About this role
Job summary
We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Theatre Practitioner to join our dynamic theatre team. This role is pivotal in delivering safe, high-quality, patient-centred perioperative care within a busy and evolving environment. As a senior member of the team, you will provide clinical leadership, support service delivery across a 24/7 emergency pathway, and play a key role in driving quality improvement and excellence in patient care.
You will act as a role model, supporting the development of staff through mentorship and education, while ensuring compliance with professional, clinical, and organisational standards. The post holder will contribute to a culture of safety, continuous improvement, and inclusivity, ensuring the highest standards of care for all patients.
Main duties of the job
As a Senior Theatre Practitioner, you will deliver high-quality, person-centred perioperative care, ensuring patient safety, dignity, and compassion at all times. You will act as a patient advocate, maintaining confidentiality and supporting patients and families with clear, empathetic communication. The role includes participation in a 24/7 emergency service, including on-call, weekend, and bank holiday working, while promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion for all.
You will maintain clinical excellence through continuous professional development, reflective practice, and adherence to professional standards. As a senior team member, you will support staff development through mentorship, teaching, and supervision, contributing to inductions, training programmes, and the promotion of evidence-based practice.
You will demonstrate professionalism and leadership in line with NMC/HCPC and Trust standards, acting as a role model and escalating concerns appropriately to support a culture of openness and continuous improvement.
You will ensure safety and quality within the theatre environment by adhering to infection prevention protocols, completing safety checks, and contributing to incident reporting, audits, and quality improvement initiatives. You will support clinical governance, safe equipment use, and may assist with theatre coordination, including staffing and rostering.
About us
We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with fivehospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is 'great healthcare from great people'. Everything we do is guided by our values: 'People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference'. We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called 'We care'. It's about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day. We're looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.
Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.
Please note that if you require a Certificate of Sponsorship to work in the UK you must declare this on your application form, even if you currently have a certificate of sponsorship or a work permit for another role and are already working in the country. Please note we are only able to sponsor candidates on a Skilled Worker Visa applying for roles Band 5 and above.
Job description Job responsibilities
Please scroll down to access the full Job Description and Person Specification located in Documents to download.
If you have further queries please dont hesitate to contact the line manager using the contact details below.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training Essential
NMC/ HCPC Qualification Evidence of on-going personal and professional development
Desirable
Degree/ working towards or equivalent experience. Practice supervisor / Assessor Training
Skills & Experience Essential
Continuous recent experience as Band 5 theatre practitioner in an acute setting. Experience of mentorship/clinical supervision. Demonstrable interest and commitment to the professional development of others. Ability to organise and manage day to day departmental activities and the activities of large multidisciplinary team within this. Communication skills - able to relate and communicate with patients and staff at all levels and from different professions. Understanding of the issues pertaining to clinical risk management. Problem solving skills - able to respond to unexpected issues and provide first line response and to identify appropriate sources of secondary support. Ability to delegate appropriately and prioritise work independently. Good teaching/facilitation skills
Desirable
Familiar and participated in the interview process and used TRAC
Governance Essential
Registered NMC/HCPC Adhere to governing body Standards of Proficiency and Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics Maintain professional accountability Compliance with clinical governance frameworks, organisational policies, and relevant legal and regulatory requirements.
Personal Attributes Essential
Calm under pressure Ability to work flexibly and collaboratively Good interpersonal skills Understanding of own limitations and seeks management support when appropriate. Physically able to perform all aspects of clinical nursing role to include manual handling of patients Ability to work as part of a Team, leading as necessary. Highly motivated to improve patient and staff journey Dedicated to the team and high standards Can work off own initiative and remain dynamic in thinking.
Other Requirements Essential
Aware of and adhere to the Trust's Vision & strategy Has an understanding of the political agenda within healthcare The post holder will develop the skills and theoretical knowledge through unit competencies required to fulfil the whole range of duties of the post. IT Literate Abilities to troubleshoot and manage workload Staff motivator and advocate Ability to support and deputise for Theatre Coordinators
Desirable
Worked across a variety of Peri operative areas within you career
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
Address Kent and Canterbury Hospital
Ethelbert Road
Canterbury
CT1 3NG
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/ (Opens in a new tab)