Lead Cardiac Surgical Care Practitioner

Job summary

Lead Surgical Care Practitioner

Department of Cardiac Surgery

Band 8b

St. George's Hospital NHS Trust is one of the largest teaching hospitals in the UK. Sharing its site with City St. George's University of London it remains at the forefront of innovation and research.

We are one of the largest cardiac centres in the southeast of England, carrying out 800 cardiac surgical operations every year. We are part of the southeast London dissection service and have a developing robotic MIDCAB and mini access mitral and aortic valve replacement programme.

We are looking for a highly experienced cardiac surgical care practitioner to lead, develop and expand our small SCP team.

Working in partnership with the Consultant Cardiac Surgeons and the Chief Clinical Perfusion Manager you will lead by example in building a strong team focused on quality and safety with training and development and efficient use of resources central to your practice.

You will have extensive experience working as a SCP in cardiac surgery and be competent in endoscopic vein and radial artery harvesting as well as possessing extended surgical first assistant skills. Experience of training and assisting others is central to this senior role. Evidence of organising educational development programmes for SCP's and management will be an advantage.

Main duties of the job

• Overall, the individual will lead the surgical care practitioner development in partnership with the consultant cardiac surgeons and head of nursing, with a special focus on building a strong team focused on quality and safety, training and development of relevant skills, efficient use of resources, and forming a sustainable workforce for the future.
• The role combines clinical expertise, leadership and educational, research and audit skills with managerial and professional responsibilities.
• The post holder will lead the surgical assistant programme development, with a special focus on training and development of skills, alignment with market opportunities, and forming a sustainable workforce for the future
• The post holder will work as a member of the cardiac surgical team providing the highest level of patient care alongside the consultant cardiac surgeons.
• The post holder must possess advanced knowledge of a range of cardiac surgical procedures and demonstrate evidence of current practice and theory in the field.
• The post holder will develop a strong working relationship with each consultant and be able to fully anticipate and assist according to their individual working style, ensuring their requirements to work at the highest standard are met.
• The post older will always be under the supervision of the consultant surgeon who has overall responsibility for the surgical care received by the patient.

About us

St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey.Our sites include St George's Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC).

After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.