Consultant in Palliative Medicine

Job responsibilities

This is an exciting opportunity to be a part of our dedicated workforce and join one of the largest and most successful Foundation Trusts in the UK with an international reputation for innovation and the desire to make a difference.

You must be fully registered with the GMC and hold a Licence to Practice and be on the Specialist Register, or within three months of attaining your CCT or equivalent to be eligible for interview. Informal visits are welcome.

The postholder will have regular contact with vulnerable adults and/or children (0-18 years), therefore 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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Together with other colleagues, to provide a high quality care service to patients. This includes all aspects of treatment and relevant management duties for the proper functioning of the Care Group.

2. Shared responsibility with other colleagues for providing 24 hours, 7 days a week cover for the Unit on a rota basis. Responsible also for covering colleagues periods of annual leave and short-term sickness as detailed in your contract.

3. Provide clinical supervision of junior medical/dental practitioners as a shared responsibility with other consultant colleagues.

4. Responsible for carrying out teaching, examination and accreditation duties as required and contributing to CPD and clinical governance initiatives.

5. Responsible for outpatient clinic commitments in peripheral hospitals as agreed with the Care Groups management team where part of the service structure.

6. Contribute to the Care Groups research interests in accordance with the Trusts R&D framework.

7. Contribute to the audit programmes, Morbidity and Mortality, Clinical Governance programmes and Learning from Deaths.

8. Take an active role in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of the Care Groups Business Plan. This may include assisting with discussions regarding service plans and developments with internal and external agencies.

9. Conduct all activities within the contracted level of service and operating plan for service(s).

10. Exercise professional leadership for all staff working in the specialty. This will include fostering and developing projects focused towards these ends and ensuring that the momentum of post-qualification professional education and other appropriate training is maintained.

11. Work in conjunction with clinical and other professional colleagues to ensure that the productivity of staff within the specialty is maintained and their job satisfaction is enhanced. This may include involvement in the appraisal process for peers and/or junior colleagues

12. Undertake Care Group management duties as agreed with the Care Group/Departmental Manager/Clinical Director.

13. Be aware of, and comply with, all Trust infection prevention and control policies, to include hand hygiene, personal hygiene, environmental and food hygiene.

14. Prepare for and undertake the protective interventions that you are responsible for in a manner that is consistent with evidence-based practice and maintaining patient safety.

15. Kings is committed to providing Consultant led 7-day services and in the event of future developments the post holder would be expected to contribute equally with other Consultant colleagues.

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. You have a general duty of care for the health, safety and well-being of yourself, work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance responsibilities associated with this post.

2. You are required to observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations, including complying with statutory and Trust core training.

3. You are required to observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.

4. You are required to be responsible, with management support, for your own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.

5. The postholder has an important responsibility for, and contribution to make to, infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene requirements of this role. These requirements are set out in the National Code of Practice on Infection Control and in local policies and procedures, which will be made clear during your induction and subsequent refresher training. These standards must be strictly complied with at all times.

6. All employees must hold an 'nhs.net' email account, which will be the Trust's formal route for email communication. You are therefore required to check this regularly and to deal with such communication promptly.

7. The Trust is committed to the Health and Wellbeing of all its staff and offer a range of guidance and services to support them, including

8. Local occupational health support

9. Employee Assistance Programme which provides a wide range of support for work and personal issues, including relationship problems (personal and at work); anxiety/depression; finance/debt; work overload; legal matters; bullying; consumer issues; bereavement; pressure/stress; child care; and care of the elderly/disabled.

10. Wellbeing hubs

11. Proactive local organisational systems to support staff following a serious incident

12. Availability of local initiatives and resources to promote workforce wellbeing

13. Coaching and mentoring, peer review groups and participation

Qualifications

Essential

• Registerable medical qualification
• MRCP, MRCGP or equivalent

Desirable

• Other higher degree or diploma (e.g., MD)

Registration

Essential

• Full Registration with GMC
• Name on GMC Specialist Register on date of taking up appointment

Training and Experience

Essential

• Wide experience in all aspects of palliative care, culminating in award of CCT or equivalent
• Specialist training in Palliative Care

Desirable

• Previous experience working in an acute Trust

Administration

Essential

• Experience in day-to-day organisation of Palliative Care services in a busy Teaching Hospital
• Familiarity with information technology and general computer skills
• Familiar with current structure of UK National Health Service and conversant with recent initiatives and changes

Desirable

• Familiar with current structure of Health Service and conversant with recent initiatives and changes

Management and Leadership

Essential

• Able to demonstrate leadership capability within multi-disciplinary teams

Desirable

• Management course and/or qualification

Audit and Quality Improvement

Essential

• Thorough understanding of principles of medical audit
• Must have undertaken and completed audit projects

Desirable

• Audit Publications

Research and Publications

Essential

• Experience of conducting or supporting clinical research
• Keeps upto date with relevant palliative care and related research developments in the field

Desirable

• Relevant research experience in one or more aspects of palliative care
• Publication of relevant review articles or case reports

Teaching

Essential

• Experience of undergraduate and post-graduate teaching and exam preparation

Desirable

• Teaching skills course/qualification

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).