Operating department practitioner

Degree apprenticeship (integrated degree) · Health and science route · Standard ST0582 v2.0

Level: 6
Typical duration: 48 months (about 4 years)
Max funding band: £26,000
Route: Health and science
Regulated by: Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Supporting operating theatre staff and providing care to patients at all stages of an operation.

About the role

Operating department practitioners are registered healthcare professionals specialising in caring for people of all ages before, during and after surgery. Operating department practitioners, therefore, mainly work in operating departments. They work alongside other professionals, such as doctors and nurses, and take a lead role in ensuring the service user is safe during each stage of the journey through the operating theatre. Operating department practitioners must continually make professional decisions to ensure the service user receives the best care. Operating department practitioners also ensure that the operating theatre environment is safe and effective and, therefore, have expertise in the management of specialist equipment and materials in a highly technical environment; for example, handling surgical instruments, checking anaesthetic equipment, moving individuals, and giving medication. Operating department practitioners must be confident, compassionate, competent and make effective judgements, for which they are accountable. They must use evidence-based practice to inform and evaluate the effectiveness of their actions with the aim of continually improving outcomes for service users. They are responsible for ensuring their own professional knowledge and skills through continuous professional development (CPD) and supporting the development of others.

Anaesthesia phase of care requires operating department practitioners to:

provide individualised care prior to and throughout surgery or other procedures, including reassurance and support during vulnerable times
use a wide range of clinical skills knowledge and understanding to ensure a safe environment during the administration and maintenance of anaesthesia
position the individual to optimise surgical access
maintain the individuals safety and dignity
medicines management
prepare a wide range of specialist equipment and devices
assist the anaesthetist in safely securing and maintaining the individual’s airway and physiological stability during anaesthesia

Surgery phase of care requires operating department practitioners to:

work as part of a team to provide safe, individualised care during surgery
take professional responsibility for selecting, preparing and providing the correct sterile surgical equipment to the surgeon, and being accountable for all surgical instruments, equipment and swabs throughout the procedure
anticipate the surgical team’s requirements, responding appropriately and effectively.
ensuring the correct management of clinical specimens

The Post-anaesthetic care phase involves:

caring for the individual whilst in the post anaesthetic care unit (PACU)
observing and monitoring a patient’s vital signs
maintaining their airway and identifying and responding to changes in the individuals physiological and psychological condition
providing appropriate treatment including pain control and post-operative nausea and vomiting care; until the service user has recovered from the immediate effects of anaesthesia and has been assessed in order to ensure they are fit to be discharged from PACU

How it compares

At 48 months (about 4 years), it is longer than average for a degree-level apprenticeship (the average across all 172 Level 6+ standards is 39 months).

The funding band — the maximum an employer's levy can contribute to training costs — is £26,000, at or above the £21,500 average for degree-level standards. Apprentices never pay tuition either way.

Typical job titles

Operating department practitioner

Entry requirements

Entry requirements will be determined by the employer and the University.

Entry requirements are ultimately set by each employer — treat these as the baseline, not the bar.

What you come out with

BSc (Hons) in Operating Department Practice approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) — Level 6 (integrated degree)

What you'll learn

The official standard defines 10 core duties, 61 knowledge areas, 87 skills, 3 behaviours. This is the actual assessed content of the apprenticeship — worth reading before an interview, because competency questions are usually written straight from these lists.

Core duties 10

Practise safely and effectively within the scope of practice and within the legal and ethical boundaries of the profession.
Look after own health and wellbeing, seeking appropriate support where necessary.
Practise as an autonomous professional, exercising professional judgement.
Practise in a non-discriminatory and inclusive manner recognising the impact of culture, equality and diversity.
Communicate effectively, maintaining confidentiality and records appropriately.
Work appropriately with others.
Reflect on, review and assure the quality of own practice.
Draw on appropriate knowledge and skills to inform practice and apply the key concepts of the knowledge base relevant to the profession.
Establish and maintain a safe practice environment.
Promote public health and prevent ill health.

