County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Specialty Doctor Training Fellowship in Palliative Medicine

The closing date is 22 January 2026

Job summary

This post is intended for a candidate who wishes to develop skills in palliative care with the intention of either a career in palliative medicine or general practice. The post holder will work alongside the existing consultants to deliver excellent palliative care and develop their own clinical skills and expertise.

The post holder will play an important role in the specialist palliative care team in Durham Hospital (UHND) in collaboration with the palliative care consultants, medical colleagues and the wider multidisciplinary team.

The role also involves participation in training and educational activities as well as activities relating to maintaining clinical excellence within the service.

Main duties of the job

This post is intended to provide clinical assessment and management in palliative medicine for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT).

To work collaboratively with palliative care consultants (acute and community based) across the County to ensure the provision of high quality palliative care consistent with national and Northern England Clinical Strategic Network standards and guidelines.

To work as part of the Specialist Palliative Care Team providing support and advice to hospital palliative care teams and clinical staff in acute hospitals in County Durham

To promote a seamless transition across all care boundaries for patients with palliative care needs through collaborative working with primary, secondary and tertiary care services.

To facilitate the roll out of national end of life initiatives and developments as agreed with the palliative care services.

About us

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.

Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have been employed for a minimum of two years of as a HCA within the NHS for the Trust to consider sponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria and have a current visa expiring within 3 months).

Details

Date posted

08 January 2026

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Specialty Doctor

Salary

£61,542 to £99,216 a year MC75 Payscale per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

C9439-2526-1354

Job locations

University Hospital Of North Durham

North Road

Durham

DH1 5TW


Job description

Job responsibilities

This post is intended for a candidate who wishes to develop skills in palliative care with the intention of either a career in palliative medicine or general practice. The post holder will work alongside the existing consultants to deliver excellent palliative care and develop their own clinical skills and expertise.

The post holder will play an important role in the specialist palliative care team in Durham Hospital (UHND) in collaboration with the palliative care consultants, medical colleagues and the wider multidisciplinary team.

The role also involves participation in training and educational activities as well as activities relating to maintaining clinical excellence within the service.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To provide high quality, flexible and responsive medical support, assessment and care and/or specialist advice for patients in County Durham who have complex pain, symptom, spiritual and psychosocial needs which require specialist palliative care interventions. Responsibilities will include:

Working with the hospital palliative care team to support the care of patients in the acute hospitals.

Liaison with other members of the multidisciplinary team, patients families, primary healthcare teams, hospital services and other specialist palliative care teams.

Completing clinical administrative duties.

To participate in teaching and educational activities (students, health care professional colleagues including junior medical colleagues, patients and families)

To maintain continuing professional development through personal development goals and regular review to support and encourage development.

General

Undertake administrative duties associated with the care of patients (including activity data as required) in line with Trust Policy.

Clinical Governance

Contribute to the clinical governance activities of the specialist palliative care team, including regular audit, development of appropriate trust-wide standards and annual appraisal.

Participate in local and national audit as agreed with the service.

Participate in quality improvement initiatives.

Education

Maintain continuing professional development in accordance with the requirements of the Royal College of Physicians/the Royal College of General Practitioners.

Contribute to the delivery of undergraduate medical education and GP trainees in all aspects of palliative, end of life care, communication skills and ethics.

Participate in undergraduate, postgraduate and multi-professional education programmes across primary care and within the Trust.

Participate in Specialist Palliative Care Service education sessions.

COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Working with the hospital palliative care team to support the care of patients in the acute hospitals.

Liaison with other members of the multidisciplinary team, patients families, primary healthcare teams, hospital services and other specialist palliative care teams.

Job description

Job responsibilities

This post is intended for a candidate who wishes to develop skills in palliative care with the intention of either a career in palliative medicine or general practice. The post holder will work alongside the existing consultants to deliver excellent palliative care and develop their own clinical skills and expertise.

The post holder will play an important role in the specialist palliative care team in Durham Hospital (UHND) in collaboration with the palliative care consultants, medical colleagues and the wider multidisciplinary team.

