Deputy Lead Practitioner – Recovery and Enhanced Care Unit

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Deputy Peri-operative Lead Practitioner to support the delivery and operational management of Recovery, Enhanced Care, and wider peri-operative services. This is an exciting leadership opportunity for a motivated professional passionate about delivering high-quality patient care and driving service excellence.

You will deputise for the Peri-operative Lead Practitioner, working collaboratively across Anaesthetics, Theatre, Recovery, and Enhanced Care to ensure safe, effective, and seamless patient pathways.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Operational Management

• Deputise for the Peri-operative Lead Practitioner and support day-to-day service delivery

• Lead advanced planning of operating lists, ensuring appropriate staffing, skills mix, and equipment availability

• Manage resources efficiently using evidence-based practices

• Ensure safe staffing levels, responding proactively to changes and emergencies

• Contribute to budget management and cost-effective workforce deployment

• Support recruitment, retention, and workforce planning

Clinical Excellence

• Deliver and oversee high standards of peri-operative care across anaesthetic, intra-operative, recovery, and enhanced care pathways

• Ensure staff competencies align with national standards, including critical care requirements

• Lead and participate in audits, incident investigations, and quality improvement initiatives

• Promote safe practice, infection prevention, and adherence to clinical guidelines (NICE, NCEPOD, RCoA, NatSSIPs/LocSSIPs)

• Actively participate in the emergency response team and on-call rota

Workforce Development & Education

• Support the development of a skilled, flexible, multi-disciplinary peri-operative workforce

• Promote cross-specialty training and competency development

• Provide mentorship, supervision, and appraisal for staff

• Identify learning opportunities and contribute to succession planning

Governance & Quality Improvement

• Support clinical governance and risk management processes

• Lead or contribute to service improvement projects and innovation initiatives

• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and shared learning

• Ensure compliance with regulatory and professional standards (NMC/HCPC Code of Conduct)

Communication & Collaboration

• Build strong working relationships across multidisciplinary teams

• Ensure effective communication with senior leadership, clinical teams, and stakeholders

• Facilitate smooth coordination of operating lists and patient pathways

About You

Essential Requirements

• Registered NMC/HCPC professional

• Degree-level education with continued professional development

• Minimum 5 years’ post-registration experience in peri-operative and enhanced care settings

• Strong leadership experience managing multi-disciplinary teams

• Proven ability to manage resources and drive service delivery

• Excellent organisational, communication, and interpersonal skills

• Evidence of clinical decision-making across a diverse patient group

• Immediate Life Support (ILS) qualification

• Experience in audit, governance, and quality improvement

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Mentorship/Practice Assessor qualification

• Advanced Life Support (ALS) or willingness to work towards

• EPALS qualification

• Additional critical care or HDU experience/qualification