Job summary
- Main area
- Theatres & Anaesthetics
- Grade
- Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 384-AR-EMF19166
- Employer
- Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- The Royal Surrey Hospital
- Town
- Guildford
- Salary
- £50,008 - £56,908 Per annum including High Cost Area Supplement
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 29/09/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Theatre Team Lead - Practice Development B7
Band 7
Job overview
We currently have an opportunity for a dynamic, flexible and self-motivated RN / RODP to join our theatre team at the Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in the position of Practice Development Team Lead for the theatre department.
This role is ideal for those who are ready for a challenge and enjoy working in a busy environment. The range of both elective and emergency surgery performed is both varied and demanding. Our surgeons are at the forefront of laparoscopic and robotic surgery and run international courses through our Minimal Access Therapies Training Unit (MATTU), which is recognised as a centre of excellence, created for the teaching of innovative laparoscopic surgical techniques
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be a team leader for practice development and will be responsible for providing clinical management, advice, support and teaching to all relevant personnel within the theatre environment.
To be a clinical specialist in the field of perioperative practice.
To lead practice development for pre-registration learners, post registration learners and health care support workers.
To lead, manage, encourage and direct theatre team members to promote evidence based clinical practice, ensuring the provision of a high quality and cost effective service to patients and service users.
Working for our organisation
Royal Surrey is a compassionate and collaborative acute and community Trust. Recognising that our 5000 colleagues are our greatest strength, we offer a comprehensive health and wellbeing program along with a commitment to developing and advancing your career. Our diverse and welcoming Royal Surrey family will ensure you that you feel valued from your initial interview through your entire tenure.
We are clinically led and provide joined up care by bridging the gap between hospital and community services alongside regional specialist cancer care. Our main acute hospital site is in Guildford with community hospital sites at Milford, Haslemere and Cranleigh. We provide adult community health services in homes across Guildford and Waverley.
We have received an overall Good rating from the CQC with Medical care (including older peoples care), End of Life Care and Maternity services being deemed Outstanding by the CQC.
Royal Surrey has a strong reputation and history to build on. We are proud of our achievements and we are investing in our colleagues through our commitment to supporting professional development as well as investing more than £45 million in our physical environment and new equipment in the next few years. There has never been a better time to join us.
Although it isn't the Trusts normal practice, adverts may close early, so you are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.
A video about the Royal Surrey - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HsiGn9joTQ
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
See full JD & Job spec attached
To lead the development of practice across Main Theatres and the Day Surgery Unit.
To support staff to maintain the highest standards of personal and professional conduct and performance, in line with their Professional Code and Trust policy.
To lead the practice development and clinical support of the theatre teams ensuring practice is evidence based and maintains high standards of clinical care within the Trust. The post holder will interpret policies in practice, tailoring this for specific groups; taking into account best practice and national guidelines.
To be a role model acting within their professional Code of Conduct at all times, with the aim to support the development of competence within the clinical environment and to deliver expert care to the perioperative patient.
To provide supervision, clinical support and specialist expertise in the clinical areas across a range of work procedures and practices; underpinned by theoretical knowledge and practical experience,
To ensure the provision of a positive educational environment for all members of the theatre team.
To work alongside perioperative practitioners, HCSWs and pre-registration learners who require support to achieve consistent standards of care, competency achievement and build confidence.
To plan, co-ordinate, maintain and facilitate education mapped to the Trust and national standards, including national health education projects and strategies.
To manage and support junior Practice Development staff.
To set and evaluate outcomes of activities, providing timely reports as requested.
You will be supporting learners in the field of perioperative nursing / operating department practice. This is a key role within the theatre department to lead practice development and to support the student nurses, trainee operating department practitioners, associate practitioners and mentors in addition to maintaining clinical input. The post holder will be a team leader for practice development and will be responsible for providing clinical management, advice, support and teaching to all relevant personnel within the theatre environment. They will have responsibility for managing, leading, encouraging and directing the theatre team members, to promote evidence based clinical practice, ensuring the provision of a high quality and cost effective service to patients and service users.
You will possess excellent organisational, communication, and leadership skills with the ability to motivate and develop staff. If you are committed to developing and enhancing the quality of care provided in the operating theatre environment, this is the opportunity for you. Your proven leadership and organisational skills along with your ability to prioritise and remain calm under pressure in a busy team environment will ensure you are able to demonstrate your excellent communication skills and drive to succeed. The Trust is committed to providing staff with learning and development opportunities to support their career progression.
As a Registered Nurse/ODP, you should have theatre experience in a wide range of specialties; proven experience of leading a team and be prepared to support the department during the evenings and at weekends. There is also an On-Call commitment and Theatre co-ordinating duties with this post.
The multi-specialty unit has 13 main operating theatres and 2 day surgery theatres performing emergency and elective procedures. We are leaders in Major Laparoscopic Surgery & Robotic Surgery with the Minimal Access Therapy Training Unit – an internationally recognised Centre of Excellence created for the teaching of innovative laparoscopic surgical techniques.
Specialties here include: Colorectal, Urology, Gynae Oncology, Hepatobiliary, and Upper GI, Breast Surgery, Ophthalmology, Obstetrics, Major Head and Neck and ENT, Trauma & Orthopaedics and CEPOD.
We are the Regional referral centre for Upper GI work, including emergency Oesophagogastric cases.
Day Surgery is a purpose built unit covering many specialties including ENT, Maxillo Facial, Orthopaedics, Gynaecology, Urology, Pain and dedicated Paediatric lists.
The successful candidate will be working closely with the Theatre Operations Manager, Consultant Surgeons, Anaesthetists, Practice Development Team, Speciality Managers and Admission Officers, as well as other Theatre Team Leads to ensure safe and effective patient care within the department.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- RN/ODP
- Mentorship/Practice Assessor qualification or equivalent
- PG Cert in Education for Health Professionals or equivalent (or currently working towards)
Desirable criteria
- Educated to Degree Level
- Management course
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience at a senior level within acute hospital setting
- Can demonstrate up to date clinical credibility/competence
- Evidence of research based practice
- Evidence of extended skills in practice
- Evidence in changing practice and project management
- Evidence of commitment to CPD
Desirable criteria
- Clinical Audit
- Working multi-cultural environments
Skills and Capabilities
Essential criteria
- Organised
- Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal & communication skills
- Ability to conduct own projects successfully and follow them through
- Excellent report writing
- IT literate, Word, Excel, Powerpoint
- Excellent teaching / presentation skills
- Excellent leadership
- Numeracy
- Excellent time management
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Doreen Contreras
- Job title
- Theatre Operations Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01483 571122
- Additional information
If you would like further information about this post, please telephone 01483 571122 - Doreen Contreras, Theatre Operations Manager (extn 4335)
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