Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for a consultant in palliative medicine to join our medical team at Medway Community Healthcare (MCH), based at the Wisdom Hospice.
The MCH team provides specialist palliative care services in the community and within the Medway NHS Foundation Trust at Medway Maritime Hospital. The Wisdom Hospice unit has 15 beds, a physical therapy team and a family carers and support team as well as a community team and, more unusually, runs the hospital team of specialist palliative care practitioners in the local acute trust.
We were rated Good after our unannounced CQC inspection in August 2021.
We are looking for someone with an entry on the GMC specialist register for palliative care, alongside their primary medical qualification, or within 6 months of this. There are up to 10 PAs/week for this post available to negotiate with the successful candidate. We support flexible working to support staff work/life balance which in turns means greater availability of senior decisions makers for staff and increasing patient access from their usual place of residence and the local cute trust.
Main duties of the job
MCH, a social enterprise, is an integral part of the NHS system, providing over 30 community-based services across Medway and Swale, including community nursing and MedOCC, (GP out of hours). Funding for the service is 85% from Kent and Medway ICB and 15% charitable, The friends of Wisdom hospice.
There will be opportunities to practice across all settings and participation in service development is expected. As the specialist palliative care service is part of a bigger organisation, integrated fully into local healthcare systems we are very actively leading on the development of specialist palliative care across the locality. This is an excellent opportunity to play a key role in ensuring our patients and their families benefit from the highest standards of specialist palliative care, in a friendly and supportive team. It also brings opportunities for the successful postholder to work on projects across the organisation including but not limited to patient safety, serious judgement reviews, IT, staff wellbeing. MCH has a strong research team and participation is actively supported and encouraged across grades and professions; to the extent that the service part funds a research post at the University of Kent.
About us
So what else?
- This is your chance to join a progressive and innovative service in a social enterprise that is patient and staff focused - you'll even have the opportunity to become an MCH shareholder.
- We encourage staff to get involved in exploring new ways of working and service development.
- You'll be able to develop your skills in a friendly and supportive team.
- The hospice is located in the historic city of Rochester which is served by HS1 train (39 minutes to London St Pancras) and South Eastern trains (50 minutes to London Victoria) and has Motorway M2, M20 and M25 connections.
Would you like to work flexibly?In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement which will not mean sacrificing time forpersonal interests or family commitments. We aim to support you to work flexibly in a way that will suit you and us.
The small print
- Informal visits can be arranged on request.
- We will offer you the choice of two pension schemes; the NHS Pension scheme and the scottish widows group pension scheme.
- MCH encourages all staff to be double COVID vaccinated to protect themselves, their colleagues, their family and their patients.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Communication and relationship skills Clinical leadership as a member of the multidisciplinary team (MDT), liaising with all members of the team. To develop and sustain effective working partnerships with the primary health care team, other specialist services and the wider MDT Have an empathic and sensitive approach to patients needs with the ability to show concern recognising individual needs Able to demonstrate highly effective communication skills with the ability to influence and negotiate.
2. Knowledge, training and experience To have completed higher specialist training in Palliative Medicine or be within 6 months of completion. To have experience of specialist palliative care in different settings home, hospice, hospital. The organisation supports the requirements for continuing professional development as laid down by the Royal College of Physicians to ensure that all doctors have an annual appraisalwith a trained appraiser and supports doctors going through all the requirements of the revalidation process. The organisation has a local arrangement with the acute trust to follow this process; the medical director of the acute trust has the role of responsible officer. The medicaldirector for MCH completes an annual audit of compliance for appraisal.
3. Analytical and judgement skills Review and assess patients and families in all settings providing expert advice to the MDT, health and social care providers. Demonstrate that treatments and interventions are relevant to practice area and evidence based.
4. Planning and organisational skills Organisation of self and facilitation of others to deliver services required.
5. Physical skillsSee chart
6. Responsibility for patient / client care To be responsible for Consultant-level specialist medical care of patients under MCH palliative care services (in the Wisdom Hospice, Medway Foundation Trust and the community). Provide appropriate information and education to patients and carers on their condition, treatment options, side effects and future prognosis. Protect patients confidentiality at all times using the appropriate documentation and tools and adhering to Medway Community Healthcare CIC policy at all times. To participate with colleagues in the out-of-hours on-call rota
7. Responsibility for policy and service development implementation To support, develop and inform local policy in line with national development in palliative and end of life care. To contribute to the setting and achieving of service objectives. To innovate and develop service delivery in accordance with best practice
8. Responsibilities for financial and physical resources In line with Consultant responsibilities, not directly managing a budget.
9. Responsibilities for human resources (HR) Together with other senior doctors, to provide clinical supervision for General Practice trainees working within the In Patient unit of the Wisdom Hospice.
10. Responsibilities for information resources To keep up to date with current knowledge of palliative medicine from reading journals and attending courses as deemed appropriate. To use IT resources appropriately- in line with organisations policies To develop and provide appropriate information for patients / carers and professionals about the service provided11. Responsibilities for audit, research and development (R&D) To be actively involved in the implementation of the organisations policies on clinical governance, including clinical audit to support service delivery and development. To develop research activities in line with the organisations objectives and to encourage and supervise trainees to develop their own research ideas. To be involved in the regular ongoing audit of all services, including encouraging and supervising trainees and collaborating with other members of the multi-disciplinary team To be involved with the palliative care research group at the Centre for Health Services and Studies at the University of Kent, as appropriate.
