Job summary
We are delighted to be able to offer an opportunity for a highly motivated, ambitious individual to join our well integrated team.
We are looking for enthusiastic candidates who can offer expert clinical opinion within the field of Paediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases and have experience of caring for children undergoing HSCT for Inborn Errors of Immunity.
This substantive consultant post has been configured to overlap proleptically with the job-plan of a senior colleague approaching retirement, in order continue to develop our clinical service and meet quality standards within Paediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases. This post offers an unparalleled opportunity to be part of a dynamic and innovative team with internationally recognised clinical and academic strength. Research is a strategic priority at the GNCH and there is substantial scope to develop clinical studies within Paediatric Immunology, HSCT and Infectious Diseases.
Candidates for the post must be registered medical practitioners and on, or eligible to join, the Specialist Register within six months of the date of the Appointments Committee.
Please read attached Job Description and Person Specification.
Main duties of the job
Based at the Great North Children's Hospital, Paediatric Immunology is a supra-regional service covering the entire north of England, Scotland and Ireland and includes stem cell transplantation. The Paediatric Infectious Diseases service receives referrals from all over the region. An attending consultant system operates for the care of immunology/infectious disease in-patients, to which the post-holder will contribute 13 weeks per year, plus an additional 20 days per year attending on the Transplant Unit. Regular team meetings include the transplant clinical MDT meeting, transplant planning meeting and case conference (all weekly), clinical research meetings and consultant meeting (each monthly) and departmental meetings every 2 months. The post-holder will conduct approximately weekly out-patient clinics including GNCH immunology and infection clinics and outreach clinics together with associated multi-disciplinary team meetings, when not attending.
For an informal discussion and further information regarding the opportunity and Directorate, please contact: Dr Stephen Owens, Head of Department - Paediatric Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Allergy via email: stephen.owens@nhs.net.
Closing Date: 3rd November 2023
Interview Date: 23rd November 2023
About us
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest, largest and most successful teaching NHS foundation trusts in the country, with over 18,000 staff and an annual income of £1 billion. Rated 'Outstanding' by theCQC for the second consecutive time in 2019, we have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.
We're also proud to be the second largest provider of specialised services in the country. This means we support people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.
Our staff oversee around 1.84 million patients 'contacts' each year, delivering high standards of healthcare.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people's race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Objectives, Duties and Responsibilities of this Consultant Post:
- Contribute to the Paediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases and Services within the Trust by means of outpatient clinics, day-case and inpatient care including consults for other teams, participation in multidisciplinary team meetings and ward rounds.
- Contribute to the care of children undergoing HSCT.
- Contribute to out-of-hours cover: 1:6 weeknights and weekends for paediatric immunology and infectious diseases, including the HSCT Unit
Clinical Governance:
- Undergo Continued Medical Education (CME) in accordance with guidelines stipulated
- Undertake an annual appraisal and job plan review. It is expected that objectives within job plan reviews will be based on Trust objectives such as fulfilment of fixed contractual commitments on the basis of a 43-week working year with due allowance for statutory holidays
- It is a condition of employment that so far as is reasonably practicable, all employees must minimise the risk of infection to themselves, colleagues, patients, relatives, and visitors and, in so doing, must;
- be familiar with, and adhere to Trust policies and guidance on infection prevention and control;
- attend Trust Induction Programme(s) and statutory education programmes in infection prevention and control;
- include infection prevention and control as an integral part of your continuous personal/professional development;
- take personal responsibility so far as is reasonably practicable, in helping ensure that effective prevention and control of health care acquired infections is embedded into everyday practice and applied consistently by you and your colleagues
- Participate in all aspects of Clinical Governance, making a significant contribution to multidisciplinary audit and risk management activities, working within the Childrens Services Directorate
- Provide a major contribution to the work necessary for ongoing JACIE/QPIDS accreditation
- Provide a major contribution to the work necessary for NHSLA assessments
- Assist the Directorate Manager and Clinical Director in the timely investigation of complaints working to provide reports within the timeframe set out by Trust policy
- Contribute to the general organisation and running of Childrens Services within the Trust, working in collaboration with colleagues.
