Senior Clinical Perfusion Scientist

Job overview

This post requires a highly motivated individual for the post of senior Perfusionist to work as part of the management team of the Perfusion Department. As an integral member of the perfusion team, you will be required to deliver high quality safe comprehensive specialist perfusion services to patients at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust. There will be an expectation to assist in the education, training and development of junior staff. After an individualised orientation programme, there will be an obligation to partake in the delivery of a 24-hour on call service for patients requiring perfusion services from both within and outside the Trent region.

Main duties of the job

KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

To have attained the knowledge and skills to undertake the following highly specialist clinical perfusion services:

• Cardiopulmonary bypass for elective and emergency procedures.

• In-depth experience and knowledge of a variety of myocardial preservation strategies. Direct control of delivery and dose of high dose potassium into the coronary arteries.
• Develop alternative additional practices and strategies as the procedure develops.
• In-depth experience and knowledge of a variety of blood conservation techniques.

• Homeostasis: - blood gas / chemistry control and haemodialysis.

• Anticoagulation control and regulation, for example titration of heparin doses.

• To administer drugs, according to local policy and as necessitated by the clinical situation.

• Management of cardiac/ventricular assist devices, for long/short term therapy.

• Highly specialist non-routine bypass procedures for example, giant cerebral aneurysm, renal and thoracic tumours.
• Identification and analysis of equipment failure/malfunction, involving autonomous and rapid implementation of a solution.

• Specialist knowledge of devices, analysers and monitoring systems, related to cardiopulmonary therapy.

Working for our organisation

Our values are: Caring and helpful; Safe and Vigilant for our patients and colleagues; Being Clinically Excellent and driving innovation to meet the needs of our patients; Using our Resources wisely whilst; Providing Quality products, services and experiences for staff and patients.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Quality of Care

• Assess the patient for relevant medical history, pathology and diagnosis and make appropriate clinical decisions concerning the conduct of the procedure, and to formulate a strategy/plan for individual therapy.

• Manage the implementation of an acute/ chronic clinical strategy, following negotiations with a multidisciplinary team.
• Provide highly specialist clinical advice to local and regional services when required.
• Draw on knowledge of a range of theories to inform practice.
• Deliver and maintain a patient orientated quality program that is monitored and audited and benchmarked against other comparable units.

• Consult with and advise clinicians on the suitability of equipment and devices for various clinical
• Contribute to evidence based clinical practice to maximise clinical effectiveness.

• Evaluate the quality of care delivered as an on-going and cumulative process. Ensure that the results of the evaluation are used to sustain or improve quality of care programmes.
• Develop innovations in areas of risk management, quality standards setting, clinical effectiveness and building local evidence base.
• Enhance and deliver clinical governance and audit projects within area of clinical expertise.
• Represent the team service area within multi-disciplinary systems of clinical governance within the Trust.
• Regular Quality Control of equipment vital to patient safety e.g. blood gas analyser, anticoagulation equipment.

• Regularly check all perfusion equipment.

Research & Development

• Lead and participate in perfusion related research.
• Test, evaluate and report on new equipment and disposables to ensure the highest quality of clinical care is delivered
• Develop and update departmental protocols on a regular basis.

• Conduct clinical trials requiring design, implementation, data analysis and presentation of findings at national and international conferences.
• Seek regional ethics committee approval for clinical trials.
• Fully inform and consent patients approached to take part in clinical trial.
• Regular undertaking of equipment evaluation for progressive development of perfusion service.
• Design, implement, analyse and present (National and International conferences) clinical trials - this may require applying to regional ethics committee for ethical approval.
• Present complex scientific data when appropriate.
• Communicate verbally and in writing complex scientific data with both specialist and non-specialist staff.

MANAGEMENT

Policy / Service Development / Implementation

• Support the development of specialised care protocols within the Trust.
• Deliver, with appropriate delegation, perfusion team objectives and projects to ensure a seamless delivery of service.

• Negotiate with others around service issues and caseload management.
• Facilitate investigation into incidents within the perfusion service.
• Implement the management of specific clinical issues ensuring appropriate communication pathways are developed and evaluated across the service.
• Support junior staff to implement team objectives and projects.

• Contribute to the development and monitoring of protocols that are in place for each specified area of the clinical perfusion service.

• Advise and support Chief Perfusionist on issues of service delivery including shortfall, service pressures and activity.
• Support Chief Perfusionist in the delivery of service and lead team / deputise in Chief Perfusionists absence.
• Lead on policy development within an area of clinical expertise when necessary.
• Contribute to multi-disciplinary team building and policy development using specialist knowledge.

Financial and Physical Resources

• Identify requirements for capital planning and participate in the development of capital bids in conjunction with the Chief Perfusionist and Divisional management team.
• Work with the Trust tendering and procurement policies and procedures. Participate in the tendering process as and when required.
• Support management of the Perfusion equipment inventory, ensuring that all equipment is in safe working order and regularly maintained with adequate records of work undertaken. Appropriate action should be instigated where equipment is found to be faulty.
• To take responsibility for the department’s adherence at all times to the Trusts standing orders, standing financial instructions, donations and gifts policy.

Human Resources

• Identify development needs through the use of feedback and discussion, creating an environment of support and growth through appraisal and personal development plan.
• Assist in the development of junior staff and the development and maintenance of a cohesive workforce.

• Assist in the delivery of core and specialist training to staff on a range of subjects relating to clinical perfusion in house training and clinical skill workshops.
• Facilitate the development of problem solving skills for all staff within the scope of the in-house training and clinical skills workshops.

• Support and assist student training within the team and be involved in the continued development of the in-house training program.
• Provide training as required to other staff groups and students on specific techniques.
• Act as a resource / advisor to colleagues and students in the delivery of care. Organise adequate and appropriate supervision and mentoring for junior colleagues and students.
• Identify training needs for the perfusion team, creating an environment of support and growth organising accreditation and re-registration documentation.

• As an experienced practitioner provide specialist training in all areas of clinical expertise and service area, acting as an effective role model.
• Take responsibility and demonstrate effective delegation of responsibility to department team ensuring that delegation is accompanied by empowerment.

Information Resources

• Assist in the design and development of perfusion circuits/drawings and audit packages.

• Maintain appropriate activity records and information for audit, finance, performance management, professional registration and benchmarking purposes.
• To maintain up to date and accurate patient case notes in line with Society of Perfusion Scientists of Great Britain and Ireland’s professional standards and local Trust policies.
• Generate and analyse data for the purposes of clinical audit.
• Record QC and calibration results.

Management Responsibilities

• To be responsible for the clinical supervision of junior colleagues including the allocation of duties appropriate to individual skills and experience where necessary.
• Assist in the training and assessment of junior staff.
• Assist in the development, implementation and provision of training programs to other professions.

• To take, with appropriate delegation, responsibility for the delivery of a highly specialised perfusion service across the Trust, ensuring that the service is effective and well coordinated.

• Assist in developing strategies for the management and safe delivery of care for the client group.
• Where necessary, liaise with Perfusionists and medical staff agreeing workload for the unit in order to meet contractual requirements advising of problems in advance.

• Initiate and contribute to the development and implementation of protocols and procedures relating to Perfusionist duties, developing and reviewing documentation, according to the policies and practice committees.