Job summary
Senior Theatre Team Leader
Department Theatres General Surgery and Gynaecology Team
Band 7 £47,810 - £54,710 Per annum
Hours 37.5 per week all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
Are you a dynamic and experienced theatre practitioner ready to take the next step in your leadership journey? Join our forward-thinking and innovative team at Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Milton Keynes Theatre Department currently consists of 12 theatres, a newly established treatment room and 2 recovery areas over two sites within the hospital. We cover a range of specialities including trauma and orthopaedic, ENT, and ophthalmology.
The theatre service is expanding and soon will be adding a further two orthopaedic theatres to further improve our service.
We are seeking a passionate Senior Team Leader to lead our General Surgery and Gynaecology Theatre Team, which encompasses a range of specialties including:o Urologyo Breast Surgeryo Colorectal Surgeryo General Surgeryo Vascular Procedures (in our newly established treatment room)
'We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute'
For any further information or an informal visit, please contact Emma Sarnecki, Matron at emma.sarnecki@mkuh.nhs.co.uk or call 01908 995559 or Arabelle Casey, Theatre Manager at arabelle.casey@mkuh.nhs.co.uk
Interview w/c 13 October 2025
Main duties of the job
Milton Keynes University Hospital celebrated our 1000th robotic surgery in August 2025. This achievement highlights our commitment to innovation and quality, with robotic-assisted procedures now routinely performed across colorectal, urology, gynaecology, and general surgery specialties.
We are looking for a Registered Nurse or Operating Department Practitioner with current NMC/HCPC registration with excellent communication skills and proven experience in a theatre setting, ideally across multiple specialties who can provide excellent clinical skills and knowledge to support our teams.
Strong leadership skills are a must, with a passion for mentoring and team development. You will champion continuous improvements within the department and staff development while working alongside the theatre management team to ensure that we are providing safe and efficient patient centered care.
To line manage the Orthopaedic Theatre Team, including scrub nurses, anaesthetic practitioners, and HCA's, providing a high-quality service to the organisation. The post holder will ensure the smooth running of the service, co-ordinating theatre activity for both the elective and emergency pathways in partnership with the Deputy Theatre Manager and other clinicians.
The post holder has the discretion to work within Trust policies and is accountable for their own actions and those of theatre staff.
About us
Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.
As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.
We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.
Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards - and the recently approved Women and Children's Centre, set to open by 2030.
Visit our website to explore the latest news and opportunities at MKUH - News - Milton Keynes University Hospital -
For further information about Milton Keynes please visit - Visit Milton Keynes
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
To act as clinical expert and role model, assessing patients needs and then planning, delivering, and evaluating a complex programme of care for them within the theatre environment.
To communicate complex and sensitive information regarding patients and their medical conditions with other clinicians across the Trust, to enhance continuity of patient care when transferring into and out of the department.
Management
To participate in the development of the departments policies ensuring that they reflect the strategic plans of the Trust.
Plan and organise theatre allocations and act as Bleep Holder on a rolling rota, managing and being accountable for the entire theatre team during elective hours when this activity is most complex.
Education and professional development
To participate in the education and development of all grades of staff
To ensure that the environment motivates and encourages learning.
General
To work within and promote the NMC and HPC Code of Professional Conduct
To continually develop and promote the departments philosophy of care and its contribution to the CSUs overall philosophy of care.
Please refer to the Job Description for further details
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
To act as clinical expert and role model, assessing patients needs and then planning, delivering, and evaluating a complex programme of care for them within the theatre environment.
To communicate complex and sensitive information regarding patients and their medical conditions with other clinicians across the Trust, to enhance continuity of patient care when transferring into and out of the department.
Management
To participate in the development of the departments policies ensuring that they reflect the strategic plans of the Trust.
Plan and organise theatre allocations and act as Bleep Holder on a rolling rota, managing and being accountable for the entire theatre team during elective hours when this activity is most complex.
Education and professional development
To participate in the education and development of all grades of staff
To ensure that the environment motivates and encourages learning.
General
To work within and promote the NMC and HPC Code of Professional Conduct
To continually develop and promote the departments philosophy of care and its contribution to the CSUs overall philosophy of care.
Please refer to the Job Description for further details
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- Registered General Nurse OR accredited degree or diploma level qualification in anaesthetic practice equivalent to AAGBI
- Recognised teaching qualification
- Awareness of relevant national guidelines and regulatory requirements
Desirable
- Evidence of study at level 7
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience within theatre environment at Band 6 level
- Involvement in management of change
- Development of clinical practice
- Clinical expert within specialty to include minimum of 2 theatre areas such as anesthetics, scrub and recovery
- Sound computer skills - able to use IT to support role
Skills
Essential
- Strong leadership ability
- Excellent time management
- Able to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
- Confident in the management of change
- Able to challenge poor practice and provide constructive plans for improvement
Personal and people development
Essential
- Dynamic leadership qualities
- Able to use initiative and independent thinking and encourage same in others
- Motivated to provide a high-quality service
- Effective team member
- Committed to celebrating success
Communication
Essential
- Excellent communication skills across all specialties
- Able to represent the theatre department as a clinical expert both within the department and across the Trust
- Professional image and communication style
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- Registered General Nurse OR accredited degree or diploma level qualification in anaesthetic practice equivalent to AAGBI
- Recognised teaching qualification
- Awareness of relevant national guidelines and regulatory requirements
Desirable
- Evidence of study at level 7
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience within theatre environment at Band 6 level
- Involvement in management of change
- Development of clinical practice
- Clinical expert within specialty to include minimum of 2 theatre areas such as anesthetics, scrub and recovery
- Sound computer skills - able to use IT to support role
Skills
Essential
- Strong leadership ability
- Excellent time management
- Able to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
- Confident in the management of change
- Able to challenge poor practice and provide constructive plans for improvement
Personal and people development
Essential
- Dynamic leadership qualities
- Able to use initiative and independent thinking and encourage same in others
- Motivated to provide a high-quality service
- Effective team member
- Committed to celebrating success
Communication
Essential
- Excellent communication skills across all specialties
- Able to represent the theatre department as a clinical expert both within the department and across the Trust
- Professional image and communication style
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
