Senior Theatre Practitioner

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; Bristol; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working discussion

Job summary

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust seeks a Senior Theatre Practitioner to lead and develop peri-operative teams at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. This Band 6 role covers anaesthetic and surgical specialties with a 24/7 shift pattern and 37.5 hours per week, across a large paediatric theatre complex.

The post requires substantial theatre practice experience, clinical leadership, and teaching abilities. It offers a permanent contract with opportunities for flexible working arrangements and

Qualifications

• Post registration experience in Theatre practice.
• Proven leadership and management experience.
• Experience in teaching and mentoring.
• Experience in research or audit projects.
• Commitment to patient care and professional development.

Responsibilities

• Provide integrated clinical leadership to theatre staff.
• Manage staff and resources; deputise for B7 leads.
• Empower staff to develop clinical skills and autonomy.
• Support education and orientation within the department.
• Cover anaesthetic and surgical specialties with 24/7 shifts.

Skills

Organisation and management

Teaching

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Education

HCPC/NMC registration

Theatre practice degree

Teaching/Mentoring qualification

Masters study willingness

Job description

Main area Senior Theatre Practitioner Grade Band 6 Contract Permanent: & 1 Fixed Term for 12 months Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (24/7 shifts includng lates, weekends, nights and on call.) Job ref 387-W&C2912-HN

Employer Bristol NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Bristol Royal Hospital for Children Town Bristol Salary £39,959 - £48,117 per annum, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 24/11/2026 23:59

Senior Theatre Practitioner

Band 6

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1 st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This will create an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people. Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust. Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Job overview

Senior Theatre Practitioners – Coastguard and Horizon Theatres

One Full Time 12 months fixed term/secondment oppurtunity to cover surgical specilaties

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the theatre team at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children as a Senior Theatre Practitioner (ODP/RCN/RN)

The post holder will be a compassionate, accountable individual who treats all colleagues, patients and service users with respect and seeks to deliver excellence in their role.

They will share the trust values and be committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.

The Bristol Royal Hospital for Children is the South West’s regional paediatric major trauma centre with a state-of-the-art operating theatre complex & post-operative recovery facilities. We have 9 theatres covering 18 specialities including Cardiac, Neuro, Trauma, Burns, CEPOD and Plastics.

The post holders will have at least two years of experience within the specialist field and will have experience in at least two peri-operative modalities , scrub/recovery or anaesthetics along with the skills to lead & support the multidisciplinary team within theatres, promoting high quality efficient peri operative patient care.

These position's will cover anaesthetic and surgical specialities as well having in charge responsibilities and coordinating within the department.

All posts will require 24/7 cover including weekends, late's, nights and on calls

Main duties of the job

You will provide integrated clinical leadership and line management responsibilties to a team of Nurses, ODP’s and HCSW's and theatre support staff, creating an environment that produces & delivers the highest possible standards of patient care.

As senior theatre practitioner you will assume responsibility for the operational management of staff & resources, taking a lead in a specific aspect of operational management in the Theatre setting, including being in charge and deputising for the B7 leads and working with the matron

You will support & empower staff to develop high levels of clinical skills & autonomy.

We are a department with a strong philosophy of care, & our education team offer an excellent local orientation programme & support structure.

These are excited opportunities enabling you to join a department which is now the largest specialist paediatric centre in the Southwest region.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations,operatingfrom three main sites at Southmead, Bristol citycentreand Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Public Sector Language Competency

• Be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard

Knowledge & Experience

• Appropriate post registration experience in Theatre practice
• Appropriate proven leadership and management experience
• Proven commitment and experience, evidence in teaching
• Experience as preceptor / mentor
• Experience of undertaking research or audit projects
• Evidence of commitment to research based practice or evidence of project work undertaken

Skills & Abilities

• Organisation and management skills
• Teaching
• Ability to work effectively under pressure
• Ability to problem solve
• Flexibility, adaptability to meet needs of a changing service
• Ability to perform clinical activities specific to speciality
• Competency in medication administration including intravenous medication
• Ability to lead a team
• Ability to work alone or as part of a team
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Able to manage difficult situations
• Able to influence other team members
• Act as a role model and as a mentor/assessor
• Innovative and participates with practice and policy change
• Awareness of professional responsibilities to self and others
• Commitment to the development and provision of high quality nursing care
• Awareness of current national changes in nursing / NHS
• General good health
• Aware that the role can be stressful and emotional at times.

Training & Qualifications

• Current HCPC / NMC Registration Qualification in Teaching, assessing and Mentoring
• 1st Degree in Theatre practice or health related subject or working towards
• Qualification in Teaching, assessing and Mentoring
• Willingness to work towards Masters level academic study

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.

BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

To compliance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.

If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.

The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.

By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

IMPORTANT:

Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.

Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date.

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.

As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.

When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.

Name Tim Rossiter Job title Theatre Speciality & Operational Manager Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 0117 342 8232