About this role
Job summary
The Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the largest acute Trusts in the West Midlands. The Heart and Lung Centre, which opened in October 2004, has established itself in the West Midlands. The Centre delivers approximately 1000 adult cardiac surgical cases including minimally invasive aortic and mitral valve surgery, major aortic surgery. The unit's activity also includes 400 thoracic surgical cases, 1,000 PCIs, 1,000 diagnostic angiograms, a Primary PCI and TAVI program.
For this replacement post we seek applications from knowledgeable, innovative, and enthusiastic Senior Clinical Perfusionists who wish to join a well-established and like-minded clinical perfusion team. The success of this team is as a result of full involvement of all team members and an inclusive team approach.
The successful applicants should have relevant experience and be conversant with a broad spectrum of cardiopulmonary support techniques, although training will be given where necessary. You will be an Accredited Clinical Perfusionist with registration as such with the College of Clinical Perfusionists of Great Britain and Ireland.
You will be expected to participate fully in Clinical Perfusion's 24hr on-call commitment. The working week is 37.5 hours, spread over a 3/4 day week.
Main duties of the job
Clinical Perfusion practice Care of the patient on cardiopulmonary bypass Drug administration Professional perfusion practice CPD
About us
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust is one of the largest NHS trusts in the West Midlands providing primary, acute and community services and we are incredibly proud of the diversity of both our staff and the communities we serve. We are building a workforce that can help us to fulfil our values, improve the quality of care for patients, and solve the health care problems of tomorrow. We're passionate about the value that diversity of thinking and lived experience brings in enabling us to become a learning organisation and leader in delivering compassionate care for our patients.
We are delighted that we have been rated as "Good" by CQC. We have achieved numerous awards; The Nursing Times Best Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Best UK Employer of the Year for Nursing Staff in 2020.
The Trust is a supportive working environment committed to creating flexible working arrangements that suit your needs and as such will consider all requests from applicants who wish to work flexibly.
Job description Job responsibilities
1. Clinical Perfusion Practice and responsibility for patient care
Cardiopulmonary Bypass and Related
Review patient notes for relevant medical history, pathology and diagnosis making appropriate clinical decisions regarding the conduct of extracorporeal support i.e. perfusion technique, cannulation, type of equipment, intravenous fluid, blood products and drug additions to prime.
Ensure employment of aseptic techniques during all clinical procedures.
Assemble, prime, de-air and manage extracorporeal devices and circuitry for cardiac surgical procedures, thus maintaining life support, according to the perfusion procedures and protocols.
To assess, interpret and manage a wide range of highly complex and routinely conflicting clinical information on a continual basis and take appropriate autonomous action. For example, blood pressure and flow, anticoagulation, ECG, fluid balance and patient/blood temperatures.
To assess, interpret and take appropriate autonomous action to provide adequate gas exchange and maintain homeostasis whilst on cardiopulmonary bypass. For example, arterial and venous blood gases, electrolytes, acid base balance, haemoglobin and derivatives and blood glucose levels.
Work as an independent practitioner, taking responsibility for organising a number of techniques during a single procedure, for example, cardiopulmonary bypass, autologous cell salvage, haemofiltration, thromboelastography and intra-aortic counterpulsation.
Manage complex procedures as an autonomous practitioner, making sound, informed decisions and advising others, often in the absence of a full clinical picture.
To be a highly skilled autonomous practitioner who is fully conversant with complex procedures and specialised perfusion techniques as deemed necessary for individual patient requirements i.e. left heart bypass, vacuum assisted venous drainage and retrograde cerebral perfusion.
Manage patient whole blood haemostasis by performing thromboelastography (TEG) and other tests, analyse results and provide advice on patient specific blood products and/or drug requirements in line with the Trust protocol.
To have clinical experience, and an advanced knowledge of haemofiltration/dialysis techniques to include MUF, zero balanced filtration, haemodiafiltration.
Provide a Trust wide autologous cell salvage service and ensure its effective delivery to reduce the use of homologous blood product transfusion.
Ensure quality control, calibration and maintenance of expensive and complex medical equipment, ensuring accurate and safe use during clinical procedures.
Be competent in the insertion and management of intra aortic counterpulsation catheters, providing expertise to medical and nursing staff as required by individual patients throughout the Trust
To integrate information from auditory, visual and perceptive senses on a constant basis and use this to manage the cardiopulmonary bypass procedure.
Act and think clearly and calmly under acute time pressures and in emergency situations, to resolve potential life threatening situations.
Apply specialist clinical skills and knowledge to support, advise and supervise junior colleagues during complex and difficult procedures/techniques.
To have clinical experience, and a full understanding of complex long term extracorporeal circulation techniques i.e. ECMO and ventricular assist devices.
To provide CPB and cardiac support service in other clinical areas external to the operating theatre complex.
