dedicated Training and Development team who will support you to develop and bring out the best in you!
Lastly, we run a multi-disciplinary Preceptorship programme, which includes named preceptors, pastoral support programmes, protected time, eLearning and a two-week induction.
Caring for our people
We regularly host group activities such as our recent hike to Kinder Scout in Edale to improve teamwork and develop support networks. We are passionate about celebrating our people and have monthly Pride of TEIR (Theatres and Elective In Reach) awards allowing staff to nominate a colleague who goes the extra mile, makes your work day better or is an unsung hero.
We have mental health first aiders within the department to offer support and guidance as needed and they host weekly tea and chat support groups.
Our senior management team host weekly drop-ins and monthly feedback meetings to allow staff the opportunity to discuss any issues or concerns. We believe communication is key to achieving excellence.
If you want to advance your specialism and progress your career, this is the place to be.
To apply for a role at MRI, click here
Wythenshawe, Trafford, Withington & Altrincham Hospitals (WTWA)
We offer an array of opportunities for you to develop both your career and education. There are 7 theatre suites across WTWA with a total of 26 operating theatres across all areas, providing a range of specialist surgery. We strive to provide excellent standards of evidence based care.
Cardiac theatres
We have 5 Cardiac theatres performing a full range of cardiothoracic surgery, including heart and lung transplant and full structural heart programme.
Cardiac theatre supports the ECMO service, which is one of the 5 national centres for this service in the UK. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to work closely with the cardiac catheter lab and Cardiac ICU.
Main Theatres (F Block)
Here, there are 6 theatres, undertaking elective surgery including Breast, ENT including major head and neck surgery & ‘Max Fax’, Urology and Gynae surgery with a bit of General surgery, Vascular and Orthopaedics. Shift patterns are generally between the hours of 8am and 9pm with the opportunity to undertake some out of hours work. We also cover the maternity suite so there are great opportunities to expand your knowledge.
TDC Theatres
Our Treatment and Diagnostic Centre has 3 Theatres, which currently house the regional Centre of Excellence for hand surgery, breast and tendon reconstruction across Europe. As such, any successful candidate would be working at the forefront of plastic surgical procedures across Greater Manchester.
Acute Theatres / Hybrid
There are 7 acute theatres, undertaking both elective and non-elective work. We specialise in Trauma & Elective Orthopaedics, Emergencies, colorectal and upper GI Surgery, and open and interventional cases. The department provides the hospital with excellent 24/7 cover for elective and emergency patient care.
Trafford Theatres
There are 9 Trafford theatres, undertaking elective surgeries for both day case and inpatient surgeries. We undertake mainly elective Orthopaedic surgeries including major revision cases. We also undertake day case surgeries including general, ENT, Urology, paediatrics and dental surgeries.
Wherever you join, this is a fantastic opportunity to expand your knowledge and skills whilst working with a supportive team to make a profound difference to patient lives.
Developing your career with us
First and foremost, all our teams are close-knit and highly supportive across all WTWA theatres. With us, you’ll work in an environment where you can make the most of your skills, but also grow personally as well as professionally. And as we provide three month’s extensive training across our scrub and recovery areas, no experience is required before you join us. If you wanted to go into anaesthetics you would need the appropriate level of registration but we do support newly qualified ODP’s and nurses with anaesthetic qualifications.
Our commitment to innovation and care drives us at the forefront of medical technology, as one of Europe’s leading centres for tendon reconstruction surgeries for upper limb and the regional provider for major breast reconstruction surgeries including DIEPs. As the centre of excellence and growing centre for ortho-plastic lower limb reconstruction surgeries. Working with us means you will also be able to gain experience in a busy emergency gynaecology theatres and obstretics theatres.
We are the regional centre for fractured neck of femur and hand trauma surgeries. We have theatres across three sites which will provide you with an opportunity to specialise in elective, day surgery and emergency and trauma surgeries and in all this you’re supported by a specially trained education team helping you to be your best.
Several of our theatres are situated in the birthplace of the NHS, Trafford Hospital, inspiring us everyday with the purpose and pride for delivering excellence in care.
We encourage team development and would love for you to get involved in projects to help us to continually improve the quality of care we provide to patients.
Lastly, we run a multi-disciplinary Preceptorship programme, which includes named preceptors, pastoral support programmes, protected time, eLearning and a two-week induction. You will also benefit from an extended supernumerary induction period which provides 6 weeks placement in each speciality.
Caring for our people
We are passionate about celebrating our people and have monthly Pride of TEIR (Theatres and Elective In Reach) awards allowing staff to nominate a colleague who goes the extra mile, makes your work day better or is an unsung hero.