Knowledge 61

The importance of continuing professional development throughout own career.
The importance of safeguarding, signs of abuse and the relevant safeguarding processes.
What is required of them by the Health and Care Professions Council, including but not limited to the Standards of conduct, performance and ethics.
The importance of valid consent.
That relationships with service users, carers and others should be based on mutual respect and trust.
The importance of capacity in the context of delivering care and treatment.
The scope of a professional duty of care.
Legislation, policies and guidance relevant to own profession and scope of practice.
The complexity of caring for vulnerable persons in perioperative and other healthcare settings, and the need to adapt care as necessary.
The importance of own mental and physical health and wellbeing strategies in maintaining fitness to practise.
How to take appropriate action if own health may affect own ability to practise safely and effectively, including seeking help and support when necessary.
The need for active participation in training, supervision and mentoring in supporting high standards of practice, and personal and professional conduct, and the importance of demonstrating this in practice.
Equality legislation and how to apply it to own practice.
The duty to make reasonable adjustments in practice.
The characteristics and consequences of barriers to inclusion, including for socially isolated groups.
That regard to equality, diversity and inclusion needs to be embedded in the application of all HCPC standards and across all areas of practice.
When disclosure of confidential information may be required.
The principles of information and data governance and the safe and effective use of health, social care and other relevant information.
The need to ensure confidentiality is maintained in all situations in which service users rely on additional communication support, such as interpreters or translators.
That the concepts of confidentiality and informed consent extend to all mediums, including illustrative clinical records such as photography, video and audio recordings and digital platforms.
The characteristics and consequences of verbal and non-verbal communication and how these can be affected by difference of any kind including, but not limited to, protected characteristics, intersectional experiences and cultural differences.
The need to support the communication needs of service users and carers, such as through the use of an appropriate interpreter.
The need to provide service users or people acting on own behalf with the information necessary in accessible formats to enable them to make informed decisions.
The principles and practices of other health and care professionals and systems and how they interact with own profession.
The need to build and sustain professional relationships as both an autonomous practitioner and collaboratively as a member of a team.
The qualities, behaviours and benefits of leadership.
That leadership is a skill all professionals can demonstrate.
The need to engage service users and carers in planning and evaluating diagnostics, and therapeutic interventions to meet their needs and goals.
Psychological and sociological principles to maintain effective relationships.
The value of reflective practice and the need to record the outcome of such reflection to support continuous improvement.
The value of multi-disciplinary reviews, case conferences and other methods of review.
The value of gathering and using data for quality assurance and improvement programmes.
The structure and function of the human body, together with knowledge of physical and mental health, disease, disorder and dysfunction relevant to their profession.
The principles and applications of scientific enquiry, including the evaluation of treatment efficacy and the research process.
The roles of other professions in health and social care and how they may relate to the role of the operating department practitioner.
The structure and function of health and social care system and services in the UK.
Disease and trauma processes, and how to apply this knowledge to the service user’s perioperative care.
The main sequential stages of human development, including cognitive, emotional and social measures of maturation through the lifespan.
The theoretical basis of, and the variety of approaches to, assessment and intervention.
Relevant physiological parameters and how to interpret changes from the norm.
The principles of operating department practice and their application to perioperative and other healthcare settings.
How to order, store and issue drugs to service users safely and effectively.
The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects and contraindications of drugs used.
Safe and current practice in a range of medical devices used for diagnostic, monitoring or therapeutic purposes in accordance with national and local guidelines, appropriate to their practice.
The principles and practices of the management of clinical emergencies.
A range of research methodologies relevant to own role.
The value of research to the critical evaluation of practice.
Service users’ elimination needs.
The role of the surgical first assistant in assisting with surgical intervention.
The management and processes involved in the administration of blood and blood products.
The need to monitor the effects of drugs.
Common abnormal blood physiology, including blood gas analysis.
The principles of life support.
The need to maintain the safety of themself and others, including service users, carers and colleagues.
Relevant health and safety legislation and local operational procedures and policies.
The impact of human factors within relevant settings and the implications for service user safety.
The nature and purpose of sterile fields, and the practitioner’s individual role and responsibility for maintaining them.
Appropriate moving and handling techniques.
Principles of safe use of medical devices used in perioperative, anaesthetic, surgical and post-anaesthesia care.
The role of the profession in health promotion, health education and preventing ill health.
How social, economic and environmental factors, wider determinants of health, can influence a person’s health and well-being.

