Senior Cardiothoracic Surgical Care Practitioner

Job overview

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is the only acute hospital provider in the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS), working together for the local population.

Within Mid and South Essex there are 149 GP practices, operating from over 200 sites, forming 27 Primary Care Networks and one Ambulance Trust. There are also three main community and mental health service providers working through a community collaborative.

We collaborate with other valuable partners, including three Healthwatch organisations, nine voluntary and community sector organisations and three top tier local authorities, with seven district, borough and city councils, as well as our local universities.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the delivery of high-quality cardiothoracic care, working across the full patient pathway and playing a vital role in theatre, wards, and outpatient clinic settings.

Senior SCPs take on advanced responsibilities, including autonomous patient management, acting as first or second assistant in theatre, conduit harvesting for coronary artery bypass grafting, and leading service development through audit, research, and guideline creation.

As a Senior SCP, you will be part of a dynamic, forward‑thinking department committed to excellence in patient care and professional development.

• Provide expert, autonomous care to patients before, during, and after cardiothoracic surgery.
• Undertake comprehensive patient assessments and contribute to treatment planning.
• Support recovery and discharge planning, ensuring continuity of care.
• Act as first or second assistant in theatre for cardiothoracic procedures.
• Perform conduit harvesting for coronary artery bypass grafting (under supervision for trainees, independently for senior SCPs).
• Maintain high standards of aseptic technique and surgical safety.
• Lead and mentor junior colleagues, including trainee SCPs and nursing staff.
• Contribute to service development through audit, research, and guideline creation.
• Support multidisciplinary team working and promote evidence‑based practice.
• Deliver teaching sessions and support the professional development of colleagues.
• Participate in clinical audit, risk management, and service evaluation.
• Ensure compliance with local and national standards of cardiothoracic care.

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and well‑being of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.

For more information on this varied and rewarding role, please see the attached Job Description.

We look forward to your application!

Please be aware that we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should a high number of applications be received.

• MSC in Surgical Care Practice
• Evidence of recent CPD in the last 2 years

• Non‑Medical Prescribing

• Demonstrable post‑qualification experience
• EVH Trained with minimum 100 independent cases

• Tertiary Centre Experience
• Cardiothoracic experience

Please be aware as per the new Immigration guidelines we cannot sponsor candidates with a salary (full time or pro Rata) under the current minimum threshold.

Please note, the selection processes at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust are in place to ensure we recruit candidates with the right skills and values, please be advised that the use of AI in applications are monitored. We remain vigilant against candidates who misuse these tools to generate an application that doesn't accurately reflect their skills, and you will be required to declare on your application if AI has been used before submitting your application.

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.

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