Senior Theatre Practitioner

Senior Theatre Practitioner - Recovery Dartford & Gravesham NHS Trust – Darent Valley Hospital, Darenth Wood Road, Dartford, DA2 8DA Job Summary The Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, within Darent Valley Hospital, offers an elective and emergency surgical service with a 24/7 theatre team. This Band 6 Theatre Practitioner role requires the ability to work in recovery and involves leadership, communication, education, and management of the anaesthetic, surgical and post‑operative care team. Key Details Date posted: 28 November 2025 Band: 6 Salary: £40,617 – £48,778 per annum inclusive of allowances Contract: Permanent Working pattern: Full‑time Reference number: 252-7586968 Job location: Darent Valley Hospital, Darenth Wood Road, Dartford, DA2 8DA Key Responsibilities Clinical Responsibilities Ensure agreed standards of care are maintained and inform the unit manager of any concerns. Assist with the organisation of the reception and discharge of patients, ensuring safe and competent care during the immediate and post‑operative period. Act as a resource/advisor to junior healthcare practitioners and medical staff in delivering research‑based programmes of care. Ensure all patient documentation is completed and kept up‑to‑date, and that care plans provide an accurate progress record and response to treatment. Deal with accidents and incidents involving patients, staff relatives and visitors, completing statements and incident forms and reporting appropriately and in a timely manner. Participate in the Quality Assurance tool within the Critical Care Directorate. Provide skilled high‑quality peri‑operative care to all patient groups. Ensure that all patients are safe to be transferred back to ward areas, in accordance with the recovery area protocol. Provide skilled high‑quality assistance to the anaesthetist. Adhere to the NMC/HCPC Code of Professional Conduct at all times. Demonstrate clinical expertise in the care of any patients receiving treatment in the department. Assess, plan, implement and evaluate the needs of patients on an ongoing basis, coordinating the care given by all members of the clinical team. Assimilate and interpret clinical information about the patient’s condition, instigate appropriate remedial action and promptly report changes. Act as a resource person to others, providing accurate information, advice and support to the multidisciplinary team, patients and their relatives. Ensure that accurate records are maintained reflecting both changes in the patient’s condition and the treatment delivered. Ensure that patients and their relatives are updated regularly with accurate information in a sensitive way they understand. Ensure that Clinical Guidelines are implemented and actively involve auditing practice with Line Manager and practice development staff. Assist in the development of policies and protocols within the clinical area, ensuring practice is evidence‑based. Uphold high standards of peri‑operative care, according to existing policies and standards. Support the process of continuous quality improvement, assisting in audits and formally evaluating standards of care and implementing changes in the light of findings. Organise patient transfers both within and outside the department, escorting ill patients as requested. Contribute to the health education of patients and their families, ensuring all patients receive appropriate advice and support to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Actively support the implementation of the Trust nursing/local Perioperative strategy and uphold the ethos of the local philosophy. Perform clinical work within the professional boundaries and clinical skills within other Dartford & Gravesham NHS Trust theatre units as required. Managerial Responsibilities Assist the Senior Nurse in co‑ordinating the provision of care and ensuring effective communication between the multidisciplinary team. Ensure adequate staffing levels in the recovery area and inform senior managers if staffing levels or skills cannot maintain safe patient care. Manage a high‑dependency bed when required, providing skilled support to anaesthetic and nursing/ODP colleagues. Exercise leadership and act as a role model at all times within the unit, maintaining a suitable environment for a happy unit team. Discuss performance and development with the unit manager in accordance with Nursing Policy. Actively participate in undertaking Performance Development Reviews of junior staff within the team. Manage the clinical workload effectively, ensuring care is prioritised appropriately. Contribute positively towards the delivery of a cost‑effective service, adjusting staffing levels to meet demand and assisting clinical coordinators to stay within agreed resources. Assist with the ongoing organisation of the unit, including responsibility for a designated area of practice within the department on a daily basis, to ensure optimal theatre utilisation at all times, facilitating timely admission and discharge of patients. Act as a team leader to an identified group of staff, monitoring and documenting the development of their clinical skills. Develop own skills in recruitment and retention, sickness management and performance management as determined by line manager. Actively support the process of risk management and health & safety, upholding relevant policies and reporting incidents appropriately to help prevent errors and accidents. Make a positive contribution to service development affecting the clinical area and influence others to adapt to change. Promote customer care, assist in resolving local (informal) complaints and support the clinical coordinators to investigate formal problems. Assist with the monitoring of stock levels of clinical stores and technical equipment, resolving any shortfall as appropriate. Maintain standards of hygiene and cleanliness within the clinical area, taking action and reporting deficits to Senior Nurse or Theatre Co‑ordinator/Matron and Service Manager as appropriate. Communicate varied and complicated information (verbally and in writing) in a way that is understood and conveys the important facts. Resolve local problems/conflicts, keep managers/others informed and maintain positive team dynamics across the division at all times. Take a leadership role in crisis situations, resolving problems as necessary. Maintain confidentiality with regard to personal information pertaining to staff. Attend and contribute to departmental meetings as required. Professional Responsibilities Assist the manager in ensuring that staff are professionally competent in the performance of their duties and that they receive relevant training and are assessed before being asked to perform duties beyond their training. Assist in maintaining custody of controlled drugs by ordering, checking and administering, and ensuring staff are instructed in their safe handling and administration as stated in the Trust’s Drug Policy. Person Specification Essential – Education/Qualifications 1st level Registered general Nurse or Registered Operating Department Practitioner Post‑reg Educational Qualification (i.e. Mentorship) Evidence of CPD Desirable – Education/Qualifications Further relevant professional studies or working towards a course (e.g. Recovery, Pain, HDU) Relevant degree level studies Essential – Knowledge and Experience Ability to organise and manage day‑to‑day departmental activities and the activities of a large multidisciplinary team within this. Communication skills – both written and verbal, adapting communication style as necessary and working with and through others. Team building and working skills – able to lead a team to achieve results. Understanding of the issues pertaining to change management. Understanding of the issues pertaining to clinical risk management. Ability to utilise research in clinical practice. Problem solving skills – able to respond to unexpected issues and provide first‑line response and identify appropriate sources of secondary support. Prioritises own workload, prioritises workload of others and acts on own initiative. Desirable – Knowledge and Experience Understanding of HR processes and issues pertaining to staff management. Understanding of issues in relation to finance management. Awareness and understanding of current health issues and NHS Plan initiatives. Computer literacy. Essential – Experience Demonstrable clinical expertise relevant to the area/sphere of responsibilities. Demonstrable interest in and commitment to the professional development of others. Desirable – Experience Previous experience of leading change in a clinical environment. Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service is required to check for any previous criminal convictions. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. Visa Sponsorship This position will not be supported for visa sponsorship. All applicants are expected to have a valid right to work in the UK when applying. About the Trust We are committed to an inclusive and diverse environment that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage applications from people of diverse backgrounds, and we maintain a commitment to the Armed Forces Community and a dedication to the NHS Vaccination strategy. #J-18808-Ljbffr