Clinical Fellow in Hepatology

Job responsibilities

LEEDS TEACHING HOSPITAL NHS TRUST

Clinical Fellowship in Transplant Hepatology

Job Description

JOB DETAILS

Job Title: Clinical Fellow

Specialty/Department: Department of Hepatology

Location: Leeds Liver Unit, St Jamess University Hospital

Introduction: Information about the Department

We have a fellowship available in our department from February 2026 for a period of 12 months, subject to satisfactory progression.

With a growing need for doctors to understand and be able to manage patients with liver disease, this is an exciting opportunity to train in one of the leading UK Hepatology centres and contribute to the Leeds Liver Units international reputation for transplantation.

We are looking for an enthusiastic well-motivated trainee who wants the opportunity to gain experience in the management of liver disease.

The Department of Hepatology forms part of the Leeds Liver Unit and delivers Level 2 and 3 liver disease services across a large population within the North of England, including liver transplantation, acute liver failure and complex Hepatology services, viral hepatitis services and a broad range of Hepatology outpatient services.

The Department is affiliated to the University of Leeds with the MRC funded Centre for Bioinformatics, the Leeds Institute of Data Analysis and the NIHR funded Diagnostic Evaluation Co-operative.

The LTHT Liver Services internet site provides additional information about the Liver Unit and its work.

MEDICAL STAFF IN THE DEPARTMENT

There are 9 full-time Consultant Hepatologists, 1 part-time Consultant Hepatologist, an Academic Consultant Hepatologist in the University of Leeds and a Specialty Doctor making up the senior team within the department.

In addition, we have 6 specialist registrars on deanery accredited training schemes, 4 fellows (clinical/clinical research) and 2 internal medicine trainees. The trainees all participate in a resident on call rota compliant with the European Working Time Directive and also gain training and experience through outpatient clinics. The consultants operate a consultant of the week on call system and lead daily ward rounds including at weekends.

There is a formal system for supervision and appraisal.

The Specialist nurse (CNS) teams include the recipient transplant co-ordinators, hepatology CNSs, substance misuse CNSs and viral hepatitis CNSs.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Qualifications

Candidates should hold a primary medical qualification). Candidates with an equivalent qualification will be considered. Candidates must hold a full Licence to Practice with the General Medical Council. Candidates should hold a certificate in Advanced Life Support from the UK Resuscitation Council, or an equivalent and be prepared to undertake such training prior to taking up post. Candidates should hold the full MRCP(UK) qualification.

Experience

Candidates should have completed their primary qualification, hold the MRCP(UK) clinical medicine qualification and have experience in Hepatology for a minimum of 12 months. The post would suit a doctor who is post CCT in hepatology or a trainee with some experience in hepatology seeking to gain further Level 3 hepatology experience.

DUTIES OF THE POST

The successful candidate will contribute to the out of hours rota (1 in 9; resident) on the same basis as other trainees in the department, at registrar level responsibility. This is a single tier rota and appropriate experience in medical specialty training is highly desirable.

The successful applicant will contribute to the inpatient service delivering care of Liver Transplant and Hepatology patients. They will contribute to the Liver Units medical out of hours rota. There will also be the opportunity to participate in specialty clinics such as viral hepatitis, immune hepatology, primary liver cancer and portal hypertension. The appointee will also contribute to the care of patients in the Intensive Care Unit post liver transplant or because of acute liver failure. The Department is also expanding its Community Hepatology service, and the appointee would also contribute to this service.

Other opportunities for learning include a weekly radiology meeting, a weekly pathology case conference, the transplant MDT meeting and a weekly training meeting with a wide variety of topics covered over the year.

LEVELS OF RESPONSIBILITY

The successful candidate will report to a clinical supervisor and the Lead Clinician for the overall running and governance of the department. All consultants deliver clinical training and supervision. The successful candidate is expected to comply with the departments leave guidance and has a responsibility to ensure that patient care comes first.

TEACHING AND RESEARCH/STUDY AND TRAINING

All trainees have an assigned supervisor and undergo regular appraisal.

A monthly governance meeting is held in the Department of Hepatology or the Liver transplant programme, providing a well-structured audit and learning environment. Participation in the hospitals mandatory audit programme and governance meetings is expected.

The successful applicant will have the opportunity to contribute to audit or a clinical project within the department should they wish. Enthusiasm to conduct an audit or clinical research project will be welcomed and encouraged.

All new starters to the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust undertake a corporate induction, and there is a well-developed programme of e-learning packages to support education in essential areas such as infection control. The Liver Unit has an intranet site currently holding transplant medicine guidelines and developing as a site for other departmental guidelines. In addition the trust provides a web-based clinical guideline programme and access to Up-to-Date for all members of staff. There is a clinical sciences library based on site.

Eligibility, Fitness to practice, and Language Skills

Essential

• All applicants to have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues
• Be eligible for full registration with, and hold a current Licence to Practise from, the GMC at intended start date
• Demonstrates clarity in written/spoken communication & capacity to adapt language as appropriate to the situation
• Able to build rapport, listen, persuade & negotiate
• Professional telephone manner

Clinical, Academic, and Personal

Essential

• 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
• Experience in managing complications of cirrhosis.
• Ability to manage acute GI haemorrhage
• Competent at independent insertion of paracentesis drains
• Capacity to take responsibility for own actions
• Demonstrable interest in, and understanding of, the specialty
• Capacity to use logical/lateral thinking to solve problems/make decisions, indicating an analytical/scientific approach Capacity to bring a range of approaches to problem solving
• Capacity to take in others perspectives and treat others with understanding; sees patients as people Demonstrates respect for all.
• Capacity to manage/prioritise time and information effectively Capacity to prioritise own workload & organise ward rounds. Capacity to operate under pressure

Desirable

• Aptitude for practical skills, e.g. manual dexterity
• Successful completion of relevant skills course(s),
• Ability to receive clinical information from telephone referral service
• 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
• Extracurricular activities / achievements relevant to the specialty
• Evidence of relevant academic and research achievements, e.g. degrees, prizes, awards, distinctions, publications, presentations, other achievements
• 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

Qualifications

Essential

• Primary Medical Degree
• Completion of Foundation Training or equivalent
• Advanced Life Support Certificate from the Resuscitation Council UK or equivalent (as required to complete Foundation competences) by intended start date
• MDU/MPS or equivalent

Desirable

• Holding national training number in gastroenterology looking for (and able to take) out of programme experience

Clinical Experience and Career Progression

Essential

• 4 years experience after full GMC registration or equivalent, and evidence of achievement of foundation competences, in line with GMC standards / Good Medical Practice
• Evidence of achievement of IMTT/ST1competencies in medicine (as defined by the curricula relating to Internal Medical training)Previous experience in gastroenterology or hepatology in core training posable
• to work in multi-professional teams & supervise junior medical staff. Capacity to work effectively with others

Desirable

• Higher specialist training in gastroenterology or hepatology (holding national training number or CCT).
• Experience in upper GI endoscopy.
• Experience in working in acute general medicine.

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).