As well as supporting you in your professional development, we will also invest in your health and well-being through our ‘wellbeing Wednesdays’ as we believe communication is key to achieving excellence.
We’ll also support you in your role development through regular breakfast training sessions and simulation training including human factors, managing emergency including cardiac arrest, major haemorrhage, and difficult airways.
We have mental health first aiders within the department to offer support and guidance as needed and they host weekly tea and chat support groups.
Our senior management team host weekly drop-ins and monthly feedback meetings to allow staff the opportunity to discuss any issues or concerns. We believe communication is key to achieving excellence.
To apply for a role at WTWA, click here
Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (RMCH)
RMCH Theatres are the leading provider of paediatric tertiary and specialist healthcare services in Manchester and treat more than a million patients every year. The theatre department consists of 9 operating theatres, a Minor Procedures Unit and 10 post anaesthetic recovery bays. Within our theatres we provide highly specialised elective care including Renal Transplantation, Spinal, Neurosurgical, Burns & Plastics, Neonatal, Thoracic, Complex ENT, Trauma & Orthopaedics.
We have a newly developed walk-in/walk-out (WIWO) service based in our recovery area, and we also operate a number of satellite services; iMRI theatre (intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging) and RMCH theatres work closely with The Christie NHS Foundation Trust to provide anaesthetic and recovery services to one of only two high energy NHS proton beam therapy centres in the UK, providing staff with the opportunity to diversify and develop clinical skills in new and exciting areas of practice.
As Greater Manchester’s only Major Trauma Centre for paediatric patients, we provide the highest quality specialist care in emergency situations, often when they are at their most vulnerable. The opening of our state-of-the-art elevated helipad is the only one of its kind in North West England and makes us much more accessible as a service to patients requiring emergency care. We operate an emergency theatre service 24 hours, 7 days a week covering all paediatric specialities, and we are also the Regional Centre for Neonatal surgery.
This is a fantastic opportunity to develop and expand your knowledge and skills not only in Paediatrics, but also within a diverse and challenging range of specialties that you can’t find in other organisations.
You’d be joining an expanding team of more than 120 multi-professional staff ranging from Operating Department Practitioners (ODP’s) to Nursing Assistants, Nurse Associates, and Registered Nurses with Adult and Paediatric nursing qualifications.
Developing your career with us
First and foremost, all our teams are close-knit and highly supportive. With us, you’ll work in an environment where you can make the most of your skills, but also grow personally as well as professionally. And as we provide three month’s extensive training across our scrub and recovery areas, no experience is required before you join us. If you wanted to go into anaesthetics you would need the appropriate level of registration but we do support newly qualified ODP’s and nurses with anaesthetic qualifications.
We are always looking to develop new ways of working and improve teamwork and we provide monthly MDT(Multidisciplinary Team) simulation training. Recent sessions have involved major haemorrhage and managing a difficult airway as well as exploring human factors in clinical decision making.
We encourage team development and would love for you to get involved in projects to help us to continually improve the quality of care we provide to patients. We have a dedicated Training and Development team who will support you to develop and bring out the best in you!
Our RMCH Education team are here to support you in your role and are in the process of developing a new online education platform for all theatre staff to access from newly registered to experienced practitioners to facilitate all learning and education needs. We will continue to support your career progression with a robust annual appraisal completed by one of our Senior Nurses / ODP’s.
We are committed to continually improving the quality of care we provide to patients and have our own departmental Improving Quality team. If you have a passion for Improving Quality and Patient Experience, we would love for you to be involved.
Lastly, we run a multi-disciplinary Preceptorship programme, which includes named preceptors, pastoral support programmes, protected time, eLearning and a two-week induction.
Caring for our people
We believe communication is essential to ensure efficient and effective day to day coordination and operation of our theatre department and pride ourselves on being a supportive and cohesive team.
We have mental health first aiders within the department to offer support and guidance as needed and they host weekly tea and chat support groups. These staff have specialist knowledge and skills to offer support and guidance to all practitioners in many aspects of mental health. We also produce a weekly newsletter, “Wednesday Waffle” where we capture positive news stories and messages about the Theatres Department and our team. We believe communication is key to achieving excellence.
We regularly host breakfast clubs and social events to encourage and support teamwork.
Staff are also celebrated for their acts of kindness, support or for going above and beyond with the departmental “Time to Shine” award where colleagues can show their appreciation of others by nominating them and sharing what they have done. The staff testimonials are then displayed in the department for everybody to read. Individuals also receive a departmental certificate for them to keep which can be used to evidence feedback for revalidation.
To apply for a role at RMCH, click here
North Manchester General Hospital (NMGH)
North Manchester General Hospital (NMGH) consists of 9 operating theatres, 2 maternity theatres, plus 14 post anaesthetic recovery bays across 3 units.
