Royal College of Surgeons Fellow in Anterior Skull Base

Job responsibilities

INFORMATION ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The Department of Neurosurgery provides a comprehensive neurosurgical service to the 2.5 million people of West and North Yorkshire. The Neurosurgical Department is at The Leeds General Infirmary at Leeds part of Leeds Teaching Hospitals. There is a Major Trauma Centre with helicopter at this site. This is an amalgamation of the previous separate units at the Leeds Infirmary and the Pinderfields General Hospital, Wakefield.

The centralised Neurosurgical Department has approximately 65 adult beds with a 7-bedded dedicated Neuro-intensive Care Unit as well as an 8 bedded High Dependency Unit. There are 3 operating theatres, 1 dedicated to emergency surgery 24 hours per day. There are separate beds and intensive care facilities for Paediatric Neurology and Neurosurgery.

The Neurosurgical Department has close links with the other neurosciences, particularly the Department of Neuro-Radiology where there is high expertise in imaging and interventional neuroradiology. The Department has 2 CT scanners, 3 MRI scanners, digital subtraction angiography and CT angiography.

Neuro-anaesthesia is provided at a specialist level. The Neuro- anaesthetists provide support to both the neurosurgery dedicated High Dependency and Intensive Care Unit.

The Neuro-pathology Department for Yorkshire is on site and provides a full histological and post-mortem service. There are facilities for inter-operative histopathology.

There are close links with the ENT Department for Neuro-otological procedure. There are also close links with the Maxillo-facial, Plastic Surgery and the Orthopaedic Spinal surgeons.

There is a comprehensive Paediatric Neurosciences Department with 5 Paediatric Neurologists, 4 specialist Neurosurgeons and full Oncology services.

The Department's work has continued to increase over the past years. The current caseload is some 3000 in-patients per year and approximately 2000 operative cases per year.

MEDICAL STAFF IN THE DEPARTMENT

Consultant Staff

The Department is led by 14 Consultants. They all have comprehensive general Neurosurgical commitment as well as particular subspecialty interests.

Ms R Chave-Cox Paediatric, Oncology, craniofacial Neurosurgery

Mr J R Goodden Paediatric, Oncology and Spasticity Neurosurgery

Mr K Deniz Vascular and Posterior Skull Base Neurosurgery

Mr N I Phillips Pituitary, Vascular and Skull Base Neurosurgery

Mr I Anderson Vascular Neurosurgery

Mr G Sivakumar Paediatric, Functional, Epilepsy & Oncology Neurosurgery

Mr A K Tyagi Vascular and Paediatric Neurosurgery

Mr S Thomson Adult Oncology and Spinal Neurosurgery

Mr R Corns Adult Oncology and Trauma Neurosurgery

Mr A Sheikh Vascular and Skull Base Neurosurgery

Mr R Mathew Academic Oncology Neurosurgery

Mr J Livermore Oncology Neurosurgery

Mr C Derham Spinal Neurosurgery

Mr D Pal Spinal Neurosurgery

Mr S Selvanathan Spinal Neurosurgery

The middle grade rota consists of 16 Higher Specialty Trainees participating in a 1:14 out of hours rota. The junior level rota is 1:11

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

The Department of neurosurgery in Leeds is committed to minimally invasive approaches for skull base lesions and has an active and established endoscopic programme supported by Mr Phillips, Mr Tyagi, Mr Sheikh (Neurosurgery) and Mr Nix (ENT).

There is special interest in pituitary disease, chordoma and chondrosarcoma of the skull base and olfactory neuroblastoma. There is dedicated supraspecialist endocrine and radiological support.

Clinicians are expected to be keen to support national audit and engage/develop their own research interests in Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery.

DUTIES OF THE POST

General

The fellow will become immersed in the Pituitary service in all its aspects in preparation for independent practice. A thorough grounding in Pituitary and Endoscopic skull base management will be provided, - both operative and non-operative. A curriculum will be discussed at the initial learning agreement.

Operative

The fellow will gain independent competencies in dealing with sella pathology endoscopically. There will be exposure to extended approaches.

