Senior Theatre Recovery Practitioner

NHS; Chichester; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a dedicated Senior Theatre Recovery Practitioner responsible for leading the recovery unit and providing high standards of patient care. The role includes management responsibilities, supporting junior staff, and ensuring compliance with safety and care standards. Applicants must possess relevant qualifications and demonstrate excellent communication and teamwork skills while working in a dynamic clinical environment. Opportunities for professional development and training are available.

Benefits

Access to educational resources

Flexible working options

Comprehensive wellbeing programme

Qualifications

• Professional registration is required.
• Experience within Theatre Department/Recovery is essential.
• Must have completed related Recovery competency.

Responsibilities

• Manage the theatre recovery unit daily.
• Provide clinical and professional leadership.
• Ensure evidence-based care for postoperative patients.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Leadership ability

Critical analysis

Effective time management

Teamwork

Education

Health Diploma – Nursing / ODP Degree

Competence Practice Assessor (Mentor)

Tools

Word

Excel

Job description

Go back University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Senior Theatre Recovery Practitioner

The closing date is 16 December 2025

We are a friendly, recovery team and we are excited to recruit a dynamic enthusiastic Band 6 Senior Practitioner.

The post holder will be required to provide leadership and support within Theatre Recovery which is part of a rather large Theatre Department. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential along with resilience to meet the challenges of our busy work environment. You should have efficient time management and clinical organisational skills as you will be expected to co‑ordinate and manage day‑to‑day the department.

The role will enable you to gain or demonstrate clinical skills in leadership and people management within a clinical environment. Your primary responsibility will be to take charge whilst supporting and developing junior staff by being a practice assessor and a role model. You will manage a team ensuring appraisals, mandatory trainings and competency assessments are kept up to date.

We will encourage your professional development by enhancing your skills and knowledge through an individual plan. You will be provided with access to a variety of educational resources in‑house and external training opportunities.

The post holder will be responsible and committed to providing a high standard of patient care.

You will be required to work weekends and carry on non‑residential on‑call shifts. The post will also require occasional rotation in DSU Recovery.

Main duties of the job

The Senior Theatre Recovery Practitioner will undertake the management of the theatre recovery unit on a day‑to‑day basis in the absence of/or in conjunction with the Lead Theatre Recovery Practitioner and to have continuing responsibility for the effective management of Recovery on a day‑to‑day basis. In addition, the post holder will provide clinical and professional leadership within this area, ensuring an effective support of colleagues to plan, monitor and evaluate skills in the delivery of appropriate care for post‑operative patients. Provide a quality service with responsibility for patient safety and standards of care, ensuring the provision of evidence‑based care by being a role model providing specialist knowledge within theatre practice. You will work as part of a team supporting and developing.

About us

At UHSussex (UHSx), diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our candidate information pack and wellbeing programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work‑life balance – because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSx you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSx.

Job responsibilities

Patient Care Delivery

• To act as an expert practitioner demonstrating specialist knowledge, skills and expertise within the Recovery area and within the context of changing healthcare provision.
• Ensure that the privacy and dignity of patients is key in the provision of all care and clinical practice within the Theatre Recovery environment.
• Ensure that any safeguarding issues are raised appropriately to enable investigation in relation to vulnerable adults and children.
• To support the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children/child protection quality assurance and improvement processes.
• Work collaboratively when required with the vulnerable adult/child safeguarding team within the Trust.
• Assist the Practice Educator to ensure that staff is aware of their training requirements for child protection and the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and that these are identified within their annual appraisal.
• Ensure that the needs of older people are kept central to practice and service development.
• Work in collaboration with clinical leads in relation to national initiatives, Care Quality Commission standards and NICE guidelines.

Please see attached Job Description for full details.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Professional registration
• Health Diploma – Nursing / ODP Degree
• Competence Practice assessor (Mentor)
• Experience of working within Theatre Department/Recovery
• Completed related Recovery competency
• Excellent communication skills, ability to lead a team
• Critical analysis and ability to make a judgement
• Effective time management, ability to work within deadline
• Teamwork and working in a multidisciplinary team
• Ensure the provision of a safe working environment for staff, patients and visitors at all times in line with the Health and Safety at Work Act
• IT competence relevant to the post – competency in Word/Excel

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).

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.

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)