Drug administration on Cardiopulmonary Bypass
To administer drugs, as necessitated by the clinical situation according to Trust agreed Patient Group Direction (PGD) i.e. priming solutions, anticoagulants, inhalation anaesthetic agents, potassium, and cardioplegic solutions
To be responsible for the administration of controlled and non-controlled drugs as necessitated by the clinical situation according as specified in the local Trust agreed PGD.
Demonstrate knowledge of how specific perfusion techniques can alter the effect and concentration of a range of drugs.
Complete the appropriate documentation for the administration of licensed and unlicensed intravenous drugs.
2. Professional Perfusion Practice
To take part in a team delivering 24 hour on call cover for cardiothoracic surgery and other associated areas.
Maintain registration with the College of Clinical Perfusion Scientists of Great Britain and Ireland attaining the academic points necessary through national and international conferences or other relevant training to maintain, develop and contribute to knowledge of clinical advances in specialist areas of expertise.
Keep up with current techniques and research developments to maintain good perfusion practice.
Have a good knowledge of up to date disease processes and conditions relevant to the conduct of cardiopulmonary bypass.
With experience enhance specialist skills, knowledge and expertise in clinical practice. Using these skills in the supervision and training of others within the department and the multidisciplinary team.
Discuss and evaluate options for best practise with colleagues as to individual patient management in order to optimise patient outcomes. Demonstrate reflection of perfusion practice with peers.
To adhere to professional code of conduct and professional guidelines as defined by the Society of Clinical Perfusion Scientists of Great Britain and Ireland. Ensure that clinical practice is patient centred and that it is monitored and audited, these results being benchmarked against other comparable units
To develop knowledge and expertise in current developments and future trends in cardiac surgery.
Demonstrate the ability to develop innovative approaches to clinical practice where necessary. Using valuable clinical experience and flexibility to meet the requirements of individual patients.
Critically review current literature which will lead to the improvement of existing principles and practices of cardiopulmonary bypass and therefore patient care.
As an experienced practitioner, facilitate, manage and evaluate change in practice to improve quality of care.
Contribute to evidence based clinical practice and ensure its effective delivery.
Be highly motivated and engage in all departmental activities and, where appropriate, aid in the motivation of others.
Will undertake all delegated tasks and responsibilities, and take a lead role in various aspects of clinical perfusion.
3. Education, Training, Research and Continuous Professional Development
Clinical Perfusion
To devise, implement and evaluate training programmes and specialist lectures for student Clinical Perfusionists, making recommendations to enable continuous improvements. Ensure delivery of an appropriate level of teaching i.e. postgraduate level.
Take a lead role in the training and education of student clinical perfusionists to ensure successful completion of the academic and clinical programme as defined by the Society of Clinical Perfusionists.
Act as a work based assessor for each student and liaise with University/ College.
Liaise with the College of Clinical Perfusionists in the role of College Tutor, facilitating departmental recertification visits. Further, to ensure other departmental members have achieved enough clinical and academic points to achieve re-accreditation.
To consolidate specialist skills, knowledge and expertise in clinical practice. Applying these skills to the supervision and training of juniors and students in the department.
With experience, enhance specialist skills, knowledge and expertise in clinical practice. Using these skills in the supervision and training of others.
Participate in, organise and supervise practical training sessions to ensure all departmental members remain competent with techniques during clinical emergencies.
Take a lead role in departmental and individual research projects to facilitate better clinical knowledge and encourage research based clinical practice.
To attend national and international conferences to maintain, develop and contribute to the specialist knowledge leading to advances in clinical practice and present these findings to other members of the department.
To undergo annual appraisals and use these to identify areas of personal and professional development.
To participate in scientific presentations to a wide target audience often in large numbers.
Nursing, Surgical Assistants, ODPs
Responsible for demonstrating a practical insight into cardiopulmonary bypass for other healthcare professionals to promote the understanding of a unique speciality, whilst ensuring the safe delivery of cardiopulmonary bypass.
To assist in the organisation and implementation of training programmes and specialist lectures for other members of staff.
Medical Staff
Providing a practical and theoretical insight into cardiopulmonary bypass for medical students, surgical and anaesthetic registrars to promote the understanding of a unique speciality.
Contribute to multi-disciplinary team building and education programmes.
Implement Policies for own area of responsibility. Contribute to policy interpretation and development for the Perfusion service that would impact across other services
Take a full role in and support research projects in conjunction with lead clinicians to promote perfusion research within the multidisciplinary team.
Provide training and clinical workshops to enable medical staff to accurately perform a TEG and interpret the results so as to ensure correct blood product therapy is administered.
Person Specification
Clinical Perfusion Experience Essential
Grade 8A Perfusion leadership experience Major aortic surgery Minimally invasive surgery
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 (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
Address New Cross Hospital
Wednesfield Road
Wolverhampton
WV100QP
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.royalwolverhampton.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)