Job summary
We are recruiting a Cardiothoracic trained Surgical Care Practitioner (SCP). The role will include clinical duties supporting the Heart Vascular Thoracic Institute (HVTI) surgery interventions and peri-operative care under the supervision of a Consultant, alongside responsibilities for developing the teams surgical skills and knowledge in HVTI surgery with opportunity to progress cross-specialty.
Main duties of the job
The post holder is directly
responsible to the Lead Surgical Care Practitioner and Institute Manager of and
the Chair of the Heart, Vascular, and Thoracic Institute (HVTI). The post
holder will participate in operative procedures and aspects of pre and post-operative
care of surgical patients. The post holder will be expected to undertake duties
with a high level of clinical skills and knowledge. As a HVTI experienced
Practitioner the post holder will hold a high level of experience in 1st
and 2nd assisting routine and complex HVTI procedures and conduit
harvesting. This post also covers be cross-specialty. The successful post
holder will work closely with the Lead Surgical Care Practitioner and liaise
with the wider multi-disciplinary team. As an integral member of the surgical
team, the post holder will provide advanced surgical and anatomical knowledge
and skills with experience in training other members of the surgical team,
including the assistance and development of Caregivers who aspire to become a Surgical
Care Practitioners. The role will require the development of strong working
relationships with the Lead Surgical Care Practitioner, wider in house surgical
assistant team, each consultant and wider departments. The HVTI Surgical Care
Practitioner Role at Cleveland Clinic London is an exciting opportunity to
develop the skills, knowledge and the self across multiple specialties.
About us
Cleveland Clinic is one of the leading
providers of specialised medical care in the world, focused on providing
clinical excellence and superior patient outcomes for almost 6 million patient
visits per year across more than 200 locations.
We employ over 65,000
caregivers worldwide and continue to drive innovation in healthcare.
We opened our first healthcare facility in
London in 2021 and our state-of-the art 184 bed hospital in 2022. With over 100
years of history, our Patients First philosophy will be at the heart of
Cleveland Clinic London and the goal of our team is to create an environment
that continues to delivers world-class clinical care.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Administrative Responsibilities:
- Act as a role model to all members of the team.
- Ensure the delivery of the highest standard of patient care, assisting the surgeon in maintaining a clear and safe surgical field.
- Demonstrate an advanced level of evidence-based theory and practice, with a proven record of clinical decision-making and autonomy.
- Demonstrate ability to work to deadlines.
- Acquire, develop and maintain advanced knowledge and expertise within a specialist area, whilst also assisting and overseeing other surgical care practitioners and first assistants with their areas of responsibility and variety of specialties.
- Participate in team training and optimization of learning opportunities to ensure ongoing education and development for the team.
- Ensure staff are regularly informed of new developments within specialist area of practice and clinical areas.
- Work in collaboration with other SCPs in the team arranging mentorship of SCPs, Robotic Coordinators, First Assistants, and other caregivers interested in opportunities for continuous development, improving skills, and education.
- Participate in theatre scheduling and appropriate skill mix and safe staffing.
- Oversee the provision of appropriate teaching and guidance enabling individual practitioners to develop knowledge and competence.
- Assume responsibility for their own practice.
- Establish links with educational providers through clinical and educational development programmes, enabling maximum learning opportunities.
- Act as mentor to staff of all grades.
- Understand and recognise legal implications and competence levels regarding the dual role and that of the First Assistant to the Surgeon, acting according to Clinic policy.
- This includes the appropriate assessment and evaluation of care in keeping with:
- The Philosophies and values of CCL
- The NMC Code of Professional Conduct
- The HCPC Code of Conduct
- Cleveland Clinic London Policies and Protocols
- National Curriculum Framework for SCPs
- Train and teach skills to team members, including SCPs, surgical first assists and other relevant team members.
- Participate in clinical and educational development of the group, mentoring cross specialty SCPs, and stewarding surgical first assistants who would like to continue their education and development.
- Promote and encourage research awareness in the team and develop skills in critical analysis and review.
- Identify research or audit opportunities within the department, lead on practice development and provide support to staff undertaking such opportunities.