Skills 87

Identify the limits of own practice and when to seek advice or refer to another professional or service
Manage own workload and resources safely and effectively, including managing the emotional burden that comes with working in a pressured environment
Keep own skills and knowledge up to date
Maintain high standards of personal and professional conduct
Engage in safeguarding processes where necessary
Promote and protect the service user’s interests at all times
Respect and uphold the rights, dignity, values, and autonomy of service users, including own role in the assessment, diagnostic, treatment and / or therapeutic process
Maintain high standards of care in all circumstances
Obtain valid consent, which is voluntary and informed, has due regard to capacity, is proportionate to the circumstances and is appropriately documented
Exercise a duty of care
Apply legislation, policies and guidance relevant to own profession and scope of practice
Recognise the power imbalance which comes with being a health care professional, and ensure it is not for personal gain
Practise in accordance with relevant medicines legislation
Identify own anxiety and stress and recognise the potential impact on own practice
Develop and adopt clear strategies for physical and mental self-care and self-awareness, to maintain a high standard of professional effectiveness and a safe working environment
Recognise that they are personally responsible for, and must be able to, justify their decisions and actions
Use own skills, knowledge and experience, and the information available, to make informed decisions and / or take action where necessary
Make reasoned decisions to initiate, continue, modify or cease treatment or the use of techniques or procedures, and record the decisions and reasoning appropriately
Make and receive appropriate referrals, where necessary
Exercise personal initiative
Demonstrate a logical and systematic approach to problem solving
Use research, reasoning and problem solving skills when determining appropriate actions
Respond appropriately to the needs of all different groups and individuals in practice, recognising this can be affected by difference of any kind including, but not limited to, protected characteristics, intersectional experiences and cultural differences
Recognise the potential impact of own values, beliefs and personal biases (which may be unconscious) on practice and take personal action to ensure all service users and carers are treated appropriately with respect and dignity
Make and support reasonable adjustments in owns and others’ practice
Actively challenge barriers to inclusion, supporting the implementation of change wherever possible
Adhere to the professional duty of confidentiality
Respond in a timely manner to situations where it is necessary to share information to safeguard service users, carers and / or the wider public and recognise situations where it is necessary to share information to safeguard service users, carers and / or the wider public
Use effective and appropriate verbal and non-verbal skills to communicate with service users, carers, colleagues and others
Communicate in English to the required standard for the profession
Work with service users and / or own carers to facilitate the service user’s preferred role in decision-making, and provide service users and carers with the information they may need where appropriate
Modify own means of communication to address the individual communication needs and preferences of service users and carers, and remove any barriers to communication where possible
Use information, communication and digital technologies appropriate to own practice
Use effective communication skills when sharing information about service users with other members of the multidisciplinary team
Use effective communication skills in the reception and identification of service users, and in the transfer of service users to the care of others
Keep full, clear and accurate records in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols and guidelines
Manage records and all other information in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols and guidelines
Use digital record keeping tools, where required
Work in partnership with service users, carers, colleagues and others
Contribute effectively to work undertaken as part of a multi-disciplinary team
Identify anxiety and stress in service users, carers and colleagues, adapting own practice and providing support where appropriate
Identify own leadership qualities, behaviours and approaches, taking into account the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion
Demonstrate leadership behaviours appropriate to own practice
Act as a role model for others
Promote and engage in the learning of others
Apply psychological and sociological principles to maintain effective relationships