12. Freedom to act To be able to take full responsibility for the care of patients in collaboration with consultant colleagues.
Full JD can be found in the attachments
Job description
Job responsibilities
Communication and relationship skills Clinical leadership as a member of the multidisciplinary team (MDT), liaising with all members of the team. To develop and sustain effective working partnerships with the primary health care team, other specialist services and the wider MDT Have an empathic and sensitive approach to patients needs with the ability to show concern recognising individual needs Able to demonstrate highly effective communication skills with the ability to influence and negotiate.
2. Knowledge, training and experience To have completed higher specialist training in Palliative Medicine or be within 6 months of completion. To have experience of specialist palliative care in different settings home, hospice, hospital. The organisation supports the requirements for continuing professional development as laid down by the Royal College of Physicians to ensure that all doctors have an annual appraisalwith a trained appraiser and supports doctors going through all the requirements of the revalidation process. The organisation has a local arrangement with the acute trust to follow this process; the medical director of the acute trust has the role of responsible officer. The medicaldirector for MCH completes an annual audit of compliance for appraisal.
3. Analytical and judgement skills Review and assess patients and families in all settings providing expert advice to the MDT, health and social care providers. Demonstrate that treatments and interventions are relevant to practice area and evidence based.
4. Planning and organisational skills Organisation of self and facilitation of others to deliver services required.
5. Physical skillsSee chart
6. Responsibility for patient / client care To be responsible for Consultant-level specialist medical care of patients under MCH palliative care services (in the Wisdom Hospice, Medway Foundation Trust and the community). Provide appropriate information and education to patients and carers on their condition, treatment options, side effects and future prognosis. Protect patients confidentiality at all times using the appropriate documentation and tools and adhering to Medway Community Healthcare CIC policy at all times. To participate with colleagues in the out-of-hours on-call rota
7. Responsibility for policy and service development implementation To support, develop and inform local policy in line with national development in palliative and end of life care. To contribute to the setting and achieving of service objectives. To innovate and develop service delivery in accordance with best practice
8. Responsibilities for financial and physical resources In line with Consultant responsibilities, not directly managing a budget.
9. Responsibilities for human resources (HR) Together with other senior doctors, to provide clinical supervision for General Practice trainees working within the In Patient unit of the Wisdom Hospice.
10. Responsibilities for information resources To keep up to date with current knowledge of palliative medicine from reading journals and attending courses as deemed appropriate. To use IT resources appropriately- in line with organisations policies To develop and provide appropriate information for patients / carers and professionals about the service provided11. Responsibilities for audit, research and development (R&D) To be actively involved in the implementation of the organisations policies on clinical governance, including clinical audit to support service delivery and development. To develop research activities in line with the organisations objectives and to encourage and supervise trainees to develop their own research ideas. To be involved in the regular ongoing audit of all services, including encouraging and supervising trainees and collaborating with other members of the multi-disciplinary team To be involved with the palliative care research group at the Centre for Health Services and Studies at the University of Kent, as appropriate.
12. Freedom to act To be able to take full responsibility for the care of patients in collaboration with consultant colleagues.
Full JD can be found in the attachments
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- MRCP (UK) or equivalent
- Full GMC registration
- Entry on the General Medical Council (GMC) Specialist Register via one of the following: CCT Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) (the proposed CCT date must be within 6 months of the interview); Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR); European Community Rights
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Ability to offer expert clinical opinion on a range of problems within specialty
- Ability to take to take full and independent responsibility for clinical care of patients
- Experience of supervising junior medical staff
- Ability to teach clinical and practical skills to multiprofessional colleagues
Desirable
- Experience in a special interest that compliments the service
Special knowledge / expertise
Essential
- Demonstrate managerial skills
- Knowledge of principles of research and evidence of involvement in research
- Knowledge of organisational aspects of the NHS
- Ability to offer clinical supervision in Palliative Medicine to GP trainee
- Willingness to participate clinical research at MCH
Desirable
- Care of long term conditions
- Experience of treating undergraduates
- Published articles in peer reviewed journals
MCH values
Essential
- Demonstrates behaviours in line with all three MCH values
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- MRCP (UK) or equivalent
- Full GMC registration
- Entry on the General Medical Council (GMC) Specialist Register via one of the following: CCT Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) (the proposed CCT date must be within 6 months of the interview); Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR); European Community Rights
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Ability to offer expert clinical opinion on a range of problems within specialty
- Ability to take to take full and independent responsibility for clinical care of patients
- Experience of supervising junior medical staff
- Ability to teach clinical and practical skills to multiprofessional colleagues
Desirable
- Experience in a special interest that compliments the service
Special knowledge / expertise
Essential
- Demonstrate managerial skills
- Knowledge of principles of research and evidence of involvement in research
- Knowledge of organisational aspects of the NHS
- Ability to offer clinical supervision in Palliative Medicine to GP trainee
- Willingness to participate clinical research at MCH
Desirable
- Care of long term conditions
- Experience of treating undergraduates
- Published articles in peer reviewed journals
MCH values
Essential
- Demonstrates behaviours in line with all three MCH values
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
