Senior Clinical Perfusionist (XR08) in Leeds

An excellent opportunity has arisen to make the move to this exciting City in the heart of Yorkshire and join Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Leeds General Infirmary is due to embark on a significant period of change, with two new hospitals planned on the existing site. The established Perfusion department is looking to recruit a Senior colleague, to support the busy and diverse cardiac surgical services based close to the City centre. We cover approximately 1100 combined neonatal to adult cardiac operations per year, through four operating theatres and the delivery of complex hybrid procedures in both adult and paediatric, purpose-built hybrid laboratories. We provide support for our paediatric ECMO service and work closely with our cardiology colleagues in supporting a multitude of catheter lab-based procedures. The Perfusion team of 14 are looking to expand, to meet with changes in service demand and help to deliver robust workforce planning for the future.

Main duties of the job

As an autonomous allied health professional, a Senior Clinical Perfusionist will offer a comprehensive, highly specialised clinical and technical perfusion practice, during both routine and emergency procedures. As a vital member of the multidisciplinary team, the ability to manifest leadership qualities and act in the best interests of the patient, colleagues and other stakeholders is key. As a member of a strong and cohesive team, Senior Perfusionists must also contribute to the continued development and improvement of current practices and protocols as well as any future research and expansion of perfusion and cardiac surgical services within Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust. You will need to be fully competent in the set-up and management of a wide range of medical devices and clinical techniques, to deliver the highest standards across a variety of patient groups. As one of only a handful of centres that offer both adult and paediatric perfusion in the UK, Leeds is able to offer a wide range of challenging and rewarding procedures. The whole team are involved in personal, professional development and the senior members of the team are allocated leadership roles within the department, as well as the wider running of the service.

Job responsibilities

• Clinical Practice: Take, where appropriate, delegated responsibility for the delivery of a highly specialist perfusion service, ensuring the service is effective and well-coordinated. Offer and undertake a range of highly specialised perfusion techniques during routine and emergency cardiopulmonary bypass. Assess patients' relevant medical history, pathology and diagnosis and make appropriate decisions concerning the conduct of cardiopulmonary bypass procedures. Advise clinicians on the suitability of equipment and suggest to clinicians appropriate courses of action. Set up, prime and run the cardiopulmonary bypass machine to maintain life support for the period of cardiopulmonary bypass according to broad occupational and clinical policies as well as recent scientific evidence, seeking advice when necessary. Regularly undertake bypass initiation and termination which requires a high level of hand-eye and sensory coordination. Take personal responsibility for simultaneously monitoring and making fine adjustments to patient parameters on the bypass machine and clinically respond to any changes in the patient's condition. Sample, analyse and interpret arterial/venous blood gases and patient coagulation status. Administer drugs as clinically indicated. Monitor a wide range of highly complex and routinely conflicting clinical information on a minute-to-minute basis and take appropriate autonomous action. Manipulate the patient's cardiovascular system whilst on cardiopulmonary bypass. Determine requirement for, and perform where clinically indicated, haemofiltration and blood transfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass. Set up and manage antegrade/retrograde cerebral perfusion; deep hypothermic circulatory arrest; vacuum assisted venous drainage; mechanical support devices; extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, Intra-aortic balloon pumping. Provide one-to-one care to acutely ill children with life-threatening conditions. Ensure quality control, calibration, cleaning, maintenance and safe use of expensive complex medical equipment in Clinical Perfusion. Participate fully in the Clinical Perfusion 24hr on-call cover.
• Managerial: Liaise with other members of the surgical, anaesthetic and nursing teams. Manage and prioritise own caseload/workload independently. Be responsible for supervision of students. Complete a training record and casebook. Discuss and sensitively deal with any highlighted problems that have arisen during supervision. Respect the confidentiality of all matters that may relate to colleagues' employment. Take leading roles in organising the departmental on-call rota and daily activity planner. Write protocols and liaise any changes to staff in an appropriate forum. Order stock and organise its delivery, ensuring expiry dates are noted and stock rotated to ensure no stock wastage. Organise mandatory training for all perfusion staff. Plan staff rosters, equipment, supplies and maintenance of equipment with external contractors at least 5 weeks in advance. Attend monthly audit meetings and contribute to the sessions by offering specialist knowledge and experience.
• Research and Development: Develop specialised techniques and protocols. Participate in developing and implementing protocols and procedures within Clinical Perfusion. Evaluate, research and audit perfusion equipment testing as part of routine work. Gather and collate research data in relation to the use of new equipment and protocols. Present research data at the Directorate Audit Meetings.

Person Specification

• Evidence of additional proactive roles within a perfusion department.
• Excellent multidisciplinary communication, oral and written.
• Ability to deal with difficult interpersonal situations.
• Awareness of professional responsibility.
• Evidence of implementing positive change within the workplace.

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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.