Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to make a significant contribution to the development of St Cuthberts Hospice as the Specialist Palliative Care unit for County Durham.
Palliative Consultant will join the
established & experienced specialist team at St Cuthberts & will also work
collaboratively with other providers of specialist & non-specialist
palliative care in the community, building on the work begun by the Medical Director. The post is a substantive part-time post (0.6 to 0.8 FTE). Applicants must be on the GMC register for Palliative Medicine & will
be subject to a check with the Disclosure and Barring Service.
There are lots of
good reasons to choose to come & work at St Cuthberts Hospice. We are well
established, embedded & greatly appreciated in our local community with a workforce comprising over 100 staff and 350 volunteers. We are highly regarded for our quality of
service & St Cuthberts Hospice was the first Adult Hospice in the country to
be graded outstanding by the Care Quality Commission -full report at
www.cqc.org.uk.
We are committed to
making St Cuthberts Hospice a great place to work supporting the provision of
excellent services for the people of Durham.
Main duties of the job
To provide senior medical and clinical leadership to
support the continued delivery of Hospice care services and support to
community based palliative care practitioners.
The post-holder will contribute
to the on-going development of specialist palliative care services, excellent
clinical governance arrangements at St Cuthberts Hospice and the development
of educational and research initiatives.
The post holder will play a key role in the delivery of
palliative care services within the community, acute and hospice settings,
employed by and based at St Cuthberts Hospice.
About us
There are lots of
good reasons to choose to come & work at St Cuthberts Hospice. We are well
established, embedded & greatly appreciated in our local community with a workforce comprising over 100 staff & 350 volunteers. We are highly regarded for our quality of
service & St Cuthberts Hospice was the first Adult Hospice in the country to
be graded outstanding by the Care Quality Commission. Please see the full report at
www.cqc.org.uk.
We are committed to
making St Cuthberts Hospice a great place to work supporting the provision of
excellent services for the people of Durham. We have Continuing Excellence
status in the Better Health at Work awards scheme. In our 2022 staff survey 100%
of respondents said that if a friend or relative needed
treatment, they would be happy with the standard of care provided by the
Hospice, & more staff than ever say they have a good work/life balance.
Our Hospice values define who we are & guide what we
do to ensure the highest quality care for those accessing our services & the
highest quality experience for staff working here.
Our mission: to make every day count for those affected by
life-limiting illnesses
Our vision: To be a centre of excellence within our community &
to provide all embracing, compassionate & individualised care to all those
affected by life-limiting illnesses, at a time & a place that is right for
them
Our Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Choice, Reputation,
Respect, Compassion
Job description
Job responsibilities
AIM To provide senior medical and clinical leadership to support the continued delivery of Hospice care services and support to community based palliative care practitioners. The post-holder will contribute to the on-going development of specialist palliative care services, excellent clinical governance arrangements at St Cuthberts Hospice and the development of educational and research initiatives.
The post holder will play a key role in the delivery of palliative care services within the community, acute and hospice settings, employed by and based at St Cuthberts Hospice.
Communication and relationships
- Via membership of the Hospice Senior Management Team, contribute to the overall effective development and management of the Hospice
- Effective and sensitive communication with patients, carers, all staff and volunteers is an essential component of this role to ensure smooth delivery on a day to day basis of all clinical services.
- A particular aspect of the role will also be maintaining effective working relationships with the clinical staff based within the Hospice and externally, including the Consultants employed by County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust, GPs and other primary, secondary and tertiary care teams
- Provide expert opinion and advice to local healthcare partners and community based palliative care practitioners e.g. GPs, District Nurses, Marie Curie Rapid Response team Paramedics and Community Palliative Care Clinical Nurses and to be part of a day-time on-call rota during the week.
- Support the work of a Clinical Practice Development Nurse
- Provide clinical leadership to the MDT meetings of the Hospice
- Work collaboratively with and provide daytime cover for other consultants within the County and out of hours
- Work co-operatively with colleagues and to respect and value their contribution to patient/client care.
Planning and organisational skills
- Improving service planning and strategic development in the Hospice and with Commissioners and other service providers
- Under leadership of the Head of Clinical Services develop Hospice care services based upon rehabilitative approaches to living well with life limiting illness.
