Job overview
We are offering a fantastic opportunity to join our dynamic Practice Development Team. This is your chance to step into a leadership role, shape the future of nursing, and support the learning and development of staff across Orpington Orthopaedic Theatres, QMS Newland DCU and Surgical Pre-Operative Assessment Clinic at Orpington
What’s in it for you?
* Develop your leadership skills in education, teaching, and assessing
* Inspire and support nursing staff and students to reach their full potential
* Work alongside a multi-disciplinary team in a progressive learning environment
What are we looking for?
We want an experienced, enthusiastic, and proactive Band 6 Nurse with at least 12 months of experience at this level, who is eager to take on a challenge and help drive excellence in nursing education.
The ideal candidate will:
* Have strong clinical and communication skills
* Be a confident leader, mentor, and educator
* Demonstrate adaptability, teamwork, and sound judgment
* Be highly organised and able to work under pressure
* Have experience in educational activities, training, and assessment
* Be passionate about creating a positive and progressive learning environment
* Support statutory and mandatory training compliance
* Actively contribute to inter-professional learning and development across the Trust
* Work clinically as part of the team when required.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work across sites to lead, coordinate and deliver high standards of clinical education, professional development and practice improvement for registered and non-registered staff working, as well as students on placement within:
* Elective Orthopaedic (ORP) Theatres at Orpington Hospital
* Newlands Day Case Unit (DCU) at Queen Mary’s Hospital Sidcup (QMS) specialising in ophthalmic surgery
* Surgical Pre-Operative Assessment (POA) Clinic at Orpington Hospital
The post holder must possess advanced knowledge and skills commensurate with a clinical expert, responsible for supporting workforce development, advancing clinical competence, promoting evidence-base practice, and ensuring patient safety and compliance with national and local standards.
The post holder will be expected to spend a minimum of 50% of their time per week clinically (not included in staffing numbers) working with students, new starters and existing staff, focused on education, training and competency development. The remainder of their working hours will be allocated non-clinically to planning, developing and implementing practice development activities, projects and initiatives. Additionally, the post holder will be required to undertake a maximum of 30% of their working hours per week providing direct patient care within a clinical shift. The hours may need to be increased during pressures on staffing or under exceptional circumstances.
Working for our organisation
The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.
We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.
King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Reporting to the Theatre Matron for Elective Services, the post holder will work closely with perioperative registered nurses (RNs), operating department practitioners (ODPs), non-registered theatre support staff or perioperative healthcare assistants (PHCAs), pre-registration students and post-registration students in adhering to high standards of practice and supporting their continued professional development within ORP Theatres and Newlands DCU Theatres.
The post holder will also report to the Lead Nurse for Surgery, Theatres & Anaesthetics and work alongside the Matron for Surgical POA in facilitating learning, training and development in practice of RNs, healthcare assistants (HCAs), pre-registration and post-registration students.
As senior member of the practice development team, the post holder will manage the Clinical Practice Facilitator working across sites.
Additionally, the post holder will work closely with the following:
* Care group leads
* Theatre, ward and non-clinical managers
* Various theatre teams across the Trust
* Various practice development teams across the Trust
* Consultant surgeons and members of surgical teams
* Consultant anaesthetists and members of anaesthetic teams
* Representatives of various corporate departments – ICT (Information and Communications Technology), Estates, Facilities, EBME (Electrical and Biomedical Engineering)
* Corporate education leads, education providers and higher education institution lecturers
* External suppliers and industry representatives
The post holder will be expected to foster strong working relationships across multidisciplinary teams, demonstrating professionalism, clear communication, and an inclusive approach to clinical education and continued professional development.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical Education & Workforce Development:
· Work with Lead Nurse, Theatre Matron, Theatre Clinical Coordinators / Band 7 colleagues and Clinical Practice Facilitator, promoting a learning environment and culture that encourages and sustains personal and professional development among registered and non-registered staff.
Lead in the identification of training and education needs, as well as planning, implementation and evaluation of competency-based trainings and educational activities for all students, new starters and existing staff members.
· Lead the development and implementation of local induction programmes and activities for students and new starters, as well as schedule and chair meetings in relation to their progress.
· Develop, deliver, evaluate and record teaching sessions, clinical skills / equipment training and competency assessments, including but not limited to monthly academic half-days.
· Maintain and update a comprehensive training needs analysis for all existing staff members.
· Act as a visible clinical expert within orthopaedic, ophthalmic / day surgery and pre-operative assessment settings.
· Support registered and non-registered staff to achieve speciality-specific competencies, utilising coaching and mentoring skills to develop staff, provide career guidance and offer regular feedback.
· Work with corporate and practice education teams to plan and allocate student placements and monitor their progress.
· Act as a role model to all staff members in completing statutory and mandatory trainings.
· Regularly monitor compliance reports and allocate protected time for staff to undertake statutory and mandatory trainings to maintain best practice in clinical areas and ensure acceptable and safe level of compliance.
