Job summary
We are seeking to appoint three full time doctors for a period of 6 months to join an enthusiastic and committed team providing Specialist Palliative Care support to patients across Liverpool and South Sefton.
The post holder will be employed by Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust but duties will be either based at Woodlands Hospice, located within the Aintree University Hospital campus (one post), or with the palliative care services based at the Royal Liverpool Hospital (two posts).
Woodlands Hospice's clinical services transitioned to LUHFT in 2021. A dedicated Specialist Palliative Care Inpatient Unit with 15 beds transferred from the main hospital in 2009. The Academic Palliative Care Unit sits within a shared 28 bedded Complex and Academic Medicine ward, alongside partners in Clinical Haematology and Infectious Diseases, and provides in-patient palliative care support within the acute hospital on the Royal site.
The person appointed will primarily undertake duties within our in-patient units, but with opportunity depending on level of skill and experience to undertake patient reviews and provide advice and support for other aspects of our in-patient and ambulatory services across all settings.
The post holder will work under the supervision of the Consultants in Palliative Medicine and will be encouraged to fully participate in the extensive range of educational, audit and research activities and opportunities of the service.
Main duties of the job
The post holder's main duties will be to support the patients and their carers admitted to the in-patient unit at Woodlands Hospice or the Academic Palliative Care Unit.
The post-holder, depending on level of experience, may also work alongside the Hospital Specialist Palliative Care teams (both sites) to review patients under the care of the service within the acute hospitals and the Community Specialist Palliative Care teams (AUH site) to undertake crisis intervention domiciliary visits for patients whose preferred place of care is home.
If undertaking duties in the ambulatory service, the post holder will also provide medical advice and support to the IMPaCT hub team for one day per week, with support from senior colleagues, and undertake face to face and telephone patient reviews in the ambulatory medical clinic.
All staff within the department are expected to work with external partners as part of the wider cross-boundary multi-disciplinary team, which is committed to collaborative and integrated working to improve patient care.
About us
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was created on 1 October 2019 following the merger of two adult acute Trusts, Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust.
The merger provides an opportunity to reconfigure services in a way that provides the best healthcare services to the city and improves the quality of care and health outcomes that patients experience.
The Trust runs Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital, Liverpool University Dental Hospital and the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
It serves a core population of around 630,000 people across Merseyside as well as providing a range of highly specialist services to a catchment area of more than two million people in the North West region and beyond.
To hear more about our achievements click herehttps://www.liverpoolft.nhs.uk/media/13089/1606-annual-report-booklet_final.pdf
Follow us on Social Media:
Facebook - Liverpool University Hospitals Careers
Instagram - @LUHFTcareers
Twitter - @LUHFTcareers
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Fellow or Specialty Doctor (depending on experience) in Palliative Medicine employed by Liverpool University Hospitals (NHS) Foundation Trust, based at Woodlands Hospice or on the Academic Palliative Care Unit on the Royal site.
Responsible to Dr J Bellieu, Specialty Clinical Director Palliative Care and Acute Oncology, Liverpool University NHS Foundation Trust.
Liaising with Rachel Thompson, Deputy Head of Operations, Palliative Care and Acute Oncology, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Clinical Supervisor TBC
The hours of the post are 9am-5pm Monday to Friday. There is an on-call commitment of one night per week and one weekend in five on a non-resident basis. The post at Woodlands Hospice supports the on call service for the north of the city and is based at Woodlands Hospice, The post at the Royal links to the south on call rota and is based at Marie Curie Hospice. Accommodation can be arranged on site if necessary for those living further than 30 minutes from the site.
A brief city-wide MDT is held each morning at the weekend, following which a ward round of patients is undertaken on both Saturday and Sunday and the hospices do accept planned and crisis admissions over the weekend. Between 5pm and 9am, the on call is non-resident from home, providing advice and support for the out of hours advice line, with a requirement to attend the in-patient units within the hospice for any urgent reviews.
The post holders main duties will be to support the patients and their carers admitted to the in-patient unit at Woodlands Hospice or the Academic Palliative Care Unit.
The post-holder, depending on level of experience, may also work alongside the Hospital Specialist Palliative Care teams (both sites) to review patients under the care of the service within the acute hospitals and the Community Specialist Palliative Care teams (AUH site) to undertake crisis intervention domiciliary visits for patients whose preferred place of care is home. If undertaking duties in the ambulatory service, the post holder will also provide medical advice and support to the IMPaCT hub team for one day per week, with support from senior colleagues, and undertake face to face and telephone patient reviews in the ambulatory medical clinic.
The post holder will work under the supervision of the Consultants in Palliative Medicine and will be encouraged to participate in the educational, audit and research activities of the service.
The post holder will be encouraged and supported to engage in appropriate continuous professional development, and there is a regular programme of education including a weekly journal club with Marie Curie Hospice and fortnightly departmental teaching events. The teams contribute to the Cheshire and Merseyside Regional Palliative Care Audit Programme.
The service supports the training of undergraduate medical students and the post holder will be encouraged to participate in teaching and the delivery of both formal and informal educational activity, and to undertake clinical assessments with students on placement.
The Palliative Care Research Unit, linked to the University of Liverpool, provides opportunities for the post holder to engage in the palliative care research activities of the services, with regular seminar sessions and support for professional development in this area.
The post holder will be expected to work as part of the multi-professional and multi-disciplinary team which is committed to collaborative working to improve patient care.
The post holder will have access to shared office space within the units and will share secretarial support with the Consultants in Palliative Medicine.
