Job summary
Senior Clinical Fellow in Complex Spinal SurgeryUniversity College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH)Location: The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, LondonGrade: ST7 / Post-CCT equivalentContract: Fixed term, up to 12 monthsStart date: August 2026
UCLH invites applications for a Senior Clinical Fellow in Complex Spinal Surgery to join the Complex Spine Unit within the Department of Neurosurgery at The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, a leading international tertiary referral centre.
This fellowship is suitable for senior trainees or post-CCT surgeons seeking advanced subspecialty experience in complex spinal pathology within a high-volume, multidisciplinary academic environment.
Main duties of the job
Clinical ExperienceThe post offers extensive exposure to:o Complex spinal reconstructiono Primary and metastatic spinal tumourso Advanced degenerative spinal disease, including spinal deformitieso Cranio-cervical junction surgeryo Minimally invasive spinal techniques
Key Responsibilitieso Participation in consultant-led operating theatre listso Independent performance of operating theatre lists, commensurate with experience and under appropriate consultant oversighto Outpatient spinal clinicso Pre- and post-operative inpatient managemento Active involvement in clinical research and audit
This post is particularly suitable for post-CCT fellows, international applicants with equivalent training, or senior registrars seeking advanced exposure prior to consultant practice.
About us
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.
We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:
We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological,gastrointestinaland oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclearmedicineandpathology.
Weare committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For the full Person Specification and more informationregardingthe main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Please note, due toanticipatedhigh volumes of applications, this vacancy may close earlier than the listed closing date. You areadvised not to delaysubmittingyour completed application
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
*UCLH top trust to work at in England- In the most recentNHS staff surveyUCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the third year in a row.
UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff To find out more, visit:Flexible working.
To discover more about what makes UCLHa great placeto work, visit:Why Choose UCLH?
Job description
Job responsibilities
For the full Person Specification and more informationregardingthe main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Please note, due toanticipatedhigh volumes of applications, this vacancy may close earlier than the listed closing date. You areadvised not to delaysubmittingyour completed application
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
*UCLH top trust to work at in England- In the most recentNHS staff surveyUCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the third year in a row.
UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff To find out more, visit:Flexible working.
To discover more about what makes UCLHa great placeto work, visit:Why Choose UCLH?
Person Specification
Registered Medical Practitioner
Essential
- Registered Medical Practitioner
- Completed general medical training
- Eligible for full registration with the GMC at time of appointment and hold a current licence to practise
- MBBS or equivalent medical qualification
- MRCS(UK) full diploma or equivalent at time of appointment
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of experience in Spinal Neurosurgery (at least 6 years at registrar/resident level)
- Evidence of some competences in the specialty as defined by the relevant curricula
- Awareness of the basics of managing neurosurgical pathways
- Evidence of skills in the management of acute medical emergencies (e.g. ALERT, IMPACT certification)
- Able to demonstrate proficiency in a range of medical procedures as an indication of manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination
- Evidence of competence in management of medical emergencies and in-patients through continuous work-based assessments, portfolio evidence, including logbook documentation if applicable
- Demonstrate current ALS certification or equivalent
Academic Skills
Essential
- Demonstrates understanding of research, including awareness of ethical issues, understanding of the basic principles of audit, clinical risk management, evidence-based practice, patient safety and clinical quality improvement initiatives and also knowledge of evidence-informed practice
- Evidence of relevant academic & research achievements and involvement in a formal research project and publications
- Evidence of involvement in an audit project, a quality improvement project, formal research project or other activity
- Evidence of involvement in an audit project, a quality improvement project, formal research project or other activity
- Evidence of a portfolio of audit projects including where the audit loop has been closed and there is evidence of learning of the principles of change management
- Demonstrates an understanding of clinical governance
- Evidence of exceptional achievement in medicine
- Evidence of teaching experience and/or training in teaching
- Evidence of participation in a teaching course
Desirable
- Evidence of achievement outside medicine
- Evidence of altruistic behaviour e.g. voluntary work
