Job summary
We are looking to recruit a Clinical Teaching Fellow in General Surgery and Medical Education, at CT1/CT2 equivalent.
This is a full time, 40 hour per week, 12 month fixed term post from August 2025 to August 2026.
There is a 50/50 role split between clinical duties in General Surgery and teaching duties within the Medical Education team.
The post holder will be working Monday to Sunday on a full shift rotation and will be required to participate in an out-of-hours emergency work rota, for General Surgery, with a frequency not greater than one in seven.
Main duties of the job
There is a real need to ensure that students from Peninsula Medical School, University of Plymouth receive excellent tuition and that trainees have the best possible educational supervision. Your teaching duties are designed to increase your experience in Medical Education and assist your career development. This post is designed to nurture staff so that they can get involved with teaching and progress along a clinical academic route should they wish and is ideally suited for applicants on completion of foundation training or taking a year out from specialist training
Post holders are based in general surgery for their clinical duties. The post will be split 50:50 between clinical and teaching commitments, and any time off in lieu following on call will be from clinical sessions.
The general surgical Department is based at the main hospital, Musgrove Park, in Taunton and is situated within its own Directorate. It includes colorectal, upper GI, Vascular and breast surgery and also provides support for the urology service outside of normal working hours. All aspects of elective and emergency surgical outpatient, acute and perioperative secondary care are provided.
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
- Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
- NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
- Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
- A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential
Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Teaching Fellow - Medical Education Element:
- All CTFs are encouraged to undertake a PG Cert in Education which is funded by the Medical Education Service. Educational and financial Support for submission of posters / presentations relating to work undertaken during this role is available. In addition to the PG Cert Teaching days CTFs have a study leave allowance 30 days plus a budget of 563.
- A free place on the Somerset Foundation Trust Simulation Training the Trainers course is offered. Educational research and involvement in educational projects is encouraged especially with Quality improvement support and there is an opportunity to present/ contribute to the Somerset NHS FT Annual Training Awards Event.
- All CTFs are invited to attend local specialty teaching programmes and educational and clinical supervision is provided.
- A cross site (Somerset, Torbay and Plymouth) CTF programme is in place to support educational CPD. The post is supported by Undergraduate Education Faculty and an Admin Team.
- Each post holder will have honorary status with the University of Plymouth and all offered a Trust Appraisal in keeping with revalidation.
- Musgrove Park Academy currently holds the 'Academy of the Year' award nominated by the Bristol Medical Students.
Clinical Teaching Fellow - General Surgery Element:
- The post holder will have teaching duties for years 3,4 and 5 medical students from Peninsula Medical School. This is a new post and will be developed throughout the year. The applicant will have a key role in developing this post over the year including regular feedback meetings with senior PMS faculty. The main teaching duties will include:
- Weekly introduction and orientation to Y3,Y4 and Y5 surgical placements.
- Be available to support specific topics, questions or concepts at request of individual students, subject to available time including bedside teaching on the ward, in SDU or in theatres.
- Provide tutorials on a range of topics to all year groups.
- Support delivery of clinical skills and simulation teaching to PMS students in Musgrove Park Academy.
- Involvement in formal assessments including skills assessments and CPSA (Medical Licensing Assessment Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment)
- Act as a mentor for students. Take an informal role in student pastoral care such as identification of "at risk" students and dysfunctional groups, offering support and signposting to appropriate sources of help.
- Collaborate with other clinical teaching fellows in Somerset and at other sites (Torbay and Plymouth).
- Involvement in the student selected component (SSC) and quality improvement projects isencouraged and developing appropriate projects for students to complete is an expected component of the role.
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has an active Medical Education Service which coordinates medical education for all undergraduate and postgraduate learners. Teaching rooms include small group tutorial rooms, teaching rooms, clinical teaching rooms and a simulation suite all with full IT facilities including video link to enable the teaching/education process. There is a well-stocked library with full time librarians and excellent IT facilities (including the e-learning room). There is support for simulation training from the simulation team with access to modern simulation equipment. Haematology, Biochemistry and Microbiology information and Diagnostic Imaging reports are all accessible electronically throughout the Trust. A full-time medical photographer is available to help in the preparation of material for lectures and publications.
The role includes working within the General Surgical department. The appointee will be managerially and professionally accountable to the Clinical Lead for their specialty.
The clinical duties for General Surgery include:
- The weekly programme will vary depending on the on-call rota and availability of other junior staff, but broadly the appointee will spend, on average, half of the working week in a clinical role, the other half devoted to teaching of medical students and educational learning under the supervision of Dr Anna Stevenson, PMS Associate Dean (Hospital)and Mr Tom Edwards, supervisor and service lead for colorectal surgery.
- Play a full part in the provision of general surgery secondary care, including scheduled out-of-hours work. Resident on-call work will form an essential but infrequent part of the role.
- Undertake the administrative duties associated with the care of patients.
- Participate in audit activity examining, quality, safety, efficiency and cost of the service.
- Participate regularly in medical management and audit meetings.