- To submit relevant audit or research with desire for publication or presentation.
- Manage tailored competency frameworks/demonstration of practice expansion of skills and action plans to assist development of the team.
- Be up to date with current research, developing techniques and facilitate implementation of new practice initiatives.
- Attend relevant Scheduling, User Groups, Forums or Multidisciplinary Team meetings.
- Participate in theatre audits to ensure compliance with policies and procedures.
- Liaise with other hospitals and observe potential new procedures and practices to ensure ongoing development.
- To initiate and assist in evaluation of the service and patient care, including patient satisfaction, using appropriate methods.
- This job description is a general guide to the scope of the post but is not exhaustive and may change in line with the needs of the department or at the request of the Lead Surgical Care Practitioner and/or Critical Care & Anaesthesia Institute Manager.
Clinical Responsibilities:
- Actively participate in surgical procedures at the direction of the Consultant surgeon.
- Be competent to 1st assist routine and complex HVTI procedures.
- Participate in a range of HVTI procedures and techniques, including minimally invasive, endoscopic, VATs, open heart surgery etc.
- Be trained and responsive in emergency situations and demonstrate high level decision making.
- Act as a Surgical First Assistant as required, across specialties as directed by the supervising surgeon.
- Act as a Surgical Care Practitioner within their Scope of Practice carrying out autonomous tasks as competent under Consultant supervision.
- Be accessible and visible to Caregiver, patients and visitors.
- Possess advanced knowledge of a range of surgical procedures and demonstrate evidence of current practice and theory in the field.
- Be wholly accountable for ones own practice.
- Ensure preparation, checking and maintenance of surgical equipment as per guidelines before and after procedures.
- Take ultimate responsibility for the ensuring the standard of the environment within his/her identified area of responsibility.
- Ensure patients needs are met and staff maintain cleanliness as defined by national standards.
- Advocate for patients.
- Provide Caregivers, patients and or carers with accurate and up to date information.
- Provide flexible approach to working with a variety of shifts required, including on-call and weekend shifts as needed.
- Work within Cardiothoracic Theatres within the Surgical Care Practitioner role including autonomous conduit harvesting, preferably with endoscopic vessel harvesting experience.
- Laparoscopic camera skills with variety of scopes.
- Work across specialties with appropriate support and facilitating/facilitation of training where necessary.
- Anticipate the consultant surgeons requirements before and during the procedure.
- Be aware of transforming practices and help facilitate the integration of these into theatres.
- Ensure that training environments are suitable, optimized and appropriate.
- Communicate effectively with team.
- Ensure that appropriate instruments, prosthetics/implants, consumables and any necessary equipment is available for procedures.
- Ensure that good infection control practice and high standards of clinical care are given.
- Help to ensure that only sterilized items are used, ensuring that the integrity of the packaging is intact and that expiry dates on all products are checked. Products must only be used in accordance with the manufacturers or suppliers written instructions.
- Ensure the labelling of specimens is correct and documented as per policy.
- Help maintain accurate surgical patient records.
- Assist other team members to participate in the safe transferring and positioning of the patient.
- Assist during emergency situations within appropriate level of training.
- Ensure faulty equipment is isolated from use, using the appropriate label, and report to a responsible person.
- Take universal and (self-) hygiene precautions to minimize the risk of infections to the patient, the surgical team, and other staff in any clinical procedures and areas.
- Adhere to appropriate safety precautions, as established within the theatres/Clinic to minimize the risks of fire, explosion, electrical shock, contamination, accident and equipment malfunction.
- Ensure team and consultant compliance with the WHO check list and time out before surgery.
- Ensure the safe and confidential documentation of patient notes.
- Help to ensure caregivers across perioperative services adhere to policies and procedures and promote this practice.
- Actively participate in the pre-operative team brief.
- Maintain & monitor legibility and accuracy of nursing records and be aware of the legal implications of these documents.
- Document any incidents within quality and safety systems. Actively participate in the investigation as applicable.
- Demonstrate and develop research-based practice, quality assurance in line with the Care Standards Act 2000 and clinical audit.
