Lead Peri-Operative Practitioner

Purpose of Job The post-holder is responsible and accountable for the strategic leadership, management, and clinical governance of the Anaesthetic, Recovery, and Enhanced Care services. The role ensures the delivery of high-quality, safe, and effective perioperative care across the patient pathway (pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative phases), in line with CQC standards, national guidance, and organisational objectives. The post-holder will provide overarching leadership to both services, working in partnership with the Deputy Anaesthetic Lead and Deputy Recovery Lead, who will support day-to-day operational management.

The post-holder will exercise professional accountability in accordance with NMC/HCPC Codes of Conduct. Principal Accountabilities Leadership & Management Provide strategic and operational leadership across Anaesthetics, Recovery, and Enhanced Care services. Line manage and support senior staff, including Deputy Leads, ensuring effective day-to-day service delivery.

Promote a culture of safety, professionalism, and continuous improvement. Ensure appropriate staffing levels and skill mix across all perioperative areas. Coordinate workforce planning, rota management, and escalation processes.

Lead recruitment, retention, appraisal, and performance management processes. Support staff wellbeing, development, and succession planning. 2. Clinical Leadership Maintain oversight of clinical standards across the perioperative pathway.

Ensure delivery of high-quality anaesthetic assistance and post-anaesthetic care. Act as a clinical expert and role model in perioperative practice. Support the management of deteriorating patients and complex cases.

Ensure safe patient flow between theatre, recovery, and enhanced care. Participate in the emergency response team and on-call rota as required. 3. Governance & Patient Safety Lead clinical governance across Anaesthetics, Recovery, and Enhanced Care.

Ensure compliance with CQC standards and national guidance (e.g. NICE, NatSSIPs, LocSSIPs, NCEPOD, RCoA). Oversee incident reporting, investigation, and learning dissemination.

Lead audits, quality improvement initiatives, and service evaluations. Ensure robust documentation standards and data quality. Act as a key member of relevant committees (e.g.

Resuscitation Committee). Drive a culture of openness, learning, and continuous safety improvement. 4. Operational Management Ensure effective day-to-day coordination of perioperative services through delegated leadership to Deputy Leads.

Oversee patient flow, theatre efficiency, and recovery capacity. Ensure equipment safety, maintenance, and asset management. Manage stock control and procurement processes in collaboration with relevant departments.

Respond proactively to service pressures, incidents, and operational challenges. 5. Communication & Collaboration Act as a key liaison between theatre teams, ward teams, medical staff, and senior management. Communicate effectively with patients, relatives, and carers, managing concerns and improving patient experience.

Provide expert advice on perioperative practice across the organisation. Ensure effective multidisciplinary team working to optimise patient outcomes and service delivery. 6. Education & Workforce Development Promote a culture of continuous learning and professional development.

Ensure staff meet mandatory training and competency requirements (including anaesthetic and critical care competencies). Support teaching, mentorship, and student placement programmes. Develop and deliver training aligned with service needs and governance priorities. 7.

Financial & Resource Management Contribute to budget management and ensure cost-effective use of resources. Monitor workforce KPIs (agency usage, sickness, turnover). Identify and escalate requirements for capital equipment and service development.

Support procurement processes and evaluation of equipment and consumables. 8. Strategy & Service Development Lead and support service development across perioperative care pathways. Identify opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and service expansion.

Support redesign of services to improve patient outcomes and flow. Lead and deliver quality improvement and transformation projects. Clinical Responsibilities Ensure safe delivery of anaesthetic and post-anaesthetic care.

Maintain high standards of infection prevention and control. Ensure safe medicines management practices. Provide emergency care and support escalation of critically ill patients.

Maintain accurate, contemporaneous patient records. Professional Responsibilities Maintain active NMC/HCPC registration. Adhere to professional codes of conduct and organisational policies.

Maintain and develop own professional knowledge and leadership skills. Act as a role model for professional practice and behaviour.