What are the responsibilities and job description for the Medical Engineering Apprentice - Instrument Curator position at Freeman Hospital?
Employer heading
Medical Engineering Apprentice - Instrument Curator
Apprenticeship
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest and largest NHS hospital trusts in the country. We have around 16,000 staff and an annual budget of £1.7 billion.
With strong history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation regionally, nationally and internationally, we’re in the top five providers of specialised health services in the country.
As well as providing a wide range of hospital and community services, we support people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
Newcastle Hospitals are proud to be one of the exemplar organisations across the NHS on sustainability, with a long history of delivering Sustainable Healthcare in Newcastle (Shine) and the first healthcare organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency. Our strategy includes commitments to being Net Zero by 2030, for our direct carbon footprint, and Net Zero by 2040 for our footprint plus. Delivering these ambitions will not be possible without the help, support and action of every single member of our team.
Job Overview
A position has arisen for a Level 3 Apprenticeship in Medical Engineering based within The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals Instrument Curator Team.
The Instrument Curator is responsible for the maintenance, fault diagnosis and repair of a wide and complex range of surgical instruments and power tools including General, Gynaecological, ENT, Dental, Laparoscopic, Ophthalmic, Arthroscopic and Orthopaedic Instruments.
Main duties of the job
Further Education Training
In year one the apprentice will attend Sunderland College full time in year 1. In year two and three the apprentice will attend college part time, one day per week to study for the Level 3 Diploma in Engineering. The Level 4 Diploma will be studied for in years 4 and 5 subject to review.
Practical Training
During the first year the apprentice will attend a Sunderland College on block release to achieve their foundation competency in engineering. Once this has been achieved, the apprentice will then commence Level 3 training, which will take place within The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals Foundation Trust in partnership with Sunderland College.
Additional Specialist Training
The apprentice will at some stage of the apprenticeship attend additional specialist training on specific devices and surgical instruments used within the hospital.
Working for our organisation
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
With around 2 million contacts with patients every year, we deliver care from:
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under ‘Documents to download’ or ‘Supporting documents’.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
The apprenticeship will commence during the week of the 31st August 2026 subject to all necessary checks being carried out, including a colour blindness test. Qualifications acceptable on entry are a minimum of GCSE at Grade A-C / 4 or above in English & Mathematics and Grade A-C / 4 or above, in at least 4 other subjects to include a science based subject.
“You will need to be able to meet all the eligibility requirements as prescribed by the apprenticeship criteria to undertake the role”.
To Be Eligible For An Apprenticeship You Must
Further details can be found on the UK Government website.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
Essential criteria
Desirable criteria
Essential criteria
All references from current and previous employers will be sought and must cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay.
Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail. You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
Name Paul Thompson Job title EME Services Officer Email address paul.thompson18@nhs.net Telephone number 0191 2139141
Medical Engineering Apprentice - Instrument Curator
Apprenticeship
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest and largest NHS hospital trusts in the country. We have around 16,000 staff and an annual budget of £1.7 billion.
With strong history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation regionally, nationally and internationally, we’re in the top five providers of specialised health services in the country.
As well as providing a wide range of hospital and community services, we support people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
Newcastle Hospitals are proud to be one of the exemplar organisations across the NHS on sustainability, with a long history of delivering Sustainable Healthcare in Newcastle (Shine) and the first healthcare organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency. Our strategy includes commitments to being Net Zero by 2030, for our direct carbon footprint, and Net Zero by 2040 for our footprint plus. Delivering these ambitions will not be possible without the help, support and action of every single member of our team.
Job Overview
A position has arisen for a Level 3 Apprenticeship in Medical Engineering based within The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals Instrument Curator Team.
The Instrument Curator is responsible for the maintenance, fault diagnosis and repair of a wide and complex range of surgical instruments and power tools including General, Gynaecological, ENT, Dental, Laparoscopic, Ophthalmic, Arthroscopic and Orthopaedic Instruments.
- Interview Date Wednesday 12 August 2026
- 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
Main duties of the job
Further Education Training
In year one the apprentice will attend Sunderland College full time in year 1. In year two and three the apprentice will attend college part time, one day per week to study for the Level 3 Diploma in Engineering. The Level 4 Diploma will be studied for in years 4 and 5 subject to review.
Practical Training
During the first year the apprentice will attend a Sunderland College on block release to achieve their foundation competency in engineering. Once this has been achieved, the apprentice will then commence Level 3 training, which will take place within The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals Foundation Trust in partnership with Sunderland College.
Additional Specialist Training
The apprentice will at some stage of the apprenticeship attend additional specialist training on specific devices and surgical instruments used within the hospital.
Working for our organisation
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
With around 2 million contacts with patients every year, we deliver care from:
- Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
- Freeman Hospital
- Newcastle Dental Hospital
- Cramlington Manor Walks
- Urgent treatment centres
- Newcastle Fertility Centre
- Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
- Northern Genetics Service
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under ‘Documents to download’ or ‘Supporting documents’.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
The apprenticeship will commence during the week of the 31st August 2026 subject to all necessary checks being carried out, including a colour blindness test. Qualifications acceptable on entry are a minimum of GCSE at Grade A-C / 4 or above in English & Mathematics and Grade A-C / 4 or above, in at least 4 other subjects to include a science based subject.
“You will need to be able to meet all the eligibility requirements as prescribed by the apprenticeship criteria to undertake the role”.
To Be Eligible For An Apprenticeship You Must
- Have the right to work and remain in the UK.
- Have lived in the UK for at least 3 years.
- Must not be self-employed.
- Provide original evidence of required English and Maths qualifications.
- You will not be considered if you have an equivalent or higher qualification in the same or a very similar subject.
- You must not be engaged in any other funded training or education programme.
- We cannot sponsor applicants during or on successful completion of the apprenticeship so please ensure you meet visa status eligibility.
- We cannot accept applications from student visa applicants.
Further details can be found on the UK Government website.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Minimum Grade B GCSE or equivalent in Mathematics
- Minimum Grade C GCSE or equivalent in 4 other subjects to include a science based subject
- Full driving licence
Essential criteria
- An aptitude and interest in the practical and theoretical study of engineering
- Have an understanding of relevant health and safety issues
Desirable criteria
- Previous background in the practical and theoretical study of engineering
Essential criteria
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Willing to undertake any necessary training
- Good team player
- Ability to work on own initiative
- Be able to work at height and in confined spaces
- No colour blindness deficiency
- Basic skills in the use of IT equipment and packages
All references from current and previous employers will be sought and must cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay.
Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail. You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
- JD & PS (PDF, 288.4KB)
- Newcastle Staff Benefits (PDF, 274.4KB)
- Behaviour and Civility Charter (PDF, 93.8KB)
Further details / informal visits contact
Name Paul Thompson Job title EME Services Officer Email address paul.thompson18@nhs.net Telephone number 0191 2139141