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Operating Department Practitioner (ODP)

Operating Department Practitioners (ODP’s) are registered health care professionals who have an integral role in the provision of safe, holistic perioperative care. Are you an aspiring ODP? Are you a college leaver pursuing ODP training, or seeking a change in career pathway? With no upper age limits, for our apprentices, this post is open to anyone aged over 18 years.

Job overview

We are delighted to offer an apprenticeship in the Operating Department Theatres team. Usually recruitment to this apprenticeship will run in the Spring and Autumn. You will start as a Theatre Support Worker and become an Operating Department Practitioner Apprentice.

Operating Department Practice is a rewarding career requiring a highly developed knowledge and professional skill-set enabling you to work across a range of settings in the perioperative journey of the surgical patient.

ODPs are registered healthcare professionals specialising in caring for people of all ages before, during & after surgery. Operating Department Practice involves holistic care of the perioperative service user’s specific physical and psychological needs during surgical intervention which includes the Anaesthesia, Surgical and Post Anaesthetic Care phases.

You will work alongside other professionals taking a lead role in ensuring  the patient is safe during each stage of their journey through the operating theatre.

Main duties of the job

To assist with patient care and other departmental related duties as a Theatre Support Worker and as directed by Registered Theatre Practitioners.

Upon entry on the ODP Apprenticeship, to train and study to complete the BSc (Hons) ODP programme approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and accredited by the College of Operating Department Practitioners (CODP).

Candidates who do not enrol onto the University ODP Apprenticeship programme, will remain employed at CUH as band 2 Theatre Support Workers, and can receive support to prepare for a future interview.

Upon registering with the HCPC via the ODP apprenticeship route, candidates are guaranteed a job as a band 5 ODP at Cambridge University Hospitals.

For more information, or to express an interest in upcoming  ODP apprenticeships, please email Rona Goodge