Skills/Understanding
Essential
- Excellent communication skills/verbal and written
- Excellent organisational skills
- Good computing skills (database, statistics)
- Ability and commitment to teach in a clinical and non-clinical setting
- Ability to provide clinical supervision
- Ability to organise and prioritise workload, to delegate responsibility as appropriate and to supervise junior staff
- Committed to research and a commitment to quality in the research process
- Excellent presentation and teaching skills
- Able to work in multi-professional teams & supervise junior medical staff
Desirable
- Ability to administer a teaching programme
- Understanding of research methodology
- Evidence of involvement in management commensurate with experience
Knowledge
Essential
- Evidence of effective multidisciplinary team working and leadership supported by multi-source feedback or other workplace-based assessments
- Capacity to monitor developing situations and anticipate issues
Desirable
- Knowledge of the Clinical Governance framework of the NHS (including Research governance) and understanding of current changes in the organisation and management structures of the NHS. Ability to act within these parameters
- Evidence of effective leadership in and outside medicine
General
Essential
- Resourceful and able to act on own initiative
- A very high level of consideration and care for patients and research subjects
- High ethical and professional standards in research, education and clinical practice
Person Specification
Registered Medical Practitioner
Essential
- Registered Medical Practitioner
- Completed general medical training
- Eligible for full registration with the GMC at time of appointment and hold a current licence to practise
- MBBS or equivalent medical qualification
- MRCS(UK) full diploma or equivalent at time of appointment
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of experience in Spinal Neurosurgery (at least 6 years at registrar/resident level)
- Evidence of some competences in the specialty as defined by the relevant curricula
- Awareness of the basics of managing neurosurgical pathways
- Evidence of skills in the management of acute medical emergencies (e.g. ALERT, IMPACT certification)
- Able to demonstrate proficiency in a range of medical procedures as an indication of manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination
- Evidence of competence in management of medical emergencies and in-patients through continuous work-based assessments, portfolio evidence, including logbook documentation if applicable
- Demonstrate current ALS certification or equivalent
Academic Skills
Essential
- Demonstrates understanding of research, including awareness of ethical issues, understanding of the basic principles of audit, clinical risk management, evidence-based practice, patient safety and clinical quality improvement initiatives and also knowledge of evidence-informed practice
- Evidence of relevant academic & research achievements and involvement in a formal research project and publications
- Evidence of involvement in an audit project, a quality improvement project, formal research project or other activity
- Evidence of involvement in an audit project, a quality improvement project, formal research project or other activity
- Evidence of a portfolio of audit projects including where the audit loop has been closed and there is evidence of learning of the principles of change management
- Demonstrates an understanding of clinical governance
- Evidence of exceptional achievement in medicine
- Evidence of teaching experience and/or training in teaching
- Evidence of participation in a teaching course
Desirable
- Evidence of achievement outside medicine
- Evidence of altruistic behaviour e.g. voluntary work
Skills/Understanding
Essential
- Excellent communication skills/verbal and written
- Excellent organisational skills
- Good computing skills (database, statistics)
- Ability and commitment to teach in a clinical and non-clinical setting
- Ability to provide clinical supervision
- Ability to organise and prioritise workload, to delegate responsibility as appropriate and to supervise junior staff
- Committed to research and a commitment to quality in the research process
- Excellent presentation and teaching skills
- Able to work in multi-professional teams & supervise junior medical staff
Desirable
- Ability to administer a teaching programme
- Understanding of research methodology
- Evidence of involvement in management commensurate with experience
Knowledge
Essential
- Evidence of effective multidisciplinary team working and leadership supported by multi-source feedback or other workplace-based assessments
- Capacity to monitor developing situations and anticipate issues
Desirable
- Knowledge of the Clinical Governance framework of the NHS (including Research governance) and understanding of current changes in the organisation and management structures of the NHS. Ability to act within these parameters
- Evidence of effective leadership in and outside medicine
General
Essential
- Resourceful and able to act on own initiative
- A very high level of consideration and care for patients and research subjects
- High ethical and professional standards in research, education and clinical practice
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).
Employer details
Employer name
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, UCLH
Queen Square
London
WC1N 3BG
Employer's website
https://www.uclh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)
