UK Visa Sponsorship Staff Nurse
Job Description
Employer: Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Location: Dorchester, Dorset
Department: Day Surgery
Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: Part time – 30.75 hours per week
Salary: £32,073 – £39,043 per year, pro rata
Grade: NHS AfC Band 5
Closing Date: 6 October 2026, 11:59pm
Vacancy Reference: 405-26-NM361DSU-A
About the Role
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is looking for motivated Band 5 Staff Nurses and Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs) to join its busy Day Surgery service.
This opportunity would suit theatre practitioners who enjoy working in a varied clinical environment and have an interest in areas such as anaesthetics and orthopaedics. Applicants should have an appropriate professional qualification that is recognised for practice in the UK.
The role offers the opportunity to work within a structured elective surgery environment while also gaining experience in day-case trauma and emergency procedures. You will be supported to develop your clinical skills and progress professionally while maintaining a positive work-life balance.
Successful candidates will work across the Trust’s theatre complex, including the main operating theatres, according to service requirements.
About the Day Surgery Service
The Day Surgery Unit is a busy and developing service operating as part of Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
The service includes:
– Two day surgery theatres at Dorset County Hospital
– An Eye Day Case Unit at Dorset County Hospital
– A satellite day surgery service at Weymouth Community Hospital
Staff may be required to rotate between these locations and provide support in other theatre areas when necessary.
The department delivers care across a broad range of surgical specialties, including:
– ENT
– General and breast surgery
– Gynaecology
– Colorectal surgery
– Orthopaedics
– Urology
– Maxillofacial surgery
– Special dentistry
– Ophthalmic procedures
– Interventional Radiology procedures
The team also provides post-operative care for patients following day-case procedures in several of these specialties.
The service currently operates Monday to Friday, from 7:00am to 8:00pm.
What You Will Do
As a Band 5 practitioner, you will contribute to the safe and effective delivery of patient care throughout the surgical pathway.
Your responsibilities will include working as part of the multidisciplinary theatre team, maintaining high clinical standards and supporting patients before, during and after their procedures.
You will be expected to:
– Deliver safe, compassionate and patient-focused care.
– Work effectively within theatre and multidisciplinary teams.
– Maintain professional standards and patient confidentiality.
– Apply your clinical knowledge and skills appropriately.
– Support safe surgical and anaesthetic practice.
– Communicate effectively with patients, relatives and colleagues.
– Contribute to maintaining a safe and efficient theatre environment.
– Participate in continuing professional development.
– Support quality improvement and clinical governance activities.
– Adapt to the needs of different theatre and day surgery environments.
About You
We are looking for an experienced practitioner who can demonstrate confidence in their clinical practice and a commitment to delivering high-quality patient care.
You should be able to establish positive working relationships with patients, visitors and colleagues and demonstrate an understanding of professional confidentiality.
Experience within NHS theatre services will be particularly relevant to this position.
Essential Qualifications and Experience
Applicants should have:
– Current registration as an appropriate healthcare professional.
– Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD).
– Significant and recent Band 5 experience as a Staff Nurse or ODP within the NHS.
– Recent NHS experience.
– At least two years of NHS experience.
– Evidence of competent and effective clinical practice.
– The ability to work constructively with colleagues, patients and visitors.
– A clear understanding of confidentiality and professional responsibilities.
Desirable Experience
The following would be advantageous:
– A teaching qualification or relevant teaching experience.
– Knowledge of professional nursing or theatre-practice issues.
– Understanding of clinical governance.
– Experience with clinical audit.
– Critical appraisal skills.
– Experience managing workload and competing priorities.
– An identified clinical area of special interest.
– Evidence of developing leadership abilities.
Working for Dorset County Hospital
The Trust is committed to providing outstanding care while creating a workplace where employees can develop and perform at their best.
Its mission is centred on working in partnership to provide high-quality, compassionate services and supporting staff to reach their potential.
The Trust’s core values are:
Integrity | Respect | Teamwork | Excellence
Diversity and inclusion are important to the organisation, and applications are welcomed from people across all backgrounds, including groups that are currently under-represented within the workforce.
Professional Development
This position provides opportunities to broaden your theatre experience and develop your clinical and professional skills.
You will work alongside experienced colleagues and have exposure to a range of surgical specialties and patient pathways. The Trust also encourages staff to participate in professional development, clinical governance, audit and leadership development.
For general information about working in the NHS, applicants can refer to the official UK Government guidance on working for the NHS:
“UK Government – Working for the NHS”
UK Visa Sponsorship
This vacancy is stated by the employer to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, subject to the applicant meeting the relevant UK Visas and Immigration requirements.
Applicants who require sponsorship should check the current eligibility rules before applying, as visa requirements can change.
“UK Government – Skilled Worker visa”
Application Information
Before applying, candidates should carefully review the official job description and person specification and explain clearly how their qualifications, experience and skills meet the requirements.
Applicants are expected to provide truthful information based on their own professional experience. The Trust advises candidates that AI tools may be used to assist with applications, but supporting statements should remain authentic and accurately represent the applicant’s own experience and achievements.
If you are unsure whether the Day Surgery Unit is the right environment for you, the department welcomes prospective applicants who would like to arrange a visit and meet the team.
For recruitment enquiries, contact:
Email: Recruitment@dchft.nhs.uk
Telephone: 01305 254655
If you have difficulty accessing the job description or person specification, contact the recruitment team for assistance.
Important Application Information
The advertised closing date or interview arrangements may change, and the Trust may withdraw the vacancy earlier than expected. Candidates are therefore encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
Shortlisted applicants will normally be contacted by email, so please check the email address provided in your application regularly.
The Trust may not be able to respond individually to every applicant. If you have not been contacted within four weeks of the closing date, you should assume that your application has not progressed on this occasion.
Dorset County Hospital is committed to delivering outstanding care for people in ways that matter to them while working with health and social care partners to improve the wellbeing of local communities.
