Senior Theatre Practitioner - Cardiac Theatres

NHS; Southampton; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare facility in Southampton seeks a Senior Theatre Practitioner for Cardiac Theatres. The candidate will be responsible for leading teams, ensuring high-quality patient care, and driving quality improvement initiatives. Applicants must be a Registered Nurse or Registered ODP with experience in cardiac surgery and strong leadership skills. This role offers a competitive salary and a flexible working environment in a vibrant coastal city.

Qualifications

• Must have experience as a Theatre Practitioner in an acute theatre unit.
• Leadership experience is essential, with a focus on mentoring learners.
• Awareness of professional regulations in the NHS is required.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire inter-professional teams in a dynamic environment.
• Assess, plan, deliver, and evaluate patient-centred care.
• Coordinate resources for safe and efficient patient care.

Skills

Clinical expertise in cardiac surgery

Leadership

Good communication skills

Education

Registered Nurse or Registered ODP

Foundation Management Course or equivalent

Tools

Clinical scrub skills

Job description

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust invites you to apply for the role of Senior Theatre Practitioner – Cardiac Theatres.

Closing date

14 January 2026

Main duties of the role

Cardiac Theatres at UHS offer an exciting opportunity for a senior cardiac theatre practitioner. Our facility includes five operating theatres providing adult, congenital and paediatric cardiac services, and as a centre of excellence in the South of England, we deliver high‑quality care for both elective and emergency procedures.

As the Senior Cardiac Theatre Practitioner, you will:

• Be the clinical expert in both adult and paediatric cardiac surgery.
• Uphold and elevate the standards of patient care within our cardiac theatres, ensuring every patient receives the highest quality treatment.
• Lead and empower your team: inspire a diverse group of healthcare professionals, fostering continuous learning and development.
• Guide your team in refining their knowledge, skills and behaviours to achieve optimal performance.
• Champion compliance: ensure that our practices adhere to the most rigorous local, national and international policies and guidelines.
• Exemplify professionalism: serve as a role model, embodying the values of our organisation and cultivating a collaborative, multi‑disciplinary approach to care.
• Drive our vision forward: actively contribute to the strategic goals of the wider care group and trust.

About us

University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.

Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time‑management and commitment to innovation. Personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial – generic, AI‑generated content may be rejected if candidates present identical information.

At UHS we provide a flexible working environment where possible, and we champion a diverse, inclusive team in an anti‑racist, anti‑discriminatory setting. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities and experiences to join us.

Job responsibilities

• Lead and inspire: foster a culture of continuous development by guiding inter‑professional teams.
• Clinical expertise and patient care: assess, plan, deliver and evaluate patient‑centred care while acting as a mentor.
• Drive quality and safety: lead on standard setting, quality improvement initiatives and clinical governance.
• Resource management and service improvement: coordinate resources to ensure safe and efficient patient care and implement service improvements.

Who we're looking for

• A seasoned leader: senior theatre practitioner with experience in adult and paediatric cardiac surgery, thriving in a dynamic environment.
• A clinical expert in cardiac surgery: deep understanding of best practices and a passion for optimal resource utilisation.
• A lifelong learner and mentor: eager to share insights and foster a supportive learning environment.

If you are a dynamic leader with a passion for cardiac theatre care, we encourage you to join our dedicated team.

We are open to discussing flexibility in the hours you work. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need, and we will explore possibilities.

Trust Values

• Always Improving
• Working Together

Qualifications, knowledge and experience

• Registered Nurse or Registered ODP
• Experience as a Theatre Practitioner in an acute theatre unit
• Awareness of professional regulations in the NHS
• Leadership experience
• Clinical scrub skills, generic and specialty specific
• Evidence of supporting and managing a range of learners in practice
• Evidence of supporting colleagues to promote effective learning in practice
• Good communication skills, able to provide complex information in an intense setting
• Foundation Management Course or equivalent
• Clinical management experience
• Experience in implementing change
• Act as a Practice Assessor or support the progression of learners

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 (formerly CRB) is required to check for any previous criminal convictions.

University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust

Salary: £38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum (PA) pro rata