Job summary
Applications are invited for a substantive replacement Consultant Cellular Pathologist / Histopathologist in the Department of Head and Neck Pathology at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust, based on the Guy's site. The appointment is to provide Histopathology reporting within Head and Neck Pathology for Hospitals across SE London, including Guy's and St Thomas' Kings College Hospital London and Princess Royal University Hospital in Bromley.
The role includes a major component of Head and Neck Cancer work, and the applicant will join a team of 3 FTE Oral and Maxillofacial / Head and Neck Pathologists working in a major tertiary referral centre for Head and Neck oncology patients alongside 9 Head and Neck Cancer surgeons performing ultra complex resections.
We work alongside a team of academic Head and Neck Oncologists and opportunities exist for collaboration in clinical trials, tissue banking and research projects.
The successful applicant will also contribute to teaching of mainly undergraduate dental students at Kings College Hospital London, the largest dental faculty in Europe and consistently rated in the top 10 in the world for dentistry.
The imminent arrival of digital pathology will serve to enhance the Department's commitment to flexible working, both geographic and temporal, enabling us to deliver an efficient service and allowing us to maintain a healthy work-life balance, whilst continuing to provide an excellent service for our users.
Main duties of the job
The Head and Neck Pathology Department has been designated a Specialist Laboratory as part of consolidation of laboratories across SE London and the dominant responsibilities of specimen cut up, frozen section provision and reporting duties will remain on / are currently based on the Guy's site, collocated with the clinical teams. Provision is made for delivery of SPA and some DCC activity off site / at home if desired. There are 2 weekly MDTs, one for thyroid and one for Head and Neck, which can be attended in person or via video link.
Applicants are required to hold full GMC or GDC registration with a licence to practice and to be on the GMC or GDC's Specialist Register.A job description applicable to the post is appended, together with details of the department. This post is full time but those interested in part time work are also encouraged to apply.
About us
Our Department is unique in that we are one of few surviving standalone Oral and Maxillofacial / Head and Neck Pathology Departments, and as such we are a small Clinical and Laboratory team. We benefit from sitting managerially alongside the larger Cellular Pathology Department based at the St Thomas' site and there are cross working arrangements in particular in thyroid pathology. Close links to histopathology colleagues in particular in haematopathology, carcinoma of unknown primary, dermatopathology and cytopathology exist, with frequent interaction / case discussion.
The Trust has recently rolled out the EPIC patient record system, which has already delivered benefits and efficiencies in creation of pathology reports, by easy access to all relevant patient information.
We have a strong track record for clinical excellence, teaching and research, and financial management. Our Fit for the Future programme aims to improve further our efficiency without compromising quality and safety.
Our reputation for safe, high quality care is among the best in the UK and we strive to put patients at the heart of everything we do.
We are part of King's Health Partners, one of six accredited UK Academic Health Sciences Centres. We also have a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre in partnership with King's College London.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will be accountable to the Clinical Leads in Head and Neck and Cellular Pathology.
Key duties and responsibilities
Specialist Interest
The Departments of Head and Neck and Cellular Pathology operate a system of specialist reporting, each consultant having one or more special interests, which facilitates dealing with difficult cases and enhances patient care in accordance with Calman-Hine recommendations.
The specialist diagnostic pathology to be delivered by this post is oral and maxillofacial / head and neck and thyroid histopathology. However, a second specialist interest could be considered as a minor component of a post, depending on the requirements of the department at the time.
Oral / Head & Neck Pathology
GSTT is a major tertiary referral centre for Head and Neck oncology patients within South East London- and beyond and the surgical team accept patients for treatment who have been deemed inoperable elsewhere. The current head and neck histopathology team consists of 3 full time consultants - Dr Gillian Hall, Dr Ann Sandison and Dr Lisette Collins with additional sessional work provided by Prof K Piper (Education Dean for Dentistry, Kings College London) and Professor Edward Odell.
