Theatre Team Lead in Kettering

Theatre Team Lead – Orthopaedics and Practice Education

Location: Kettering, Northamptonshire

Salary: Up to £50,000, dependent on experience

Hours: Full Time / Permanent – 37.5 hours per week

Are you an experienced Orthopaedic Scrub Practitioner ready to step into a team leadership position?

Passionate about mentorship, education and developing the next generation of theatre professionals?

Looking for a role combining hands‑on clinical practice with leadership, coaching and service improvement?

ABOUT THE ROLE

Compass Associates are working with a leading private hospital in Northamptonshire to recruit a Theatre Team Lead specialising in Orthopaedics and Practice Education.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Orthopaedic Scrub Nurse or ODP who enjoys developing others and wants to take greater responsibility for clinical standards, team performance and professional education.

You will provide visible leadership to the orthopaedic scrub team while continuing to work clinically across a varied surgical caseload. A central part of the role will be creating a supportive learning environment, mentoring theatre practitioners and helping colleagues build their confidence and competencies.

The hospital operates several modern laminar-flow theatres and delivers a broad orthopaedic caseload, including arthroscopy, hip and knee replacements, spinal surgery and other complex elective procedures.

THE PACKAGE

• Salary up to £50,000, dependent on experience
• Senior clinical leadership and education-focused role
• Opportunity to shape theatre training and staff development
• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
• Option to buy or sell additional annual leave
• Private medical cover, with options to include family members
• Discounted dental insurance
• Life assurance at three times your basic salary
• Employer pension contributions of up to 5% following qualification
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Enhanced parental leave and family-friendly policies
• Extensive leadership and clinical development opportunities
• Access to a dedicated professional development academy
• Employee recognition programme
• Cycle-to-work scheme and retail discounts
• Subsidised staff restaurant, where available
• On-site parking, subject to availability

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

• Providing visible clinical leadership to the orthopaedic scrub team
• Delivering high standards of care across a varied orthopaedic caseload
• Acting as a role model for professional practice and patient safety
• Mentoring, coaching and supporting theatre practitioners at all levels
• Developing staff competencies and supporting structured learning plans
• Supporting newly qualified, internationally recruited and developing practitioners
• Helping to create a safe, inclusive and supportive learning environment
• Completing clinical assessments and contributing to competency sign-off
• Supporting inductions, mandatory training and professional development activity
• Identifying skills gaps and helping to coordinate appropriate training
• Supporting the Theatre Manager with team performance and operational delivery
• Promoting open communication and a positive speaking‑up culture
• Contributing to quality improvement, governance and service development
• Supporting safe staffing and effective theatre utilisation
• Working clinically across other hospital departments when reasonably required

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

• Registered Nurse or Operating Department Practitioner
• Strong understanding of clinical standards within a surgical environment
• Experience supporting, mentoring or developing other clinical staff
• Confidence providing feedback and addressing areas for improvement
• Strong leadership, communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to positively influence clinical practice and support change
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills
• Good computer literacy and written communication skills
• Commitment to continuing professional development
• Ability to work collaboratively across a multidisciplinary team
• Flexible approach during periods of changing theatre activity
• Previous experience as a Practice Educator, Clinical Educator, Theatre Lead, Senior Theatre Practitioner or mentor would be highly advantageous
• A formal mentorship, assessor, teaching or practice education qualification would be desirable but is not essential

WORKING PATTERN

This is a full-time position working 37.5 hours per week. Flexibility will be required around theatre activity, service requirements and staff development commitments. Some additional or adjusted hours may occasionally be needed during particularly busy periods.

ABOUT COMPASS ASSOCIATES

Compass Associates is a leading specialist healthcare recruitment consultancy, connecting talented professionals with high-quality employers across the UK.

REFERRAL SCHEME

Compass Associates Ltd is acting as the recruitment consultancy for this vacancy. We offer a £200 John Lewis voucher for every successful recommendation or referral.