Job overview
BAND 4 TRAINING POST PLASTER TECHNICIAN
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our small, friendly team within the Plaster room as a Trainee Orthopaedic Technician. The successful candidate will work as part of a specialist team providing high quality orthopaedic support to fracture clinics, orthopaedic theatres and emergency department. The role involves assisting with the application and removal of casts and splints, supporting clinicians during fracture clinic procedures and helping patients receive safe and effective treatment following injury or surgery.
This is a development post; the successful candidate will be appointed at a Band 4 as a trainee and will be supported to complete the recognised casting qualification through the British Orthopaedic Association Casting Certificate.
On successful completion of the Casting course and after an agreed length of time post course the post holder will progress to the role of Band 5 Orthopaedic Technician.
Training and support will be provided in preparation for the 6‑week residential casting course, a minimum of 12 months based in plaster room gaining knowledge in cast application and anatomy and physiology before attending the course. Experience in a healthcare setting and an interest in trauma and orthopaedics would be advantageous.
Main duties of the job
The plaster room supports a busy trauma service, and the successful candidate must be able to work flexibly to support fracture clinics, theatre lists, podiatry, paediatrics and emergency department activities.
- Application and removal of casts and splints in a range of materials
- Acquiring knowledge and experience in identifying basic anatomy and physiology
- Providing patient‑centred casting provision to both inpatients and outpatients covering all hospital areas as required under supervision (includes working towards specialist casting, e.g. application of hip spica casts within the operating theatre)
- Learning and developing skills to apply a full range of plaster techniques both routine and complex including specialist synthetic casts, resting and functional splinting
- Performing basic dressings, aseptic techniques in line with post‑operative instructions, and knowing how to identify and escalate any concerns to the correct medical teams
- Developing and gaining experience for measuring and ordering braces for a cross section of medical conditions including osteoarthritis, ligamentous injuries and post‑operative stability
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on‑site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. We also offer reduced‑cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from the Cambridge University Hospital site and free Park‑and‑Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites. Parking on site is subsidised for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Staff pod break spaces provide a colleague‑only café, free tea and coffee, a break space and a private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work‑life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part‑time working, job‑share, term‑time working and flexible start and finish times.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person specification
Qualifications
- NVQ level 3 HCSW or equivalent level of competency
- Willingness to work towards the British Casting Certificate at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore
Experience
- Previous healthcare experience either in the primary or hospital setting
- Experience of working as a band 3 HCA, including wound assessment and wound care competencies; knowledge of pressure area care (risk assessment and escalating findings)
- Experience of working within an MDT and a team‑working environment throughout the hospital
- Ability to work and communicate with differing levels of staff
- Experience in casting/splinting techniques
- NHS experience
Knowledge
- Understanding of the importance of confidentiality and data protection
- Understanding of accountability
Skills
- Basic IT skills
- Good verbal and written communication skills
- Capable of working as an integral member of a small team
- Effective interpersonal skills
- Commitment to multi‑disciplinary working
Additional Requirements
- The ability to understand and behave at all times towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent
Employment and Immigration
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full‑time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full‑time permanent contract unless you have:
- applied for a Graduate visa
- completed your course and applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment
- the Trust has agreed to sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment
This vacancy will close at midnight on 14th July 2026.
Job ref 180-A-263115
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