The department deals with a mixture of biopsies and resections, including ultra complex cancer specimens (often with bone), orbital exenterations, endoscopic oncological sinonasal resections, robotic oropharyngeal excisions and salvage surgery. We have a busy thyroid surgical pathology practice and also receive national and international cases for expert opinionor multidisciplinary discussion. The caseload is currently 6300 per annum.
There is a large regional weekly head and neck oncology MDM, withtypicallyaround 40patients discussed each week. A separate regional weekly thyroid MDM usually includes 20-30 patients for discussion.
The pathology consultants support a team of 9 head and neck cancer surgeons and 6 specialist head and neck oncologists. We receive a large volume of oral mucosal biopsies from a tertiary oral medicine unit located in the Guys Tower. The oncology team include clinical adademics with numerous active funded research projects for which we are involved in tissue banking and slide review. We provide pathological support to a range of clinical trials and assessment of tumour volume / viability for WGS for patients who have relapsed and for who novel treatments are sought.
The head and neck pathology team work closely with our colleagues in cytopathology in terms of MDM correlation and case reviews.
The team are actively involved in teaching pathology trainees, both medically and dentally qualified. We typically have 1 StR in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and 1 visiting medically qualified trainee from the main histopathopathology department at North Wing at any one time. We frequently have visiting international fellows for periods of 6-12 months. Opportunities for undergraduate teaching exist through our close links with KCL and it is anticipated that one of the Consultant team will have a 2-3 PA commitment to leading on part of the Dental Undergranulate Curriculum, to be determined / decided at team job planning.
Provide High Quality Care to Patients
- The post holder must be medically or dentally qualified and maintain GMC or GDC full and specialist registration and hold a current licence to practice
- To develop and maintain the competencies required to carry out the duties required of the post.
- To ensure prompt attendance at agreed direct clinical care Programmed Activities.
To provide expert histopathology services with the object of ensuring a high standard of patient care To participate in clinical and other service activities with the object of ensuring a high standard of patient care
Research, Teaching and Training
- Where possible to collaborate with academic and clinical colleagues to enhance the Trusts translational research portfolio, at all times meeting the full requirements of Research Governance.
- To provide high quality teaching to medical undergraduates and members of other health care professions as required by the Clinical Director.
- To act as educational supervisor and appraiser as delegated by the Clinical Director to ensure external accreditation of training post.
Performance Management
To work with medical, nursing and managerial colleagues to ensure high performance in the following areas:
- Clinical efficiency e.g. LOS reductions, reducing cancelled operations and DNA rates.
- Quality of outcomes e.g. infection control targets, reducing re-admission rates.
- Financial management, e.g. identification, implementation and achievement of cost improvement programmes and participating in efforts to ensure services are provided cost effectively such as managing locum agency spend, monitoring and managing the drug budget to target, ensuring accuracy of clinical data for the team.
- Operational efficiency, e.g. day-case rates, waiting list activity and demand management.
Medical Staff Management
- To work with colleagues to ensure junior doctors hours are compliant in line with EWTD and New Deal.
- To ensure that adequate systems and procedures are in place to control and monitor leave for junior medical staff and to ensure that there is appropriate cover within the clinical areas, including on-call commitments
- To participate in the recruitment of junior medical staff as and when required.
- To participate in team objective setting as part of the annual job planning cycle.
- To be responsible for the annual appraisal of all doctors in training, Trust doctors, Clinical Fellows and non-consultant grades as delegated by the Clinical Director/General Manager.
Governance
- To review clinical outcomes in designated area using external benchmarking data where appropriate, to identify and advise variances to the Clinical Director.
- To participate in clinical audit, incident reporting and analysis and to ensure resulting actions are implemented.
- To work closely with the Directorate, Patient and Public Involvement panels in relation to clinical and services developments as delegated by the Clinical Director.
- To participate in ensuring NICE requirements are reviewed and implemented and monitored in the speciality areas.
