Purpose of Job
The post-holder is responsible and accountable for the strategic leadership, management, and clinical governance of the Anaesthetic, Recovery, and Enhanced Care services.
The role ensures the delivery of high-quality, safe, and effective perioperative care across the patient pathway (pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative phases), in line with CQC standards, national guidance, and organisational objectives.
The post-holder will provide overarching leadership to both services, working in partnership with the Deputy Anaesthetic Lead and Deputy Recovery Lead, who will support day-to-day operational management.
The post-holder will exercise professional accountability in accordance with NMC/HCPC Codes of Conduct.
Principal Accountabilities
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Provide strategic and operational leadership across Anaesthetics, Recovery, and Enhanced Care services.
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Line manage and support senior staff, including Deputy Leads, ensuring effective day-to-day service delivery.
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Promote a culture of safety, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
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Ensure appropriate staffing levels and skill mix across all perioperative areas.
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Coordinate workforce planning, rota management, and escalation processes.
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Lead recruitment, retention, appraisal, and performance management processes.
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Support staff wellbeing, development, and succession planning.
2. Clinical Leadership
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Maintain oversight of clinical standards across the perioperative pathway.
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Ensure delivery of high-quality anaesthetic assistance and post-anaesthetic care.
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Act as a clinical expert and role model in perioperative practice.
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Support the management of deteriorating patients and complex cases.
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Ensure safe patient flow between theatre, recovery, and enhanced care.
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Participate in the emergency response team and on-call rota as required.
3. Governance & Patient Safety
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Lead clinical governance across Anaesthetics, Recovery, and Enhanced Care.
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Ensure compliance with CQC standards and national guidance (e.g. NICE, NatSSIPs, LocSSIPs, NCEPOD, RCoA).
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Oversee incident reporting, investigation, and learning dissemination.
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Lead audits, quality improvement initiatives, and service evaluations.
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Ensure robust documentation standards and data quality.
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Act as a key member of relevant committees (e.g. Resuscitation Committee).
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Drive a culture of openness, learning, and continuous safety improvement.
4. Operational Management
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Ensure effective day-to-day coordination of perioperative services through delegated leadership to Deputy Leads.
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Oversee patient flow, theatre efficiency, and recovery capacity.
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Ensure equipment safety, maintenance, and asset management.
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Manage stock control and procurement processes in collaboration with relevant departments.
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Respond proactively to service pressures, incidents, and operational challenges.
5. Communication & Collaboration
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Act as a key liaison between theatre teams, ward teams, medical staff, and senior management.
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Communicate effectively with patients, relatives, and carers, managing concerns and improving patient experience.
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Provide expert advice on perioperative practice across the organisation.
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Ensure effective multidisciplinary team working to optimise patient outcomes and service delivery.
6. Education & Workforce Development
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Promote a culture of continuous learning and professional development.
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Ensure staff meet mandatory training and competency requirements (including anaesthetic and critical care competencies).
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Support teaching, mentorship, and student placement programmes.
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Develop and deliver training aligned with service needs and governance priorities.
7. Financial & Resource Management
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Contribute to budget management and ensure cost-effective use of resources.
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Monitor workforce KPIs (agency usage, sickness, turnover).
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Identify and escalate requirements for capital equipment and service development.
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Support procurement processes and evaluation of equipment and consumables.
8. Strategy & Service Development
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Lead and support service development across perioperative care pathways.
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Identify opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and service expansion.
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Support redesign of services to improve patient outcomes and flow.
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Lead and deliver quality improvement and transformation projects.
Clinical Responsibilities
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Ensure safe delivery of anaesthetic and post-anaesthetic care.
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Maintain high standards of infection prevention and control.
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Ensure safe medicines management practices.
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Provide emergency care and support escalation of critically ill patients.
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Maintain accurate, contemporaneous patient records.
Professional Responsibilities
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Maintain active NMC/HCPC registration.
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Adhere to professional codes of conduct and organisational policies.
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Maintain and develop own professional knowledge and leadership skills.
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Act as a role model for professional practice and behaviour.
