Locum Consultant in Genitourinary and HIV Medicine

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose:

New Croft Centre remained open throughout the lockdown periods of 2020 and 2021 and recent data from Public Health England demonstrates a significant increase in STI diagnoses in our region. Our service is the largest in the North East and offers in-house remote self-sampling for asymptomatic screening as well as face to face appointments for review of symptomatic patients, including walk-in services for young people. We continue to provide specialist services such as near patient microscopy; cryotherapy; skin biopsy, hyfrecation and minor surgical procedures as well as transvaginal ultrasound. Assessment of contraceptive needs is embedded into routine care for all patients with booked appointments for fitting and removal of subdermal implants and intrauterine devices. We have a large and growing cohort of PrEP users, with consultant led clinics focusing on complex cases. New croft clinic is also a major provider of out-patient HIV care within Newcastle. HIV services are delivered in partnership with consultant colleagues in Infectious Diseases who are based at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, and supported by HIV specialist nurses, a specialist HIV pharmacist, health psychology and community partners.

As we emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, there is huge demand for sexual health care in Newcastle. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to run specialist clinics in complex genitourinary medicine (including genital dermatology); PrEP; and HIV care, as well as providing clinical leadership and senior supervision of general sexual health clinics. According to the skills and interests of the appointee, there are options to deliver complex contraception clinics including ultrasound scanning and aspects of community gynaecology; to offer LARC fitting and removal or to join other aspects of the service such as psychosexual counselling, outreach and specialist clinics for young people.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Clinical:

• Provide clinical leadership and act as a source of advice both within and out with the Trust in his / her field of expertise.
• Be a key person for advice, support and guidance to the team in the provision of sexual health services in the field of his / her expertise.
• Assist in the delivery of a comprehensive sexual health service, to maintain the management and follow-up of patients accessing the service.
• Provide out-patient HIV care, as a member of the ID/GUM HIV service which includes participating in clinical and research trials and being an active member of the Northern Regional HIV network
• Develop good working relationships with other relevant disciplines for example HIV/ID physicians, Public Health, Microbiology, Laboratory Services, General Medicine, Dermatology and Obstetrics & Gynaecology.
• Ensure delivery of national and local strategies for Sexual Health and HIV.
• Formulate and update guidelines and protocols for the department where appropriate.
• Have a continuing responsibility for the care of patients in his / her care and for the proper functioning of the services.
• To work flexibly and meet the needs of the Integrated Sexual Health Service.
• To promote and maintain the philosophy of a user-led and user-informed service.
• Attend staff training meetings when possible.
• To ensure that professional standards are maintained including revalidation of professional qualifications.
• Undertake GMC revalidation, an annual appraisal and job plan review. It is expected that objectives within job plan reviews will be based on Trust and service objectives such as fulfilment of fixed contractual commitments on the basis of a 43 week working year with due allowance for statuary holidays.

Teaching:

• Undergraduate and post-graduate teaching forms an integral part of the post with a commitment to teaching in the clinic environment and coordination of both ad hoc and formal teaching sessions for medical students, specialist trainees and specialty doctors, nurses, health advisers and others involved in delivery of sexual health services.
• The post-holder will become the lead for education within the department and will supervise rotations, ensuring that induction and teaching is provided for trainees from all specialty training posts that spend time within New Croft Centre.
• The post-holder will undertake the role of educational and / or clinical supervisor for individual specialist training doctors at different stages ranging from foundation year to senior specialist registrars.
• The post holder will further develop theoretical and practical training in sexual health (including STIF training) and local update days provided for primary care.

Managerial:

• Overall responsibilities include participating in co-ordination and delivery of the strategic and operational aspects of sexual health services across Newcastle upon Tyne. This will reflect national and local priorities, including contributing to the strategic direction of Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
• To play a significant role in the clinical governance of the service. This may involve formulation as well as contribution to the formulation of clinical policies and procedures.
• To contribute to the management of the service taking a lead role where necessary with active participation in commissioning and contract review.
• Participate in all aspects of Clinical Governance, making a contribution to multidisciplinary audit and risk management activities.

