Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated Recovery Sister/Charge Nurse to join our Band 7 team at Guys Main Theatres (GMT). We are seeking a dynamic leader with broad clinical experience and proven management skills to lead and develop our Recovery service.
This 1-year secondment involves managing the Recovery area at GMT, supporting and leading the team to deliver safe, high-quality patient care. GMT comprises 14 operating theatres and a 20-bed recovery unit, plus a surgical admissions lounge.
You will provide clinical leadership and service development, ensuring patient care is planned, delivered, and evaluated in line with evidence-based practice. Working closely with the multidisciplinary team, you’ll help maintain a robust, high-quality, integrated service.
We take pride in our diverse workforce and are committed to supporting staff to reach their full potential.
25th July - Closing date
6th August - Interview date
Main duties of the job
You will need to be proactive, self-motivated, and have excellent interpersonal skills, along with a clear vision for service improvement. You will be expected to actively support, coordinate, and manage the delivery of high-quality care to patients throughout their peri-operative journey, with a particular focus on the Recovery phase.
In this role, you will provide leadership within the Recovery area of Guys Main Theatres, working closely with the existing Band 7 team to ensure safe, effective, and efficient patient care. You will also collaborate with colleagues across Guys Main Theatres and the Surgical Admissions Lounge (SAL) to support integrated care pathways.
You will be joining an experienced and skilled senior team where you will play an integral role in the day-to-day management and ongoing development of the Recovery service.
Working for our organisation
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK’s best known hospitals – Guy’s, St Thomas’, Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield – as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.
We provide specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark.
We have a long tradition of clinical and scientific achievement and – as part of King’s Health Partners – we are one of England’s eight academic health sciences centres. We have one of the National Institute for Health Research’s biomedical research centres, established with King’s College London in 2007, as well as dedicated clinical research facilities.
We have around 22,700 staff, making us one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country and one of the biggest employers locally. We aim to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and continue to develop new and existing partnerships with local people, patients, neighbouring NHS organisations, local authorities and charitable bodies and GPs.
We strive to recruit and retain the best staff as the dedication and skills of our employees lie at the heart of our organisation and ensure that our services are of the highest quality, safe and focused on our patients.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1. Lead the Recovery team, fostering effective links between key professionals to promote and support high-quality multidisciplinary team working.
2. Manage the Recovery nursing and ODP staff to ensure patients receive high-quality clinical care and an excellent patient experience, respecting their customs, religious beliefs, and individual needs.
3. Be wholly accountable for your professional practice in line with the NMC Code (or equivalent professional code) and take every reasonable opportunity to maintain and develop knowledge and professional competence.
4. Communicate effectively and liaise with all members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure patients receive seamless, coordinated care throughout the peri-operative pathway.
5. Act as a professional nursing leader and role model within Recovery, applying clinical skills to the highest standard and proactively developing clinical competence in yourself and others.
6. Maximise the use of clinical resources in Recovery, implementing best practice in patient flow, admission, handover, and discharge processes.
7. Monitor monthly budget statements for the Recovery Unit, identifying trends, understanding spending patterns, and taking appropriate action to remain within budget.
8. Comply with the Trust’s standing financial instructions and guidelines.
9. Ensure the Recovery area has adequate staffing and equipment to deliver safe and effective patient care.
10. Develop and maintain clear and effective channels of communication within the Recovery team and with wider multidisciplinary colleagues.
11. Identify and address factors that contribute to an unsafe environment for patients and staff within Recovery, escalating concerns to the Matron or Head of Nursing as appropriate.
12. Lead and support the Recovery team through periods of change, demonstrating tenacity, professional integrity, balance, and strong leadership.
13. Be responsible for assessing and recognising emergencies in Recovery, interpreting clinical information, taking prompt appropriate action, and supporting others to do the same.
14. Motivate, develop, support, and identify training and development needs for Recovery staff to ensure a skilled and confident team.
15. Implement and work within the Trust’s HR policies on all staffing matters, including sickness absence, capability, and disciplinary issues, taking corrective action as required in liaison with Human Resources and the Matron.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
16. RN1/ RN2/ RN12 on the NMC register or Operating Department Practitioner on HCPC Registered.
17. Healthcare or management/leadership degree or Masters degree or equivalent qualification/training and experience
18. Evidence of ongoing professional development in relevant area of speciality supplemented by specialist clinical, managerial training and CPD Mentorship course
19. Management qualification or equivalent experience
20. Theatre course
Desirable criteria
21. Leadership Development Masters Degree
Strength of Clinical Leadership
Essential criteria
22. Integrity: Acts as a role model for ethical practice, honesty, and transparency; takes responsibility for decisions and supports an open culture where concerns can be raised and addressed constructively.
23. Putting Patients first: Demonstrates a commitment to delivering safe, high-quality, and compassionate recovery care, putting patients’ needs and dignity at the heart of all decision-making.
24. Working together: Proven ability to lead and motivate a multidisciplinary team, fostering a culture of trust, effective communication, and shared responsibility to deliver excellent perioperative care.
25. Kind and respectful: Models respectful, compassionate, and inclusive behaviour, supports staff wellbeing, and promotes equality and diversity within the team.
Desirable criteria
26. Demonstrate experience in Recovery
Competencies
Essential criteria
27. Is able to recognise and respond to deteriorating patients in the immediate post-operative phase, applying advanced assessment, airway management, pain management, and emergency interventions confidently.
28. Is able to lead, supervise, and develop a multidisciplinary team, providing clear direction, effective delegation, and support for staff development and wellbeing.
29. Is able to demonstrate commitment to delivering high-quality, safe, and compassionate care that respects patients’ dignity, choices, and individual needs.
30. Is able to manages staffing and supply budgets effectively.
31. Is able to plan staff and non staffing resources effectively
32. is able to leads or supports audits and service changes to improve care.
Desirable criteria
33. Experience in teaching, mentoring, or supporting staff development.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ celebrates, respects and values the diversity of its staff and patients. We review our policies, procedures and practices to ensure that all employees, patients and carers are treated equitable according to their needs. We are actively committed to ensuring that no one who applies for a job, works or study’s at the Trust, or accesses our services is discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, religion or belief, age, gender identity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity/paternity, or marital/civil partnership.