- To ensure clinical guidelines and protocols are adhered to by junior medical staff and updated on a regular basis.
- To keep fully informed about best practice in the speciality areas and ensure implications for practice changes are discussed with the Clinical Director.
- To role model good practice for infection control to all members of the multidisciplinary team.
Strategy and Business Planning
- To participate in the business planning and objective setting process for the directorate and Trust where appropriate.
- To represent the Trust at appropriate clinical networks/other external clinical meetings, as delegated by the Clinical Director.
Leadership and Team Working
- To demonstrate excellent leadership skills with regard to individual performance, clinical teams, the Trust and when participating in national or local initiatives.
- To work collaboratively with all members of the multi-disciplinary team and Kings Health Partners as required.
- To chair regular meetings for the specialties.
- To resolve conflict and difficult situations through negotiation and discussion, involving appropriate parties.
- Adhere to Trust/departmental guidelines on leave, including reporting absence.
The successful candidate will be expected to participate in continuing professional development (CPD) and this form part of the supporting programmed activities in the agreed job plan (please see example below).
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will be accountable to the Clinical Leads in Head and Neck and Cellular Pathology.
Key duties and responsibilities
Specialist Interest
The Departments of Head and Neck and Cellular Pathology operate a system of specialist reporting, each consultant having one or more special interests, which facilitates dealing with difficult cases and enhances patient care in accordance with Calman-Hine recommendations.
The specialist diagnostic pathology to be delivered by this post is oral and maxillofacial / head and neck and thyroid histopathology. However, a second specialist interest could be considered as a minor component of a post, depending on the requirements of the department at the time.
Oral / Head & Neck Pathology
GSTT is a major tertiary referral centre for Head and Neck oncology patients within South East London- and beyond and the surgical team accept patients for treatment who have been deemed inoperable elsewhere. The current head and neck histopathology team consists of 3 full time consultants - Dr Gillian Hall, Dr Ann Sandison and Dr Lisette Collins with additional sessional work provided by Prof K Piper (Education Dean for Dentistry, Kings College London) and Professor Edward Odell.
The department deals with a mixture of biopsies and resections, including ultra complex cancer specimens (often with bone), orbital exenterations, endoscopic oncological sinonasal resections, robotic oropharyngeal excisions and salvage surgery. We have a busy thyroid surgical pathology practice and also receive national and international cases for expert opinionor multidisciplinary discussion. The caseload is currently 6300 per annum.
There is a large regional weekly head and neck oncology MDM, withtypicallyaround 40patients discussed each week. A separate regional weekly thyroid MDM usually includes 20-30 patients for discussion.
The pathology consultants support a team of 9 head and neck cancer surgeons and 6 specialist head and neck oncologists. We receive a large volume of oral mucosal biopsies from a tertiary oral medicine unit located in the Guys Tower. The oncology team include clinical adademics with numerous active funded research projects for which we are involved in tissue banking and slide review. We provide pathological support to a range of clinical trials and assessment of tumour volume / viability for WGS for patients who have relapsed and for who novel treatments are sought.
The head and neck pathology team work closely with our colleagues in cytopathology in terms of MDM correlation and case reviews.
The team are actively involved in teaching pathology trainees, both medically and dentally qualified. We typically have 1 StR in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and 1 visiting medically qualified trainee from the main histopathopathology department at North Wing at any one time. We frequently have visiting international fellows for periods of 6-12 months. Opportunities for undergraduate teaching exist through our close links with KCL and it is anticipated that one of the Consultant team will have a 2-3 PA commitment to leading on part of the Dental Undergranulate Curriculum, to be determined / decided at team job planning.
Provide High Quality Care to Patients
- The post holder must be medically or dentally qualified and maintain GMC or GDC full and specialist registration and hold a current licence to practice
- To develop and maintain the competencies required to carry out the duties required of the post.
- To ensure prompt attendance at agreed direct clinical care Programmed Activities.
