Theatre Matron
The closing date is 16 August 2026

Job summary
We are looking for a dedicated and experienced nurse to join the team as a Matron in our Theatres Department. This is a fantastic opportunity to lead and manage a high performing multidisciplinary team, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and patient-centred care.

Working closely with clinical and operational colleagues, the successful candidate will contribute to service transformation, workforce sustainability and the delivery of outstanding care.

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides acute hospital services to the population living within Weymouth, Portland, Purbeck and north and west Dorset. You will responsible for clinical practice, encompassing all the DCH theatre departments which covers 12 operating theatres, including 1 satellite in Weymouth. Considerable post registration experience in Theatres is essential.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will ensure the highest standard of safe clinical care through the provision of effective leadership and management of clinical staff within the Theatres Department. The post holder will be an accessible and authoritative presence in the hospital environment, providing advice and support to patients and staff.

The post holder will provide line management for a number of nurse specialists and leads within the wider Theatre team including EVAS and PAU. The Theatre Matron is responsible for supporting the development of the workforce, managing resources effectively, and ensuring compliance with national standards, regulatory requirements, and Trust policies.

The successful candidate will take responsibility for the overall monitoring of clinical standards within the service, including responsibility for safe staffing, standards of clinical practice and the setting clear objectives for development, ensuring agreed programmes of work are running to plan, and promptly escalating any cause for concern through appropriate communication channels.

The post holder will take part in the on-call manager rota and Matron of the Day duties.

UKVI Sponsorship: This role is eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). We welcome applications from individuals who require sponsorship to work in the UK. Sponsorship will be offered subject to meeting UKVI eligibility criteria.

About us
At DCHFT, we pride ourselves on the care we provide for our patients, and on the culture, we are creating for our staff. We work hard to create a fair, inclusive environment for our staff

Our Mission is to work in partnership to provide high quality, compassionate services and to nurture an environment where people can be at their best. Our vision is healthier lives, empowered citizens, thriving communities.

We are a Trust that celebrates diversity, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from people in all under-represented groups.

We understand that AI can be a useful tool when completing your application. However, we are seeing an increasing over-reliance of AI tools, which can negatively affect your application as it reduces a candidate's individuality, and makes it difficult for us to gain a clear and authentic understanding of your experience, skills, and in turn your suitability for the role.

All submissions must be truthful and if you do use AI, it should only be used to enhance your application and not create your supporting statement in its entirety. Your supporting statement should be in your own words and must accurately reflect your personal experience and achievements. Where we have concerns that AI has been used to generate content that misrepresents your experience and suitability for the role, we may withdraw your application.

Details
Date posted: 31 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year Per Annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 405-26-NM392TM
Job locations: Dorset County Hospital, Williams Avenue, Dorchester, DT1 2JY, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Our DCHFT Job Description and Person Specification (attached) tells you all about this role, what to expect and what is needed to succeed. When completing your application please make sure to tell us how your experience and skills fit the person specification.

Please contact us at Recruitment@dchft.nhs.uk if you are unable to view or download the attachment.

For all our roles, we are looking for staff who hold our Trust Values of Integrity, Respect Teamwork and Excellence, and who are passionate about providing the best patient care. To read more about our Trust and our Values search Dorset County Hospital online.

Person Specification
Education, Qualifications & Training
Essential

• NMC Registered Nurse
• Evidence of continuing personal development
• Management experience or qualification at master's level

Desirable

• Teaching course/qualification

Knowledge & Experience
Essential

• Considerable post registration experience in Theatres
• Significant & recent senior nurse experience with team management
• Experience of working in an acute environment
• Experience in senior management with a budget holding responsibility
• Working knowledge of nursing/midwifery/AHP issues and government directives in secondary care
• Experience of multidisciplinary audit
• Experience of all aspects of personnel management and complaints handling

Skills & Abilities
Essential

• Evidence of ability to practice as an expert practitioner with theatre knowledge and understanding
• Evidence of ability to build and maintain highly effective working relationships with colleagues, patients, and visitors
• Evidence of ability to manage time effectively
• Understanding of clinical governance issues, including risk management
• Knowledge and understanding of WHO/NatSSIPs audit and implementation
• Awareness and understanding of National theatre audits, e.g. NJR
• Evidence of critical appraisal skills
• Evidence of ability to manage service change
• Evidence of good communication skills
• Evidence of ability to influence evidence-based practice
• Evidence of leading and working as part of a team

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
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.

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Divisional Head of Nursing & Quality, Jodie Crabb, Jodie.Crabb@dchft.nhs.uk, 01395254473