Administrative:
- Undertake administrative duties in relation to the care of patients and in relation to the running of the Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Immunology and Allergy in co-operation with the Head of Department, Directorate Manager, and Clinical Director
- Undertake general administrative duties within a context of compliance with Directorate and Trust aims and objectives
- Become involved with the financial management of the Department - at all times looking to ensure the delivery of high-quality care to agreed standards, but at the same time reviewing working practices to provide the most efficient use of resources
Research (Within the Newcastle University Translational and Clinical Research Institute):
The Trust welcomes and encourages research as a high-profile activity that complements and enriches the service provided. For clinical studies within the remit of the National Institute of Health Research Portfolio, the GNCH is well-supported by a Research Unit including CLRN-funded Research Nurses and Data Managers. In addition, the co-situated Newcastle University Medical School provides a full range of biomedical research facilities. We currently recruit to a wide portfolio of observational studies and clinical trials across the fields of Paediatric Immunology / Stem Cell Transplantation / Infectious Diseases / Allergy. The post-holder will be expected to support our active participation in national and international studies in the field of Paediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases, and will be well-placed to pursue opportunities to:
- Spearhead crosscutting research
- Secure funding for further studies
- Depending on the academic activities of the incoming post-holder, an honorary position at Newcastle University will be sought at appropriate level.
Teaching:
- Participate in undergraduate medical student teaching and contribute to postgraduate teaching and training of junior medical staff in Paediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases
- Be actively involved in the clinical supervision of all postgraduate trainees in the department
- Participate in the teaching and training of any other health care professionals within the Directorate, as appropriate
- Keep up to date with Trust / Deanery procedures required for teaching and training
- Contribute to national training within subspecialty
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Objectives, Duties and Responsibilities of this Consultant Post:
- Contribute to the Paediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases and Services within the Trust by means of outpatient clinics, day-case and inpatient care including consults for other teams, participation in multidisciplinary team meetings and ward rounds.
- Contribute to the care of children undergoing HSCT.
- Contribute to out-of-hours cover: 1:6 weeknights and weekends for paediatric immunology and infectious diseases, including the HSCT Unit
Clinical Governance:
- Undergo Continued Medical Education (CME) in accordance with guidelines stipulated
- Undertake an annual appraisal and job plan review. It is expected that objectives within job plan reviews will be based on Trust objectives such as fulfilment of fixed contractual commitments on the basis of a 43-week working year with due allowance for statutory holidays
- It is a condition of employment that so far as is reasonably practicable, all employees must minimise the risk of infection to themselves, colleagues, patients, relatives, and visitors and, in so doing, must;
- be familiar with, and adhere to Trust policies and guidance on infection prevention and control;
- attend Trust Induction Programme(s) and statutory education programmes in infection prevention and control;
- include infection prevention and control as an integral part of your continuous personal/professional development;
- take personal responsibility so far as is reasonably practicable, in helping ensure that effective prevention and control of health care acquired infections is embedded into everyday practice and applied consistently by you and your colleagues
- Participate in all aspects of Clinical Governance, making a significant contribution to multidisciplinary audit and risk management activities, working within the Childrens Services Directorate
- Provide a major contribution to the work necessary for ongoing JACIE/QPIDS accreditation
- Provide a major contribution to the work necessary for NHSLA assessments
- Assist the Directorate Manager and Clinical Director in the timely investigation of complaints working to provide reports within the timeframe set out by Trust policy
- Contribute to the general organisation and running of Childrens Services within the Trust, working in collaboration with colleagues.
Administrative:
- Undertake administrative duties in relation to the care of patients and in relation to the running of the Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Immunology and Allergy in co-operation with the Head of Department, Directorate Manager, and Clinical Director
- Undertake general administrative duties within a context of compliance with Directorate and Trust aims and objectives
- Become involved with the financial management of the Department - at all times looking to ensure the delivery of high-quality care to agreed standards, but at the same time reviewing working practices to provide the most efficient use of resources
Research (Within the Newcastle University Translational and Clinical Research Institute):
The Trust welcomes and encourages research as a high-profile activity that complements and enriches the service provided. For clinical studies within the remit of the National Institute of Health Research Portfolio, the GNCH is well-supported by a Research Unit including CLRN-funded Research Nurses and Data Managers. In addition, the co-situated Newcastle University Medical School provides a full range of biomedical research facilities. We currently recruit to a wide portfolio of observational studies and clinical trials across the fields of Paediatric Immunology / Stem Cell Transplantation / Infectious Diseases / Allergy. The post-holder will be expected to support our active participation in national and international studies in the field of Paediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases, and will be well-placed to pursue opportunities to:
- Spearhead crosscutting research
- Secure funding for further studies
- Depending on the academic activities of the incoming post-holder, an honorary position at Newcastle University will be sought at appropriate level.
Teaching:
- Participate in undergraduate medical student teaching and contribute to postgraduate teaching and training of junior medical staff in Paediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases
- Be actively involved in the clinical supervision of all postgraduate trainees in the department
- Participate in the teaching and training of any other health care professionals within the Directorate, as appropriate
- Keep up to date with Trust / Deanery procedures required for teaching and training
- Contribute to national training within subspecialty
Person Specification
Education, Qualifications and Specialist Skills
Essential
- Primary medical qualification
- MRCPCH or other recognised equivalent medical qualification
- Entry onto the GMC Specialist Register (within 6 months from the date of the AAC).
