Anaesthetic/Theatre Scheduler

A rare opportunity to join the small, but critical, Theatre Scheduling Team as a Theatre Scheduler. The team sits within the Theatres, Anaesthetics and Critical Care Directorate of the Surgery Care Group and supports Surgical Activity Planning. The post holder will work in a dynamic administrative environment to ensure Theatre Rotas are updated in real time with crucial details for the delivery of surgical services within the operating department.

Main duties:

• Organise day-to-day workload with minimal supervision, prioritising tasks as needed in a dynamic environment where demands can change quickly.
• Manage the Theatre Rota System, a complex system relied upon by a wide range of stakeholders for service planning; update and communicate rotas with a keen eye for detail.
• Support clinical and non-clinical staff in using the Theatre IT system and share resulting data extracted from it.
• When required, deputise for the manager in supporting the Senior Management Team in Service Delivery Planning.

About Us / Additional information:

We provide hospital services from multiple sites and community settings. We welcome applications from disabled and BAME candidates as these groups are under-represented.

Key timings and location:

• Location: Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust, Hollyhurst Road, Darlington, County Durham, DL3 6HX
• Contract: Fixed term, 12 months; Band 3; Agenda for Change
• Salary: £24,937 to £26,598 per year
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Date posted: 05 February 2026

Job Description & Responsibilities:

• Work with Directorate office staff to provide an efficient administrative and secretarial service to the Anaesthetic Department.
• Execute day-to-day administration and management of theatre sessions on the Theatre IT system in accordance with theatre rotas.
• Assist with daily upkeep of the Theatre Scheduling mailbox and proformas for leave; provide daily upkeep of theatre schedules across the trust.
• Maintain and update theatre scheduling records and undertake day-to-day admin and office duties.
• Ensure compliance with the Trust Theatre Scheduling Policy and assist in preparing theatre schedules on the Trust intranet; provide statistical information to Senior Managers as required.
• Organise own workload to meet deadlines.

Person Specification:

Special Skills & Knowledge:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to converse accurately, courteously and effectively with a wide range of internal and external customers.
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload to meet deadlines.
• Committed to providing excellent customer care.
• Able to use own initiative to resolve queries and work as an effective team member.

Experience:

• Essential: Experience of using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
• Experience of prepping and managing multiple rotas as a significant part of a previous role.
• Experience of providing an administrative support service to a large team.
• Desirable: Experience of minute taking and transcription.

Qualifications:

• Essential: Good standard of education: minimum of 3 GCSEs (or equivalent) at C grade or above including English & Maths or equivalent knowledge.
• NVQ Level 3 in Business Administration or equivalent knowledge/experience (or working towards).
• Desirable: Qualification in secretarial and/or computer skills.

Statutory Registration:

• Be able to travel independently across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post when required.
• Flexible approach to work and adaptable to change.
• Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975; a Disclosure to check for any previous criminal convictions will be submitted to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Employer details:

• Employer: County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
• Address: Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust, Hollyhurst Road, Darlington, County Durham, DL3 6HX
• Employer's website: https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/