- Maintain a continuing personal development (CPD) portfolio.
- Facilitate Surgical Care Practitioner and Surgical First Assistant members of the team with their CPD.
- Ensure a clean, tidy and risk free workplace.
- The post holder is expected to work flexibly with varying shift patterns (days/weekends/on calls/nights) and is expected to work full-time.
- The post holder will work under the supervision of the consultant surgeon who has overall responsibility for the surgical care received by the patient.
- This job description is a general guide to the clinical scope of the post but is not exhaustive and may change in line with the needs of the department or at the request of the HVTI Institute Manager.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Administrative Responsibilities:
- Act as a role model to all members of the team.
- Ensure the delivery of the highest standard of patient care, assisting the surgeon in maintaining a clear and safe surgical field.
- Demonstrate an advanced level of evidence-based theory and practice, with a proven record of clinical decision-making and autonomy.
- Demonstrate ability to work to deadlines.
- Acquire, develop and maintain advanced knowledge and expertise within a specialist area, whilst also assisting and overseeing other surgical care practitioners and first assistants with their areas of responsibility and variety of specialties.
- Participate in team training and optimization of learning opportunities to ensure ongoing education and development for the team.
- Ensure staff are regularly informed of new developments within specialist area of practice and clinical areas.
- Work in collaboration with other SCPs in the team arranging mentorship of SCPs, Robotic Coordinators, First Assistants, and other caregivers interested in opportunities for continuous development, improving skills, and education.
- Participate in theatre scheduling and appropriate skill mix and safe staffing.
- Oversee the provision of appropriate teaching and guidance enabling individual practitioners to develop knowledge and competence.
- Assume responsibility for their own practice.
- Establish links with educational providers through clinical and educational development programmes, enabling maximum learning opportunities.
- Act as mentor to staff of all grades.
- Understand and recognise legal implications and competence levels regarding the dual role and that of the First Assistant to the Surgeon, acting according to Clinic policy.
- This includes the appropriate assessment and evaluation of care in keeping with:
- The Philosophies and values of CCL
- The NMC Code of Professional Conduct
- The HCPC Code of Conduct
- Cleveland Clinic London Policies and Protocols
- National Curriculum Framework for SCPs
- Train and teach skills to team members, including SCPs, surgical first assists and other relevant team members.
- Participate in clinical and educational development of the group, mentoring cross specialty SCPs, and stewarding surgical first assistants who would like to continue their education and development.
- Promote and encourage research awareness in the team and develop skills in critical analysis and review.
- Identify research or audit opportunities within the department, lead on practice development and provide support to staff undertaking such opportunities.
- To submit relevant audit or research with desire for publication or presentation.
- Manage tailored competency frameworks/demonstration of practice expansion of skills and action plans to assist development of the team.
- Be up to date with current research, developing techniques and facilitate implementation of new practice initiatives.
- Attend relevant Scheduling, User Groups, Forums or Multidisciplinary Team meetings.
- Participate in theatre audits to ensure compliance with policies and procedures.
- Liaise with other hospitals and observe potential new procedures and practices to ensure ongoing development.
- To initiate and assist in evaluation of the service and patient care, including patient satisfaction, using appropriate methods.
- This job description is a general guide to the scope of the post but is not exhaustive and may change in line with the needs of the department or at the request of the Lead Surgical Care Practitioner and/or Critical Care & Anaesthesia Institute Manager.
Clinical Responsibilities:
- Actively participate in surgical procedures at the direction of the Consultant surgeon.
- Be competent to 1st assist routine and complex HVTI procedures.
- Participate in a range of HVTI procedures and techniques, including minimally invasive, endoscopic, VATs, open heart surgery etc.
- Be trained and responsive in emergency situations and demonstrate high level decision making.
- Act as a Surgical First Assistant as required, across specialties as directed by the supervising surgeon.
- Act as a Surgical Care Practitioner within their Scope of Practice carrying out autonomous tasks as competent under Consultant supervision.
- Be accessible and visible to Caregiver, patients and visitors.
- Possess advanced knowledge of a range of surgical procedures and demonstrate evidence of current practice and theory in the field.
