Senior Perfusionist

Cambridge Perfusion Services LLP; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Royal Papworth Hospital is seeking a Senior Clinical Perfusion Scientist to deliver safe, patient-centred perfusion services for routine and complex cardiac surgery, including FET, PTE, and ECMO support. You will work within a multidisciplinary team in a fast-paced environment.

The role requires autonomous clinical decision-making, strong judgement in emergencies, and participation in 24/7 on-call and night shifts.

Qualifications

• 2.5 years post-qualification experience is preferable
• Demonstrated autonomy in challenging clinical situations
• Fluent collaboration within multidisciplinary teams

Responsibilities

• Deliver safe, effective perfusion services for routine and complex cardiac surgery (including FET, PTE, VA-ECMO and VV-ECMO).
• Apply advanced perfusion techniques with sound clinical judgement in emergencies and on-call scenarios.
• Supervise and support trainee perfusionists; maintain professional registration; participate in training, audits and service development.
• Ensure equipment checks, report faults/incidents, support stock management and uphold quality standards.

Skills

Perfusion experience

Autonomous decision-making

Team collaboration

On-call availability

Education

Masters in Clinical Perfusion Science

Fully accredited with CCCS (Great Britain & Ireland)

Full UK driving licence

Job description

We are seeking a skilled and motivated Senior Clinical Perfusion Scientist to join our highly specialised team at Royal Papworth Hospital.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the safe and effective delivery of cardiopulmonary bypass and associated advanced perfusion techniques, supporting a wide range of routine and complex cardiothoracic procedures.

The postholder will demonstrate sound clinical knowledge, experience and the ability to make autonomous clinical decisions in challenging and time‑critical situations. The role requires adaptability, professional judgement and confidence in managing complex and non‑routine clinical scenarios while maintaining the highest standards of patient safety.

Working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, the Senior Clinical Perfusion Scientist will support colleagues, contribute to service development and play a key role in delivering an efficient, responsive and high‑quality perfusion service at Royal Papworth Hospital.

Main duties of the job

The Senior Clinical Perfusion Scientist will deliver safe, effective, patient‑centred perfusion services at Royal Papworth Hospital, supporting routine and complex cardiac surgery, including Frozen Elephant Trunk (FET) procedures, pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE), and veno‑arterial (VA) and veno‑venous (VV) ECMO.

Working as part of the multidisciplinary team, the postholder will apply advanced perfusion techniques, exercise sound clinical judgement and adapt care to patients' needs, including in emergencies. They will contribute to a 24‑hour service, including on‑call and night shifts, and communicate complex clinical information effectively.

The role includes supervising and supporting trainee perfusionists, maintaining professional registration and accreditation, and participating in training, reflective practice, clinical audit and service improvement.

The postholder will ensure safe use and checks of specialist equipment, report faults and incidents, support stock management and uphold ISO 9001:2015 quality standards. All duties must comply with Cambridge Perfusion LLP and Trust policies, including infection prevention, health and safety, confidentiality, information governance and safeguarding

About us

Cambridge Perfusion and Royal Papworth work in partnership to provide excellent care to our region and beyond. The team is friendly, the environment fast paced and the work rewarding.

As a private company we offer a full benefits program and a generous pension.

You will be expected to deliver a high standard of patient care and be an integral part of the hospital wide service we deliver. It is essential you hold a full UK driving licence.

Job responsibilities

Job Summary:

A Senior Clinical Perfusion Scientist is responsible for the safe conduct of cardiopulmonary bypass and associated techniques. They must have a demonstrable experience and knowledge of advanced perfusion. They must be able to make autonomous clinical decisions in challenging circumstances and support colleagues when needed. Their work includes activities that are complex and non‑routine. The post holder must be part of the team and provide an efficient and effective perfusion service within their place of work. Working as directed by the Partners, Chief and Team Leaders.

The post involves mandatory participation in the departments on call rota and night shift.

Accountable to:

Partners of Cambridge Perfusion LLP (the LLP), Chief Perfusionist, Team Leaders and Duty perfusionist.

Key Responsibilities:

Clinical practice

Training and Development

• Ensure all opportunities are taken to develop the skills required of a Senior Clinical Perfusion Scientist
• Maintain accurate Personal Development and Training Records
• Ensure that all duties are carried out in accordance with policies and practices of Cambridge Perfusion LLP
• Achieve the re‑accreditation criteria of the College of Clinical Perfusion Scientists
• Have achieved all the criteria set out in CPS 94 Senior Perfusionist Competency Checklist

Communication and working relationships

• Provide and receive complex information whilst communicating in an effective manner
• As a member of the multidisciplinary team, always be clear and courteous
• Accurately and promptly relay sensitive information to other members of the team when necessary
• Support other team members during, and after, stressful workplace events and take part in de‑brief / post‑op analysis, where appropriate

Knowledge and Professional Practice

• A minimum of 2.5 years post qualification experience is preferable
• Be part of the team delivering 24/7 cover including on call and night shift
• Maintain the College of Clinical Perfusion Scientists of Great Britain and Ireland registration and comply with its professional code of conduct and guidelines
• Ensure a patient focussed clinical practice is maintained, monitored and audited.
• Have a current knowledge of best clinical practice
• Be able to discuss with colleagues and evaluate the management of individual patients to optimise the patients outcome
• Monitor, evaluate and contribute to changes in practice with the aim of improving patient care
• Utilise clinical knowledge and skills to support and supervise a Trainee clinical perfusion scientist
• Have an extensive working knowledge of advanced perfusion techniques and be competent in their theory and practical application

Analytical and judgement skills

• Monitor a range of clinical information and act within procedural guidelines
• Have the adaptive skills that meet the individual needs of the patient, often in demanding clinical circumstances
• Develop reflective practice

Information and resources

• Assist the departmental Systems Manager in the maintenance of I.S.O. 9001:2015 Quality standards documentation.
• Ensure that all information is handled according to appropriate Hospital Trust/Cambridge Perfusion LLP policies, procedures, and protocols

Financial and physical resources

• Responsible for careful use of all aspects of perfusion related equipment and comply with local reporting procedures relating to faults.
• Work with other members of the team to maintain stock levels.
• Ensure that equipment is in a safe working order prior to use. All faults should be reported using the Event Reporting system.

Health and Safety

• Have due regard for the personal safety of themselves and others with respect to current health and safety regulations
• Fulfil all mandatory training obligations as directed by the Trust and Cambridge Perfusion LLP
• Make appropriate use of the available personal protective equipment
• Disassemble and remove contaminated clinical waste from theatre areas safely and ensure all equipment is disinfected according to local protocols
• Safely transfer patient on specialist devices between clinical areas showing regard for patient and personal safety
• Create, maintain and take responsibility for a healthy and safe working environment
• Take effective precautions to prevent the spread of infections to patients and colleagues

Confidentiality and Safeguarding

• All employees must adhere to the Information Governance, Confidentiality and Information Security policies and procedures
• All staff are required to be familiar with the arrangements for safeguarding of vulnerable adults

This job description outlines the main roles and responsibilities of the position, but the post holder may also be required to perform any other reasonable task within their capability.

Person Specification

Experience

• A minimum of 2.5 years post qualification experience as a Clinical Perfusion Scientist in the UK

Qualifications

• Maters in Clinical Perfusion Science
• Fully accredited with the College of Clinical Perfusion Scientists in Great Britain & Ireland
• Full UK driving licence
• Evidence of participation in post qualification training

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.