Senior Clinical Fellow in Congenital Cardiothoracic Surgery

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Senior Clinical Fellow in Congenital Cardiothoracic Surgery

The closing date is 01 October 2025

This post is to be part of the team of 3 x ST3-5+ grade Surgical Fellows providing day-to-day surgical procedural support and care to patients in the Leicester Children's Hospital and EMCHC unit.

You will be working alongside the team and participate in services for patients with congenital heart disease in the East Midlands, working with the existing team of Consultant Surgeons, Surgical Care Practitioners, Theatre Staff, Intensive care and ward staff to deliver high quality care for patients with congenital heart defects undergoing surgery.

Main duties of the job

To contribute to the ECMO programme, including independent cannulation of children, when appropriately trained, experienced and assessed as competent.

Assist Consultants in the operating theatre and where appropriate, carrying out selected procedures as the primary operator.

Participate in the PICU and AICU rounds ensuring that relevant treatments and investigations are communicated and carried out.

Ensure all patients on the ward are seen regularly, deciding on day to day clinical management.

Support on call duties, during which ward and ITU rounds are carried out and appropriate investigations and treatment completed.

Supervise and train junior staff, both medical and non-medical in the care of children undergoing paediatric cardiac surgery and ECMO.

Work with colleagues across the Children's Hospital to ensure a continuum of care for children pre and post cardio-thoracic surgery.

To encourage a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of patients.

Participate in teaching, research an audit, ensuring that the highest standards of clinical governance are adhered to at all times.

About us

Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years ().

We have four primary goals:

• high-quality care for all,
• being a great place to work,
• partnerships for impact, and
• research and education excellence

And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.

Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:

• we are compassionate,
• we are proud,
• we are inclusive, and
• we are one team

This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.

About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:

Job responsibilities

Congenital Cardiology Services at EMCHC include a full range of interventional procedures including PPVI, TAVI, and device closure of septal defects, PDAs and collaterals.

There is a well-developed electrophysiological, fetal and adult congenital service. Intensive Care is provided for children in a dedicated PICU which also accommodates one of the worlds largest paediatric ECMO centres.

The surgical service provides cardiac surgery for adults and children with congenital disease. A full range of procedures is carried out with the exception of transplantation. This includes the Ross procedure, arterial switch, Common Arterial Trunk repair and palliation for HLHS by means of the Norwood-Sano procedure. Leicester is currently the largest of 4 Paediatric ECMO centres in Britain. It is the only centre that provides ECMO for all age groups from new-borns to adults. It is the busiest paediatric and neonatal ECMO centre with around 100 cases annually.

The post is for a period of 12 months in the first instance, but may be extended according to service needs.

Person Specification Training & Qualifications

• MBBS or equivalent eligible for registration with the GMC
• FRCS CTh or equivalent

Experience

• Candidate will need basic surgical training with additional training in cardiac and/or thoracic surgery would be beneficial
• Experience at SpR level in Congenial cardiac surgery
• Minimal supervision to operate on easy congenital cardiac cases

Communication and relationship skills

• Ability to function as a member of a multi-disciplinary clinical team with excellent communication skills

Analytical and Judgement skills

• Ability to know when to escalate issues to a senior member of the team and know your limitations

Skills

• A high degree of motivation and personal self-discipline
• Ability to cope with potentially stressful situations
• A degree of competence in all basic medical skills.

Planning and organisation skills

• Ability to manage your own time and work effectively
• Taking the time to understand how the NHS works and the management structure within the hospital

Research and audit

• Commitment to an understanding of the principles of good audit
• Practical experience of participation in clinical audit projects

Equality and Diversity

• Able to demonstrate a commitment and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs

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.

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust