Consultant Ophthalmologist

Job responsibilities

Job Summary

The post offered is a full time 10 session Consultant Ophthalmologist with a specialist interest in Vitreo-retinal Surgery based at Singleton Hospital.

This is a replacement post joining a team of 12 substantive and 2 locum Consultant Ophthalmologists. The successful applicant will be responsible for the provision of Vitreo-retinal Surgery services to the Health Board in conjunction with 1 other vitreo-retinal surgeon.

The Department of Ophthalmology, including acute eye-care, is based in Singleton Hospital. The main acute services for SBUHB which serves a population of approximately 400,000 are based at Morriston Hospital. All non-paediatric emergency and elective surgery currently take place at Singleton Hospital.

The Surgical Specialties Directorate is an integrated directorate serving Neath Port Talbot Hospital in Port Talbot, and Morriston and Singleton Hospitals. The Directorate also provides regional services to patients living along the M4 corridor in South Wales and to the population of West Wales.

Flexible working patterns that respect the guidance of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists AAC may be required along with extended timetabling (e.g. 2 weekly rotas) to make the most efficient use of facilities

The successful applicant will participate in a VR on-call rota at Singleton Hospital, with prospective cover.

Working across Boundaries

At the current time this post is based at Singleton Hospital. As services are reconfigured to ensure they remain safe and sustainable in the future there may be occasions when the successful applicant will be requested to undertake duties at other locations within Swansea Bay University Health Board in accordance with the needs of the service. Travelling as necessary between hospitals / clinics may be required to undertake such duties. Travel expenses will be remunerated according to the Health Board policy and procedures for claiming and any change of base may carry an entitlement to excess travel payments.

Regional Services are currently in the process of being reconfigured to ensure they remain safe and sustainable for the future. It is anticipated that the department will increasingly provide regional services to patients living along the M4 corridor to the population of South West Wales. There may therefore be, in addition to the above, occasions when with agreement of the successful applicant, requests may be made to undertake duties at other locations within the Health Board and possibly within Hywel Dda University Health Board.

In the medium to long-term we envisage closer collaborations and / or a merger of the ophthalmic services for Swansea Bay University Health Board and Hywel Dda Health Boards. Ultimately it is likely that a single consultant body will provide eye-care to the entire South West Wales region based at a centre of excellence supporting local working (hub / spoke / tyre model of care). As a consequence it must be expected that job plans and contracts may need to flex / change in future to facilitate this process of care delivery. We do not however envisage that this will be a difficult or disruptive process but one which supports staff, patients and provides opportunity.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1 Clinical

You will provide a clinical service, with colleagues, which will include the responsibility for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness.

Working with consultant colleagues and the multi-professional team you will have continuing responsibility for the well-being of all patients under your care; allowing for proper delegation to, and training of staff. In partnership with clinical and managerial colleagues you will also have responsibility for the safe, efficient and effective functioning of the services in which you work in line with the values, operational policies and integrated medium term plan (IMTP) of the Health Board. You are encouraged to consider how services can be improved and to report any concerns about safety.

You will be required to adhere to the principles of good medical practice as laid down by the General Medical Council.

You will be required to participate in the Health Boards risk management process, clinical governance and any other healthcare governance activities within the department, the Womens Health and Ophthalmology Division / Singleton delivery unit and the Health Board. Adherence to the Caldicott Principles of information governance is mandatory.

You will be required to maintain a license to practice through revalidation, to undergo satisfactory annual appraisal using the all Wales online Medical Appraisal Scheme (MARS) and to formulate a Personal Development Plan, in conjunction with the Clinical lead, to identify training and development needs. You will be expected to participate in sufficient personal and professional development to fulfill Royal College and GMC requirements. You will also be required to undergo a job plan review at least annually and to agree and then meet service outcomes.

You will be expected to make a significant contribution to the service and Womens Health and Ophthalmology Division /Singleton delivery unit planning process through active participation in the clinical Womens Health and Ophthalmology Division /Singleton delivery unit structure.

You will be required to participate in am VR on call rota at Singleton Hospital, with prospective cover. In exceptional circumstances it may also be necessary to undertake duties at other locations with the Health Board. Travelling as necessary between hospitals/clinic will be required to undertake such duties. Travel expenses will be remunerated according to the Health Board policy and procedures for claiming.

You will adhere to all policies which cover radiation exposures as currently outlined in Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (IRMER).

