Consultant

Job responsibilities

Direct Clinical Care:

The Post holder will:

• lead the development and provision of community and in-patient specialist palliative care services at the Hospice collaboratively with other consultant colleagues
• work closely with other members of the multiprofessional team providing care in the context of a wide spectrum of diagnoses, ethnic and cultural backgrounds
• champion the development of links with colleagues and teams caring for patients with non-malignant disease, and those who are not currently accessing our services
• work collaboratively with, and provide cross cover for, the other consultants within the team
• provide expert specialist palliative medical support and advice to colleagues supporting people with complex needs, whether in the Hospice or community as needed
• be responsible for keeping accurate and full medical records on the Hospice electronic patient record

• work flexibly between the inpatient unit and the community.
• participate in a joint on call service with Princess Alice Hospice and Kingston Hospital, working a 1 in 8-10 cover.

Supporting Professional Activities:

The post holder will attend regular team meetings to contribute to strategy, policy and team development. They will participate in appropriate learning and development activities and will adopt an evidence-based approach to practice. They will undertake individual and team job planning in line with national best practice and local protocols. The Hospice supports the requirements for Continuing Medical Education as specified by the Royal College of Physicians and is committed to providing time and financial support for these activities in line with the Hospice education policy. The revalidation process will be supported by the Revalidation Officer (Dr Steve Hyer) based at St Helier Hospital.

Service Development:

As part of this peer consultant team, the post holder will provide medical leadership and work collaboratively with clinical colleagues to develop the service. Opportunities are available to develop initiatives in line with both service strategy and individual professional areas of interest. The post holder will lead and participate in clinical audit and risk management initiatives in line with service and organisational plans aimed at improving service delivery. The post holder will work with colleagues to ensure that processes are lean and effective, optimising the productivity of the service and work towards the development of effective, safe links with other services and agencies that enhance and support innovative care. The Consultant team rotate lead positions every 18 months Lead Consultant/Medical Director attending and contributing to the executive meetings fortnightly and Board meetings quarterly, Lead for Education, and Lead for Audit and Research.

Postgraduate medical education:

The Hospice is a training organisation for Specialty Trainee Registrars (StR) and General Practice trainees (GPVTS).. The post holder will be able to support educational supervision for the StR and in collaboration with other consultant colleagues, act as a clinical supervisor for the GPVTS, providing supervision and training, case discussion and reflection, as well as participating in workplace-based assessments. We are also fortunate enough to host psychiatry trainees and a GP SPIN Fellow.

Non-medical staff:

It is expected that the post holder will contribute to the multidisciplinary teaching for non-medical staff both within and external to the service. Internal training may include team meetings relating to professional development and support for non-medical prescribers and those undertaking advanced physical assessment modules. The service is actively involved in raising public awareness of end of life care through various campaigns and initiatives across the year.

Research:

The Hospice is always keen to explore ways of developing and participating in research activity, leading to improved care for patients with palliative care needs across all settings.

Management:

It is expected that the post holder will work closely with existing consultants and clinical colleagues in other settings to support Specialist Palliative Care Services related to the implementation of the End of Life Care Strategy, Ambitions for Palliative and End of Life Care, NICE guidance for supportive palliative care for adults with cancer and the NICE EOLC Quality Standards.

As a member of a peer consultant team, a shared rotation as the medical lead for a set period, gives an opportunity for equal leadership and management development across the team.

The post holder will be required to work within the Hospices management policies and procedures, both statutory and internal, accepting that resources available to the Hospice are finite and that all changes in clinical practice/workload or development requiring additional resources must have prior agreement with the Hospice.

As a senior clinician, to contribute to, and to support the services that are commissioned.

To attend medical team meetings and other relevant Hospice meetings as needed.

To work with all teams to support, implement and deliver the Hospices strategic objectives.

Office and workspace:

Office space will be shared with other consultant colleagues and will be accessible to the in-patient unit and community team. There will be computer access and IT support.

Qualifications

Essential

• MRCP/MRCGP/FRCA/FRCR or equivalent qualification
• Entry on the General Medical Council (GMC) Specialist Register via one of the following:
• Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) (the proposed CCT date must be within 6 months of the review)
• Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR)
• European Community Rights.

Desirable

• Counselling qualification
• Further degree MD, PhD or equivalent

Experience

Essential

• Experience in all aspects of Palliative Care and Oncology in varied settings
• Ability to offer expert clinical opinion on a range of problems
• Ability to take full independent responsibility for clinical care of patients

Desirable

• Able to demonstrate a sound understanding of government health and reform agenda
• Understanding of the place of voluntary hospice services in partnership with the NHS

Teaching

Essential

• Willingness to teach doctors in training, therapy staff, nurses, nursing and medical students

Desirable

• Qualification in education and training.
• Enthusiasm to develop palliative care education regionally

Research

Essential

• Experience of research, particularly in collaboration with other clinicians
• Experience of leading and delivering audit
• Ability to apply research outcomes to clinical practice

Desirable

• Evidence of publications within recognised medical journals

Management

Essential

• Excellent leadership, influencing and motivational skills
• Effectively address poor performance in accordance with Hospice policy
• Consciously review mistakes and successes to improve performance
• Undertake appraisals and set personal development plans
• Ability to develop strategic priorities and organise staff and resources to achieve high quality patient care and health care targets
• Familiarity with current palliative care issues in NHS and Independent settings e.g. NICE Guidelines/Quality Standards, DOH Strategy, Independent Reviews etc.
• Ability to negotiate at an organisational level and externally with a range of stakeholders
• Excellent Computer skills

Desirable

• Financial management, business and service planning skills

Disposition

Essential

• Flexible approach to working
• Learn from and share experience and knowledge
• Demonstrate honesty and integrity
• Actively listen to comments/challenges and respond constructively
• Ability to recognise stress and cope with it constructively
• Value diversity and demonstrate respect for others
• Self motivated, and take personal responsibility for delivering quality results
• A team player, with the ability to develop effective, collaborative working relationships including recognising when the need for medical contributions/leadership arise

Other

Essential

• Excellent communication skills in both written and verbal domains
• Develop and coach an effective team to perform to the best of their ability
• Full driving licence with own transport
• Membership of a recognised Professional Defence Organisation
• Reside at a distance from St Raphaels Hospice that supports timely attendance if required

Desirable

• Experience of speaking in public and at large meetings
• Experience in change management

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).