Job summary
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust are looking to appoint a Chief Registrar (ST4 equivalent level) to join our team
This is a 12 month fixed term post, working 40 hours a week, Monday to Sunday, on a full shift rotation, with an on call requirement
The Chief Registrar role is a leadership role for senior specialty resident doctors working across both Musgrove Park Hospital and Yeovil District Hospital sites. With the Clinical base being YDH
The role provides 40--50% protected time to develop and implement local initiatives focusing on, for example, paediatric service improvement, engagement and morale, education and training, workforce and sustainability. The role also offers a unique opportunity to gain experience shadowing senior leaders and developing an understanding of leadership and management within the trust.
Main duties of the job
Chief Registrars benefit from access to a bespoke taught development programme provided by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), which runs from September 2025 -- June 2026 and comprises five 2-day modules that Chief Registrars are expected and supported to attend.
The Chief Registrar will report to and be mentored by the Clinical Leadership Mentor, or other senior clinical leader. The successful candidate will join the existing team of 3 Chief Registrars, building on the Trust's reputation for delivering enhanced leadership training.
For NTN posts, the Chief Registrar role may be undertaken in programme or out of programme (training or experience), to be determined locally depending on local workforce requirements and individual training needs and preferences. Any necessary extension to certificate of completion of training (CCT) date is also negotiated and approved locally, with involvement of the training programme director (TPD)/Head of School. Approval of the relevant Specialist Advisory Committee will be required for OOPT requests. Doctors with an NTN must discuss applications for Chief Registrar roles with their education supervisor and TPD in advance of applying. Permission to apply for the role must be obtained from the TPD. For LEDs, local discussion should occur with the Trust Chief Registrar lead and educational supervisor to ensure suitability for the programme. Local assessment of prior experience to be at ST4 or above will be made within the trust.
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
The chief registrar job description is broad in scope in order to allow chief registrars and recruiting organisations to have autonomy and flexibility over the work the chief registrar undertakes. Chief registrars should focus on addressing key local challenges and priorities, which may include some or all of the following:
Providing a 'bridge' between senior clinical leaders, managers and the wider resident doctor workforce to support paediatric service improvement, engagement and morale, education and training, workforce and sustainability.
Working across teams and boundaries to engage stakeholders in quality improvement and influence change.
Working with the other chief registrars in the trust to provide a link between resident doctors and senior leaders and to improve engagement of resident doctors in leadership and management.
Involvement in workforce planning and improving the deployment of resident doctors to meet service needs and improve morale.
Where possible and appropriate, chief registrars should attend Board and other appropriate management meetings. They should lead any sessions on service development, improvement and transformation for which they have direct responsibility.
Somerset Foundation Trust holds a unique opportunity for chief registrars to hold both clinical responsibilities on one site but also experience leadership developmental opportunities and experience on two sites (Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton and also Yeovil Hospital). The CYP & Families service group has a combined leadership structure that supports the acute paediatric & CAMHS services on both sites.
Service improvement, for example redesigning pathways, implementing new
technology and establishing new services to improve flow and outcomes for patients.
The amount of time spent undertaking clinical commitments will be determined by and will vary between 50%--60%. This is to protect the minimum of 40% protected time for chief registrar responsibilities.
On-call commitments may vary and will be determined locally.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The chief registrar job description is broad in scope in order to allow chief registrars and recruiting organisations to have autonomy and flexibility over the work the chief registrar undertakes. Chief registrars should focus on addressing key local challenges and priorities, which may include some or all of the following:
Providing a 'bridge' between senior clinical leaders, managers and the wider resident doctor workforce to support paediatric service improvement, engagement and morale, education and training, workforce and sustainability.
Working across teams and boundaries to engage stakeholders in quality improvement and influence change.
Working with the other chief registrars in the trust to provide a link between resident doctors and senior leaders and to improve engagement of resident doctors in leadership and management.
Involvement in workforce planning and improving the deployment of resident doctors to meet service needs and improve morale.
