Theatre Team Manager - Scrub

Lewisham And Greenwich Nhs Trust; Lewisham; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust seeks 2 experienced Nurses or ODPs to join the Theatre team as senior clinical leaders. You will oversee scrub teams across multiple specialties, drive safe perioperative care, and coordinate operating lists to optimise patient flow.

You will work with consultants, anaesthetists and floor coordinators to ensure high-quality, patient-centred perioperative services while promoting professional development and a collaborative, inclusive team culture.

Qualifications

• Registered nurse or ODP with leadership experience in perioperative care.
• Experience leading scrub teams in theatre environments.
• Strong clinical governance, patient safety and quality improvement mindset.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior clinical leadership and operational management for designated scrub team.
• Oversee trauma and orthopaedic theatre lists, staffing, equipment and theatre readiness.
• Lead on performance management, staff development and competency progression.
• Collaborate with consultants, anaesthetists, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure safe perioperative care.
• Support pathway redesign and workforce development initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Operational management

Perioperative care

Communication

Decision making

Education

Nursing degree

ODP qualification

Job description

Job summary

An Outstanding Leadership Opportunity

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust is seeking 2 experienced, forward thinking and motivated Nurses or Operating Department Practitioners (ODP) to join our excellent Theatre team at University Hospital Lewisham. This is an exciting opportunity to provide clinical and operational leadership within our busy Theatre Department. The postholders will lead and manage the scrub team across two or three of the following surgical specialties: General Surgery (including colorectal and bariatrics), Urology, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Paediatrics, ENT and Orthopaedics and Trauma. The Theatre Department comprises of 11 operating theatres across two floors, delivering a wide range of elective and emergency surgical services. You will work closely with consultants, anaesthetists, theatre practitioners, floor coordinators, ward teams, and the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure the safe, effective, and efficient delivery of perioperative care.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will provide senior clinical leadership and operational management for the designated specialty scrub team. The role is responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality, patient-centred perioperative care, maintaining patient safety, coordinating workforce resources, and supporting the smooth running of operating lists.

As an expert practitioner, the postholder will maintain advanced specialist knowledge within their designated surgical specialties and act as a key resource for staff, patients, and the multidisciplinary team. They will promote clinical excellence, development, and contribute to the achievement of departmental, divisional, and organisational objectives.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong team, clinical and operational leadership skills, sound clinical judgement, and a commitment to continuous quality improvement. They will foster a positive and inclusive working environment, support staff development, and champion the highest standards of patient care, safety, and professional practice.

The postholder is responsible for ensuring the delivery of safe, efficient, and high‑quality perioperative care, effective workforce coordination, and the smooth running of operating lists.

Working autonomously and in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team, the postholder will coordinate and deliver patient care within agreed clinical protocols, professional standards, and current evidence‑based practice.

About us

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

• Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
• Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
• Improving the experience of staff with disability
• Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
• Making equalities mainstream

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Leadership and Expertise

• Maintain advanced specialist knowledge of trauma and orthopaedic surgical procedures, instrumentation, implants, and consumables.
• Act as the clinical expert for T&O scrub practice, providing guidance, troubleshooting, and decisionmaking support during complex cases.
• Ensure compliance with infection prevention, aseptic technique, and theatre safety standards.

Operational Management of Theatre Lists

• Oversee the daily coordination of trauma and elective orthopaedic theatre lists, ensuring appropriate staffing, equipment availability, and readiness of theatres.
• Allocate and adjust staffing to maintain safe skill mix, escalating risks where required.
• Work proactively to minimise avoidable cancellations, delays, and overruns by identifying issues early and implementing corrective actions.
• Liaise with surgeons, anaesthetists, floor coordinators, and schedulers to maintain efficient patient flow.

Workforce Leadership and Staff Development

• Provide daytoday leadership for scrub practitioners, including supervision, mentoring, and clinical support.
• Lead on performance management, sickness management, appraisals, and professional development plans.
• Support staff in achieving competencies, extended roles, and specialist orthopaedic skills.
• Promote a positive, inclusive, and highperforming team culture.

Equipment, Consumables, and Resource Management

• Ensure correct selection, availability, and maintenance of orthopaedic instruments, implants, and consumables.
• Work closely with equipment officers and suppliers to resolve issues, manage stock levels, and support procurement decisions.
• Contribute to costeffective use of resources and reduction of waste.

Governance, Quality, and Safety

• Lead or support investigations into incidents, near misses, and complaints, ensuring timely reporting, and implementation of corrective actions.
• Monitor compliance with safety checklists, policies, and regulatory standards.
• Participate in audits, quality improvement initiatives, and service development projects.
• Work closely with other Band 7 theatre managers, the Matron, floor coordinators, and the wider perioperative leadership team to ensure consistent standards and coordinated service delivery.
• Build strong relationships with orthopaedic consultants, anaesthetic teams, ward staff, and operational managers.
• Contribute to strategic planning for trauma and orthopaedic services, including pathway redesign and workforce development.

Additional Expectations

• Participate in the senior leadership rota and undertake on call and cross site working in accordance to Trust service requirements.
• Support change management, service redesign, and improvement projects aligned with organisational priorities.
• Maintain professional registration and engage in ongoing CPD relevant to trauma and orthopaedics.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to degree level or equivalent level of experience Possession of relevant education/teaching certification
• Possession of speciality post registration certificate or equivalent
• oKnowledge of quality standards

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of (minimum two years)experience within operational / Clinical management in an acute hospital setting in a senior nurse/ODP role
• Evidence of experience within the relevant speciality / service
• Effective leadership skills and an understanding of leadership and change management practice
• Evidence of having developed team working skills and implemented team working practices - this includes the ability to enthuse, motivate and involve all team members
• Track record of effectively handling competing priorities, meeting challenging deadlines and delivering under pressure.
• Experience of dealing with financial systems i.e. budgetary control, Clinical Governance, Health and Safety and Human resources.
• Successful track record in conflict resolution and performance management
• Leading a team
• Knowledge/understanding of quality improvement methodology

Knowledge

Essential

• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
• Computer Skills
• Ability to conduct own project successfully
• Change management

personal Qualities

Essential

• Strong, inclusive and effective leadership style
• Creative, lateral thinker
• Open, participative, dynamic and supportive leadership with a flexible management style
• Flexible and positive approach to work
• Determined and resilient
• Committed to collaborative working

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Theatre Team Manager - Scrub Lewisham, United Kingdom