So far as is consistent with the proper discharge of the above duties, the post holder undertakes to deputise from time to time for absent colleagues. The post holder undertakes, exceptionally, to perform additional duties in occasional emergencies and unforeseen circumstances.
The post holder undertakes, exceptionally, to be available for such irregular commitments outside normally rostered duties as are essential for continuity of patient care.
This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities, and the post holder may be required to undertake other duties which fall within the grade of the job, in discussion with the managers and organisational representatives.
This job description will be reviewed regularly in the light of changing service requirements and any such changes will be discussed with the post holder.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Fellow or Specialty Doctor (depending on experience) in Palliative Medicine employed by Liverpool University Hospitals (NHS) Foundation Trust, based at Woodlands Hospice or on the Academic Palliative Care Unit on the Royal site.
Responsible to Dr J Bellieu, Specialty Clinical Director Palliative Care and Acute Oncology, Liverpool University NHS Foundation Trust.
Liaising with Rachel Thompson, Deputy Head of Operations, Palliative Care and Acute Oncology, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Clinical Supervisor TBC
The hours of the post are 9am-5pm Monday to Friday. There is an on-call commitment of one night per week and one weekend in five on a non-resident basis. The post at Woodlands Hospice supports the on call service for the north of the city and is based at Woodlands Hospice, The post at the Royal links to the south on call rota and is based at Marie Curie Hospice. Accommodation can be arranged on site if necessary for those living further than 30 minutes from the site.
A brief city-wide MDT is held each morning at the weekend, following which a ward round of patients is undertaken on both Saturday and Sunday and the hospices do accept planned and crisis admissions over the weekend. Between 5pm and 9am, the on call is non-resident from home, providing advice and support for the out of hours advice line, with a requirement to attend the in-patient units within the hospice for any urgent reviews.
The post holders main duties will be to support the patients and their carers admitted to the in-patient unit at Woodlands Hospice or the Academic Palliative Care Unit.
The post-holder, depending on level of experience, may also work alongside the Hospital Specialist Palliative Care teams (both sites) to review patients under the care of the service within the acute hospitals and the Community Specialist Palliative Care teams (AUH site) to undertake crisis intervention domiciliary visits for patients whose preferred place of care is home. If undertaking duties in the ambulatory service, the post holder will also provide medical advice and support to the IMPaCT hub team for one day per week, with support from senior colleagues, and undertake face to face and telephone patient reviews in the ambulatory medical clinic.
The post holder will work under the supervision of the Consultants in Palliative Medicine and will be encouraged to participate in the educational, audit and research activities of the service.
The post holder will be encouraged and supported to engage in appropriate continuous professional development, and there is a regular programme of education including a weekly journal club with Marie Curie Hospice and fortnightly departmental teaching events. The teams contribute to the Cheshire and Merseyside Regional Palliative Care Audit Programme.
The service supports the training of undergraduate medical students and the post holder will be encouraged to participate in teaching and the delivery of both formal and informal educational activity, and to undertake clinical assessments with students on placement.
The Palliative Care Research Unit, linked to the University of Liverpool, provides opportunities for the post holder to engage in the palliative care research activities of the services, with regular seminar sessions and support for professional development in this area.
The post holder will be expected to work as part of the multi-professional and multi-disciplinary team which is committed to collaborative working to improve patient care.
The post holder will have access to shared office space within the units and will share secretarial support with the Consultants in Palliative Medicine.
So far as is consistent with the proper discharge of the above duties, the post holder undertakes to deputise from time to time for absent colleagues. The post holder undertakes, exceptionally, to perform additional duties in occasional emergencies and unforeseen circumstances.
The post holder undertakes, exceptionally, to be available for such irregular commitments outside normally rostered duties as are essential for continuity of patient care.
This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities, and the post holder may be required to undertake other duties which fall within the grade of the job, in discussion with the managers and organisational representatives.
This job description will be reviewed regularly in the light of changing service requirements and any such changes will be discussed with the post holder.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Full GMC registration and licence to practice
- MBBS or Equivalent
Desirable
- Four years full-time postgraduate training, two of which must have been in relevant acute specialties (or demonstration of equivalent experience)
- Post Graduate Qualification of Diploma in Palliative Medicine MRCP or equivalent
Experience / Skills / Knowledge
Essential
- Training and work experience in Oncology and Palliative Medicine
- Experience in treating primary and secondary malignant disease, and symptoms in non-malignant conditions.
- Knowledge & Experience of Symptom Control
- Ability to undertake Audit
- Demonstrates ability to work in a multi-professional team with the ability to manage conflict.
- Excellent Communication Skills both with patients and with other Healthcare Professionals.
Desirable
- Understand the principles of quality governance
- Experience of teaching basic palliative care skills to non-specialist clinical staff
- Core Research Skills with ability to embrace a Research Culture.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Full GMC registration and licence to practice
- MBBS or Equivalent
Desirable
- Four years full-time postgraduate training, two of which must have been in relevant acute specialties (or demonstration of equivalent experience)
- Post Graduate Qualification of Diploma in Palliative Medicine MRCP or equivalent
Experience / Skills / Knowledge
Essential
- Training and work experience in Oncology and Palliative Medicine
- Experience in treating primary and secondary malignant disease, and symptoms in non-malignant conditions.
- Knowledge & Experience of Symptom Control
- Ability to undertake Audit
- Demonstrates ability to work in a multi-professional team with the ability to manage conflict.
- Excellent Communication Skills both with patients and with other Healthcare Professionals.
Desirable
- Understand the principles of quality governance
- Experience of teaching basic palliative care skills to non-specialist clinical staff
- Core Research Skills with ability to embrace a Research Culture.
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.
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).
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.
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).
