Are you an experienced Theatre Practitioner looking for your next opportunity?
We are looking for an experienced and motivated Senior Theatre Practitioner with an SFA qualification to join our Theatre team.
This is an excellent opportunity for an accomplished Scrub Practitioner who is passionate about delivering high-quality, patient-centred care while supporting the effective running of theatre services. You will bring strong clinical expertise, excellent organisational skills and a positive approach to teamwork, helping us maintain a professional, safe and supportive theatre environment.
About us
At Benenden Hospital we put patients at the heart of everything we do. We attract kind, compassionate, and talented people to our ultra-modern private hospital. We hold JAG accreditation for Endoscopy and ACSA accreditation for anaesthetics.
Benenden Hospital offers excellent working conditions and facilities. We promote flexible working and a healthy work/life balance. We are committed to professional development and have excellent training and education facilities. We work hard to make sure that everyone at Benenden Hospital feels involved and shares our values and vision for the future.
About the role
As a Senior Theatre Practitioner, you will play an important role in the delivery of safe, effective and responsive care throughout the patient journey.
Working as part of our multidisciplinary Theatre team, your responsibilities will include:
- Working as an expert Scrub Practitioner across a range of surgical specialties.
- Undertaking the Surgical First Assistant (SFA) role as required.
- Planning, preparing and facilitating theatre lists where necessary, helping to ensure the safe and effective use of theatre capacity.
- Ensuring patient care areas are safe, fit for purpose and effectively maintained.
- Maintaining the safe custody and appropriate management of medications and controlled drugs.
- Accurately recording and maintaining patient information using relevant IT systems.
- Providing a consistently professional, responsive and patient-centred service.
- Identifying issues, using initiative and making sound decisions within a busy, fast-paced theatre environment.
- Working collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders to develop effective working relationships and support excellent patient outcomes.
- Fostering a positive team environment and promoting a culture of professionalism, honesty, integrity and high standards of care.
- Supporting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) and neurodiversity, ensuring all interactions with patients, carers and colleagues are respectful, inclusive and individualised.
You will join a dedicated team passionate about delivering outstanding clinical care and creating the best possible experience for patients.
Skills and experience required
To be successful in this role, you will be a first-level Registered Nurse or HCPC-registered Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) with substantial post-qualification scrub experience.
An SFA qualification is essential for this position.
You will also have:
- Post-registration education within a relevant speciality, a Degree in Healthcare, or 5+ years of equivalent relevant experience.
- Expert scrub skills with post-qualification experience across a range of surgical specialties.
- Excellent organisational, planning and problem-solving skills.
- Strong communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills, with the ability to support effective team working within a positive and appropriately challenging culture.
- A strong patient-centred approach and commitment to delivering safe, high-quality care.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- The ability to work collaboratively and build positive relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.
- The confidence to identify issues, use your initiative and make sound decisions in a fast-paced clinical environment.
- Basic IT skills, including MS Outlook and web-based reporting systems.
- A commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and supporting neurodiversity.
- A professional approach and commitment to demonstrating honesty, integrity and ethical practice
Benefits include
- Competitive salaries
- 27 days Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
- Defined contribution pension scheme with employer contribution up to 10%
- Membership to Benenden Health which offers a wide range of benefits, discounts and activities
- Excellent Life Assurance benefit
- Free parking
- Subsidised eye tests
- Free Flu vaccinations
- Subsidised on site Restaurant
“I love working at Benenden Hospital, it’s a beautiful location in the countryside”, “the whole organisation is supportive”, “it’s the team, the team are amazing”, “Benenden is a bit like a family”, “the whole atmosphere is brilliant”
These are just some of the reasons why more than 400 people work at Benenden Hospital which has a long history of caring since it was founded in 1907.
How to apply
If you wish to apply for this position, please complete and submit our application form with your CV attached.
Please note this vacancy may close prior to the closing date without notice, if a sufficient number of applications are received
Closing Date: 2 October 2026
A member of the HR team will be in contact after the vacancy closes.
If you have further questions please email kentcareers@benenden.org.uk
Together, we work hard to maintain a safe, comfortable, patient-focused environment for the people in our care.
All our vacancies are therefore subject to either a Standard or an Enhanced Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service as well as satisfactory reference checks. These procedures need to be completed before all new member of staff can join the hospital.
Full right to work in the UK is required as we do not offer sponsorship as an organisation
In accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we have implemented a Privacy Notice to inform you, as prospective employees of Benenden Hospital, of the types of data we process about you. Please visit our Careers page to read our Privacy Notice
We’re committed to providing good quality, compassionate care. Everyone who works with us plays an important role in supporting this, whether patient‑facing or not, and we value the experience, behaviours, and perspectives our people bring.
We’re an inclusive employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and walks of life. This includes people with disabilities, people from all gender identities, individuals from all ethnic backgrounds, and those who are neurodivergent.
We actively encourage applications from groups that may be under‑represented within our workforce.
We want to understand why you want to work in a hospital environment and how your knowledge, skills, qualifications, and experience align with the role you’re applying for, and how they support a caring and respectful culture. These qualities are best shown through your own experience rather than AI‑generated content. While AI tools may be used for general support, we ask that applications are written in your own words and reflect your true abilities and values.
Taking the time to complete your application carefully and honestly helps us understand your suitability for the role and ensures a fair, open, and values‑based recruitment process.