The role also involves participation in training and educational activities as well as activities relating to maintaining clinical excellence within the service.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To provide high quality, flexible and responsive medical support, assessment and care and/or specialist advice for patients in County Durham who have complex pain, symptom, spiritual and psychosocial needs which require specialist palliative care interventions. Responsibilities will include:

Working with the hospital palliative care team to support the care of patients in the acute hospitals.

Liaison with other members of the multidisciplinary team, patients families, primary healthcare teams, hospital services and other specialist palliative care teams.

Completing clinical administrative duties.

To participate in teaching and educational activities (students, health care professional colleagues including junior medical colleagues, patients and families)

To maintain continuing professional development through personal development goals and regular review to support and encourage development.

General

Undertake administrative duties associated with the care of patients (including activity data as required) in line with Trust Policy.

Clinical Governance

Contribute to the clinical governance activities of the specialist palliative care team, including regular audit, development of appropriate trust-wide standards and annual appraisal.

Participate in local and national audit as agreed with the service.

Participate in quality improvement initiatives.

Education

Maintain continuing professional development in accordance with the requirements of the Royal College of Physicians/the Royal College of General Practitioners.

Contribute to the delivery of undergraduate medical education and GP trainees in all aspects of palliative, end of life care, communication skills and ethics.

Participate in undergraduate, postgraduate and multi-professional education programmes across primary care and within the Trust.

Participate in Specialist Palliative Care Service education sessions.

COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Working with the hospital palliative care team to support the care of patients in the acute hospitals.

Liaison with other members of the multidisciplinary team, patients families, primary healthcare teams, hospital services and other specialist palliative care teams.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • MB ChB or equivalent

Desirable

  • Higher Medical Qualification
  • Diploma in Palliative Medicine

Special Requirements

Essential

  • Ability to work autonomously and use initiative while recognising own limitations and seeking help appropriately
  • Good listner
  • Flexible
  • Able to motivate others
  • Promptness in communication with other professionals in connection with patient care

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

  • Highly developed knowledge and skills in all aspects of advanced care planning
  • Audit Skills
  • Teaching Skills
  • Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team
  • Communication skills that are sensitive to patients, families and staff.

Desirable

  • Understanding of management process and issues

Experience

Essential

  • Full GMC registration, a licence to practise and relevant postgraduate training
  • Knowledge and experience of symptom control in Malignant Disease, and non-malignant conditions

Desirable

  • Research interest

Satutory Registration

Essential

  • Full GMC registration with a licence to practice
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • MB ChB or equivalent

Desirable

  • Higher Medical Qualification
  • Diploma in Palliative Medicine

Special Requirements

Essential

  • Ability to work autonomously and use initiative while recognising own limitations and seeking help appropriately
  • Good listner
  • Flexible
  • Able to motivate others
  • Promptness in communication with other professionals in connection with patient care

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

  • Highly developed knowledge and skills in all aspects of advanced care planning
  • Audit Skills
  • Teaching Skills
  • Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team
  • Communication skills that are sensitive to patients, families and staff.

Desirable

  • Understanding of management process and issues

Experience

Essential

  • Full GMC registration, a licence to practise and relevant postgraduate training
  • Knowledge and experience of symptom control in Malignant Disease, and non-malignant conditions

Desirable

  • Research interest

Satutory Registration

Essential

  • Full GMC registration with a licence to 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.

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).

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.

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).

Employer details

Employer name

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Address

University Hospital Of North Durham

North Road

Durham

DH1 5TW


Employer's website

https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Address

University Hospital Of North Durham

North Road

Durham

DH1 5TW


Employer's website

https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant in Palliative Medicine

David Oxenham

d.oxenham@nhs.net

07971895373

Details

Date posted

08 January 2026

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Specialty Doctor

Salary

£61,542 to £99,216 a year MC75 Payscale per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

C9439-2526-1354

Job locations

University Hospital Of North Durham

North Road

Durham

DH1 5TW


Supporting documents

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