Job summary
Matron, Theatres Services - University Hospital Lewisham

An Outstanding Leadership Opportunity

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust is seeking an exceptional and forward-thinking Matron for Theatres at University Hospital Lewisham (UHL) to lead our theatre teams and support the ongoing delivery and transformation of perioperative services.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced senior nurse / ODP leader with a passion for delivering outstanding patient care, leading high-performing teams and driving innovation within a busy and dynamic surgical environment.

Main duties of the job
Key Responsibilities

• Provide professional and operational leadership for Theatre Services at University Hospital Lewisham.
• Promote a culture of safety, quality and continuous improvement across all theatre areas.
• Lead and support service transformation programmes to improve efficiency, productivity and patient outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with national standards, Trust policies and regulatory requirements.
• Work collaboratively with Surgical, Anaesthetic, Recovery and Day Surgery teams to deliver seamless perioperative care.
• Support the effective management of theatre capacity, utilisation and patient flow.
• Lead on workforce planning, recruitment, retention and staff development initiatives.
• Oversee clinical governance, incident management, quality assurance and risk management processes.
• Champion evidence-based practice, innovation and quality improvement methodologies.
• Foster a positive, inclusive and supportive working environment where staff can thrive.

About us
Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

• Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
• Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
• Improving the experience of staff with disability
• Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
• Making equalities mainstream

Job responsibilities
As Matron, you will provide visible professional leadership across theatre services, ensuring the highest standards of quality, safety and patient experience. Working in partnership with clinical, operational and corporate colleagues, you will lead service improvements, support elective recovery ambitions, optimise theatre utilisation and contribute to the development of modern, efficient and patient-focused perioperative pathways.

This role offers the opportunity to influence strategic decision-making, champion excellence in clinical practice and develop a highly engaged and motivated workforce.

We are looking for an inspirational and experienced leader who can demonstrate:

• Senior leadership experience within Theatre Services or Perioperative Care.
• Strong understanding of theatre operations, elective pathways and perioperative patient journeys.
• Proven experience of leading service improvement, transformation and change programmes.
• Excellent leadership, communication and relationship-building skills.
• Experience managing performance, budgets, workforce and operational challenges within a complex healthcare environment.
• A commitment to delivering exceptional patient care and improving patient experience.
• Evidence of continued professional development, with management or leadership qualifications desirable.
• The ability to inspire, motivate and develop multidisciplinary teams.

As Matron for Theatres, you will have the opportunity to:

• Shape the future of theatre and perioperative services at UHL.
• Lead dedicated and highly skilled multidisciplinary teams.
• Drive innovation and improvement across surgical services.
• Contribute to Trust-wide strategic priorities and elective recovery programmes.
• Develop your leadership career within a progressive and ambitious NHS organisation.

If you are a compassionate, dynamic and transformational leader who is passionate about delivering excellence in perioperative care, we would welcome your application.

Join us and play a pivotal role in delivering safe, effective and outstanding surgical care for the communities we serve.

Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential

• Degree Registered nurse [Part 1] / or theatres Practitioner Post registration qualification or equivalent experience in theatres specialty
• Master's degree in relevant discipline or in process of studying to Masters level or equivalent experience
• Evidence of Post Graduate Specialist qualifications relevant to area of practice (examples -:non-medical prescribing; mentorship , coaching , leadership or clinical expertise)

Desirable

• Change or human factor training
• Management or supervisory qualification / programme of study

Experience
Essential

• Proven experience of working in surgical specialities and theatres including high volume and/or day surgery
• Senior clinical experience within speciality.
• Partnership/multi-professional working.
• Managing staff
• Developing and implementing service development initiatives. Demonstrate experience of change management
• Participation in developing and implementing Training and Competency development programmes for departmental staff.
• Research or audit.
• Proven track record of staff development and team working
• Management of finances within a budget, including delivery of cost improvements
• Achievement of high quality patient care through evidence-based practice
• Leadership of clinical governance and patient safety
• Management/Clinical Leadership experience
• Experience in analysing complex problems and implementing workable solutions
• Ability to think and plan strategically, operationally and creatively and to prioritise work programs in the face of competing demands

Desirable

• effective budget management

Knowledge and Skills
Essential

• Advanced nursing skills relevant to specialty
• Advanced verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
• Experience of managing and leading a team.
• Working with and within a diverse community
• Demonstrates innovative thinking.
• Facilitation skills. Understanding of the health and social care agenda and commissioning processes in the current political environment.
• Understanding of National Service Frameworks and NICE guidance to relevant to care setting and its application across health care services
• Highly developed written and verbal skills
• A strong sense of personal and team accountability coupled with a clear understanding of the boundaries around delegated authority

Desirable

• Finance and resource management. Knowledge base of research methodology
• Project management skills.
• IT skills word/excel
• Keyboard skills

Personal Qualities
Essential

• Leadership qualities
• Facilitative working style. Sensitivity to emotional situations
• Able to use own initiative.
• Ability to deal with stressful situations and to manage conflicting priorities.
• Able to cope with interruptions and adapting workload to service need.
• Ability to work autonomously and as a member of a multidisciplinary team
• Good attendance record. Flexible and able to work on any hospital site, or community sites.
• High level of work organisation, self- motivation, drive for performance and improvement
• Excellent inter-personal and communication skills
• Ability to communicate complex, sensitive information to individuals and groups
• Ability to prioritise care delivery in a professional manner, taking into account Trust policies and procedures.
• Excellent inter-personal and communication skills
• Able to support the implementation of local and national agenda's for health under the guidance of the senior Practitioner

Desirable

• Knowledge base of Project management skills.
• IT skills word/excel.
• Keyboard skills

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).