Specialty Doctor in Paediatric Oncology and Haematology

Job responsibilities

INFORMATION ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

Yorkshire Regional Centre for Paediatric Oncology & Haematology.

The Paediatric Oncology & Haematology Department, Leeds Children's Hospital, is a principal treatment centre and treats all newly diagnosed children from the region. There are approximately 130 new referrals of children and teenagers with malignant disease per year. The service is delivered by a large comprehensive multi professional team in both in patient and out patient including day care facilities. The centre is also a tertiary benign paediatric haematology centre with a large population of children with bleeding disorders and haemoglobinopathies. The wider children's hospital contains the complete range of paediatric sub specialty services including congenital cardiac surgery, renal transplantation and a supra regional liver transplant service.

There are three in patient wards, which are all co located on A Floor, Clarendon Wing at Leeds General Infirmary.

L31 is a 17 bed children's oncology and haematology ward.

L32 is a 4 bed paediatric and TYA stem cell transplant ward.

L33 is a 8 bed dedicated teenage cancer trust supported, teenage oncology and haematology ward.

The out patient day care ward is located close to the inpatient ward and accommodates patients requiring day case investigations and treatment, including three general anaesthetic lists each week for bone marrow and lumbar puncture procedures.

MEDICAL STAFF IN THE DEPARTMENT

The successful applicant will join the Paediatric Haematology and Oncology Department which is led by Dr Susan Picton (Lead Clinician and Paediatric Oncologist).

The paediatric haematology team includes

Dr Mike Richards, Dr Beki James (Director of Paediatric Stem Cell Transplant), Dr Jacob Grinfeld and Dr Melpomeni Rompola who provide the regional paediatric haematology service.

Additionally, the post holder will work with the paediatric haemato oncology consultant team which also includes Dr Danielle Ingham, Dr Chris Lethaby and Dr Amy Ruffle and in the wider department will also work with the paediatric oncologists Professor Adam Glaser (Clinical Lead for the NIHR Childrens Clinical Research Facility), Dr Martin Elliott, Dr Bob Phillips, Dr Simone Wilkins and Dr Jessica Morgan.

There are two higher specialty trainees (HST) in paediatrics (including Oncology GRID trainees), two HST trainees in Haematology (including a Paediatric Haematology trainee). There are also two specialty doctors in clinic and day care and a middle grade trust doctor to supports the bone marrow transplant service. There is a team of Paediatric lower specialty trainees who rotate through the specialties.

The department has 3.5 fully qualified advanced nurse practitioners and a further 1 in training.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

This is a position offering broad clinical experience in the care of children and teenagers with cancer and haematological disorders. The post is suitable for doctors who are interested in paediatric oncology or haematology particularly those wishing to develop their skills such as doctors approaching CCT or post-CCT.

The post is advertised without on call to ensure continuity of care to the patients and to ensure that the post holder experiences the service in a continuous model, without the constraints of an on call rota. However, the post holder will be expected to contribute to weekend day time middle grade shifts in paediatric oncology and haematology and be remunerated by intensity supplement and time back in lieu.

The post is available from 1st February 2025.

DUTIES OF THE POST

The post will be adapted, dependent on previous experience and on going needs of the appointee but will be out patient day care based. If the post holder will be approaching or post CCT, then they will be given significant clinical responsibility within the department, with consultant support.

The core duties of the post includes

Out-patient service

Attend consultant led clinics. The post-holder will review on treatment and follow up patients in clinic, assess patients for chemotherapy and arrange investigations etc. At times the post holder will review acute walk in patients as required. The appointee will prescribe chemotherapy (using Chemocare) in collaboration with the paediatric oncology pharmacists. The post holder will also work with Dr Jessica Morgan in the long term Follow up Service and will attend a weekly clinic and MDT. The post holder will contribute to the non malignant haematology service by joining one clinic a week in haemoglobinopthies.

2. MDT and clinical radiology meeting attendance

The appointee will attend the weekly neuro oncology MDT and the ward round when due to work the weekends

3. Clinical Governance and Quality Improvement

The department has an active clinical governance and quality improvement programme including regular patient safety meeting. It is expected that the post holder will contribute to this programme.

LEVELS OF RESPONSIBILITY

The post holder will be expected to work alongside the consultants in running the service. As such it may be an ideal post for someone looking for a consultant position in the near future who may wish to broaden their experience prior to a consultant appointment.

TEACHING AND RESEARCH STUDY AND TRAINING

It is expected that the appointee will have a significant role in supporting the trainee doctors in their education. They will coordinate and contribute to the weekly LST training programme, assess trainees in their work based assessments and be involved in development of simulation training within the department.

The post holder will support the consultants in development and delivery of the junior doctor induction programme at change each August and February.

The post holder will work with the research nurse team in supporting the busy schedule of clinical research in the department. This will include recruitment of patients to trials, assessment of patients according to trial protocol, completion of safety assessments and documentation when appropriate and attendance at the bi monthly research management meeting. The department will be very supportive of any individual wishing to develop their own research profile.

