Lead Theatre Practitioner Spine

We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled Lead Theatre Practitioner - Spine

to join our specialist theatre team. This is a key role responsible for ensuring the safe efficient and coordinated delivery of spinal surgical services across our operating theatres.

You will provide expert specialist scrub support lead and mentor the multidisciplinary theatre team and ensure high standards of clinical practice in line with HCPC/NMC Codes of Professional Conduct. The role requires strong organisational ability advanced knowledge of spinal instrumentation and a commitment to delivering a highquality costeffective service.

In addition to supporting spinal procedures the post holder may be required to contribute to other orthopaedic specialty areas including scrub duties and broader operational support to maintain smooth and effective theatre services.

Summary of Principal Accountabilities

1. Senior Managerial Responsibilities

• Oversee spinal theatre scheduling staffing and resource allocation to meet service demand.

• Ensure all spinal operating lists are fully planned with appropriate staff equipment implants and loan kits.

• Manage spinal resources efficiently ensuring evidencebased and costeffective practice.

• Lead workforce planning including recruitment retention skill mix and succession planning.

• Monitor and adjust staffing levels ensuring safe cover for fluctuating and emergency needs.

• Resolve complex operational issues and escalate strategically when required.

• Work closely with procurement theatre leadership bookings and clinical leads to support spinal service planning.

• Oversee equipment management asset registers maintenance and team training on safe equipment use.

• Ensure effective stock control revenue capture and supply chain processes.

• Represent spinal services at relevant meetings and deputise for theatre leadership when needed.

2. Clinical Responsibilities

• Act as a senior clinical expert in spinal scrub practice for elective and emergency cases.

• Lead assessment planning and evaluation of patient care in collaboration with the MDT including attendance at weekly MDT meetings.

• Support consultants with complex clinical decisionmaking and procedural coordination.

• Maintain high standards of documentation confidentiality and patient communication.

• Lead spinal audit governance activity incident reporting and followup.

• Provide clinical leadership and deputise for theatre management as required.

3. Instrumentation & Implant Coordination

• Lead all aspects of spinal instrumentation implants trays loan kits and consumables.

• Ensure all equipment is complete sterile tracked and available for surgery.

• Oversee ordering reconciliation and return of loan kits and maintain liaison with Sterile Services and Procurement.

• Manage implant representative attendance and support product training and equipment evaluation.

4. Clinical Governance & Risk

• Ensure compliance with NICE NatSSIPs LocSSIPs NCEPOD and internal governance standards.

• Lead incident investigations RCA processes and ensure learning is embedded.

• Oversee spinal audit programmes quality monitoring complaints management and policy/SOP development.

5. Education Training & Team Development

• Develop and maintain a spinal competency framework.

• Deliver education simulation and technical training for spinal procedures and instrumentation.

• Support onboarding of new staff and ongoing professional development including revalidation.

• Promote a culture of learning clinical excellence and continuous improvement.

6. People Management

• Line manage designated staff supporting recruitment retention wellbeing and performance.

• Conduct appraisals 1:1 meetings and development planning.

• Address performance concerns in line with organisational policy and promote high team morale.

7. Financial & Resource Management

• Ensure costeffective use of implants consumables and theatre resources.

• Monitor workforce KPIs (agency usage sickness turnover).

• Support capital equipment planning and replacement programmes.

• Work with Procurement and Finance on budget planning.

8. Strategy & Service Improvement

• Lead service improvement initiatives to enhance patient outcomes and reduce waiting times.

• Contribute to strategic growth and development of spinal surgical services.

• Drive adoption of evidencebased practice and support organisational transformation initiatives.

9. Communication & Professional Responsibility

• Maintain effective communication across MDTs and senior leadership.

• Act as clinical advisor for spinal theatre services.

• Manage sensitive and complex issues professionally modelling organisational values.

• Ensure compliance with all professional regulatory standards.

Knowledge Skills & Experience

Essential

• Registered Practitioner with NMC or HCPC registration.

• Minimum 5 years experience in operating theatres with extensive spinal scrub expertise.

• Significant experience within Orthopaedic and/or Spinal theatres.

• Educated to degree level or equivalent relevant experience.

• Demonstrated experience managing spinal instrumentation and loan kits.

• Proven ability to act as a senior clinician and support coordination of theatre activity.

• ILS qualification.

• Experience supervising and supporting junior staff students and new starters.

• Strong organisational communication and interpersonal skills.

• Proven ability to lead a multi-functional team.

• Qualified Surgical First Assistant (SFA) or working towards.

• Mentorship / Practice Assessor qualification.

Desirable

• ALS qualification.

• Experience in service development procurement collaboration or education roles.