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

1. 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.