Band 7 Lead Practitioner

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Development opportunities

Recruitment support

Employee assistance programme

Discounted gym membership

Onsite fitness classes

Car schemes

Job summary

The University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust seeks a Band 7 Lead Practitioner to support the Surgical Theatre Suite at Royal Derby Hospital. The role blends strategic leadership with hands-on clinical and operational delivery across ENT, OMF, Vascular, Bariatric, Urology, Colorectal, Upper GI and Emergency Surgery.

You will lead a 10-theatre department, drive utilisation, manage budget and quality improvement, mentor staff and partner with the Theatre Manager to ensure safe,

Qualifications

• Experience in a surgical theatre environment and senior leadership.
• Able to lead clinical and operational performance.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide visible leadership of the Surgical Theatre Suite.
• Lead operational management and budget governance.
• Drive theatre utilisation and service efficiency.
• Lead quality improvement, audits and compliance.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop services.

Skills

Leadership

Operational management

Strategic development

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Excellent communication

Job description

We are delighted to offer an exciting Band 7 Lead Practitioner opportunity within the Surgical Theatre Suite at Royal Derby Hospital. We are seeking a professional and experienced individual to support the development and delivery of our surgical theatre service. Our Surgical Theatre Suite provides care across a range of specialties, including ENT, OMF, Vascular Surgery, Bariatric Surgery, Urology, Colorectal Surgery, Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery and Emergency Surgery. The successful candidate will play a key leadership role within the multidisciplinary team, contributing clinically and operationally. The department comprises 10 theatres, including a state-of-the-art Vascular/Radiology Hybrid Theatre, a dedicated Robotic Theatre and a 24-hour emergency service. Applicants should possess experience within a surgical theatre environment and demonstrate excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills. As a senior leader, you will provide visible and enthusiastic leadership, fostering a positive team culture while driving high standards of patient care, safety and service delivery. You will have the ability to inspire and lead theatre teams, support staff development, manage challenges effectively and contribute to the strategic development of the service. This is an excellent opportunity for a forward-thinking practitioner seeking to further develop their leadership career within a progressive theatre environment. The post holder will work in partnership with the Theatre Manager to provide effective leadership, operational management and professional oversight of the Surgical Theatre Suite, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, patient-centred care. The role will involve managing operational demands, resolving service issues and working with multidisciplinary teams to optimise theatre utilisation and service efficiency. The successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to innovation and continuous improvement, with enthusiasm for driving the ongoing development of the Surgical Theatre service. The post holder will be responsible for departmental budget management, working closely with the Finance Team to ensure effective financial governance. A key aspect of the role will be ensuring compliance with national standards, Trust policies, infection prevention measures, quality assurance frameworks and audit requirements. Through the analysis of audit findings, performance metrics and quality indicators, the successful candidate will lead the implementation of evidence-based improvements, ensuring practice is embedded and sustained. The successful candidate will provide visible and inspiring leadership, promoting a culture of safety, quality, accountability and continuous learning, while supporting staff development and maintaining the highest standards of patient care. Closing Date of Applications: 15 October 2026 Interview Date: 29 October 2026

• Development opportunities, both professional and leadership development
• On-going support from recruitment to when you join our team and beyond.
• Staff benefits including employee assistance programme, discounted gym membership, onsite fitness classes, car schemes

Key Facts

• We see on average 4810 OP appointments a day.
  We are the 4thbusiest Trauma & Orthopaedic outpatients department in England - an average of 2077 per week.
• An average of 1115 patients are seen in A&Es across our network every day - 3rd largest in the country.
• Our hospitals admit an average of 195 emergency patients daily.
• Last year we undertook almost 33,700 planned surgical operations in our 57 operating theatres.
• We are one of only 7 Trusts nationally with more than 50 operating theatres.
• We carry out more than 140 elective procedures each working day.
• UHDB is a research active University Hospital with a large and varied portfolio of clinical trials and research opportunities for all staff.