Lead Theatre Practitioner - Spine

We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled Lead Theatre Practitioner - Spine

to join our specialist theatre team. This is a key role responsible for ensuring the safe, efficient, and coordinated delivery of spinal surgical services across our operating theatres.

You will provide expert specialist scrub support, lead and mentor the multidisciplinary theatre team, and ensure high standards of clinical practice in line with HCPC/NMC Codes of Professional Conduct. The role requires strong organisational ability, advanced knowledge of spinal instrumentation, and a commitment to delivering a high‑quality, cost‑effective service.

In addition to supporting spinal procedures, the post holder may be required to contribute to other orthopaedic specialty areas, including scrub duties and broader operational support, to maintain smooth and effective theatre services.

Summary of Principal Accountabilities

1. Senior Managerial Responsibilities

• Oversee spinal theatre scheduling, staffing, and resource allocation to meet service demand.

• Ensure all spinal operating lists are fully planned with appropriate staff, equipment, implants, and loan kits.

• Manage spinal resources efficiently, ensuring evidence‑based and cost‑effective practice.

• Lead workforce planning, including recruitment, retention, skill mix, and succession planning.

• Monitor and adjust staffing levels, ensuring safe cover for fluctuating and emergency needs.

• Resolve complex operational issues and escalate strategically when required.

• Work closely with procurement, theatre leadership, bookings, and clinical leads to support spinal service planning.

• Oversee equipment management, asset registers, maintenance, and team training on safe equipment use.

• Ensure effective stock control, revenue capture, and supply chain processes.

• Represent spinal services at relevant meetings and deputise for theatre leadership when needed.

2. Clinical Responsibilities

• Act as a senior clinical expert in spinal scrub practice for elective and emergency cases.

• Lead assessment, planning, and evaluation of patient care in collaboration with the MDT, including attendance at weekly MDT meetings.

• Support consultants with complex clinical decision‑making and procedural coordination.

• Maintain high standards of documentation, confidentiality, and patient communication.

• Lead spinal audit, governance activity, incident reporting, and follow‑up.

• Provide clinical leadership and deputise for theatre management as required.

3. Instrumentation & Implant Coordination

• Lead all aspects of spinal instrumentation, implants, trays, loan kits, and consumables.

• Ensure all equipment is complete, sterile, tracked, and available for surgery.

• Oversee ordering, reconciliation, and return of loan kits, and maintain liaison with Sterile Services and Procurement.

• Manage implant representative attendance and support product training and equipment evaluation.

4. Clinical Governance & Risk

• Ensure compliance with NICE, NatSSIPs, LocSSIPs, NCEPOD, and internal governance standards.

• Lead incident investigations, RCA processes, and ensure learning is embedded.

• Oversee spinal audit programmes, quality monitoring, complaints management, and policy/SOP development.

5. Education, Training & Team Development

• Develop and maintain a spinal competency framework.

• Deliver education, simulation, and technical training for spinal procedures and instrumentation.

• Support onboarding of new staff and ongoing professional development, including revalidation.

• Promote a culture of learning, clinical excellence, and continuous improvement.

6. People Management

• Line manage designated staff, supporting recruitment, retention, wellbeing, and performance.

• Conduct appraisals, 1:1 meetings, and development planning.

• Address performance concerns in line with organisational policy and promote high team morale.

7. Financial & Resource Management

• Ensure cost‑effective use of implants, consumables, and theatre resources.

• Monitor workforce KPIs (agency usage, sickness, turnover).

• Support capital equipment planning and replacement programmes.

• Work with Procurement and Finance on budget planning.

8. Strategy & Service Improvement

• Lead service improvement initiatives to enhance patient outcomes and reduce waiting times.

• Contribute to strategic growth and development of spinal surgical services.

• Drive adoption of evidence‑based practice and support organisational transformation initiatives.

9. Communication & Professional Responsibility

• Maintain effective communication across MDTs and senior leadership.

• Act as clinical advisor for spinal theatre services.

• Manage sensitive and complex issues professionally, modelling organisational values.

• Ensure compliance with all professional regulatory standards.