The Practice Educator for Theatres role is open to Registered Nurses (RN) and Operating Department Practitioners (ODP).
The role encompasses working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams across theatre services, as well as supporting students and universities across Northamptonshire.
The post holder will play a key role in facilitating education, training, and professional development within the theatre environment, ensuring staff are supported to deliver safe, high‑quality patient care. This includes working closely with clinical teams, higher education institutions, and learners at all stages of their development.
Main duties of the job
- Design, deliver, and evaluate education programmes for theatre staff (scrub, anaesthetics, and recovery)
- Support induction, preceptorship, and transition programmes for new staff and students
- Identify training needs through appraisal, audit, and service requirements
- Facilitate simulation‑based learning and clinical skills training
- Ensure staff maintain competencies aligned with national standards (e.g., AfPP, NMC, HCPC)
- Act as a clinical expert in perioperative practice
- Support staff in developing advanced clinical skills and safe practice in theatres
- Promote adherence to policies, protocols, and infection prevention standards
- Ensure safe use of specialist theatre equipment and techniques
- Provide supervision, coaching, and mentorship within clinical areas
Job responsibilities
1. Education, Training & Development
- Design, deliver, and evaluate education programmes for theatre staff (scrub, anaesthetics, and recovery)
- Support induction, preceptorship, and transition programmes for new staff and students
- Identify training needs through appraisal, audit, and service requirements
- Facilitate simulation‑based learning and clinical skills training
- Ensure staff maintain competencies aligned with national standards (e.g., AfPP, NMC, HCPC)
2. Clinical Practice Support
- Act as a clinical expert in perioperative practice
- Support staff in developing advanced clinical skills and safe practice in theatres
- Promote adherence to policies, protocols, and infection prevention standards
- Ensure safe use of specialist theatre equipment and techniques
- Provide supervision, coaching, and mentorship within clinical areas
- Support pre‑registration students (nursing, ODP) and apprentices
- Work closely with universities and placement providers
- Ensure high‑quality learning environments within theatres
- Provide feedback, assessments, and documentation of learning outcomes
- Support practice supervisors and assessors in their roles
4. Quality, Governance & Patient Safety
- Promote evidence‑based practice and continuous professional development
- Support clinical audits, competency assessments, and service improvement initiatives
- Participate in incident reviews and contribute to learning from events
- Ensure compliance with mandatory training and competency frameworks
- Contribute to maintaining a safe, effective, and high‑quality perioperative service
- Act as a role model for professional standards and clinical excellence
- Support staff in career development and progression (e.g., specialist roles, leadership)
- Lead or contribute to education‑related projects and innovations
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to enhance patient pathways
- Maintain own professional development and educational skills
- Work collaboratively with theatre teams, education teams, and external partners
- Communicate effectively with staff at all levels
- Facilitate educational meetings, workshops, and briefings
- Provide guidance and support in complex clinical or learning situations
Person Specification
Education and Qualification
- Registered Nurse (RN) or Operating Department Practitioner
- Educated to Degree level or equivalent level of education, training or experience
- Teaching/Assessing Qualification e.g Practice Assessor
- Willingness to undertake Master level Education
Knowledge and Experience
- Experience in operating theatres (Scrub, Recovery or Anaesthetics)
- Experience supporting learners and staff development
- Experience in clinical teaching, mentorship or supervision
Skills
- Strong clinical expertise in perioperative care
- Teaching, Coaching Skills
- Experience in clinical teaching, mentorship or supervision
Key Competencies/Personal Qualities and Attributes
- Passionate and committed to bring our Dedicated to Excellence values to life, improving the way we work with each other, particularly focusing on empowerment, equality diversity and inclusion of our staff, patients and service users
- Flexible, proactive and approachable
- Commitment to patient safety
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
£49,387 to £56,515 a year (Per annum / Pro rata)
