Healthcare Support Worker/Theatre Support Worker - Band 3

Job summary

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. (Please note weekends and nights will not be available for minimum of 6 months and will depend on which area of theatres you are allocated.) 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.

Please note:

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

Required Competencies 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 Main duties of the job 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 25th August 2026, there are no remote interviews available.

About us

Come Nurse with us... 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. It's a great place to nurse, work and live.

You will work on a vibrant hospital campus with a friendly community feel; we have excellent facilities to practice your skills and abilities to support your career pathway and development. Our values of Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent support the delivery of outstanding care.

We have a fully electronic patient record system that is improving health-care quality; this is transforming services, improving patient safety and clinical outcomes.

Why choose Cambridge University Hospitals? o Our values and reputation for outstanding careo Opportunities to experience a range of specialitieso Career and development opportunitieso Preceptorship and mentoring programmes delivered by a dedicated clinical education support teamo Research experience and opportunitieso Lovely location and quality of life

Job description

Job

responsibilities

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 30 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. 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 caf, 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.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential Holds National Care Certificate or willingness to undertake within the first 3 months of appointment Holds Functional Skills Level 1 Maths and English or GCSE equivalent or undertake and achieve a pass following completion of level 1 functional skills assessment Demonstrates a commitment to further learning and development Desirable Level 3 award in health care Experience Essential Experience of working in an environment under pressure Experience of working within a team Experience of communicating with individuals from a range of different backgrounds Experience of attention to detail - eg for recording in patient records Experience in the public sector Desirable Experience of working within a health care environment.

Experience working in a healthcare, social care organisation/setting or service industry requiring people contact. Knowledge Essential Understands the job role and specific knowledge in relation to tasks included in the job description or be prepared to undertake training to be able to gain appropriate knowledge.

Desirable Awareness of National and local priorities and initiatives Skills Essential Good communication skills (written and verbal). Able to work as a team. Able to carry out well defined routine tasks.

Able to work on own initiative, following direction/supervision by a Registered Healthcare Practitioner. Able to relate well with patients/relatives/ visitors/colleagues/the multi-disciplinary team and wider Trust staff. Committed to delivering high standards of patient care.

Friendly, open, empathetic and compassionate. Professional outlook and positive attitude. Able to meet the flexible needs of the role and duty roster.

Desirable Prepared to undertake coaching role for other HCSW's. IT Skills Additional

Requirements

Essential The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.

Desirable Evidence of a desire to work in the operating theatre 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship 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) .