- Take part in the appraisal processes of the Hospital and its clinical governance activities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Teaching Fellow - Medical Education Element:
- All CTFs are encouraged to undertake a PG Cert in Education which is funded by the Medical Education Service. Educational and financial Support for submission of posters / presentations relating to work undertaken during this role is available. In addition to the PG Cert Teaching days CTFs have a study leave allowance 30 days plus a budget of 563.
- A free place on the Somerset Foundation Trust Simulation Training the Trainers course is offered. Educational research and involvement in educational projects is encouraged especially with Quality improvement support and there is an opportunity to present/ contribute to the Somerset NHS FT Annual Training Awards Event.
- All CTFs are invited to attend local specialty teaching programmes and educational and clinical supervision is provided.
- A cross site (Somerset, Torbay and Plymouth) CTF programme is in place to support educational CPD. The post is supported by Undergraduate Education Faculty and an Admin Team.
- Each post holder will have honorary status with the University of Plymouth and all offered a Trust Appraisal in keeping with revalidation.
- Musgrove Park Academy currently holds the 'Academy of the Year' award nominated by the Bristol Medical Students.
Clinical Teaching Fellow - General Surgery Element:
- The post holder will have teaching duties for years 3,4 and 5 medical students from Peninsula Medical School. This is a new post and will be developed throughout the year. The applicant will have a key role in developing this post over the year including regular feedback meetings with senior PMS faculty. The main teaching duties will include:
- Weekly introduction and orientation to Y3,Y4 and Y5 surgical placements.
- Be available to support specific topics, questions or concepts at request of individual students, subject to available time including bedside teaching on the ward, in SDU or in theatres.
- Provide tutorials on a range of topics to all year groups.
- Support delivery of clinical skills and simulation teaching to PMS students in Musgrove Park Academy.
- Involvement in formal assessments including skills assessments and CPSA (Medical Licensing Assessment Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment)
- Act as a mentor for students. Take an informal role in student pastoral care such as identification of "at risk" students and dysfunctional groups, offering support and signposting to appropriate sources of help.
- Collaborate with other clinical teaching fellows in Somerset and at other sites (Torbay and Plymouth).
- Involvement in the student selected component (SSC) and quality improvement projects isencouraged and developing appropriate projects for students to complete is an expected component of the role.
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has an active Medical Education Service which coordinates medical education for all undergraduate and postgraduate learners. Teaching rooms include small group tutorial rooms, teaching rooms, clinical teaching rooms and a simulation suite all with full IT facilities including video link to enable the teaching/education process. There is a well-stocked library with full time librarians and excellent IT facilities (including the e-learning room). There is support for simulation training from the simulation team with access to modern simulation equipment. Haematology, Biochemistry and Microbiology information and Diagnostic Imaging reports are all accessible electronically throughout the Trust. A full-time medical photographer is available to help in the preparation of material for lectures and publications.
The role includes working within the General Surgical department. The appointee will be managerially and professionally accountable to the Clinical Lead for their specialty.
The clinical duties for General Surgery include:
- The weekly programme will vary depending on the on-call rota and availability of other junior staff, but broadly the appointee will spend, on average, half of the working week in a clinical role, the other half devoted to teaching of medical students and educational learning under the supervision of Dr Anna Stevenson, PMS Associate Dean (Hospital)and Mr Tom Edwards, supervisor and service lead for colorectal surgery.
- Play a full part in the provision of general surgery secondary care, including scheduled out-of-hours work. Resident on-call work will form an essential but infrequent part of the role.
- Undertake the administrative duties associated with the care of patients.
- Participate in audit activity examining, quality, safety, efficiency and cost of the service.
- Participate regularly in medical management and audit meetings.
- Take part in the appraisal processes of the Hospital and its clinical governance activities.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- MBBS or recognised equivalent
- Full GMC Registration, with a licence to practice at time of applying.
- Basic level training certificate (BLTC)
Experience
Essential
- A minimum of 2 years full time hospital service in the UK to be complete by August 25.
- Able to carry out the duties described in the job description
Desirable
- Teaching experience of medical students, junior medical staff, or nursing staff.
- Training in evidence based medicine
- Evidence of teaching qualification
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Evidence of participation in Audit.
- Familiar with clinical governance.
- Good communication skills.
- Hardworking, enthusiastic, conscientious and flexible.
- Works well as part of a team.
- Good organisational and time management skills.
Desirable
- Experience in clinical governance.
- Successful QI project as a postgraduate doctor.
- Experience of organising a rota.
- Experience as mentor or pastoral role.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- MBBS or recognised equivalent
- Full GMC Registration, with a licence to practice at time of applying.
- Basic level training certificate (BLTC)
Experience
Essential
- A minimum of 2 years full time hospital service in the UK to be complete by August 25.
- Able to carry out the duties described in the job description
Desirable
- Teaching experience of medical students, junior medical staff, or nursing staff.
- Training in evidence based medicine
- Evidence of teaching qualification
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Evidence of participation in Audit.
- Familiar with clinical governance.
- Good communication skills.
- Hardworking, enthusiastic, conscientious and flexible.
- Works well as part of a team.
- Good organisational and time management skills.
Desirable
- Experience in clinical governance.
- Successful QI project as a postgraduate doctor.
- Experience of organising a rota.
- Experience as mentor or pastoral role.
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).
