Job summary
- Main area
- Cardiac theatre
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 382-SWC51-26
- Employer
- Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Cardiac Theatres, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals
- Town
- Blackpool
- Salary
- £39,959 - £48,117 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 24/06/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Trainee Cardiac Theatre Surgical Care Practitioner
NHS AfC: Band 6
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people.
We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. Plus, we provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries.
We welcome and encourage application from anyone with protected characteristics, as well as supporting reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS.
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals encourages flexible working in all our roles to support staff in maintaining healthy home-life balance. Working patterns such as: part time working, self-rostering, compressed hours, annualised hours, term time, reverse term time and flexitime working can be explored.
Job overview
A new opportunity has arisen for a motivated and enthusiastic Trainee Surgical Care Practitioner (SCP) in Cardiothoracic Surgery at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals. Applicants should be keen to learn and dedicated to developing themselves as well as the future SCP team.
The successful candidate will undertake a three year Masters level SCP training with training supported by a mentor surgeon and SCP.
The successful candidate will join an already established group of qualified SCPs. Working within agreed boundaries and meeting clearly defined competencies, the SCP works autonomously as well as within a team structure and should be able to demonstrate good interpersonal and mediation skills in order to work with the wider multi-disciplinary team.
Main duties of the job
The post-holder will be employed by the Trust as a Trainee Surgical Care Practitioner (SCP) within the Surgical Services team, working in collaboration with the wider theatre team at the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre.
The trainee will be enrolled in a three-year Master’s degree in Surgical Care Practice with a focus on Cardiothoracic Surgery. During this period, they are expected to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and clinical competencies required to qualify as an SCP, under the guidance and support of the SCP team and consultant cardiothoracic surgeons.
Upon successful completion of the training programme, the individual will be appointed as a qualified SCP, commencing at the intermediate step point of Band 7 on the Agenda for Change pay scale.
Once qualified, the SCP performs a range of highly specialist surgical activities relating to cardiac & thoracic surgery with specific reference to clinical, technical and scientific aspects, including autonomous conduit assessment, surgical conduit harvest, employing specialist endoscopic harvesting techniques on patients with complex comorbidities. Acting as expert first & second assistant to the operating surgeon and expert camera piloting for minimal access and port access surgeries.
Working for our organisation
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is ideally situated just a forty five minute drive from Manchester. The Trust provides services to the 440,000 residents of Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre and North Lancashire, as well as specialist tertiary care for Cardiac and Haematology patients.
As one of the United Kingdom’s largest coastal resort, Blackpool has plenty to offer its residents – it’s not just a good place to work; it’s a great place to live. In addition to its bustling centre and historic seafront, the town is world famous for its many attractions, including the famous Blackpool Tower. Blackpool also offers a number of scenic cycling routes round our local parks and across the surrounding countryside, as well as boasting panoramic views of the coast on its picturesque Promenade. Further afield, Blackpool also benefits from less than three-hour connections via rail to Edinburgh in the north and London in the south.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
· Independently harvest surgical conduit using an endoscopic (keyhole) technique, which utilises the highest levels of hand-eye coordination and concentration.
· Independently harvest surgical conduit using an open technique and be able to autonomously identify when it is appropriate to convert from an endoscopic to open method, in order to maintain the safety of the patient and preserve the conduit.
· Highly developed hand eye coordination and dexterity required for precise handling of delicate body tissues and manoeuvre of fine surgical instruments, during both independent operating and first and second assistant to the operating surgeon for the full range of both cardiac and thoracic surgical procedures.
· Independently assesses potential sites for conduit harvest in cardiac surgery, utilising both ultrasound scanning and physical assessment skills, providing expert recommendation to the Consultant Surgeon.
· Independently harvesting venous and arterial conduit, involving complex dissection and avoiding damage to the conduit itself and vital surrounding structures (nerves, arteries etc.) which could potentially compromise the viability of the limb, and ensuring haemostasis. Conduit harvest needs to be carried out in a timely manner to avoid extended anaesthetic time, whilst utilising skill and dexterity in order to harvest a high-quality conduit and preserve the integrity of the donor limb.
· Act as expert first and second assistant to the operating surgeon during both complex and non-complex cardiac and thoracic surgery and emergency operations.
· React calmly and quickly in an emergency situation utilising the highest level of physical skill, precision and speed, whilst maintaining a high level of hand-eye and sensory co-ordination to give the greatest chance of the most successful outcome for the patient.
· Independently performs closure of surgical wounds, selecting appropriate suture materials and suture techniques which are then adapted to the quality of the patient’s tissues and the depth of the wound.
· Must be competent to independently perform a range of advanced clinical skills including sternotomy and closure of sternotomy, closure of thoracotomy, sometimes in emergency situations as well as part of practice in standard procedures.
· Provides expert advice, opinions and training to own and other professions, including medical, relating to all aspects of cardiac and thoracic surgery. Acts as a role model demonstrating excellent clinical and professional behaviour.
Person specification
Education and Qualification
Essential criteria
- Registered General Nurse Level 1 or Operating Department Practitioner Level 3.
- Current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council or Health Care Professions Council.
- Qualified Cardiothoracic Surgical Care Practitioner
- Masters level education or historical equivalent.
- RCS Basic Surgical Skills Course
Desirable criteria
- Teaching and Assessing Qualification.
- Registered Independent and Supplementary non-medical prescriber or willingness to work towards
- Cardiac Advanced Life Support(CALS) and/or Immediate Life Support (ILS) certification.
- Leadership Qualification
Experience and Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Two years’ specialist experience in cardiothoracic surgery post accreditation.
- Ability to autonomously decide on the location of harvest of the most suitable conduit, utilising ultrasound, patient history, clinical examination and professional experience and knowledge.
- Ability to autonomously harvest useable conduit using both open and endoscopic methods.
- Ability to first and second assist for all cardiac and thoracic operations, including emergency procedures. Ability to demonstrate a high level of clinical skill and manual dexterity
- Able to provide evidence of effective leadership and developmental work undertaken at senior level.
- Have an advanced theoretical and practical level of knowledge of cardiac and thoracic anatomy, associated conditions and management options.
- Acts as a role model.
- Can work both autonomously and as part of the multidisciplinary team.
- Lead and partake in both audit and clinical research.
- Evidence of service innovation.
- Commitment to training, education and support for junior staff.
- Ability to develop and implement local policies and procedures
- Ability to integrate departmental, trust and national guidance into local policies and practice.
- Ability to utilise good interpersonal and communication skill with all members of the multidisciplinary team, patients and their relatives.
- Excellent documentation and record keeping skills.
Skills and Ability
Essential criteria
- Ability to handle sharp and delicate instruments with precision and skill.
- Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
- Ability to work safely within a potentially hazardous environment.
- Evidence of sound decision making ability.
- Ability to act within appropriate guidelines and protocols.
- Effective time management skills
- Awareness of own limitations
- Committed to personal professional development and the development of the Surgical Care Practitioner role.
- Ability to maintain intense concentration for long periods of time.
- Ability to remain calm and work under high pressure in intense clinical situations.
- Good IT skills.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Sharon King
- Job title
- Matron
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01253 957797
List jobs with Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Nursing and Midwifery or all sectors