Surgical Care Practitioner Cardiothoracic Band 8a

Job summary
We are seeking a highly skilled and qualified Surgical Care Practitioner in Cardiothoracic Surgery with proven experience in endoscopic vein and radial artery harvesting to join our specialist surgical team. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting complex cardiothoracic procedures and delivering high-quality patient care across the entire surgical pathway, including pre-operative assessment, intra-operative practice, and post-operative management.

The post holder will demonstrate advanced clinical expertise and professional judgement while working collaboratively within a dynamic multidisciplinary team. In addition to clinical responsibilities, the role includes leading the development and integration of the Surgical Care Practitioner team, including supervision of trainee SCPs.

This position also offers the opportunity to contribute to service improvement through leadership in education, training, research, and clinical audit, ensuring continuous enhancement of patient care and surgical outcomes. Strong communication, leadership, and organisational skills are essential to succeed in this rewarding and progressive role.

Main duties of the job

• Skilled in endoscopic vein harvesting and endoscopic radial artery harvesting.
• Conduct thorough preoperative assessments, including evaluation of conduit harvesting sites, while considering the patient's medical history.
• Provide clear communication, information, and reassurance to patients and their carers.
• Arrange and interpret investigations such as angiograms, chest X-rays, ECGs, and blood tests.
• Educate patients and carers with accurate information to support informed decisions and healthy lifestyle choices.
• Ensure patients and carers clearly understand all information provided, including risks and benefits of care.

About us
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.

We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence, and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.

These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.

In 2023 NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to the ten core principles.

Oxford University Hospitals promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment.

If you want to make a difference with us, come and join our team. Together, we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.

Job responsibilities

• Possess the required qualification and competency to provide skilled and consistent assistance within the operating theatre.
• Act as first or second assistant.
• Undertake the surgical procedure of conduit harvesting vein/radial/mammary, median sternotomy, sternal wound closure and any other surgical procedures as detailed by the Consultant Surgeon but acting within their scope of professional practice.
• The Practice development SCP will train and support SCPs and trainee SCPs.
• Display skill and dexterity in surgical technique and the use of surgical instruments.
• Enable the correct positioning, preparation and draping of the surgical patient including urinary catheterisation and patient hair removal.
• Development of surgical skills in accordance with continuing professional developments and developments in surgical practice within agreed protocols.

Person Specification
Qualified Surgical Care Practitioner
Essential

• min 2 years of experience in cardiothoracic
• Efficient in EVH / ERAH
• Masters level education or work toward

Desirable

• Masters level education or work toward
• Registered Independent & Supplementary non-medical prescriber or working towards it.

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.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.