St Peter & St James Hospice

Hospice Doctor (Bank)

The closing date is 13 July 2025

Job summary

Are you a dedicated doctor with a passion for palliative care, looking for flexible, ad-hoc hours?

We're seeking a skilled doctor to provide compassionate care in our Inpatient Unit, working closely with our multidisciplinary team at the hospice. You'll also have opportunities to collaborate with our community palliative care team, supporting patients in their homes and through outpatient services.

Location: St Peter & St James Hospice, BN8 4ED

Contract: Bank (as and when required)

Salary: £50,907 - £63,062 (FTE), dependent on experience

Hours: Flexible, ad-hoc shifts

Closing Date: 13th July 2025

We encourage you to apply directly via our website to give us the opportunity to contact you for an informal discussion ahead of the closing date (See 'Supporting Links').

Main duties of the job

What You'll Do

  • Deliver expert symptom control and compassionate end-of-life care.
  • Support patients in our Inpatient Unit, at home, or in outpatient settings.
  • Collaborate with our community nursing team and advise GPs on palliative care.
  • Participate in audits, education, and continuous professional development.

About us

St Peter & St James Hospice is a leading provider of specialist palliative and end of life care for our Mid-Sussex community.

People affected by life-limiting illness are central to everything we do and it is our mission to ensure they receive the best possible care, in the right place, at the right time. Our services are free of charge can be accessed at home, in a care setting, or at the Hospice in North Chailey.

We achieve our goals through the organisations talented people, by attracting, retaining and developing a highly skilled, diverse and engaged workforce. Over 150 employees and 400 volunteers work in a variety of roles across our Clinical Services, Retail and Support Functions.

Details

Date posted

17 June 2025

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Doctor - other

Salary

Depending on experience £50,907 - £63,062 (FTE), dependent on experience

Contract

Bank

Working pattern

Flexible working

Reference number

B0360-25-0008

Job locations

North Common Road

North Chailey

Lewes

East Sussex

BN8 4ED


Job description

Job responsibilities

In-patient care

Assessment and symptom management for in-patients admitted for symptom control, respite, or end-of-life care.

Day-to-day medical support to the Inpatient Unit and Community Nursing Team, communicating regularly and effectively with the multidisciplinary team.

To attend the daily ward handovers and multidisciplinary meetings as required.

Conduct family meetings with patients and relatives to facilitate open communication and forward planning of care options, giving full regard to patient choice and confidentiality.

Initiate and perform indicated tests and procedures and liaise with other appropriate specialist teams about them. These include venepuncture, bisphosphonate infusion and blood transfusion.

Ensure prescription charts are up to date with forward planning of as required medication.

Ensure clinical entries into the electronic patient records are current and accurate, and medical plans are communicated appropriately.

Enable the smooth transfer of patients, both into and out of the Hospice.

Ensure that excellent communication is maintained with all other agencies, with special regard to discharge summaries, and necessary paperwork for handover to the Out of Hours Service / Community Nursing teams.

Ensure discharge prescriptions are written appropriately.

Offer appropriate advice to GPs regarding palliative care matters.

On-call work is non-resident. When on call at weekends, there is the expectation that the post-holder will conduct a ward round on a Saturday morning and will be contactable for the rest of the on-call period, attending for urgent admissions or reviews as required.

Living Well Centre

Undertake an assessment of urgent medical problems arising in patients attending the Living Well Centre (Monday-Friday)

Provide medical advice and support to staff if needed regarding patients attending the Living Well Centre.

Community Care

Undertake initial assessment and follow-up visits where medical input is appropriate, either at the patients home or in the outpatient clinic.

Support the specialist palliative Community Nursing Staff, advising on medical management.

Liaise with GPs to advise on specialist palliative care symptom management and use of the Hospice service.

Other

Participate in clinical audit as required.

Undertake evidence-based practice and adhere to internal clinical governance policies, guidance, and procedures.

Participate in journal club and other educational meetings.

Support the supervision and on the job training of junior doctors and medical students on placement at the hospice.

Participate in the organisations continuous performance review and work towards personal objectives agreed with the supervising consultant.

Be responsible for maintaining your own professional development and meeting the professional requirements for appraisal and revalidation.

Act with due care for the health and safety of her/himself, other employees, patients, and the public to ensure that the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 are fully observed.

Maintain confidentiality with respect to work-related and organisational issues and meet the requirements of the Data Protection Act and GDPR regulations.