Participate in team briefings and debriefings following treatment, procedures or interventions
Engage in evidence-based practice
Gather and use feedback and information, including qualitative and quantitative data, to evaluate the responses of service users to own care
Monitor and systematically evaluate the quality of practice, and maintain an effective quality management and quality assurance process working towards continual improvement
Participate in quality management, including quality control, quality assurance, clinical governance and the use of appropriate outcome measures
Evaluate care plans or intervention plans using recognised and appropriate outcome measures, in conjunction with the service user where possible, and revise the plans as necessary
Calculate accurately prescribed drug dosages for individual service user needs
Participate as part of a team managing a clinical emergency, where necessary
Change own practice as needed to take account of new developments, technologies and changing contexts
Gather appropriate information
Analyse and critically evaluate the information collected
Select and use appropriate assessment techniques and equipment
Undertake and record a thorough, sensitive, and detailed assessment
Undertake or arrange investigations as appropriate
Conduct appropriate assessment or monitoring procedures, treatment, therapy or other actions safely and effectively
Critically evaluate research and other evidence to inform own practice
Engage service users in research as appropriate
Undertake all sex urinary catheterisation
Undertake appropriate pre-assessment, anaesthetic, surgical and post-anaesthesia care interventions, including managing the service user’s airway, respiration and circulation and providing assisted ventilation where necessary
Monitor and record fluid balance, and where appropriate, administer prescribed fluids in accordance with national and local guidelines
Prepare and administer drugs to service users via a range of routes, including oral, rectal, topical and by intramuscular, subcutaneous and intravenous injection
Take appropriate action in response to any significant change or adverse reaction in response to the effects of drugs
Undertake venepuncture, peripheral IV cannulation and blood sampling
Assess and monitor the service user’s pain status and as appropriate administer prescribed pain relief in accordance with national and local guidelines
Modify and adapt practice to emergency situation
Undertake the management of a service user in cardiac arrest and participate in the team managing on-going resuscitation, where required
Receive and identify service users and their care needs
Participate in the briefing and debriefing of perioperative teams and the use of surgical safety checklists
Formulate specific and appropriate care plans including the setting of timescales
Effectively gather information relevant to the care of service users in a range of emotional states
Adapt and apply problem solving skills to clinical emergencies
Demonstrate awareness of relevant health and safety legislation and comply with all local operational procedures and policies
Work safely, including being able to select appropriate hazard control and risk management, reduction or elimination techniques in a safe manner and in accordance with health and safety legislation
Select appropriate personal protective equipment and use it correctly
Establish safe environments for practice, which appropriately manages risk
Promote and comply with measures designed to control infection
Apply appropriate moving and handling techniques
Position service users for safe and effective interventions
Ensure the safe use of medical devices used in perioperative, anaesthetic, surgical and post-anaesthesia care
Empower and enable individuals (including service users and colleagues) to play a part in managing own health
Engage in occupational health, including being aware of immunisation requirements

Behaviours 3

Open, honest, courteous and professional
Caring, compassionate, confident, courageous and committed
Treat people with dignity, respecting individual's diversity, beliefs, culture, needs, values, privacy and preferences

Live vacancies

No live vacancies for this course as of 2026-07-24 — new adverts appear on Find an apprenticeship daily, and many degree apprenticeship employers recruit on their own careers sites instead.

Universities registered to deliver it

23 universities are on the government provider register for this standard. Registration means they can deliver it — live vacancies depend on employer partnerships each recruitment cycle.

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Official sources

Occupational summary, duties, knowledge, skills and behaviours reproduced from the ST0582 apprenticeship standard (last updated 2026-03-25) — contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Always check the official page before applying: standards get revised.