Senior Surgical Care Practitioner

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

The Senior Surgical Care Practitioner will work closely with the Cardiac Surgical team structure, all the Perfusion team, and develop relationships with Multidisciplinary teams in theatres such as the Surgical Scrub team and the Anaesthetic team. There will be key working relationships with Ward staff, Intensive Care Unit staff, and the ECMO team based on the Intensive Care Unit. The Senior Surgical Care Practitioner will be expected to work closely with the Deputy Principal Perfusionist and the Principal Perfusionist.

KEY RESULT AREAS

Working alongside Consultant surgeons, the Senior Surgical Care Practitioner will participate in operative procedures as well as all aspects of pre and post-operative care. They will perform these roles with a high degree of clinical skill, autonomy, specialist knowledge, and substantial experience of a wide range of cardiac surgical procedures and techniques. The Senior Surgical Care Practitioner will be able to work in all aspects of elective and emergency adult and paediatric/congenital cardiac surgery, providing expert assistance in adult and paediatric/congenital ECMO and vascular procedures as required. They will utilise advanced levels of clinical judgment and independent practice in the delivery of safe patient care, providing skilled, knowledgeable, and experienced support and supervision to all members of the multidisciplinary team. The Senior Surgical Care Practitioners provide an out-of-hours non-resident on-call service. Cross site working may be required.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

OPERATING THEATRES

• Act primarily as first assistant as well as second assistant in both elective and emergency adult or paediatric/congenital cardiac procedures.
• Harvest conduit during coronary artery bypass graft surgery, ensuring the conduit is suitable for grafting (including conduit repair) and appropriately close the wound.
• Demonstrate the required speed and skill to harvest conduit in time to act as 1st assistant to the Consultant surgeon to establish cardiopulmonary bypass.
• Supervise and direct scrub and circulating personnel in emergency cardiac situations, both in Theatre and on ICU.
• Perform autonomous closure of the sternal wound following surgery, ensuring that appropriate care is taken to achieve asepsis and haemostasis.
• Undertake tasks delegated by the consultant surgeon at an independent level.
• Removal of Intra - Aortic Balloon Pump catheters, both in Theatre and on the Intensive Care Unit.
• Communicate effectively with other members of the multidisciplinary team to recognise and treat complications as they arise.
• Insertion of urinary catheters, both urethral and suprapubic.
• Train / assist in the training of junior medical and surgical staff in these techniques - providing supervision and support as required.
• Assist other members of multidisciplinary teams including other surgical disciplines, such as Vascular, Renal, Breast and General as appropriate.
• Undertake stock control of high cost consumables needed for cardiac surgery - initiate orders when required.

WARDS AND INTENSIVE CARE

• Ensure the safety of the patient during transfer from the operating theatre to the intensive care unit and undertake a full handover of the procedure.
• Assess the suitability of conduit, including long and short saphenous veins and radial artery, for harvesting and use during cardiac procedures.
• Participate in ward rounds with members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Ensure plans for care are carried out and communicate effectively with other wards and departments.
• Provide clinical advice to nursing staff.
• Identify the need for further appropriate investigations pre and post operatively and order these, including radiology, electrocardiography, echocardiography and haematology.
• Contribute to the clinical care of the post-operative patient, including patient assessment, care planning, and evaluation of care.
• Provide patients and family members with clinical advice and education regarding their care.
• Recognize common post-operative complications and bring these to the attention of the Registrar or Consultant Surgeon.
• Set up invasive and non-invasive monitoring as required.

AUDIT AND INFORMATION

• Contribute to research, audit and information collection and interpretation within the department and the Trust.
• Present this data as appropriate - at a local or national level.
• Actively assist with and evaluate innovations and developments in practice within the unit and Trust.
• Participate in the evaluation of new surgical materials, tools and equipment.
• Initiate and pursue personal audit projects, including assessment of own role and achievement of targets.
• Maintain an accurate log of the procedures performed or participated in.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure Trust, national and professional policies are adhered to, providing a safe, healthy environment for staff and patients.
• Develop and review policies with members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Understand the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1984 and maintain patient confidentiality.
• Work effectively within the team to ensure clinical governance requirements are met.

TRAINING, DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION

• Ensure that knowledge and skills are developed through formal and informal methods to meet Trust, personal and professional needs.
• Maintain a structured approach to continuing professional development.
• Adhere to professional and clinical guidelines.
• Participate in the revision of clinical guidelines on both a local and national level.
• Contribute to the formal and informal education and training programmes of the multidisciplinary team.
• Act as mentor, supervisor or assessor as appropriate.
• Actively participate in the training of junior medical staff and Nursing staff.

GENERAL

This job description indicates the main functions and responsibilities of the post. It is not intended to be a complete list. You may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require. You will be required to maintain compliance with all statutory and mandatory training requirements.