- CCT in Paediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases (or equivalent)
- Wide experience of Paediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases, including infection in the immunocompromised and stem cell transplantation
Desirable
- Research training with a Higher Degree
- Leadership and training experience
- Recognised teaching skills and training
- Peer-reviewed publications
Clinical Experience
Essential
- Evidence of a substantial career commitment to Paediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases
- Ability to offer an expert clinical opinion within the field of Paediatric Immunology; evidence that such opinions are sought after
- Ability to take independent responsibility for the clinical care of children with Immunological disorders and Infectious Diseases referred to a tertiary centre
Desirable
- Experience managing children exposed to or suffering from High Consequence Infectious Diseases
- Leadership of antimicrobial stewardship programme
- A minimum of 1 year experience of caring for children undergoing HSCT for IEI
Management and Administration Experience
Essential
- Involvement with management and project leadership within the specialty
- Evidence of involvement in authoring or reviewing clinical guidelines
- Proven management and administration ability and understanding of management goals. Evidence of leadership / project management
- Experience in quality improvement and audit
- An understanding of Clinical Governance
Desirable
- Proven management and administrative experience and understanding of management goals
- Evidence of leadership / project management
- Evidence of having implemented change
- Ability to run a service and participate in management process
- Experience in developing and implementing new technologies
- Experience of JACIE/QPIDS accreditation
Teaching
Essential
- Experience of supervising junior medical staff
- Experience of participation in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching
- Ability to teach clinical / technical / practical skills
Desirable
- Attendance at courses to develop teaching skills
- Postgraduate qualification in medical education
Research
Essential
- Evidence of involvement in and understanding of research methodology and publication of findings
- Research/critical review of literature
Desirable
- Higher degree
- Evidence of raising grant income
- Experience in supervising research students
Audit
Essential
- Evidence of participation in audit
Desirable
- 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
- Evidence of good leadership, organisational and management skills
- Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, patients, relatives, GPs, nurses and other agencies
- Enthusiasm and ability to work under pressure
- Ability to form constructive and effective professional relationships with patients and staff
- Supportive, tolerant and able to work within a multidisciplinary team
- Caring attitude towards patients
Person Specification
Education, Qualifications and Specialist Skills
Essential
- Primary medical qualification
- MRCPCH or other recognised equivalent medical qualification
- Entry onto the GMC Specialist Register (within 6 months from the date of the AAC).
- CCT in Paediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases (or equivalent)
- Wide experience of Paediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases, including infection in the immunocompromised and stem cell transplantation
Desirable
- Research training with a Higher Degree
- Leadership and training experience
- Recognised teaching skills and training
- Peer-reviewed publications
Clinical Experience
Essential
- Evidence of a substantial career commitment to Paediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases
- Ability to offer an expert clinical opinion within the field of Paediatric Immunology; evidence that such opinions are sought after
- Ability to take independent responsibility for the clinical care of children with Immunological disorders and Infectious Diseases referred to a tertiary centre
Desirable
- Experience managing children exposed to or suffering from High Consequence Infectious Diseases
- Leadership of antimicrobial stewardship programme
- A minimum of 1 year experience of caring for children undergoing HSCT for IEI
Management and Administration Experience
Essential
- Involvement with management and project leadership within the specialty
- Evidence of involvement in authoring or reviewing clinical guidelines
- Proven management and administration ability and understanding of management goals. Evidence of leadership / project management
- Experience in quality improvement and audit
- An understanding of Clinical Governance
Desirable
- Proven management and administrative experience and understanding of management goals
- Evidence of leadership / project management
- Evidence of having implemented change
- Ability to run a service and participate in management process
- Experience in developing and implementing new technologies
- Experience of JACIE/QPIDS accreditation
Teaching
Essential
- Experience of supervising junior medical staff
- Experience of participation in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching
- Ability to teach clinical / technical / practical skills
Desirable
- Attendance at courses to develop teaching skills
- Postgraduate qualification in medical education
Research
Essential
- Evidence of involvement in and understanding of research methodology and publication of findings
- Research/critical review of literature
Desirable
- Higher degree
- Evidence of raising grant income
- Experience in supervising research students
Audit
Essential
- Evidence of participation in audit
Desirable
- 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
- Evidence of good leadership, organisational and management skills
- Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, patients, relatives, GPs, nurses and other agencies
- Enthusiasm and ability to work under pressure
- Ability to form constructive and effective professional relationships with patients and staff
- Supportive, tolerant and able to work within a multidisciplinary team
- Caring attitude towards patients
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).
