Job summary
- Main area
- Ophthalmology
- Grade
- Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role)
- Job ref
- 430-SURG25-258A
- Employer
- Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- W72057 LC Ophthalmology Theatres (Dept)
- Town
- Milton Keynes
- Salary
- £24,937 - £26,598 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 30/11/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Senior Healthcare Assistant
Band 3
At Milton Keynes University Hospital, you will be welcomed into a friendly and supportive environment where teamwork and respect are at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to live our Trust values and behaviours every day, creating a culture where everyone feels heard and valued.
MKUH staff's Motivation and Involvement scores are among the highest in our peer group, showing that our people feel inspired and included in decision-making (Staff Survey, 2024).
Our benefits
We believe in recognising and rewarding the amazing contribution of our staff and that is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, work-life balance, and professional growth, including:
- Free on-site parking including EV charging
- Complimentary refreshments
- Flexible working arrangements
- Discounted gym membership
- Salary sacrifice car scheme
- Generous annual leave, with the option to bank holiday entitlement
- Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme
- On-site nursery (charges apply)
- A wide-ranging staff health and wellbeing programme including EAP
- VIVUP products to support your mental, physical, and financial Wellbeing
Job overview
Senior Healthcare Assistant
Department: Ophthalmology Theatres at Lloyds Court
Band 3 pro rata if part-time
Hours: 37.5 per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
Are you an experienced Healthcare Assistant looking to take the next step in your career? We are seeking proactive and compassionate Senior Healthcare Assistants to join our new Ophthalmology Theatre service at Lloyds Court.
This is an exciting opportunity to work in a specialist Ophthalmology setting, supporting patients undergoing cataract surgery. You’ll play a vital role in supporting the delivery of high-quality, patient-centred care pre, post and peri-operatively and working as part of the clinical team in a fast-paced environment.
Do you have the ability to work independently as well as part of a team, experience in theatres or ophthalmology? If you are ready to build upon your NHS experience and grow in a specialist service, we will offer you opportunities to develop in a varied and interesting role.
Interview date: 10.12.2025
Main duties of the job
We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute
“NHS Survey, 2024'' 94% feel that their role makes a difference to patience and service users.
The aim of the role of senior healthcare assistant at Lloyds Court is to support the safe, efficient and compassionate delivery of ophthalmic surgical procedures, with a focus on cataract surgery, by assisting the clinical team and ensuring a smooth patient journey from admission to discharge.
The post holder will work alongside skilled nurses and surgeons contributing directly to high-quality patient care. The post holder will play a key role in ensuring theatres run smoothly, while supporting patients and their families throughout their surgical journey. The role will include supporting outpatient clinics as required.
Working for our organisation
Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a “Good” rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.
As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.
We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.
Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards – a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards – and the recently approved Women and Children’s Centre, set to open by 2030.
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For further information about Milton Keynes please visit - Visit Milton Keynes
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical
· Assist in the preparation and support of patients undergoing cataract surgery under local anaesthetic.
· Administer prescribed pre-operative eye drops as per Trust SOP.
· Escort and support patients undergoing local anaesthetic procedures.
· Support the surgical team with patient positioning and maintaining sterile fields.
Communication
• Communicate effectively with the multidisciplinary team receiving and conveying complex and sensitive information.
• Actively participate in the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist process.
• Ensure that patient confidentiality is always maintained.
• Maintain effective communication with patients, relatives and members of the multidisciplinary team regarding all aspects of care demonstrating a variety of communication skills in accordance with the patient group.
Leadership
• To develop own practice and offer service improvements
• To be familiar with trust policies and procedures
• Act within limits of own competence, ensuring actions support care, protection and wellbeing of others.
• Maintain responsibility for the identification of own continuing educational and development needs, including audits of own work practice. Formulate a personal development plan and participate in the annual appraisal process.
Professional
· To act at all times in a professional and courteous manner.
· To ensure compliance with mandatory training.
· To participate in the Trust’s appraisal system be involved in continuous development, keeping up to date knowledge on the Healthcare Assistant’s role.
· To participate in department meetings as appropriate.
· To uphold the Trust Values.
· To promote the importance of good clinical practice throughout the ward/department, acting as an ambassador for high standards and good patient care at all times.
Please refer to the job description for further details
Person specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential criteria
- GCSE/ Functional Skills in Maths & English
- NVQ Level 3 or equivalent experience
- NHS CARE Certificate
- Awareness of infection prevention & control
- Awareness of NHS policies
- Understand the role of the Theatre Support Worker
- Knowledge of ophthalmic procedures and patient care pathways
- Understanding of the role of a Healthcare Assistant
- Awareness of NHS policies
- Assessors training/certificate
Experience
Essential criteria
- Previous experience working as a Healthcare Assistant in the NHS
- Experience in a theatre or outpatient surgical setting
Desirable criteria
- Experience supporting ophthalmic procedures (e.g. cataract surgery)
- Supervising or mentoring junior staff
Skills
Essential criteria
- Ability to participate in the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist process
- Ability to demonstrate commitment to high standards of care
- Accurate record keeping
- Ability to work under pressure
- Ability to prioritise tasks effectively at short notice
- Caring in a professional manner towards patients and their relatives.
- Good time management
- Ability to induct, support, assess and develop junior members of staff.
- Ability to undertake clinical observations and other clinical tasks
- IT Skills
Personal and people development
Essential criteria
- Compassionate and patient-centred approach
- Ability to remain calm under pressure
- Reliable, flexible, and team-oriented
- Emotionally resilient and able to support anxious or vulnerable patients
- Commitment to continuous improvement and learning
Communication
Essential criteria
- Clear spoken and written English
- Able to communicate clearly and compassionately with patients, carers and team members, carrying out instructions and feeding back information.
- Able to record care provided using MKUH documentation and complying with MKUH policies and guidelines.
- Able to feedback to staff on safe and effective practice.
- Able to feedback on assessments undertaken.
Specific requirements
Essential criteria
- Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Natalie Austin
- Job title
- Matron
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Additional information
We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role
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