NHS - Consultant in Palliative Medicine
Job overview
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is looking to appoint a dynamic, innovative, flexible and forward-thinking consultant colleague with a particular interest in hospital based palliative care. The successful applicant will join existing consultants based in Torbay; Dr George Walker, Dr Sarah Human and Dr Fay Murray-Brown.The Torbay and South Devon Specialist Palliative Care Service is delivered by 2 providers; Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust and Rowcroft Hospice. Although not formally integrated, the 2 organisations aim to provide a seamless service for patients; the cornerstone of this provision is a combined medical consultant team, covering acute, community and hospice inpatient facilities.
This post is based with the Hospital Palliative Care Team at Torbay Hospital.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will join the Hospital Palliative Care Team (HPCT) based on the Torbay hospital site. The team forms an integral component of both the Cancer Support Team and the Torbay and South Devon Specialist Palliative Care Service.
The HPCT provides a specialist palliative care service in the acute setting from 0900 to 1700 six days a week. This is a liaison service, working with teams throughout the hospital to provide support, expert advice and guidance for the care of patients requiring palliative and end of life (EOL) care.The service receives an average of 124 new referrals per month, 48% of patients with cancer and 52% with non-cancer diagnoses. In addition to direct patient care, the team has a key role in education and leadership to enhance a palliative care approach for all patients by all staff.
Current direct clinical medical input to the HPCT is provided by Dr Sykes (0.4 WTE), Dr Murray-Brown (0.6wte) and Dr Helen Kimble (0.6wte); these figures exclude on call commitment for the whole service. Dr Sarah Human and Dr George Walker provide additional clinical support when cover required.The post is being created to replace the hours of Dr Sykes. A Specialist Registrar may be placed with the Hospital Team depending on training needs.
There are close working relationships with oncology and haematology services as well as the wider cancer support team including psychology, dietetics, speech and language services and chaplaincy.
Working for our organisation
Why Work With Us
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is an Integrated Care Organisation providing acute health care services from Torbay Hospital, community health services and adult social care. The Trust runs Torbay Hospital as well as five community hospitals, stretching from Dawlish to Brixham.We also provide health and social care to the local population
Torbay Hospital is a medium-sized, progressive and innovative District General Hospital providing acute services to South Devon with a 10-bedded Critical Care Unit, six general theatres, three orthopaedic theatres and a day surgery unit. We provide services in most specialties within Torbay but have close working relationships with Royal Devon University Healthcare (Exeter and North Devon) and University Hospitals Plymouth.
We have around 500,000 face-to-face contacts with patients in their homes and communities each year and see over 78,000 people in our A&E department annually. We serve a resident population of approximately 375,000 people, plus about 100,000 visitors at any one time during the summer holiday season.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Communication and working relationships- To maintain good working relationships within the Hospital Palliative Care Team and with the wider specialist palliative care service
- To demonstrate excellent communication skills with patients and their carers
- To communicate effectively and work constructively with primary and secondary care colleagues
- To maintain good working relationships with strategic stakeholders and commissioners
- To contribute to delivery of education in palliative and end of life care to other healthcare professionals
- To contribute to quality improvement and service development within the department and wider specialist palliative care service
- To provide high quality consultant delivered care to patients including clinical leadership and supervision of trainee medical staff, ensuring the highest standards of clinical care are provided to all patients attending the hospital.
- To be proactive in ensuring that all patients receive rapid assessment, treatment and clinical decision making
- To work proactively with colleagues to ensure practice and guidance offered is current best practice
- To work constructively with the System Medical Director and Associate Director of Operations for P&B ISU on any finance issues
- To ensure equity of service provision for all service users
- To ensure most effective use of resources when limited
- To help develop and implement the ICO’s EOL strategy
- To contribute to the leadership of EOL groups within and external to the ICO
- To contribute to the recruitment, appointment, educational supervision including educational contracts, organisation of study leave, annual leave and rotas for medical trainees
- To contribute to educational support of medical students
- To contribute to wider departmental education programme
- To maintain excellent clinical records in keeping with trust and professional guidance
- To engage with IT developments to promote improved communication and service delivery
- To be proactive in delivering the department’s clinical audit and governance agenda and take on leadership roles to support continuous learning and improvement, thereby abiding by the clinical and corporate governance policies of the Trust.
Person specification
Qualifications and training
Essential criteria- Full registration with the GMC with licence to practice
- Fellowship of memebership of Royal College or Physicians or equivalent qualification
- Completion of higher Specialist Register ( or entry expected within 6 months of interview date )
- Minimum of English Level 2 ( GCSE grade C or equivalent), IELTS or graduate of a UK medical school
- Relevant higher degree
Clinical experiencce
Essential criteria- Able to leave Palliative Care Multidisciplinary Team
- Able to offer expert clinical opinion
- Ability to take full and independent responsibility for clinical care of patients
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to organise own and others' practice in an efficient manner with due attention to timeliness in dealing with administration and enquiries
Management and administrative experience
Essential criteria- Ability to advise on efficient and smooth running of the department
- Ability to demonstrate familiarity with an understanding of NHS structures, management and current political issues, including awareness of national strategic plans and constraints
- Able to contribute to the development of effective EOL care services in acute and community settings
- Evidence of innovation development and implementation of guidance
- Evident of involving patients in practice
Teaching/Research experience
Essential criteria- Evidence of teaching experience and undergraduate and post graduate levels and ability to teach clinical skills
- Commitment and enthusiasm to deliver high quality education
- Ability to apply research outcomes to clinical practice
- Teaching qualification
- Experience of research
- Publication of peer reviewed journals
Communication and personal skills
Essential criteria- Resilience
- Flexible approach
- Self-motivated
- Enthusiastic
- Collaborative approach to team working
You will be joining the organisation at an exciting time. As the first fully integrated care organisation in England, we are working to improve the way we deliver safe, high-quality health and social care. We have a positive and vibrant working atmosphere, we are proud of our investment in our staff both in terms of developing potential career skills and valuing people.
If you provide support to a family member or friend with health or care needs, we aim to be a Carer-friendly employer. We have a ‘Staff Carers’ policy which includes flexible working where possible and a Carer’s Passport scheme that links you into support and discounts.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION- We reserve the right to close vacancies early if we receive a high volume of applications. Please apply promptly
- Please read the job description and tailor your application to reflect the role
- Correspondence will be via Trac, text and email. Please check your email and Trac account regularly.
- Applicants with no previous NHS experience will ordinarily be appointed to the minimum of the band
- If you have not received an invitation to interview within 28 days of the closing date, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion
- It is your responsibility to assist us in the timely receipt of appropriate references
If you require support you can obtain this from our Equality Business Forum which has representatives from all protected groups.