- Work with colleagues to ensure that processes are lean and effective, optimising productivity of the service
Patient/Client Care
- Support individualised care planning, giving consultant input into guidance, policy and education around the planning to optimise patient choice of care within the resources available
- Be available to patients, their families and carers to provide information and support as appropriate and in accordance with good professional practice.
- Provide clinical leadership to medical colleagues directing the provision of excellent specialist palliative care services.
- Provide the patient and their family with support, information and choice at the end of life using advanced communication skills. Contribute to the provision of seamless continuity of care between hospice, hospital and home including the provision of indirect care by supporting other healthcare professionals.
- Responsible for the maintenance of the highest possible standard of medical care for patients
- Encourage a holistic response to the care of patients and their families, taking social, psychological and spiritual as well as physical factors into consideration and to work closely with member of other disciplines.
Policy & Service Development
- In collaboration with service leads: provide leadership in the development and delivery of clinical multi-professional and medical audits to promote evidence based practice, keep under regular review medical procedures and prescribing, be actively involved in risk management and quality assurance.
- In collaboration with service leads, support a positive approach to research and the continued development of evidence based palliative medicine; to be involved in relevant research in the field of palliative medicine.
- Familiarise self and act in accordance with clinical and non-clinical Hospice policies and procedures
- Actively participate in critical and untoward incidences, accidents and significant event analysis and report to Head of Clinical Services as appropriate
- Participate in the Hospices clinical governance systems and ensure continuous improvement in quality at both an individual, team and service level and actively participate in and encourage clinical incident reporting and safeguarding of adults at risk and children where appropriate.
Human Resources
- Participation in of undergraduate and postgraduate medical and nurse training programmes
- Deliver medical training programmes
- Support the delivery of pharmaceutical services.
- Identify and respond to the specialist palliative care educational needs and requirements of both health and social care professional colleagues.
- Provide clinical teaching as part of everyday working within multi-professional teams and actively participate in the provision of more formal teaching where appropriate. Internal training may also include support for nurse independent prescribers and staff undertaking physical assessment modules.
- Encourage teaching and support the development of doctors in training posts.
- Clinical supervision of junior medical staff as a shared responsibility with other consultant colleagues.
- Participate in the annual appraisal process and comply with any requirements necessary for revalidation; including undertaking an annual appraisal review, maintaining a portfolio of appraisal evidence and submitting completed appraisal paperwork including PDP to the Responsible Officers office.
- Satisfy mandatory training requirements
Information Resources
- Ensure effective record keeping an documentation
- Responsible for maintaining the security of access to computerised systems e.g. Smart Card
- Contribute to the general administrative responsibilities that are required to ensure the effective working of service, including timely appropriate advice and correspondence to external agencies.
Research and Development
- Continually look for ways to improve the quality of the service provided to patients and carers
- Critically appraise the outcomes of relevant research, evaluations and audits and appropriately apply them to improve practice.
- Undertake applicable clinical research
- Undertake such continuing educational activities as are necessary for the post holder to remain accredited by the Royal College of Physicians.
- Support St Cuthberts Hospice to develop its vision of becoming a research active hospice
Freedom to Act
- Able to act autonomously, take responsibility and accountability for personal proactive decision making, and to review outcomes in order to refine and develop clinical practice
Data Protection & Confidentiality
- All employees have a responsibility in line with information governance to maintain confidentiality and ensure the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998 are applied to patients, clients, staff, volunteers and Hospice business information, including electronic information. Only information required to fulfil the duties of the role should be accessed by the post holder.
- All employees have a responsibility to use electronic systems in a way that preserves the dignity and privacy of people, helps to ensure services of the highest quality, and is compliant with the law and Hospice policies and procedures
Health and Safety
- The Hospice will take all reasonably practical steps to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its employees while at work. Employees will familiarise themselves with the Health and Safety Policy and procedure as well as the fire procedures and ensure a safe working environment for self and others in line with these.
Safeguarding
- All employees should make themselves aware of the policies and procedures of safeguarding, take personal responsibility as far as is reasonably practicable, to safeguard children and vulnerable adults, complete statutory and mandatory training and take appropriate action as set out in the Hospices policies and procedures.
