Junior Fellow in Cardiac Surgery

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Job Title: Junior Fellow in Cardiac Surgery

Start Date: September 2026

Contract Type: Fixed term

Duration: 6 months

Purpose for Fixed Term: Covering Maternity Leave

This post is appointed on a fixed-term basis for the primary purpose of providing structured training and supervised clinical development. While the postholder will contribute to service delivery, the overarching purpose of the post is to provide defined educational opportunities, supervised clinical practice, and experience aligned to the relevant specialty training curriculum

Further details about the role can be found in the job description below.

Main duties of the job

This is junior fellow role in a busy cardiothoracic centre, providing care to some of the region's most complex patients and delivering some of the best clinical outcomes in the UK.

The role is to cover a period of maternity absence for up to six months, due to the nature of this cover, if the period of absence changes, this may result in variations to this post however this will be discussed with an appropriate period of notice. Eligible candidates must be able to join UHS in September 2026.

The role will co-ordinate and supervise the admission and discharge of patients from the unit. The successful candidate will also be responsible for maintaining accurate notes, up-to-date cardiac monthly audits and for recording patient details in the database.

You will take charge of all patients in the unit under the direction of the consultant surgeon to which you are attached. The post holder will rotate between the consultants and be fully involved in a range of cardiothoracic work. In addition to providing immediate cover to patients in recovery and on the cardiothoracic wards, the postholder will provide cover for intensive care emergencies. Consultant cover will be available at all times

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.

We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 20% lower than London and 14 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

The main duties of this role are to:

Provide essential day-to-day ward care , ensuring plans for our patients are actioned to enable them to return home to continue their safe recovery

Support emergency cover, assisting in operating theatres, and managing pre- and post-operative patients under consultant and registrar supervision

Participate in departmental audits, clinical governance meetings, and multi-disciplinary team (MDT) sessions.

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details of the role, including responsibilities, requirements, and essential criteria.

Additional Information

Appointment will be made under local contractual terms and conditions of service for Trust appointed fellow doctors and dentists. Applicants requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship should ensure they meet the Home Office application criteria prior to submitting an application.

Successful candidates will have an educational framework equivalent to training grade doctors, and there will be a named educational supervisor assigned at the start of the post. The opportunity for Continued Professional Development (CPD) is highly supported and encouraged by the Trust, with options available to take study leave.

Grades for Trust appointed fellows will be paid a basic salary at a nodal pay point linked to the grade, at the rate set out in the National Medical and Dental pay circular. Basic salary plus any additional remuneration (as applicable) for hours set out in the doctors work schedule (e.g. additional hours, weekend allowance, and any hours which attract enhanced pay)

Proposed interview date: 28th August 2026

This vacancy closes on or before 23rd August 2026

Person specification

Qualifications, Training & Experience

Essential criteria

• MBBS or equivalent medical qualification
• GMC registration with a licence to practise
• Appropriate knowledge base, and ability to apply sound clinical judgement to problems
  
  

Aptitudes and skills

Essential criteria

• Evidence and ability to work effectively in multi-professional teams
• Understanding of equality and diversity and how this affects patients, visitors and staff
• Evidence and ability to communicate and liaise effectively with patients and colleagues (verbal and written communication skills in English).
• Evidence of participation in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching
• Demonstrate good organisational skills including ability to prioritise effectively and meet deadlines
• Demonstrate the ability to be calm, compassionate, and able to respond efficiently to various circumstances, which may change rapidly
  
  

Living Trust Values

Essential criteria

• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together