Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for a Band 6 Practice Educator role to join our friendly team in Heavitree Day Surgery Unit.

The Practice Educator in a Day Surgery Unit is responsible for supporting, developing, and enhancing the clinical competence of theatre staff to ensure the delivery of safe, effective, and high-quality perioperative care. To promote continuous professional development, evidence-based practice, and compliance with regulatory and organisational standards within the operating theatre environment.

Practice educator role is to develop a highly skilled, competent, and confident theatre workforce capable of delivering exceptional patient care within a developing standalone day surgery unit, while fostering a culture of learning, professional growth, and clinical excellence.

We're looking for a motivated and experienced perioperative practitioner with excellent communication, coaching, and leadership skills, who is passionate about developing others and creating a culture of continuous learning and excellence within a standalone day surgery theatre environment.

The successful candidate will be either a HCPC-registered Operating Department Practitioner or an NMC-registe

Main duties of the job
For more detail about the main duties of this role, please see the job description section below. As a key member of the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, you will be joining an exceptional team working together to help our patients to stay healthy, when they need it most.

About us
Stretching across Northern, Eastern and Mid Devon, we have a workforce of over 15,000 staff, making us the largest employer in Devon. Our core services, which we provide to more than 615,000 people, cover more than 2,000 square miles across Devon, while some of our specialist services cover the whole of the peninsula, extending our reach as far as Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

We deliver a wide range of emergency, specialist and general medical services through North Devon District Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford).

Alongside our two acute hospitals, we provide integrated health and social care services across a variety of settings, including community inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, and within peoples own homes. We also offer primary care services, a range of specialist community services, and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC).

Our state-of-the-art equipment, leading technologies and strong links to local universities put us at the forefront of research and innovations, enabling us to provide world-class care to our local communities.

Its never been a more exciting time to join the Royal Devon, as youll help to shape our services as we continue along our integration journey.

Job responsibilities
For more information on the Job Description and Responsibilities please click the link below.

More detail about the role

• Lead and coordinate education, training, and competency programmes for theatre practitioners, nurses, ODPs, healthcare support workers, and students.
• Support the induction, orientation, and preceptorship of new staff, ensuring they achieve required competencies for day surgery and operating theatre practice.
• Facilitate learning opportunities in theatres and anaesthetics.
• Assess, monitor, and document staff competencies, maintaining training records and development portfolios.
• Promote evidence-based practice and support the implementation of current national guidelines, policies, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Identify learning and development needs through appraisal processes, clinical observations, audits, and incident reviews.
• Deliver teaching sessions, simulation training, skills workshops, and mandatory training relevant to theatre practice.
• Support students, apprentices, and newly qualified practitioners by providing mentorship, coaching, and constructive feedback.
• Collaborate and work closely with lead education team in Wonford theatres, theatre management team, multidisciplinary teams, educational universities, and external stakeholders to enhance workforce development.
• Contribute to service improvement projects, clinical governance activities, patient safety initiatives, and audit programmes.
• Ensure compliance with professional standards set by the NMC, HCPC, AfPP, and other relevant regulatory bodies.
• Promote a positive learning culture that encourages reflective practice, clinical excellence, and continuous improvement.

About Us
The Heavitree Day Surgery Unit is located on 2 levels. The lower floor (Lower Ground) comprises of the Reception area, 5 Single Rooms, small bay Ward, Theatre 1 and Recovery and pain suite. The upper floor (Ground) comprises Theatres 2&3 and Recovery.

The Royal Devon has secured a £20m investment from NHS England to develop a Centre of Excellence for Day Surgery, which will include two additional theatres for both children and adults at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Heavitree).

The Unit is open 0730-1900-potential open until 8PM in future with both morning and afternoon theatre lists covering a wide range of specialities under general, regional and local anaesthesia.

Specialities are: General Surgery including Upper GI, Colorectal and Vascular, Gynaecology, ENT adults/paeds, Urology including laser stone fragmentation procedures, Orthopaedics, Plastics, Oral and Pain Management.

Working at Day Surgery unit allows great work life balance as there are no unsociable hours including weekends, bank holidays or nights.

Working Pattern: 8-6 x 3 shifts Mon-Fri : The department is operational and staffed Monday to Friday 7.30am to 7pm.

Interview Date: To Be Confirmed

For further information please contact: Viji Pandurangan, Clinical Nurse Manager vpandurangan@nhs.net / Dawn Crudge, Senior Matron for Community Theatres : dawn.crudge@nhs.net / 01392 405316

This is an internal vacancy for Royal Devon employees, therefore Bank workers are currently not eligible to apply for this vacancy.

As an inclusive employer, the Royal Devon values diversity and is committed to creating a culture of inclusivity where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We believe in fostering a sense of belonging and actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. We recognise the advantages of having a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Preference will be given to staff with Priority and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust reserves the right to close vacancy when sufficient applications have been received.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was established in April 2022, bringing together the expertise of both the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.

Benefits
We will work together to maintain a culture that develops and supports you and your team.

This might include funding for a care certificate, a degree or leadership qualifications. Or it might include days off to study, engage in CPD or rotational placements to help you hone your skills. Wherever you are heading in the NHS, we'll help you get there.

Looking after you is important to us.
We strive to help our staff create a healthy work-life balance through flexible working schemes and our family friendly policies.

If you're starting out in the NHS, you'll start with 27 days paid annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising to 33 days plus bank holidays.

You'll benefit from access to our own comprehensive occupational health services, including counselling, onsite wellbeing activities and groups.

Salary is not the only financial benefit
You'll have access to an extensive range of staff discounts on shopping, fitness and leisure options and you can spread the cost of technology and home appliance purchases from major retailers.

You will also have access to other benefits including:

• National discount services such as the Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts.
• Salary sacrifice options including our OFSTED rated outstanding nursery onsite at Exeter
• Car lease schemes.
• The NHS Pension scheme (one of the most generous and comprehensive in the UK).
• Cycle to work scheme

These are just a few of the benefits available if the role is something you are interested in, we'd love to hear from you.

Person Specification
General Requirements
Essential

• See job description text above, and (where applicable) you can download a copy of the full job description

Desirable

• See job description text above, and (where applicable) you can download a copy of the full job description

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.

Employer details
Employer name
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Exeter
Devon
EX1 2ED
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://royaldevon.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Recruiter
Royal Devon NHS Recruitment Team
rduh.recruitment@nhs.net
01392403642

Details
Date posted
02 September 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 6
Salary
£38,682 to £46,580 a year
per annum pro rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part-time
Reference number
185-63303-14159
Job locations
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Exeter
Devon
EX1 2ED
United Kingdom