- Be wholly accountable for ones own practice.
- Ensure preparation, checking and maintenance of surgical equipment as per guidelines before and after procedures.
- Take ultimate responsibility for the ensuring the standard of the environment within his/her identified area of responsibility.
- Ensure patients needs are met and staff maintain cleanliness as defined by national standards.
- Advocate for patients.
- Provide Caregivers, patients and or carers with accurate and up to date information.
- Provide flexible approach to working with a variety of shifts required, including on-call and weekend shifts as needed.
- Work within Cardiothoracic Theatres within the Surgical Care Practitioner role including autonomous conduit harvesting, preferably with endoscopic vessel harvesting experience.
- Laparoscopic camera skills with variety of scopes.
- Work across specialties with appropriate support and facilitating/facilitation of training where necessary.
- Anticipate the consultant surgeons requirements before and during the procedure.
- Be aware of transforming practices and help facilitate the integration of these into theatres.
- Ensure that training environments are suitable, optimized and appropriate.
- Communicate effectively with team.
- Ensure that appropriate instruments, prosthetics/implants, consumables and any necessary equipment is available for procedures.
- Ensure that good infection control practice and high standards of clinical care are given.
- Help to ensure that only sterilized items are used, ensuring that the integrity of the packaging is intact and that expiry dates on all products are checked. Products must only be used in accordance with the manufacturers or suppliers written instructions.
- Ensure the labelling of specimens is correct and documented as per policy.
- Help maintain accurate surgical patient records.
- Assist other team members to participate in the safe transferring and positioning of the patient.
- Assist during emergency situations within appropriate level of training.
- Ensure faulty equipment is isolated from use, using the appropriate label, and report to a responsible person.
- Take universal and (self-) hygiene precautions to minimize the risk of infections to the patient, the surgical team, and other staff in any clinical procedures and areas.
- Adhere to appropriate safety precautions, as established within the theatres/Clinic to minimize the risks of fire, explosion, electrical shock, contamination, accident and equipment malfunction.
- Ensure team and consultant compliance with the WHO check list and time out before surgery.
- Ensure the safe and confidential documentation of patient notes.
- Help to ensure caregivers across perioperative services adhere to policies and procedures and promote this practice.
- Actively participate in the pre-operative team brief.
- Maintain & monitor legibility and accuracy of nursing records and be aware of the legal implications of these documents.
- Document any incidents within quality and safety systems. Actively participate in the investigation as applicable.
- Demonstrate and develop research-based practice, quality assurance in line with the Care Standards Act 2000 and clinical audit.
- Maintain a continuing personal development (CPD) portfolio.
- Facilitate Surgical Care Practitioner and Surgical First Assistant members of the team with their CPD.
- Ensure a clean, tidy and risk free workplace.
- The post holder is expected to work flexibly with varying shift patterns (days/weekends/on calls/nights) and is expected to work full-time.
- The post holder will work under the supervision of the consultant surgeon who has overall responsibility for the surgical care received by the patient.
- This job description is a general guide to the clinical scope of the post but is not exhaustive and may change in line with the needs of the department or at the request of the HVTI Institute Manager.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience at senior Surgical Care Practitioner level.
- Experience in training others and skill review.
- Multidisciplinary surgical experience is desirable.
Qualifications
Essential
- RGN /ODP Level 3
- Surgical Care Practitioner PgDip
- Post qualification SCP experience in clinical role
Desirable
- MSc in Surgical Care Practice or equivalent
- Cardiothoracic Theatres Surgical Care Practitioner role
- Perioperative experience
- Minimally invasive or endoscopic skills
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience at senior Surgical Care Practitioner level.
- Experience in training others and skill review.
- Multidisciplinary surgical experience is desirable.
Qualifications
Essential
- RGN /ODP Level 3
- Surgical Care Practitioner PgDip
- Post qualification SCP experience in clinical role
Desirable
- MSc in Surgical Care Practice or equivalent
- Cardiothoracic Theatres Surgical Care Practitioner role
- Perioperative experience
- Minimally invasive or endoscopic skills
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