Infection Control
All employees have a responsibility to ensure the risk of infection to themselves, colleagues, patients, relatives and visitors is minimised.
Job description
Job responsibilities
AIM To provide senior medical and clinical leadership to support the continued delivery of Hospice care services and support to community based palliative care practitioners. The post-holder will contribute to the on-going development of specialist palliative care services, excellent clinical governance arrangements at St Cuthberts Hospice and the development of educational and research initiatives.
The post holder will play a key role in the delivery of palliative care services within the community, acute and hospice settings, employed by and based at St Cuthberts Hospice.
Communication and relationships
- Via membership of the Hospice Senior Management Team, contribute to the overall effective development and management of the Hospice
- Effective and sensitive communication with patients, carers, all staff and volunteers is an essential component of this role to ensure smooth delivery on a day to day basis of all clinical services.
- A particular aspect of the role will also be maintaining effective working relationships with the clinical staff based within the Hospice and externally, including the Consultants employed by County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust, GPs and other primary, secondary and tertiary care teams
- Provide expert opinion and advice to local healthcare partners and community based palliative care practitioners e.g. GPs, District Nurses, Marie Curie Rapid Response team Paramedics and Community Palliative Care Clinical Nurses and to be part of a day-time on-call rota during the week.
- Support the work of a Clinical Practice Development Nurse
- Provide clinical leadership to the MDT meetings of the Hospice
- Work collaboratively with and provide daytime cover for other consultants within the County and out of hours
- Work co-operatively with colleagues and to respect and value their contribution to patient/client care.
Planning and organisational skills
- Improving service planning and strategic development in the Hospice and with Commissioners and other service providers
- Under leadership of the Head of Clinical Services develop Hospice care services based upon rehabilitative approaches to living well with life limiting illness.
- Work with colleagues to ensure that processes are lean and effective, optimising productivity of the service
Patient/Client Care
- Support individualised care planning, giving consultant input into guidance, policy and education around the planning to optimise patient choice of care within the resources available
- Be available to patients, their families and carers to provide information and support as appropriate and in accordance with good professional practice.
- Provide clinical leadership to medical colleagues directing the provision of excellent specialist palliative care services.
- Provide the patient and their family with support, information and choice at the end of life using advanced communication skills. Contribute to the provision of seamless continuity of care between hospice, hospital and home including the provision of indirect care by supporting other healthcare professionals.
- Responsible for the maintenance of the highest possible standard of medical care for patients
- Encourage a holistic response to the care of patients and their families, taking social, psychological and spiritual as well as physical factors into consideration and to work closely with member of other disciplines.
Policy & Service Development
- In collaboration with service leads: provide leadership in the development and delivery of clinical multi-professional and medical audits to promote evidence based practice, keep under regular review medical procedures and prescribing, be actively involved in risk management and quality assurance.
- In collaboration with service leads, support a positive approach to research and the continued development of evidence based palliative medicine; to be involved in relevant research in the field of palliative medicine.
- Familiarise self and act in accordance with clinical and non-clinical Hospice policies and procedures
- Actively participate in critical and untoward incidences, accidents and significant event analysis and report to Head of Clinical Services as appropriate
- Participate in the Hospices clinical governance systems and ensure continuous improvement in quality at both an individual, team and service level and actively participate in and encourage clinical incident reporting and safeguarding of adults at risk and children where appropriate.
Human Resources
- Participation in of undergraduate and postgraduate medical and nurse training programmes
- Deliver medical training programmes
- Support the delivery of pharmaceutical services.
- Identify and respond to the specialist palliative care educational needs and requirements of both health and social care professional colleagues.
- Provide clinical teaching as part of everyday working within multi-professional teams and actively participate in the provision of more formal teaching where appropriate. Internal training may also include support for nurse independent prescribers and staff undertaking physical assessment modules.
- Encourage teaching and support the development of doctors in training posts.
- Clinical supervision of junior medical staff as a shared responsibility with other consultant colleagues.
- Participate in the annual appraisal process and comply with any requirements necessary for revalidation; including undertaking an annual appraisal review, maintaining a portfolio of appraisal evidence and submitting completed appraisal paperwork including PDP to the Responsible Officers office.