To provide expert histopathology services with the object of ensuring a high standard of patient care To participate in clinical and other service activities with the object of ensuring a high standard of patient care
Research, Teaching and Training
- Where possible to collaborate with academic and clinical colleagues to enhance the Trusts translational research portfolio, at all times meeting the full requirements of Research Governance.
- To provide high quality teaching to medical undergraduates and members of other health care professions as required by the Clinical Director.
- To act as educational supervisor and appraiser as delegated by the Clinical Director to ensure external accreditation of training post.
Performance Management
To work with medical, nursing and managerial colleagues to ensure high performance in the following areas:
- Clinical efficiency e.g. LOS reductions, reducing cancelled operations and DNA rates.
- Quality of outcomes e.g. infection control targets, reducing re-admission rates.
- Financial management, e.g. identification, implementation and achievement of cost improvement programmes and participating in efforts to ensure services are provided cost effectively such as managing locum agency spend, monitoring and managing the drug budget to target, ensuring accuracy of clinical data for the team.
- Operational efficiency, e.g. day-case rates, waiting list activity and demand management.
Medical Staff Management
- To work with colleagues to ensure junior doctors hours are compliant in line with EWTD and New Deal.
- To ensure that adequate systems and procedures are in place to control and monitor leave for junior medical staff and to ensure that there is appropriate cover within the clinical areas, including on-call commitments
- To participate in the recruitment of junior medical staff as and when required.
- To participate in team objective setting as part of the annual job planning cycle.
- To be responsible for the annual appraisal of all doctors in training, Trust doctors, Clinical Fellows and non-consultant grades as delegated by the Clinical Director/General Manager.
Governance
- To review clinical outcomes in designated area using external benchmarking data where appropriate, to identify and advise variances to the Clinical Director.
- To participate in clinical audit, incident reporting and analysis and to ensure resulting actions are implemented.
- To work closely with the Directorate, Patient and Public Involvement panels in relation to clinical and services developments as delegated by the Clinical Director.
- To participate in ensuring NICE requirements are reviewed and implemented and monitored in the speciality areas.
- To ensure clinical guidelines and protocols are adhered to by junior medical staff and updated on a regular basis.
- To keep fully informed about best practice in the speciality areas and ensure implications for practice changes are discussed with the Clinical Director.
- To role model good practice for infection control to all members of the multidisciplinary team.
Strategy and Business Planning
- To participate in the business planning and objective setting process for the directorate and Trust where appropriate.
- To represent the Trust at appropriate clinical networks/other external clinical meetings, as delegated by the Clinical Director.
Leadership and Team Working
- To demonstrate excellent leadership skills with regard to individual performance, clinical teams, the Trust and when participating in national or local initiatives.
- To work collaboratively with all members of the multi-disciplinary team and Kings Health Partners as required.
- To chair regular meetings for the specialties.
- To resolve conflict and difficult situations through negotiation and discussion, involving appropriate parties.
- Adhere to Trust/departmental guidelines on leave, including reporting absence.
The successful candidate will be expected to participate in continuing professional development (CPD) and this form part of the supporting programmed activities in the agreed job plan (please see example below).
Person Specification
Professional Qualifications
Essential
- Full and Specialist registration (and with a licence to practise) with the General Medical Council (GMC) or General Dental Council (GDC), or be eligible for registration within six months of interview.
- Applicants that are UK trained, 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.
- Applicants that are non-UK trained, will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT.
- FRCPath or equivalent.
Desirable
- PhD or other Higher Postgraduate degree in Medicine or Science
- Any additional medical or sub-speciality qualifications either national or international.
Clinical Experience
Essential
- Proven record of experience as a trainee in histopathology with a focus on this area of Histopathology.
- Continuing and recent diagnostic practice experience in oral / head and neck histopathology, as a major specialist interest, however, another specialty interest will be considered as a minor component of the post depending on the requirements of the department at the time.