The Health Board is committed to meet its obligations to minimize infection. You will be required to comply with current procedures for the control of infection, including dress-code, to challenge non-compliance by colleagues, and to attend training in infection control provided by the Health Board.

2 Education and Training

We place great importance upon our University status and have strong educational links to the Colleges of Medicine in Swansea and Cardiff and the College of Human and Health Science in Swansea. You will be responsible for carrying out training, teaching, examination of healthcare staff and accreditation duties as required and for contributing to and participating in postgraduate and continuing medical education activity, locally and sometimes nationally.

A staff Education Centre at Morriston Hospital, shared with the College of Medicine, with raked lecture theatres, seminar rooms and common rooms opened in 2015 as part of a substantial investment on the site to replace older facilities.

There is a library and education centre at Cefn Coed Hospital to support the staff who work there. Singleton Hospital has a well-stocked library and seminar rooms for staff as well as education facilities for the College of Medicine within its own grounds. Neath Port Talbot Hospital has an education centre and library on the top floor of the main hospital building. All four libraries are integrated to provide support for students and staff across the Health Board.

[If appropriate] You will be named in the contracts of junior medical staff as the person expected to act as Educational Supervisor for those assigned to you; overseeing their training and being the initial source of advice for doctors regarding their careers, within the guidelines of the specialist bodies and medical Royal colleges. Medical trainees in Wales are required to agree an educational contract jointly between them, the Health Board and the Deanery.

You will participate in the specialtys postgraduate teaching sessions.

You will also have the opportunity to teach and train medical undergraduates in line with the Undergraduate training programme and to participate actively in the departments undergraduate teaching programme - welcoming, involving and teaching medical students in learning environments (where possible and appropriate), and providing constructive feedback. You will also have the opportunity to participate in Swansea University Medical Student undergraduate examinations and medical school entry processes. You will be responsible to the honorary lecturer / honorary senior lecturer for the purpose of undergraduate medical education.

There will be opportunities for the successful candidate to develop a specific teaching interest, develop and to take up formal, remunerated clinical teaching sessions which to be integrated into his/her job plan.

3 Research

We are a University Health Board and you will be encouraged to participate in or actively support research and development in line with our Research and Development strategy and in discussion with the Director of Research and Development. The time required for supported research activities will be agreed through the job planning process.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered with the GMC
• Licensed to practice
• On Specialist Register with GMC as a specialist in Ophthalmology or eligible for CCT within 6 months of date of interview and have passed exit exam or a statement of eligibility for registration issued by PMETB or a primary medical qualification and recognized specialist qualification from a European Member State which will allow direct entry to the GMC Specialist Register

Desirable

• Further relevant degree/diploma
• Teaching qualification/Higher qualification in medical education

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of an ability to develop effective working relationships, on an individual and multi-disciplinary basis with all levels of staff ("Working Together")
• Evidence of working with management and clinical colleagues to improve a service ("Always Improving")
• Values partnership with other agencies ("Working Together")
• Evidence of teaching and training of post/undergraduate clinical staff
• Evidence of initiating, progressing and completing audit
• Experience of Vitreoretinal in a tertiary centre

Desirable

• Development and commissioning of Vitreo-retinal services
• Experience of research

Skills

Essential

• Effective leadership; ability to take responsibility and demonstrate leadership when appropriate
• Understands the importance of effective Team Working with all levels of staff, take time to listen, understand and involve people; receptive to appropriate change ("Working Together")
• Understands and can apply the principles of Prudent Healthcare ("Caring for each other")
• Excellent interpersonal skills - ability to communicate effectively (written and verbal) with patients, colleagues, relatives and staff; communicate openly and honestly and explain things clearly ("Caring for each other")
• Understands information systems, technology and imaging systems
• Clinical Skills commensurate with provision of comprehesive independent vitreo-retinal care delivery

Desirable

• Demonstrates learning in Improvement science and methodology, ability and drive to use information and experience to improve the service ("Always Improving")

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Flexible and adaptable to competing demands with the ability to work effectively under pressure and cope with setbacks
• Ability to undertake on-call
• A commitment to continuous improvement, with a positive attitude, seeks out learning, and continually develops skills and the service ("Always Improving")
• Enthusiasm to take a lead role in clinical development
• Empathy and sensitivity: ability to listen, understand and involve people; see people as individuals

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).