- Satisfy mandatory training requirements
Information Resources
- Ensure effective record keeping an documentation
- Responsible for maintaining the security of access to computerised systems e.g. Smart Card
- Contribute to the general administrative responsibilities that are required to ensure the effective working of service, including timely appropriate advice and correspondence to external agencies.
Research and Development
- Continually look for ways to improve the quality of the service provided to patients and carers
- Critically appraise the outcomes of relevant research, evaluations and audits and appropriately apply them to improve practice.
- Undertake applicable clinical research
- Undertake such continuing educational activities as are necessary for the post holder to remain accredited by the Royal College of Physicians.
- Support St Cuthberts Hospice to develop its vision of becoming a research active hospice
Freedom to Act
- Able to act autonomously, take responsibility and accountability for personal proactive decision making, and to review outcomes in order to refine and develop clinical practice
Data Protection & Confidentiality
- All employees have a responsibility in line with information governance to maintain confidentiality and ensure the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998 are applied to patients, clients, staff, volunteers and Hospice business information, including electronic information. Only information required to fulfil the duties of the role should be accessed by the post holder.
- All employees have a responsibility to use electronic systems in a way that preserves the dignity and privacy of people, helps to ensure services of the highest quality, and is compliant with the law and Hospice policies and procedures
Health and Safety
- The Hospice will take all reasonably practical steps to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its employees while at work. Employees will familiarise themselves with the Health and Safety Policy and procedure as well as the fire procedures and ensure a safe working environment for self and others in line with these.
Safeguarding
- All employees should make themselves aware of the policies and procedures of safeguarding, take personal responsibility as far as is reasonably practicable, to safeguard children and vulnerable adults, complete statutory and mandatory training and take appropriate action as set out in the Hospices policies and procedures.
Infection Control
All employees have a responsibility to ensure the risk of infection to themselves, colleagues, patients, relatives and visitors is minimised.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Substantial experience of specialist palliative care across a range of care settings
- Can demonstrate improved patient care through personal involvement in clinical governance procedures such as audit.
- Ability to take full and independent responsibility for clinical care of patients
- Commitment to and experience of undergraduate and postgraduate education
- Evidence of providing clinical teaching, supervision and support for medical students, registrars and others training for recognised qualifications in palliative care.
- Evidence of supporting junior medical colleagues with annual appraisal and meeting requirements for revalidation
- Comprehensive patient management, ability to train/supervise junior medical staff and medical students
- Experience of effective multi-disciplinary team working
Desirable
- Experience of involvement in a research project and publication or published audit project
- Evidence of commitment to Service Development
- Attendance at advance communications skills course
- Previous experience of working in a hospice
Qualifications
Essential
- MBBS or similar medical Degree
- Relevant Higher Degree (MD, MSC, PhD)
- MRCP/MRCGP/FRCA/FRCR or equivalent
- Full GMC Registration and Licence to Practice
- Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in Palliative Medicine or equivalent and Inclusion on the Palliative Medicine Specialist Registered (or within 6 months at the time of interview) OR recognised equivalent training and progression to CESR OR entered on the GMC Specialist Register via European Community Rights
Desirable
- Specialist interest and expertise to complement colleagues
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Effective clinical skills
- Excellent organisational skills and the ability to meet deadlines
- Excellent leadership, influencing and motivational skills
- Ability to manage own time, workload and prioritise clinical work
- Ability to develop strategic priorities and organise staff and resources to achieve high quality patient care and health care targets
- Ability to work successfully in a multi-professional/ disciplinary team and across organisational boundaries
- Excellent written communication skills including the ability to summarise a discussion clearly and accurately
- Excellent oral communication skills including active listening skills, competency in English to a level that enables the role of Consultant to be undertaken effectively and to assure the delivery of safe care to patients, the ability to understand and summarise a discussion, ask appropriate questions, provide constructive challenge and give effective feedback
- Ability to communicate effectively with patients, relatives, GPs, nurses and other agencies
- Ability to appraise own performance, demonstrate insight and act on feedback
- Positive approach to the job planning and appraisal process
- Understanding of the leadership skills required to function successfully as a Consultant
- Understanding of and commitment to the responsibilities of doctors as set out in Good Medical Practice
- Ability to use IT and standard Microsoft packages effectively
- Understand and familiar with current National and local initiatives relating to palliative care and end of life care.
