Deputy Chief Clinical Perfusionist

About this job

Salary: £64,455.00 to £74,896.00 per year

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: Full time

Disability Confident: No

Closing Date: 06/03/2026

Responsibilities

• Choose the most appropriate equipment and disposable items for the procedure to be undertaken.
• Prepare equipment and disposable items to undertake cardiopulmonary bypass for routine and emergency cardiac surgery.
• Operate the heart lung machine and auxiliary equipment to maintain the patient's clinical condition within physiological parameters, taking corrective action to compensate for changing conditions during cardiopulmonary bypass.
• Independently perform complex perfusion techniques including: Aortic procedures; Autologous blood salvage (intra- and post-operatively); Intra-aortic balloon pump preparation, insertion and management, including troubleshooting; Advanced blood gas analysis and interpretation; Thromboelastography (TEG) including Platelet Mapping and Fibrinogen Analysis; Vacuum-assisted venous drainage and carbon dioxide field flooding; Modified ultrafiltration and haemoconcentration.
• Apply rigorous aseptic technique, equipment cleaning, calibration, and safe disposal of consumables in accordance with Trust policy.
• Lead on evaluating, implementing, and teaching new technologies and innovations in perfusion practice.
• Complete accurate clinical documentation, ensuring all perfusion activity is recorded for audit, quality assurance, and service development.
• Lead in supporting departmental planning, service delivery, and research initiatives, ensuring perfusion services evolve in line with best practice.
• Participate fully in the departmental on-call rota, acting independently in emergency and high-pressure situations.

Quality of Care and Clinical Governance

• Lead departmental quality improvement, audit, and benchmarking activities, ensuring evidence-based best practice in all perfusion procedures.
• Develop and review clinical policies, protocols, and risk management strategies to support patient safety.
• Act as a clinical expert and advisor within the multidisciplinary team, liaising with surgeons, anaesthetists, and nursing colleagues to optimise patient outcomes.
• To provide leadership and act for the Chief Perfusionist in their absence, supporting the Perfusion team.

Education, Training and Professional Development

• Provide formal and informal teaching to trainee perfusionists, nursing and medical staff, both within the Trust and externally at national/international level.
• Act as mentor and assessor for trainee perfusionists, ensuring their personal logbooks and MSc programme requirements are met assisting in the development of departmental training programmes.
• Maintain own professional knowledge and competence through continuing professional development, national/international conferences, and specialist courses.
• Possess registration with the College of Clinical Perfusion Scientists of Great Britain and Ireland and maintain professional re-accreditation through clinical and educational activity.
• Must abide by the Code of Ethical Conduct of the Society of Clinical Perfusion Scientists of Great Britain and Ireland.
• Conversant with all relevant departmental and Trust protocols.

Advanced Clinical Skills and Expertise

• Anticipate, assess, and respond rapidly to complex physiological and technical changes during cardiopulmonary bypass.
• Apply expert clinical judgement in critical and emergency scenarios, ensuring patient safety and effective decision-making under pressure.
• Lead in supporting the development of novel perfusion strategies and research into rare or complex patient pathologies.
• Utilise advanced communication skills to explain highly technical or sensitive information clearly to colleagues, patients, and external stakeholders.

Operational Excellence and Service Delivery

• Manage independent caseloads and coordinate perfusion service delivery across multiple theatres and Trust sites.
• Take a lead role in supporting the Chief Clinical Perfusionist in the provision and management of all perfusion and related services ensuring the clinical group meets its professional and clinical targets.
• Take responsibility for equipment maintenance, stock control, and procurement, delegating tasks appropriately to ensure smooth service delivery.
• Lead in supporting workforce planning, service innovation, and strategic development regularly representing Clinical Perfusion at meetings.
• Maintain resilience and sustained concentration during prolonged, complex procedures and high-pressure environments.

Professional Standards and Ethical Practice

• Demonstrate professionalism at all times, safeguarding patient dignity, confidentiality, and wellbeing.
• Lead in supporting developing evidence-based practice within perfusion, ensuring national and local guidelines are applied consistently.
• Provide leadership in supporting team wellbeing, debriefing, and resilience after critical or traumatic cases.
• Maintain effective and collaborative relationships within the multidisciplinary team, promoting an open and supportive culture.

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