Where possible and appropriate, chief registrars should attend Board and other appropriate management meetings. They should lead any sessions on service development, improvement and transformation for which they have direct responsibility.
Somerset Foundation Trust holds a unique opportunity for chief registrars to hold both clinical responsibilities on one site but also experience leadership developmental opportunities and experience on two sites (Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton and also Yeovil Hospital). The CYP & Families service group has a combined leadership structure that supports the acute paediatric & CAMHS services on both sites.
Service improvement, for example redesigning pathways, implementing new
technology and establishing new services to improve flow and outcomes for patients.
The amount of time spent undertaking clinical commitments will be determined by and will vary between 50%--60%. This is to protect the minimum of 40% protected time for chief registrar responsibilities.
On-call commitments may vary and will be determined locally.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Full registration with General Medical Council with a licence to practice
- Be fit to practice
- Should be NTN ST4 or above
- Can include locally employed doctors at experience equivalent to ST4 or above
- Should not already hold a CCT or expected to leave the programme before completion
- Must have approval of TPD to apply (NTNs)
- Evidence of satisfactory / more than satisfactory progress through training, including annual review of competence
Desirable
- Additional relevant degree (intercalated, master's or doctorate)
- Evidence of relevant academic achievements, including publications / presentations
- Evidence of altruistic behaviour, eg voluntary work
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of effective team working and leadership, supported by multi-source feedback or workplace-based assessments
- Self-awareness, with knowledge of personal strengths and weaknesses, impact and areas for development
- Interest in and knowledge of the importance of leadership and management for clinicians
- Evidence of interest in and experience of teaching
- Evidence of positive feedback on teaching approaches
Desirable
- Evidence of involvement in local management systems
- Evidence of effective leadership (eg evidence of leading innovations or improvements)
- Understanding of the local and national context of the NHS, including economic and political influences
- Evidence of a portfolio of audit / quality improvement projects, including evidence that the audit loop has been closed and evidence of learning about the principles of change management
- Evidence of publications / presentations / prizes in quality improvement or audit
- Development of teaching programmes
- Participation in teaching courses
- Writing experience: clinical and/or non-clinical topics, peer-reviewed publications and/or other communication (e.g. blog, letters to journals)
- Participation in degree or diploma courses in education
- Action learning sets / simulation instructor
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Please refer to the job description for full details of person specifications required to undertake this role
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Full registration with General Medical Council with a licence to practice
- Be fit to practice
- Should be NTN ST4 or above
- Can include locally employed doctors at experience equivalent to ST4 or above
- Should not already hold a CCT or expected to leave the programme before completion
- Must have approval of TPD to apply (NTNs)
- Evidence of satisfactory / more than satisfactory progress through training, including annual review of competence
Desirable
- Additional relevant degree (intercalated, master's or doctorate)
- Evidence of relevant academic achievements, including publications / presentations
- Evidence of altruistic behaviour, eg voluntary work
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of effective team working and leadership, supported by multi-source feedback or workplace-based assessments
- Self-awareness, with knowledge of personal strengths and weaknesses, impact and areas for development
- Interest in and knowledge of the importance of leadership and management for clinicians
- Evidence of interest in and experience of teaching
- Evidence of positive feedback on teaching approaches
Desirable
- Evidence of involvement in local management systems
- Evidence of effective leadership (eg evidence of leading innovations or improvements)
- Understanding of the local and national context of the NHS, including economic and political influences
- Evidence of a portfolio of audit / quality improvement projects, including evidence that the audit loop has been closed and evidence of learning about the principles of change management
- Evidence of publications / presentations / prizes in quality improvement or audit
- Development of teaching programmes
- Participation in teaching courses
- Writing experience: clinical and/or non-clinical topics, peer-reviewed publications and/or other communication (e.g. blog, letters to journals)
- Participation in degree or diploma courses in education
- Action learning sets / simulation instructor
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Please refer to the job description for full details of person specifications required to undertake this 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).
