Senior Perfusion Scientist

Job summary

The post-holder will be a qualified and autonomous practitioner required to deliver a wide-ranging and comprehensive extra-corporeal and life support service, including E xtra- C orporeal M embrane O xygenation, to patients undergoing open heart surgery and/or other related procedures in Operating Theatres, Adult, Paediatric and General Intensive Care Units, Cardiac Investigation Laboratories, and Coronary Care and High Dependency Units by using a broad range of vital, complex and specialised procedures requiring skilled performance with a high level of individual responsibility applied to a variety of situations, and within the overall responsibility of the Manager, Clinical Perfusion.

Training will be given where needed.

Main duties of the job

In conjunction with the Deputy Manager, Clinical Perfusion, ensure the provision of extracorporeal circulation, life support systems, ventricular assist devices, haemoconcentration, cell salvage, and autonomous assessment and maintenance of physiological parameters.

Assists in formulating policies for the smooth running of the Clinical Perfusion Department and makes recommendations for improvement and development.

The post-holder will provide clinical and scientific advice, and provide interpretation of results to clinicians throughout the Trust and to external agencies.

Draw on knowledge of a range of theories to inform practice. Assist in developing strategies for the management and delivery of care for the patient group.Setting up, priming and running cardiopulmonary bypass equipment for cardiac surgery procedures, according to the perfusion procedures and protocols and to play a full role in the routine cardiac surgery programme.

About us

Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).

We have four primary goals:

high-quality care for all, being a great place to work, partnerships for impact, and research and education excellence

And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.

Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:

we are compassionate, we are proud, we are inclusive, and we are one team

This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.

About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:

Job description

Job responsibilities

Setting up, priming and running cardiopulmonary bypass equipment for cardiac surgery procedures, according to the perfusion procedures and protocols and to play a full role in the routine cardiac surgery programme.

Ensure quality control, calibration and maintenance of expensive and complex medical equipment, ensuring accurate and safe use during clinical procedures.

Assess the patient for relevant medical history, pathology and diagnosis and make appropriate clinical decisions concerning the conduct of the procedure type of cannulation, size and type of equipment, type of priming solution.

Administer fluids and drugs according to local policy and as necessitated by the clinical situation priming solutions, anticoagulants, inhalational anaesthetic agents, potassium, and cardioplegic solution.

Be conversant with specialist techniques and perfusion procedures as required by individual patients such as left-heart bypass, cerebral perfusion, and vacuum assisted venous drainage, ventricular assist devices and blood conservation techniques.

Assist surgical and cardiology staff in the insertion and management of intra-aortic balloon pumps as required by individual patients.

Take a full role in departmental and individual projects, with a commitment to research based clinical practice.

Contribute to evidence based clinical practice to maximise clinical effectiveness.

The post-holder is required to participate in out of hours/on-call arrangements and to ensure continued co-operation, flexibility and reasonable cover during absence of colleagues and operational demands of the Directorate.

Participate in the training of Perfusionists, and other staff as directed, and the supervision of staff in lower grades as appropriate.

Consolidate specialist skills, knowledge and expertise in clinical practice. Applying these skills to the supervision and training of others in the department and the multidisciplinary team.

Ensure communication is upheld between all disciplines throughout the directorate

Liaison with all relevant staff in research projects related to Perfusion Science.

Any other reasonable duty which may be delegated.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

BSc in Perfusion Science/ PgDip in Perfusion Science / MSc in Perfusion Science / Society of Perfusionists Accreditation Examination. LCCP

Experience

Essential

Preferably 3 years post qualification

Desirable

Paediatric Experience although training will be given.

Knowledge

Essential

A good knowlegde of Cardiac and Perfusion Techniques

Desirable

A knowledge of ECMO procedures as well as Paediatric procedures

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