· Support mentors or Practice Supervisors / Assessors in their role, ensuring that learning opportunities are effectively utilised for the benefit of their students and learners.
· Undertake assessment and mentorship of students on pre- and post-registration courses, providing clinical supervision, specialist advice and assessment of competence in clinical practice.
· Facilitate the development of learning contracts / objectives and evaluation of progress / outcomes for staff with performance and capability issues, as well as providing support to their mentors.
· Participate in recruitment and retention initiatives locally and Trust-wide.
· Contribute and support education and networking events run by corporate education team.
· Maintain up to date records and documentation comprehensively of all training, education and competency-based activities for students, new starters and existing staff members across sites.
Quality, Governance & Service Improvement:
· Ensure practice aligns with Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) / Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) standards, Trust policies, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines and other national standards relevant to perioperative practice and theatre specialities.
· Lead or contribute to clinical audits, quality improvement projects, and practice reviews.
· Actively participate in quality assurance and risk management initiatives and incorporate into the training and development needs of the designated department or clinical area.
· Support staff in understanding and implementing changes to pathways, policies and national guidelines.
· Promote a positive culture of learning, reflective practice and continuous improvement.
Leadership & Professional Support:
· Provide expert professional advice to managers and clinical staff across theatres and pre-operative assessment.
· Lead the department’s practice development team and key clinical area/s or project as discussed and agreed with Lead Nurse, Theatre Matron, and Theatre Clinical Coordinators / Band 7 colleagues.
· Act as a mentor, coach and role model in promoting professional accountability and quality standards.
· Demonstrate advanced skills and dexterity when working with technical and complex equipment used in different perioperative disciplines, i.e. anaesthetics, scrub and recovery.
· Act as a trainer for medical devices and equipment, training staff to ensure safety and maintain competence in practice.
· Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to optimise learning environments through formal and informal teaching sessions for students, trainees and new starters.
· Support colleagues to develop their mentoring and appraisal skills.
· Lead in developing pathways for staff and assist staff in formulating personal development plans / portfolios to achieve their career objectives in conjunction with their appraisals with their mentors and line managers.
· Support workforce planning, skill mix review and development of career progression pathways.
· Contribute to the development of local perioperative guidelines / protocols, standard operating procedures and policies.
· Promote and maintain safe environment for patients, staff and visitors according to national and local Infection Prevention and Control guidelines, Health & Safety legislation and Trust policies.
· Ensure that all perioperative documentation is maintained according to Trust and national standards, implementing audits of records to measure and evaluate compliance.
· Understand budget arrangements and establishment for different areas, ensuring departmental operations are focused on cost effectiveness and optimal use of resources.
· Undertake the role of nurse in charge of floor coordinator as required or take continuing responsibility for the department in absence of Theatre Matron or Theatre Clinical Coordinator.
· Attend and contribute to departmental meetings as required.
Line Management:
· Provide line management, professional supervision and workload prioritisation for the Clinical Practice Facilitator (CPF) – Band 6.
· Conduct regular 1:1 meetings, appraisals, objective setting and development planning for the CPF.
· Coordinate training and educational delivery across the practice development team to ensure consistent and quality support for all clinical areas.
· Lead on capacity planning for education, training and development, ensuring adequate coverage across theatres, day surgery and pre-operative assessment.
Clinical Duties (as required):
· Maintain clinical competence to provide specialist support within elective orthopaedic theatres, ophthalmic / day surgery and surgical POA.
· Maintain own clinical skills through working in practice alongside students and new starters or as a member of the team (part of staffing numbers) on a weekly basis.
· Provide safe patient care during periods of staffing pressure.
Demonstrate highly skilled knowledge of perioperative pathways and day surgery models.
Research, Audit & Evidence-Based Practice:
· Evaluate educational interventions using measurable outcomes.
· Promote evidence-based clinical practice across all speciality areas.
· Demonstrate expert knowledge and skills in the management of complex and changing service / patient needs, integrating theory and practice supported by research evidence.
· Participate in or lead research, audit and innovation projects.
· Support staff to undertake continued professional development activities and engage in reflective practice to promote evidence-base practice.
Person specification
Shortlisting
Essential criteria
* NMC Registered Nurse / HCPC Registered ODP
* First degree in Nursing / Operating Department Practice
* Recognised post-registration teaching, assessing or mentoring qualification – qualified Practice Supervisor / Practice Assessor
* Evidence of clinical expertise and specialist skills in Perioperative Practice (i.e., anaesthetics, scrub and recovery) through formal qualification at degree level (Level 6)
* Leadership or management training
* Extensive post-registration experience of working in perioperative practice or operating theatre department – in at least two perioperative disciplines at Band 6 level
Desirable criteria
* Post-graduate qualification in Education (e.g., PgCert)
* Master’s level study or working towards MSc in health-related subject
* Experience of developing competency frameworks or training programmes 2
* Experience in surgical pre-operative assessment and knowledge of perioperative pathways
IMPORTANT
* Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
* If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
* To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
* Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
* Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
* All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
* Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
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