Orthopaedic Practitioner (Plaster Technician)

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)

Orthopaedic Practitioner (Plaster Technician)

The closing date is 25 January 2026

Are you an experienced Orthopaedic Practitioner (Plaster Technician)?

Would you like to work in an outstanding acute trust?

Are you looking for variety, working in out-patients, inpatient ward areas and orthopaedic theatres?

There really has never been a more exciting time to join us; University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and Weston Area Health NHS Trust have merged together to become one organisation.

What is the role of an Orthopaedic Practitioner at UHBW?

You must have a current British Orthopaedic Association casting qualification certificate and be registered with the Association of Orthopaedic Practitioners.

Working in out-patients, on the wards and in surgical theatres, you will make a valuable contribution to the multi-disciplinary team looking after orthopaedic patients.

You will work across two hospitals at UHBW, the Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI) treating our adult patients and at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children (BRHC). The BRHC is a regional centre for paediatrics, providing specialist orthopaedic service for conditions such as Development Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH), Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) as well as being a dedicated paediatric trauma centre for the South West.

Main duties of the job

To be competent in the application, adjustment and removal of all types of casts as prescribed by a clinician.

To participate in the assessment, planning and evaluation of care for the patient who is requiring casting or splinting referring to the clinician as required.

Assess different initial conditions and provide advice to clinicians on appropriate course of action and materials to be used.

Obtains informed consent from patients when carrying out programmes of care.

About us

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England. UHBW has been rated by the CQC as 'Good' overall and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston and beyond. As a forward-thinking multi-award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world-leading research and innovations are having a positive local and global impact. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone's throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we are meeting our pledge.

Job responsibilities

For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and Person Specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

• Qualified Practitioner British Orthopaedic Association Registration with the BOA (E)
• Work towards relevant university accredited post basic study programmes (D)

Knowledge and experience

• Extensive experience of Trauma and Orthopaedic casting, functional bracing and musculoskeletal anatomy and physiology
• Broad knowledge and experience of clinical practice within a hospital environment and specialist clinical and technical knowledge in the application and removal of all types of casting and bracing
• Significant and relevant experience post qualification
• Experience of working as a part of a multidisciplinary team covering various departments within adult and children services
• Experience of teaching
• Supportive
• Respectful

Skills and Abilities

• Making, adapting and applying specialist braces and supporting the provision of Orthotic service
• Managing wound care in accordance with theoretical and practical elements based on Trust policies and procedures
• Ability to recognise symptoms relating to threat to life/limb and intervene as necessary
• In the area of specialist practice, assess and make clinical judgements to determine correct intervention and demonstrate competence in clinical skills relevant to the clinical area
• Teaching and supervisory skills
• Ability to work unsupervised
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, able to communicate effectively with patients, carers, relatives and other members of staff
• Excellent interpersonal skills

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)

Depending on experience, per annum, pro rata for part time roles.