Specialty Doctor in Palliative Medicine

Job description

Job responsibilities

WESTON HOSPICECARE LIMITED

Weston Hospicecare provides high quality individualised care for local people living with cancer and other life limiting illnesses, as well as support for their families and loved ones. Care is offered in a variety of settings according to the individual’s needs. Services include community based Clinical Nurse Specialists, 10-bedded in-patient care, day hospice, bereavement and family support teams.

There is no charge to patients for the specialist services we offer. We receive funding from the NHS but primarily we rely on fundraising activities, hospice shops and legacies to support our work.

Weston Hospice care is staffed by approximately 150 paid staff and 650 volunteers.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The postholder will be based at the hospice in Uphill, Weston-super-Mare and work closely with members of all other disciplines within the organisation to provide specialist palliative care.

Clinical

• Medical cover for the inpatient unit within the hours specified

• In conjunction with other medical/clinical team members, ensure and maintain high standards of palliative care for patients and families/carers, in keeping with local and national guidelines

• Share with other team members the emotional, social and spiritual care of patients and their loved ones

• Clear, accurate and timely record keeping, including discharge summaries and completion of death certificates and cremation papers. Other administrative duties as required

• Liaison with primary and secondary care services (and other statutory and voluntary agencies) as appropriate to ensure continuity of care

• Provision of medical support to the community team and day hospice as required

• Work as part of the multi-disciplinary team and maintain effective channels of communication with other team members

• Provision of specialist palliative care advice to healthcare professional outside hospice working hours

• Participation in 1 in 4 non-resident on call rota, providing out of hours medical support to the inpatient unit, and specialist palliative care advice to healthcare practitioners in the community in North Somerset and Somerset

Teaching and training

• Contribution to day to day supervision and support of junior doctors

• Participation in induction for new members of staff

• Active participation in educational programmes for healthcare professional within and outside the Hospice

Clinical Governance

• Active involvement in audit and quality improvement

• Take personal responsibility for continuing professional development. Weston Hospicecare will encourage and support this

• Keep up to date with current practice and legislation

• Complete all statutory and mandatory training as required

• Engagement in annual appraisal and revalidation

• Work within the Policies and Procedures of Weston Hospicecare

• Maintain patient confidentiality at all times

• Be familiar with fire, emergency and safety regulations, ensuring attendance at statutory updates

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Under the provision of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, it is the duty of every employee:

· To take reasonable care of themselves and others at work

· To co-operate with the hospice as far as is necessary to enable them to carry out their legal duty

· Not to intentionally or recklessly interfere with anything provided, including personal, protective equipment for health and safety or welfare at work

· Weston Hospicecare operates an In-house NO SMOKING policy for staff.

DATA PROTECTION

You are required to obtain process and/or use information held on computer. This must be undertaken in a lawful way. Data held must not be disclosed in a way that is incompatible with such a purpose. Breaches of confidentiality in relation to data will result in disciplinary action, which may result in dismissal.

SCOPE OF JOB DESCRIPTION

This job description reflects the immediate requirements and objectives of this post. It is not an exhaustive list of the duties, but gives a general indication of work undertaken which may vary in detail in the light of changing demands and priorities. Substantive changes will be carried out in consultation with the post holder.

This job description is subject to periodic review and amendment

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• * Full registration and license to practice with the GMC

Desirable

• * MRCGP or MRCP or equivalent
• * Diploma in Palliative Care or other similar Palliative Care qualification

Experience

Essential

• * Recent experience and familiarity with UK healthcare systems and practices (or equivalent)
• * Experience of looking after patients with palliative care needs

Desirable

• * Experience in a specialist palliative care post

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• * Ability to holistically assess and manage patients with complex physical, psychological and social needs
• * Ability to work independently following adequate induction and training but also to seek advice and senior support as appropriate
• * Understanding of the principles of palliative care and the hospice movement
• * Understanding of the ethical and legal frameworks relevant to palliative care, eg Mental Capacity Act
• * Ability to teach medical, nursing and other healthcare professionals
• * Understanding of the principles of clinical governance
• * IT literacy

Desirable

• * Experience of teaching a range of healthcare professionals
• * Evidence of involvement in clinical audit and other quality improvement activities

Personal Attributes

Essential

• * Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• * Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team
• * Ability to work flexibly across different settings, and to respond to change
• * Commitment to continuing professional development

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

Weston Hospicecare Limited

Address

Jackson-Barstow House

28 Thornbury Road

Weston-super-Mare

Somerset

BS23 4YQ

Employer's website

https://www.westonhospicecare.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)