- Ability to critically appraise published research
- Understanding of concepts and conduct of research in palliative care
Desirable
- Specific qualification in education and training.
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Able to evidence behaviour consistent with the Hospice values of professionalism, choice, integrity and reputation, respect and compassion
- Ability and resilience to deal effectively with pressure
- Thoroughness and attention to detail
- Emotional intelligence with excellent interpersonal skills
- Self-aware with the ability to adapt behaviour to meet the needs of other healthcare practitioners and support staff
- Ability to command respect and credibility in multi-agency meetings
- Caring attitude to patients
- Commitment to continuing medical education and the requirements of clinical governance and audit
Desirable
- Willingness to engage with wider aspects of Hospice such as public education and profile of fundraising
Special Requirements
Essential
- Able to independently travel to meet the requirements of the job
- Membership of a recognised Professional Defence Organisation
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Substantial experience of specialist palliative care across a range of care settings
- Can demonstrate improved patient care through personal involvement in clinical governance procedures such as audit.
- Ability to take full and independent responsibility for clinical care of patients
- Commitment to and experience of undergraduate and postgraduate education
- Evidence of providing clinical teaching, supervision and support for medical students, registrars and others training for recognised qualifications in palliative care.
- Evidence of supporting junior medical colleagues with annual appraisal and meeting requirements for revalidation
- Comprehensive patient management, ability to train/supervise junior medical staff and medical students
- Experience of effective multi-disciplinary team working
Desirable
- Experience of involvement in a research project and publication or published audit project
- Evidence of commitment to Service Development
- Attendance at advance communications skills course
- Previous experience of working in a hospice
Qualifications
Essential
- MBBS or similar medical Degree
- Relevant Higher Degree (MD, MSC, PhD)
- MRCP/MRCGP/FRCA/FRCR or equivalent
- Full GMC Registration and Licence to Practice
- Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in Palliative Medicine or equivalent and Inclusion on the Palliative Medicine Specialist Registered (or within 6 months at the time of interview) OR recognised equivalent training and progression to CESR OR entered on the GMC Specialist Register via European Community Rights
Desirable
- Specialist interest and expertise to complement colleagues
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Effective clinical skills
- Excellent organisational skills and the ability to meet deadlines
- Excellent leadership, influencing and motivational skills
- Ability to manage own time, workload and prioritise clinical work
- Ability to develop strategic priorities and organise staff and resources to achieve high quality patient care and health care targets
- Ability to work successfully in a multi-professional/ disciplinary team and across organisational boundaries
- Excellent written communication skills including the ability to summarise a discussion clearly and accurately
- Excellent oral communication skills including active listening skills, competency in English to a level that enables the role of Consultant to be undertaken effectively and to assure the delivery of safe care to patients, the ability to understand and summarise a discussion, ask appropriate questions, provide constructive challenge and give effective feedback
- Ability to communicate effectively with patients, relatives, GPs, nurses and other agencies
- Ability to appraise own performance, demonstrate insight and act on feedback
- Positive approach to the job planning and appraisal process
- Understanding of the leadership skills required to function successfully as a Consultant
- Understanding of and commitment to the responsibilities of doctors as set out in Good Medical Practice
- Ability to use IT and standard Microsoft packages effectively
- Understand and familiar with current National and local initiatives relating to palliative care and end of life care.
- Ability to critically appraise published research
- Understanding of concepts and conduct of research in palliative care
Desirable
- Specific qualification in education and training.
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Able to evidence behaviour consistent with the Hospice values of professionalism, choice, integrity and reputation, respect and compassion
- Ability and resilience to deal effectively with pressure
- Thoroughness and attention to detail
- Emotional intelligence with excellent interpersonal skills
- Self-aware with the ability to adapt behaviour to meet the needs of other healthcare practitioners and support staff
- Ability to command respect and credibility in multi-agency meetings
- Caring attitude to patients
- Commitment to continuing medical education and the requirements of clinical governance and audit
Desirable
- Willingness to engage with wider aspects of Hospice such as public education and profile of fundraising
Special Requirements
Essential
- Able to independently travel to meet the requirements of the job
- Membership of a recognised Professional Defence Organisation
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