As part of an exciting rebuild of the hospital’s estate we are working towards building an additional 3 new theatres, and 10 post anaesthetic recovery bays in a state-of-the-art single unit, as well as re-furbishing our existing estate to ensure we can provide the very best, cutting-edge care to our patients. This makes it a very exciting time to join the highly dedicated and growing team of more than 120 multi-professional staff at NMGH, made up of passionate Operating Department Practitioner’s, Registered Nurses, Assistant Practitioners, Nurse Associates, and Nursing Assistants.
Our emergency theatre service and maternity theatre service runs 24 hours, 7 days a week along with orthopaedic trauma 7 days a week We also provide highly specialised elective care including Breast Oncology and Gender Reassignment surgery, Urology, General Surgery, Gynaecology and Oral Maxillo-Facial surgeries including Head and Neck cancer surgeries and reconstruction surgery.
Our size and scope means you’ll gain exposure to a variety of complex cases that are hard to find at other Trusts.
With all of this going on it has never been a better time to join us!
Developing your career with us
First and foremost, all our teams are close-knit and highly supportive. With us, you’ll work in an environment where you can make the most of your skills, but also grow personally as well as professionally. And as we provide three month’s extensive training across our scrub and recovery areas, no experience is required before you join us.
If you wanted to go into anaesthetics you would need the appropriate level of registration but we do support newly qualified ODP’s and nurses with anaesthetic qualifications.
We strongly believe in developing all staff and offer access to a number of internal and external courses to support this.
We are always looking to develop new ways of working and improve teamwork. We encourage team development and would love for you to get involved in projects to help us to continually improve the quality of care we provide to patients.
Lastly, we run a multi-disciplinary Preceptorship programme, which includes named preceptors, pastoral support programmes, protected time, eLearning and a two-week induction.
Caring for our people
We are passionate about celebrating our people and have monthly ‘Star of the Month’ awards allowing staff to nominate a colleague who goes the extra mile, makes your workday better or is an unsung hero. Alongside the theatre thank you board supporting individual shout outs for staff in the moment.
To apply for a role at NMGH, click here
Saint Mary's Hospital
SMH Theatres are one of the largest operating theatre departments, that are dedicated to women’s health in the North West, consisting of 7 operating theatres, 3 for Gynaecology, 3 for Obstetrics and 1 for IVF.
We are one of a very small number of Uro-Gynae centres in the UK and specialise in Mesh removal and are a tertiary centre for highly complex Obstetric surgery and Gynae-Oncology. We operate 2 emergency Obstetric theatres service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We also provide highly specialised elective Gynaecology care including Gynae-Oncology, Uro-gynae, Benign, Reproductive Medicine, Endometriosis.
Our size and scope enable you to gain exposure to a variety of complex cases that are hard to find at other Trusts.
You’d be joining an expanding team of 100 multi-professional staff ranging from Operating Department Practitioners (ODP’s) to Nursing Assistants and Registered Nurses.
Developing your career with us
At SMH, we have the benefit of being a small hospital in a large organisation. This means our team are friendly, close-knit and highly supportive. With us, you’ll work in an environment where you can make the most of your skills, but also grow personally as well as professionally. And as we provide extensive training across our scrub and recovery areas, no experience is required before you join us. If you wanted to go into anaesthetics, you would need the appropriate level of registration, but we do support nurses in gaining their anaesthetic qualifications.
We are always looking to develop new ways of working and improve teamwork and we provide regular simulation training sessions. Some of our recent sessions have involved major haemorrhage and managing a difficult airway as well as exploring human factors in clinical decision making.
We encourage team development and would love for you to get involved in projects to help us to continually improve the quality of care we provide to patients. We have a dedicated Training and Development team who will support you to develop and bring out the best in you.
Lastly, we run a multi-disciplinary Preceptorship programme, which includes named preceptors, pastoral support programmes, protected time, eLearning and a two-week induction.
Caring for our people
We regularly host group activities such as the parkrun meet-up in 2019. Restrictions permitting, we regularly have team buffets and also socialise outside of work. We are passionate about celebrating our people and have monthly employee awards allowing staff to nominate a colleague who goes the extra mile, makes your workday better or is an unsung hero.
We have mental health first aiders within the department to offer support and guidance as needed and they host weekly tea and chat support groups. Our Senior management team host weekly drop-ins and monthly feedback meetings to allow staff the opportunity to discuss any issues or concerns. We believe communication is key to achieving excellence.
Staff wellbeing is important to us and we regularly plan activities such as our staff Advent calendar and Easter egg hunts, this is supported by the staff wellbeing group, who also administer the social calendar.
