Consultant Microbiologist

Job responsibilities

The Department

This is a whole time Consultant Microbiologist position who will be employed by The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust. This replacement post will appeal to a suitably qualified clinician who is enthusiastic and who is looking for a stimulating and challenging career in Medical Microbiology. The post will complement the existing Consultants Microbiologist and Clinical Scientist. The post-holder will also be the Infection Prevention and Control Doctor (lCD) and therefore be expected to have the knowledge, experience and skills of Infection Prevention and Control practice, in accordance with national standards.

The post is mainly based at The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust but in view of the formal partnership between the Pathology Laboratories at The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust and Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust within the Barnsley and Rotherham Integrated Laboratory Service (BRILS), there is expectation to also discharge duties at the Barnsley General Hospital in a flexible manner.

The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust is one of five Trusts involved in the formation of the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw (SYB) Pathology Network. The aim of the Network is to deliver a Pathology Service that provides all SYB patients and clinicians with equitable access to high-quality, innovative laboratory medicine solutions that will ensure the best clinical outcomes for patients. A collaborative Network will also provide rewarding job and career opportunities for all staff. An Outline Business Case, which described the Target Operating Model for the future Network, has been agreed between Partner Trusts. The proposed Target Operating Model will ultimately lead to the consolidation of services across SYB. As work progresses to establish the Network, staff will be consulted about proposals that may involve them.

There is a regular on-call commitment shared by all consultants at Rotherham and Barnsley by agreement.

The post holder will be expected to provide supervision of the Laboratory, clinical advice in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of infections to both the hospital and community settings.

The post holder will cover the laboratory duties and on-call for the annual and study leave of the Consultant Microbiologist and Clinical Scientist at Rotherham and the Consultants Microbiologists at Barnsley as required.

While the post is intended for a full-time consultant, any candidate who is unable for personal reasons to work full-time will be eligible to be considered for the post. If such a person is appointed, modification of the job content will be discussed on a personal basis with the appropriate officer of the Trust and in consultation with Consultant colleagues.

Candidates for the post must be registered medical practitioners and on the specialist register of the GMC, or be eligible to be on the specialist register within 6 months of the date of the AAC. It is expected that the appointee will hold FRCPath, or show evidence of equivalent qualification.

The Post

The appointee will be working closely with the Head of Department and the Director for Infection Prevention and Control (DIPC)

Clinical Services

• To participate in the provision of a comprehensive, efficient and cost effective clinical microbiology, virology and infection prevention and control service to the Trust and other users of the service including the Primary Care Trust (including GPs) and the Rotherham Healthcare Community.

• To liaise in a timely manner with clinicians, hospital staff, medical microbiologists, general practitioners and consultants at PHE concerning the diagnosis and management of patients, control and prevention of infections including the provision of telephone advice and visiting patients in wards and clinical areas when necessary.

• To participate in the day to day scrutiny, authorisation and interpretation of laboratory results.

• To work closely with the Head of Department to achieve and maintain full accreditation of the laboratory with UKAS or another equivalent agency in addition to national imperatives such as Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Health and Safety legislation.

• To advise clinical colleagues of all professions on matters within their sphere of expertise.

• To visit the lntensive Care Unit and High Dependency Care Unit daily and meet with clinicians in wards and other clinical areas when necessary.

• To provide an effective pathological input into multi-disciplinary team working.

• To develop a special interest(s) in keeping with the needs of the department.

• To develop and maintain a comprehensive portfolio of clinical and infection prevention and control policies in conjunction with the Lead Infection Prevention and Control Nurse.

• To participate in co-ordinating, reviewing and updating the Trust's Antimicrobial Policies and General Practice prescribing guidelines.

• To work closely with all consultants, specialty doctors, nurses and other health care professionals.

• To comply with health and safety and security in addition to all other statutory and governance requirements.

Antimicrobial Prescribing and Stewardship Duties

• To be the anti-microbial stewardship lead for the Trust.

• To be part of the TRFT Antimicrobial Stewardship Group.

• To assist in implementing optimal use of antimicrobials in line with antimicrobial stewardship national expectations whether in the hospitals or community settings at TRFT and BHNFT.

• To assist in complying with the NICE Guidelines in antimicrobial stewardship in addition to the DoH Strategy in reducing antimicrobial resistance.

• To assist in the formulation and review of the joint antimicrobial policies i.e. for adults, children and neonates across both Trusts.

• To assist in the formulation and review of antimicrobial guidelines in Primary Care and the community.

• To assist in achieving CQUIN targets and the reduction of antimicrobial prescribing in the hospital and community.

• To be instrumental in overseeing the monthly ward antimicrobial prescribing audits.

Sepsis Management

• To be the lead for sepsis management within the Trust.

• To assist in compliance with Sepsis 6 across the Trust.

• To assist in compliance with the NICE Guidelines in the management of Sepsis.

• To assist in the induction and mandatory training in Sepsis.

• To be part of The Rotherham Sepsis Group.

The Consultant Medical Microbiologist will also be the Infection Prevention and Control Doctor. The DIPC for the Trust is currently undertaken by the Chief Nurse. The tenure for this role is on an annual basis. The post holder is to act as a specialist advisor and work with the infection prevention and control nurses to provide an infection control service as outlined in official documents on health care associated infection control namely Infection Control Code of Practice, (Hygiene Code) and NICE Guidelines in addition to other national recommendations emanating from Hospital Infection Society, EUCAST etc. Such matters include surveillance and control aspects of health care associated infection, decontamination methods types of ventilation, operating theatres, isolation facilities and antibiotic usage. To offer advice to the Rotherham CCGs as required as part of a contractual arrangement.

Qualifications

Essential

• Full registration and specialist registration (and with a licence to practise with the GMC (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview)
• If an applicant is UK trained, they must ALSO be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview
• If an applicant is non-UK trained, they will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UKCCT
• MBChB or equivalent.
• Hold FRCPath or evidence of equivalent qualification.

Desirable

• Higher postgraduate Degree (e.g., MSC, MD, PhD, MRCP)

Research and Audit

Essential

• Evidence of audit and the implementation of change following the audit

Desirable

• Relevant research published in peer review journal

Leadership

Essential

• An understanding of and ability to demonstrate your ability to: Empower others, Lead through change, Influence strategically, Collaborative working and Drive for improvement Integrity

Experience

Essential

• Satisfactory completion of ARCP outcome 6 (recommendation for completion of training) process or equivalence.

Desirable

• Subspecialty training or equivalent

Management Skills

Essential

• Demonstrate effective team working skills
• Time management/organisational ability. An example may be they have developed and run training programmes.
• Proven knowledge of systems and process of NHS or equivalent
• Sense of understanding and commitment to corporate responsibility
• Demonstrate innovation and problem solving abilities

Ability and Skills

Essential

• Clear, fluent and articulate in verbal and written presentation in English.

Desirable

• IT Skills

Education and Training

Essential

• Demonstrates a commitment to the delivery of high quality teaching and training to junior colleagues, when necessary, and within independent role and multidisciplinary teams.

Desirable

• Experience in medical teaching such as PG certificate in teaching or similar.

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).