Job description

Job responsibilities

In-patient care

Assessment and symptom management for in-patients admitted for symptom control, respite, or end-of-life care.

Day-to-day medical support to the Inpatient Unit and Community Nursing Team, communicating regularly and effectively with the multidisciplinary team.

To attend the daily ward handovers and multidisciplinary meetings as required.

Conduct family meetings with patients and relatives to facilitate open communication and forward planning of care options, giving full regard to patient choice and confidentiality.

Initiate and perform indicated tests and procedures and liaise with other appropriate specialist teams about them. These include venepuncture, bisphosphonate infusion and blood transfusion.

Ensure prescription charts are up to date with forward planning of as required medication.

Ensure clinical entries into the electronic patient records are current and accurate, and medical plans are communicated appropriately.

Enable the smooth transfer of patients, both into and out of the Hospice.

Ensure that excellent communication is maintained with all other agencies, with special regard to discharge summaries, and necessary paperwork for handover to the Out of Hours Service / Community Nursing teams.

Ensure discharge prescriptions are written appropriately.

Offer appropriate advice to GPs regarding palliative care matters.

On-call work is non-resident. When on call at weekends, there is the expectation that the post-holder will conduct a ward round on a Saturday morning and will be contactable for the rest of the on-call period, attending for urgent admissions or reviews as required.

Living Well Centre

Undertake an assessment of urgent medical problems arising in patients attending the Living Well Centre (Monday-Friday)

Provide medical advice and support to staff if needed regarding patients attending the Living Well Centre.

Community Care

Undertake initial assessment and follow-up visits where medical input is appropriate, either at the patients home or in the outpatient clinic.

Support the specialist palliative Community Nursing Staff, advising on medical management.

Liaise with GPs to advise on specialist palliative care symptom management and use of the Hospice service.

Other

Participate in clinical audit as required.

Undertake evidence-based practice and adhere to internal clinical governance policies, guidance, and procedures.

Participate in journal club and other educational meetings.

Support the supervision and on the job training of junior doctors and medical students on placement at the hospice.

Participate in the organisations continuous performance review and work towards personal objectives agreed with the supervising consultant.

Be responsible for maintaining your own professional development and meeting the professional requirements for appraisal and revalidation.

Act with due care for the health and safety of her/himself, other employees, patients, and the public to ensure that the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 are fully observed.

Maintain confidentiality with respect to work-related and organisational issues and meet the requirements of the Data Protection Act and GDPR regulations.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Primary medical qualification
  • Full GMC registration and valid licence to practise with evidence of engagement with revalidation

Desirable

  • Higher medical qualification - MRCP or MRCGP
  • Diploma in Palliative Medicine

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of dealing with common medical problems in a broad range of clinical specialities
  • Clinical leadership skills appropriate to level

Desirable

  • Experience of working in the end-of-life care setting, and of symptom management
  • Experience of working in specialist palliative care for both malignant and non-malignant conditions
  • Practical skills required for the post - e.g., venepuncture, paracentesis, etc
  • Teaching experience at either Under or Post Graduate level
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Primary medical qualification
  • Full GMC registration and valid licence to practise with evidence of engagement with revalidation

Desirable

  • Higher medical qualification - MRCP or MRCGP
  • Diploma in Palliative Medicine

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of dealing with common medical problems in a broad range of clinical specialities
  • Clinical leadership skills appropriate to level

Desirable

  • Experience of working in the end-of-life care setting, and of symptom management
  • Experience of working in specialist palliative care for both malignant and non-malignant conditions
  • Practical skills required for the post - e.g., venepuncture, paracentesis, etc
  • Teaching experience at either Under or Post Graduate level

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).

Additional information

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).

Employer details

Employer name

St Peter & St James Hospice

Address

North Common Road

North Chailey

Lewes

East Sussex

BN8 4ED


Employer's website

https://stpjhospice.org/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

St Peter & St James Hospice

Address

North Common Road

North Chailey

Lewes

East Sussex

BN8 4ED


Employer's website

https://stpjhospice.org/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Medical Director

Helen McGee

hmcgee@stpjhospice.org

Details

Date posted

17 June 2025

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Doctor - other

Salary

Depending on experience £50,907 - £63,062 (FTE), dependent on experience

Contract

Bank

Working pattern

Flexible working

Reference number

B0360-25-0008

Job locations

North Common Road

North Chailey

Lewes

East Sussex

BN8 4ED


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

St Peter & St James Hospice's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)