To apply for a role at SMH, click here
Our Benefits
We want talented people from all backgrounds to join our diverse teams, so we’ll support your work-life balance with flexible and agile working options as well as a full range of benefits which include;
- Staff Support – Our self-referral service is open to all staff and offers individual counselling and therapy for personal and work-related issues.
- Health & Wellbeing – We deliver a range of services including Fitness for Work support, rapid access physiotherapy, emotional resilience and wellbeing training, immunisation and vaccination programmes.
- Full and part-time training and career development – We’ll give you a personal development plan and review your progress annually to make sure you’re always taking your career forwards.
- Flexible Working – We’re committed to developing a flexible workforce that can adapt to the changing needs of the NHS. If you want to work flexibly, we’ll do everything in our powers to make it happen and help you maintain a healthy work-life balance. This will depend on the nature of the role and the requirements of the service/team.
- Staff Networks – We’re committed to our equality and diversity policy and run three staff networks: our Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Staff Network, our Disabled Staff Network, and our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Staff Network.
- Rewards Team – We have a dedicated team who can offer you advice on Parental and Family support and with a bespoke internal intranet site where you will find lots of interesting information of benefits and discounts.
- Staff Discounts – Our Trust offers a range of discounts to include gyms, restaurant and bars, hair and beauty, travel and much more.
- Salary Sacrifice Scheme – We run a scheme which you can use part of your salary against a non-cash benefit which brings about savings for you– this can be used against set schemes we have in place for cars, bikes and accessories, car parking & day nursery
- Interest Free Travel Loans/ Discounted Travel – We offer interest free travel loans, enabling you to purchase an annual ticket for the Metrolink, Train, and Buses. You can also purchase a discounted weekly or monthly Stagecoach bus ticket
- On site Nurseries – you can pay for this facility through our salary sacrifice scheme:
- Day Nursery – First Steps Day Nursery is based on our Oxford Road site for children aged 6mths to 5 years
- Kids Planet Day Nursery – based on our Wythenshawe site for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years
And, with the best of inner city and country living on your doorstep, you can enjoy a better quality of life too.
Diversity at MFT
We’re truly committed to being recognised as an employer of choice that recruits and develops staff fairly so that talented people choose to join, remain and develop within the Trust.
Our aim is to be a diverse workforce that’s representative at all job levels and we welcome applications from the diversity of the population we serve. Our staff networks help us to foster inclusion and support our equality and diversity policy.
Our recruitment and selection process
Applying with us is simple and straightforward. Read on to find out for yourself.
Before you apply – read the job description and person specification for the role you’re interested in and decide if your qualifications, skills and experience are suited to what we need.
You’ll then need to submit an online application. This should tell us about your education, key achievements and qualifications plus your relevant skills and experience (both work and non-work related). But it’s also an opportunity to tell us why our transformation excites you and what you hope to gain by joining us.
If you’re shortlisted for a role, you’ll be contacted by one of our teams via email and they’ll inform you about the selection process. This will vary according to the role but the process will include either a face to face interview where you’d attend one of our hospital sites in person or the process may be carried out virtually via MS Teams, so you’ll need to make sure you have access to a device that supports this software.
Our selection processes will include a technical/competency based interview. The process is designed to help us assess your skills, aptitude and experience against the role requirements.
FAQs
Why should I join #TeamMFT?
Being a team member at MFT means being part of something special. We’re the UK’s largest NHS Trust, offering innovative, cutting-edge services in the vibrant city of Manchester. We’re also a diverse, friendly team and very proud of our working culture.
By joining us, you’ll benefit from all kinds of exciting opportunities to build on your skills and experience.
How will MFT ensure I am enabled to work safely throughout COVID-19 both now and in the future?
All our staff at MFT strictly follow the Trust’s infection prevention and control guidance. We’re well-equipped to manage any suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19, and we also have close links with infection control teams and Public Health England.
To ensure our Trust is ‘caring for you, as you care for others’ we have a variety of ways to access COVID-19 support across the Trust:
- Information and support guides on the EHW intranet site and MLCO/TLCO extranet.
- Caring for You: daily wellbeing sessions provided by a psychological wellbeing therapist.
- Virtual COVID-19 traumatic incident debriefs are available if a particularly distressing incident occurs.
- Access to a 24-hour employee assistance programme.
One last thing
This is your chance to take on the career you deserve.
To build a better future for Theatre patients.
And to help us embed standards that will be emulated across the NHS.
We want you to feel valued and to excel in our team.
So, if you are keen to progress, and you are ready to embark on the most ambitious learning curve, then you will find it is all here for you to discover at MFT.
To join us on this mission and taking a starring role in one of our theatre teams, simply click on the relevant buttons below.
Good luck – we can’t wait to receive your application!