Desirable
- Experience as a Consultant in Histopathology as a dedicated Oral and Maxillofacial / Head and Neck Pathologist, or with a job that includes a major component of this
Clinical Skills
Essential
- Ability to work as an effective member of a multidisciplinary team.
- Familiarity with modern morphological and molecular diagnostic techniques
Desirable
- Experience in clinical guideline development.
Audit Management & IT
Essential
- Evidence of contribution to effective clinical governance, audit clinical risk management, and IT skills.
- Understanding of principles of audit.
- Evidence of understanding of the role of clinical management.
Desirable
- Management training or qualification.
- Evidence of leadership in the development of clinical services.
Research, Teaching skill & experience
Essential
- Understanding of the principles and applications of clinical research.
- Evidence of original research and publication in histopathology.
- Ability to supervise junior staff in diagnostic work.
- Experience of teaching and training undergraduates, postgraduates and junior medical staff.
Desirable
- Appraisal training.
- Teaching qualification.
Leadership/Management skills
Essential
- Communication; Ability to communicate with clarity and intelligently in written and spoken English; ability to build rapport, listen, persuade/ negotiate.
- Accountability; Ability to take responsibility, lead, make decisions and exert appropriate authority.
- Interpersonal Skills; Empathy, understanding, listening skills, patience and ability to work co-operatively with others.
- Able to change and adapt, respond to changing circumstances and to cope with setbacks or pressure.
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Staff Management; Experience of performance management, developing and motivating staff.
- Finance; Knowledge of finance and budgets.
Desirable
- Previous experience in management positions, e.g. speciality lead, clinical lead, clinical director.
Person Specification
Professional Qualifications
Essential
- Full and Specialist registration (and with a licence to practise) with the General Medical Council (GMC) or General Dental Council (GDC), or be eligible for registration within six months of interview.
- Applicants that are UK trained, 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.
- Applicants that are non-UK trained, will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT.
- FRCPath or equivalent.
Desirable
- PhD or other Higher Postgraduate degree in Medicine or Science
- Any additional medical or sub-speciality qualifications either national or international.
Clinical Experience
Essential
- Proven record of experience as a trainee in histopathology with a focus on this area of Histopathology.
- Continuing and recent diagnostic practice experience in oral / head and neck histopathology, as a major specialist interest, however, another specialty interest will be considered as a minor component of the post depending on the requirements of the department at the time.
Desirable
- Experience as a Consultant in Histopathology as a dedicated Oral and Maxillofacial / Head and Neck Pathologist, or with a job that includes a major component of this
Clinical Skills
Essential
- Ability to work as an effective member of a multidisciplinary team.
- Familiarity with modern morphological and molecular diagnostic techniques
Desirable
- Experience in clinical guideline development.
Audit Management & IT
Essential
- Evidence of contribution to effective clinical governance, audit clinical risk management, and IT skills.
- Understanding of principles of audit.
- Evidence of understanding of the role of clinical management.
Desirable
- Management training or qualification.
- Evidence of leadership in the development of clinical services.
Research, Teaching skill & experience
Essential
- Understanding of the principles and applications of clinical research.
- Evidence of original research and publication in histopathology.
- Ability to supervise junior staff in diagnostic work.
- Experience of teaching and training undergraduates, postgraduates and junior medical staff.
Desirable
- Appraisal training.
- Teaching qualification.
Leadership/Management skills
Essential
- Communication; Ability to communicate with clarity and intelligently in written and spoken English; ability to build rapport, listen, persuade/ negotiate.
- Accountability; Ability to take responsibility, lead, make decisions and exert appropriate authority.
- Interpersonal Skills; Empathy, understanding, listening skills, patience and ability to work co-operatively with others.
- Able to change and adapt, respond to changing circumstances and to cope with setbacks or pressure.
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Staff Management; Experience of performance management, developing and motivating staff.
- Finance; Knowledge of finance and budgets.
Desirable
- Previous experience in management positions, e.g. speciality lead, clinical lead, clinical director.
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
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).
