Apprentice Operating Department Practitioner

Job overview

Operating Department Practice is an exciting and rewarding career that involves working with many different patient groups undergoing a variety of anaesthetic and surgical interventions.

We have an exciting opportunity to join our successful Apprentice Operating Department Practitioner programme here at UHDB. This will be a 3 year long apprenticeship working in partnership with Staffordshire University. Your time will be spread across block placements both clinically and at the University.

The entry requirements for this apprenticeship include:

Applicants must hold maths and English functional skills level 2 or GCSE C/4 or equivalent Care certificate or willingness to complete prior to undertaking programme Level 3 qualification or greater study which could include; BTEC national diploma (pass) or certificate (merit) 2 ‘A’ Levels Access Course to health care professions (or Higher Education) Applicants must have been resident in the UK for 3 years and have a work visa that will cover the entire length of the programme

The apprenticeship will be commencing from September 2026.

You must be able to work all shifts patterns expected of an Operating Department Practitioner and be able to work across all our hospital sites:  Derby, Burton, Tamworth and Ilkeston.

Main duties of the job

You will need to be passionate, motivated and well organised. You will have a caring nature, effective communication skills and work well within a multi-disciplinary team. You will also need the physical ability to withstand long days on your feet and extensive manual handling.

ODPs have expertise in the management and maintenance of a patient safe environment within the operating department. In doing this they utilise highly specialist skills, equipment and materials to deliver a high standard of patient care. As an apprentice working at the UHDB you will learn from experienced Theatre Practitioners and members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team to ensure every patient is treated safely and with the dignity and respect they deserve, encompassing our trust values.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Closing date: 02 July 2026

Interview date: 16 & 17 July 2026

Working under the direction of the registered practitioners working in the operating department, develop, establish and maintain communication effectively and clearly with dignity and respect and always in a courteous manner, especially during stressful and emergency situations.

Complete the apprenticeship standards for the operating department practice degree apprenticeship including all academic and clinical components.

Provide effective communication between wards, departments, and medical teams; develop negotiating and reassuring skills to overcome barriers to poor communication.

Working with the university education provider and the clinical placement areas, develop the skills and knowledge to recognise role in the theatre multidisciplinary team, contributing to the delivery of safe, secure and quality patient centred care.

Frequent physical accuracy and manual dexterity is required to deliver clinical care.  Moving and handling of individuals and equipment.  Ability to stand for long periods of time in limited spaces.  Highly developed precision and hand and eye coordination.

Develop professional integrity, maintaining a professional approach whilst working in challenging, distressing and emotional situations.

When faced with stressful and traumatic situation, can offer support to individuals.

Please see attached Job description and Person Specification. To apply please click APPLY FOR THIS JOB – this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site. You will need to register if you do not already have an account.

UHDB is committed to fair and transparent recruitment. We welcome authentic applications that reflect your own skills, experience and motivations for the role. While we understand that candidates may use AI tools for grammar, formatting or accessibility purposes, applications that appear to be substantially AI‑generated may be subject to additional review. If this applies to your submission, we will let you know and may ask for clarification. Please ensure your application accurately represents your experience and is written in your own words.

Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa, please click on the link to check your eligibility before applying for this post as we may be unable to provide sponsorship Impacts of the changes to the UK immigration policy | NHS Employers

Your application (for shortlisting purposes) is assessed based on the Person Specification in the job advert (below).