Administrative:

• Ensure accurate, electronic patient records are maintained including scanned copies of referral letters.
• The appointee is entitled to become a member of the Medical Staff Committee of the hospital.
• To undertake general administrative duties within a context of compliance with Directorate and Trust aims and objectives

Research:

• The Trust welcomes and encourages research as a high profile activity that compliments the service provided - the emphasis being on studies that fall within the National Institute of Health Research Portfolio.
• Before starting projects, appropriate steps should be taken to ensure that projects meet prevailing standards of research governance

Flexibility:

In line with the Trusts core value of placing patients at the heart of everything we do, we are developing our service provision to be responsive to the needs of our patients. To meet those needs some staff groups will be increasingly asked to work a more flexible work pattern so that they can offer services in the evening or weekend. As a result any offer of employment to a consultant post will be subject to you agreeing to work a new more flexible pattern or working in the future if required, including evening and weekend work.

Education, Qualifications and Specialist Skills

Essential

• Primary Medical Qualification.
• Full GMC Registration.
• Completion of specialty training in Genitourinary Medicine (or equivalent) and entry onto the GMC Specialist Register (within 6 months from the date of the AAC).
• Diploma in Genitourinary Medicine.
• Diploma in HIV Medicine.
• Diploma of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare.

Desirable

• Higher academic degree. Experience of partnership working with other statutory and voluntary bodies.
• Membership of the Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare.
• Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Letters of Competence in Intrauterine
• Techniques and Subdermal Implants.

Clinical Experience

Essential

• In-depth knowledge of the concepts surrounding modern and integrated sexual health.
• Demonstrable thorough understanding of child protection issues.
• Have experience in managing patients with complex sexual health needs including those needing genital biopsies and minor surgical procedures.
• Have significant experience in managing simple and complex HIV positive individuals.
• Ability to relate to community groups and work with and encourage user involvement in service planning.

Desirable

• Special skills relevant to sexual and reproductive health.
• Ability to conduct evidence-based reviews.
• Ability to undertake a health needs assessment and manage change as a result of its findings.
• Ability to work with marginalised groups and show an understanding of the multiple factors that contribute to adverse outcomes and experiences

Management and Administration Experience

Essential

• Ability to help lead the delivery of the strategic and operational aspects of sexual health services across Newcastle upon Tyne.
• Committed to lead in professional, managerial and teaching responsibilities necessary to fulfil the obligations of the Directorate to the Trust and its workforce.
• Flexible approach to service delivery and committed approach to development.
• Able to communicate well with patients and colleagues. A thorough understanding of Clinical and Information Governance.

Desirable

• Understanding of management goals.
• Awareness of wider local, regional and national policy developments in sexual health and sexual health promotion.

Teaching

Essential

• Experience of participation in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.
• Experience of supervising junior medical staff.
• Ability to teach clinical skills.
• Evidence of good organisational skills.

Desirable

• Experience of participation in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.
• Ability to teach clinical skills.
• Holding a formal teaching qualification such as being a FSRH Registered Trainer.

Research & Audit

Essential

• Understanding of application of the audit process to clinical work.
• Experience of research methodology and ethics approval process.
• Evidence of participation in audit.

Desirable

• Holder of external research grants.
• Experience of collaborative research.
• Publications in Medline listed peer-reviewed journals.
• Ability to supervise research of trainees.
• Evidence of having changed practice as a result of audit.
• Evidence of having revisited the audit to assess improvement.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Alignment with the Trust's Core & Professional Behaviours.
• Flexible approach to service delivery and committed approach to development.
• Committed to share in professional, managerial and teaching responsibilities necessary to fulfil the obligations of the Directorate to the Trust and its workforce.
• A commitment to personal / unit CPD.
• Ability and willingness to work the on-call rota.
• Ability and willingness to work a more flexible pattern of working in the future if required, including evening and weekend work.
• Enthusiasm and ability to work under pressure.
• Good IT skills
• Ability to form constructive and effective professional relationships with patients and staff.
• Supportive, tolerant and able to work within a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, patients, GPs, nurses and other agencies.
• Ability to communicate effectively with young people. Good use of spoken and written English.
• Creative problem solving approach to issues.
• Caring attitude to patients.
• A commitment to personal / unit CPD.
• Ability / willingness to travel between sites.
• Ability to work flexible hours

Desirable

• Able to manage and motivate a wide range of staff, both medical and non-medical.

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).