SUMMARY

Leeds Childrens Hospital Paediatric Oncology and Haematology department treats patients with the full spectrum of Oncology and Haematology disorders in a single unit from birth to young adult life. All subspecialty areas of interest are catered for and there is an opportunity to develop and consolidate previous experience and training in Paediatric Oncology Haematology in a post or peri CCT position. Informal enquiries regarding this post are welcome (Dr Jessica Morgan 0113 3928779 or Susan Picton 0113 3928306).

COMMITMENT TO SPECIALTY – LEARNING AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Essential

• Shows initiative/drive/enthusiasm (self-starter, motivated, shows curiosity, initiative)
• Demonstrable interest in, and understanding of, the specialty.
• Commitment to personal and professional development
• Evidence of attendance at organised teaching and training programme(s)
• Evidence of self-reflective practice

Desirable

• Extracurricular activities / achievements relevant to the specialty

Qualifications

Essential

• MRCP/MRCPCH or equivalent
• Be eligible for full registration with, and hold a current licence to practise from, the GMC at intended start date
• Eligibility to work in the UK.
• Advanced Life Support Certificate from the Resuscitation Council UK or equivalent (as required to complete Foundation competences) by intended start date
• Is up to date and fit to practise safely and is aware of own training needs.
• All applicants to have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues demonstrated by one of the following:
• Applicants have undertaken undergraduate medical training in English.
• OR
• Achieved the minimum score of 7 across all 4 of the following categories in the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) in a single sitting within 24 months at time of application Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. (An overall minimum score of 7.5)
• OR
• Achieved the minimum Grade B across all 4 of the following categories in the Occupational English Test (OET) in medicine in a single sitting within 24 months at time of application Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. (You must provide your candidate number)
• If applicants believe they have adequate communication skills, but do not have evidence in one of the above forms, they must provide alternative supporting evidence of language skills.

Experience

Essential

• Experience in paediatric oncology and haematology at HST level is required.
• Four years experience after full GMC registration or equivalent, and evidence of achievement of foundation competences, in line with GMC standards / Good Medical Practice; including:
• make the care or your patient your first concern
• provide a good standard of practice and care
• take prompt action if you think that patient safety, dignity or comfort is being compromised
• protect and promote the health of patients and of the public
• treat patients as individuals and respect their dignity
• work in partnership with patients
• work with colleagues in the ways that best serve patients interests
• be honest and open and act with integrity
• never discriminate unfairly against patients or colleagues
• Ability to apply sound clinical knowledge and judgement to problems
• Ability to prioritise clinical need
• Ability to maximise safety and minimise risk
• Recognition of, and ability to undertake the initial management of, an acutely ill patient
• never abuse your patients trust in you or the publics trust in the profession.
• Evidence of achievement of higher specialist training and competencies in paediatric oncology and haematology
• Demonstrates understanding of research, including awareness of ethical issues
• Demonstrates understanding of the basic principles of audit, clinical risk management, evidence-based practice, patient safety, and clinical quality improvement initiatives
• Demonstrates knowledge of evidence-informed practice
• Communication Skills
• Demonstrates clarity in written/spoken communication & capacity to adapt language as appropriate to the situation.
• Able to build rapport, listen, persuade & negotiate.
• Problem Solving & Decision Making
• Capacity to use logical/lateral thinking to solve problems/make decisions, indicating an analytical/scientific approach.
• Empathy & Sensitivity
• Capacity to take in others perspectives and treat others with understanding; sees patients as people.
• Demonstrates respect for all.
• Managing Others & Team Involvement
• Able to work in multi-professional teams & supervise junior medical staff.
• Ability to show leadership, make decisions, organise, and motivate other team members for the benefit of patients through, for example, audit and quality improvement Projects.
• Capacity to work effectively with others.
• Organisation & Planning
• Capacity to manage/prioritise time and information effectively.
• Capacity to prioritise own workload & organise ward rounds.
• Evidence of thoroughness (is well prepared, shows self-discipline/ commitment, is punctual and meets deadlines)
• Vigilance & Situational Awareness
• Capacity to monitor developing situations and anticipate issues.
• Coping with Pressure and managing uncertainty
• Capacity to operate under pressure.
• Demonstrates initiative & resilience to cope with changing circumstances.
• Is able to deliver good clinical care in the face of uncertainty.
• Values
• Understands, respects, and demonstrates the values of the NHS Constitution (e.g. everyone counts; improving lives; commitment to quality of care; respect and dignity; working together for patients; compassion)

Desirable

• Aptitude for evaluating clinical outcomes and applying this to improve patient experience.
• A high-level clinical skills in managing acutely ill patients and supporting the wider MDT in this field
• Research and audit skills:
• Evidence of experience in project management and ability to complete a project and evaluate the outcomes.
• Research experience in paediatric oncology or supportive care with publications.
• Evidence of involvement in an audit project, a quality improvement project, formal research project or other activity which:
• focuses on patient safety and clinical improvement.
• demonstrates an interest in and commitment to the specialty beyond the mandatory curriculum.
• Teaching:
• Evidence of interest in, and experience of teaching
• Evidence of feedback for teaching
• Instructor status (or a recommendation for instructor status) in an advanced life support course (ALS, ATLS, EPLS, APLS) or equivalent course

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).