Job summary
Consultant in Elderly Care - Acute and Community FrailtyEast Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust - Eastbourne District General Hospital
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust is seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Consultant in Elderly Care to join the Acute Frailty Team based at Eastbourne District General Hospital. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of integrated acute and community frailty services and to support high-quality care for older people across East Sussex.
The successful applicant will work as part of a multidisciplinary team delivering comprehensive frailty services to a local population of approximately 544,000 people. The role focuses on the early assessment and management of older patients living with frailty, supporting rapid clinical decision-making and enabling safe, effective care pathways that promote independence and avoid unnecessary hospital admission where possible.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will contribute to the Acute Frailty Team across several clinical areas including the emergency department, clinical decision unit and acute medical unit, as well as inpatient wards and the virtual frailty ward. The role also includes supporting community-based assessments and working closely with discharge teams and community services to facilitate safe transitions from hospital to home.
Key duties include providing consultant leadership in frailty assessment, participating in multidisciplinary ward rounds and board rounds, delivering outpatient clinics aligned with the post holder's special interests, and supporting the development of surgical liaison services for frail surgical patients. The consultant will also assess patients referred by other specialties and contribute to service improvement initiatives across the frailty pathway.
The successful candidate will take part in the General Internal Medicine on-call rota alongside consultant colleagues and will contribute to teaching, clinical governance, audit, and quality improvement activities within the department. There will be opportunities to develop specialist interests and to support research and education within the Trust and in partnership with regional academic institutions.
This post offers the opportunity to play a key role in shaping innovative frailty services and improving outcomes for older people across East Sussex within a supportive and forward-thinking clinical team.
About us
We are proud to provide 'Outstanding' care and be a great place to work
We provide safe, compassionate and high quality care to half a million people living or visiting East Sussex. We are one of the largest organisations in East Sussex, the only integrated provider of acute and community care in Sussex. Our extensive services are provided by 7000 + members of staff working from acute hospitals in Hastings and Eastbourne, three community hospitals in Bexhill, Rye and Uckfield, over 100 community sites and in people's own homes.
In 2020 the Care Quality Commission rated us as 'Good' overall, and 'Outstanding' for being caring and effective. The Conquest Hospital and our Community Services are rated 'Outstanding'. Eastbourne DGH rated 'Good'.
In 2020, the Trust launched its ambitious 'Building for our Future' programme. This once in a lifetime programme aims to repair, redevelop and expand our hospitals, transforming the environment in which we provide care for generations to come.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the job description attached. (JD pending RCP approval)
If you have any questions about this position please do not hesitate to contact us
AAC date- June 2026
Please note: Applicants should be a holder of Certificate of Completion of Training or be within six months of the award of CCT by the date of the interview or the equivalent (CESR) which is at the time of applying, on the GMC Specialist Register.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the job description attached. (JD pending RCP approval)
If you have any questions about this position please do not hesitate to contact us
AAC date- June 2026
Please note: Applicants should be a holder of Certificate of Completion of Training or be within six months of the award of CCT by the date of the interview or the equivalent (CESR) which is at the time of applying, on the GMC Specialist Register.
Person Specification
Qualification, Higher Qualifications & Registration
Essential
- MB BS or equivalent
- Membership or Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians
- Full Registration with GMC with a licence to practice
Desirable
Training & experience
Essential
- Wide experience in all aspects of General (Internal) Medicine and Stroke Medicine.
Desirable
- Experience in other relevant medical specialities
- Completion of courses relevant to Stroke Medicine and Care of the Elderly.
- Ability to develop a subspecialty interest within the field of Stroke Medicine
Administration & Management
Essential
- Evidence of participation in management
- Understanding of recent initiatives and changes, including Clinical Governance and Appraisal
Desirable
- Management course and/or qualifications
- Knowledge of the structure of Health Service
Audit, Research & Publications
Essential
- Thorough understanding of principles of medical audit
- Understanding of the role of research
Desirable
- Completion and/or Publication of audit projects
- Experience of clinical research culminating in presentation and publication of original studies, review articles, etc, relevant to speciality
- Ability to lead clinical research project
Personal skills & Personal attributes
Essential
- Effective communicator, able to work in a multi-disciplinary team
- Leadership qualities
- Familiarity with information technology and general computer skills.
- Ability to work with colleagues in other specialities to develop local services.
- Professional attitude towards work
- Good record of attendance
Desirable
- Good presentation skills
- Demonstration of initiated projects
- Specific attributes for post
- UK Driving Licence
Teaching
Essential
- Enthusiasm for teaching medical students, nursing staff and other professional groups
Desirable
- Educational qualification
Person Specification
Qualification, Higher Qualifications & Registration
Essential
- MB BS or equivalent
- Membership or Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians
- Full Registration with GMC with a licence to practice
Desirable
Training & experience
Essential
- Wide experience in all aspects of General (Internal) Medicine and Stroke Medicine.
Desirable
- Experience in other relevant medical specialities
- Completion of courses relevant to Stroke Medicine and Care of the Elderly.
- Ability to develop a subspecialty interest within the field of Stroke Medicine
Administration & Management
Essential
- Evidence of participation in management
- Understanding of recent initiatives and changes, including Clinical Governance and Appraisal
Desirable
- Management course and/or qualifications
- Knowledge of the structure of Health Service
Audit, Research & Publications
Essential
- Thorough understanding of principles of medical audit
- Understanding of the role of research
Desirable
- Completion and/or Publication of audit projects
- Experience of clinical research culminating in presentation and publication of original studies, review articles, etc, relevant to speciality
- Ability to lead clinical research project
Personal skills & Personal attributes
Essential
- Effective communicator, able to work in a multi-disciplinary team
- Leadership qualities
- Familiarity with information technology and general computer skills.
- Ability to work with colleagues in other specialities to develop local services.
- Professional attitude towards work
- Good record of attendance
Desirable
- Good presentation skills
- Demonstration of initiated projects
- Specific attributes for post
- UK Driving Licence
Teaching
Essential
- Enthusiasm for teaching medical students, nursing staff and other professional groups
Desirable
- Educational qualification
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).