Non operative

The Fellow will support ward management, attend specialist clinics and Multi -disciplinary meetings to gain a thorough understanding of management of Sella disease, including endocrine and radio surgical.

LEVELS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Specially Registrar level. The Fellow will contribute to the on-call registrar rota and be able to work independently.

TEACHING AND RESEARCH/STUDY AND TRAINING

This post will provide support for and require participation in research and audit projects in the relevant areas.

This post is fixed term for 1 year and will commence from August /September 2025.

THE LEEDS WAY VALUES

Our values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are:

Patient-centred

Collaborative

Fair

Accountable

Empowered

All our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values

Additionally the following are core values which relate specifically to this post:

The beliefs and attitudes that underpin effective performance within the job role. Emphasis should be on the requirements of the role not the individual when completing this section. Examples might include: quality focus, mistakes are used as a continual learning experience, honesty, integrity etc.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is part of the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT), a collaborative of the NHS hospital trusts from across West Yorkshire and Harrogate working together to provide the best possible care for our patients.

By bringing together the wide range of skills and expertise across West Yorkshire and Harrogate we are working differently, innovating and driving forward change to deliver the highest quality care. By working for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust this is your opportunity to be a part of that change.

WYAAT is the acute sector arm of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership, one of the largest integrated care systems in the country. The Partnerships ambition is for everyone to have the best possible health and wellbeing, and the work of WYAAT, and each individual trust, supports that ambition.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

This post is covered by the Hospital Medical and Dental Staff (England and Wales) Terms and Conditions of Service. These documents are available on the Medical Staffing Intranet site.

The post holder is required to be fully registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) and hold a licence to practice.

Standards of Conduct and Behaviour

You are required to work to the standards set out by the General Medical Council in Good Medical Practice. This includes protecting patients when you believe that a doctors or other colleagues conduct, performance or health is a threat to them. If, after establishing the facts, it is necessary, you must follow the Trusts procedures in this matter and inform your Clinical Director or Medical Director in the first instance.

The Trust has a set of expected behaviours for all employees and additional behaviours and skills that are expected of managers and supervisors.

Leave Arrangements

All leave should be applied for in accordance with the Trusts Leave Policy, normally giving six weeks notice of any leave, other than in exceptional circumstances.

Training

The jobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional Development remains a priority. The jobholder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role.

Health & Safety

All staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service users. This includes complying at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Policies, including Health and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed safe working procedures, and reporting incidents using the Trust Incident Reporting system.

Equality & Diversity

The jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patient or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.

The Trust's Equality and Diversity Policy ensures that barriers to employment for disadvantaged groups are identified and removed, and that no person is treated less favourably on the grounds of their race, ethnic group, religion, impairment, age, gender, sexual orientation or mental health status. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants and post holders where required.

Eligibility, Fitness to practice, and Language Skills

Essential

• Full registration with, and hold a current licence to practise from, the GMC at time of application
• Eligibility to work in the UK.
• 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
• Meets professional health requirements (in line with GMC standards/Good Medical Practice)

Clinical Experience and Career Progression

Essential

• Approaching completion or recently completed higher neurosurgical training or equivalent.
• Demonstrated commitment to pursuing a career as a neurosurgeon with a major subspecialist interest in endoscopic skull base surgery
• Demonstrable interest in developing consultant level subspeciality skills in endoscopic skull base surgery.

Additional Requirements

Essential

• Enthusiasm for all aspects of anterior endoscopic skull base surgery
• Ability to work in a team
• Demonstrates probity
• 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

Clinical, Academic, and Personal Skills

Essential

• Ability to apply sound clinical knowledge and judgement to problems
• Recognition of, and ability to undertake the initial management of, an acutely ill patient

Qualifications

Essential

• MBBS or equivalent medical qualification
• ARCP Outcome 1 at ST6 or equivalent experience
• Passed Speciality Fellowship Examination in Neurosurgery or equivalent

Desirable

• Relevant BSc, MD, PhD
• CCT in Neurosurgery

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).