North Bristol NHS Trust

Specialty Doctor in Care of the Elderly

The closing date is 26 June 2025

Job summary

We are seeking a Specialty Doctor, for up to 2 days per week, who is dedicated and passionate in helping us to develop our services to provide outstanding and exemplary care for older, frail patients in the South West.

The post holder will join a multi-disciplinary team to develop and deliver frailty services to care home residents across Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

You will have a friendly and supportive team around you, providing plenty of scope for you to both showcase and develop your skills.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate extensive experience and genuine interest in Medicine for Older People. Full Registration with the GMC is essential.

Main duties of the job

Older People's services are being prioritised to provide a full range of services from acute frailty assessment, a complex care bed-base through to 'transitional' post- acute care. Substantial commitment is made within the trust to cross-divisional working, and we provide liaison medical support to support the care of frail older patients admitted to trauma, surgical and oncology specialties, whilst also delivering community services, virtual wards and rapid access and movement disorder outpatients services.

North Bristol NHS Trust has an active appraisal and development programme, and all Specialty Doctors will take part in the process.

About us

TheMedicine for Older Person's team comprises 27 WTE consultants with support from junior medical teams, providing a range of services for older people with complex needs.

The specialty currently manage patients across a number ofinpatient services.These include the review of acute admissions in the Emergency Zone on Level 0 of the Brunel Building, a newly created Acute Frailty Unit on level 1 (32 beds), with post-admission short stay capacity. Two complex care wards are located on level 5 (32 beds on each) with a further short stay bed base (c.16 beds). Transitional post- acute care beds are located in the nearby Elgar Enablement Unit, which includes 56 beds.

A 33 bed frailty unit focusing on comprehensive geriatric assessment opened in September 2015. The most recent development of this ward has seen this move towards a direct admitting Acute Frailty Unit, working closely with the acute medicine team.

Community facilities post- acute care and rehabilitation are provided by Sirona care and health, who is now the provider for all of Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire since April 2020. The successful applicant would help us develop skills in and evidence for community liaison work, in particular, care home in-reach and community advance care planning.

Date posted

12 June 2025

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Specialty Doctor

Salary

£59,175 to £95,400 a year PA

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

339-MED5994-SSK

Job locations

North Bristol Trust

Southmead Road

Bristol

BS10 5NB

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Duties

The post holder will be responsible for the clinical management of patients under the supervision of consultant colleagues.

Diagnosis and management of older patients presenting to the Trust with a wide range of conditions. Continuing responsibility for the care of patients in liaison with Consultant colleagues.

The post holder will based in a base ward (or service) (9a, 9b, 28b, Elgar, 32a) based in Brunel Building), including a commitment to acute medical admissions.

Outpatient clinics, typically 1 week

The post-holder would (including those working on LTFT basis) would be expected to participate in a middle grade on-call rota.

Managerial and Administrative Duties

The post holder will be expected to contribute towards the development of the service and actively participate in leading specific streams of work. At the beginning of the project there is likely to need to be time spent in forging links with the community, identifying care homes / GP practices to target, and upskilling the team. It is expected that the post holder will help to develop and contribute to systems to evaluate and further develop the service.

Teaching and Supervision of Junior Medical Staff & Students & Allied Healthcare Professionals

Contribute towards teaching and development of medical, nursing and other healthcare professionals working within the team

Study & Research

The post holder can request up to a maximum of 30 days study leave within a 3-year period (pro rata for part-time posts) as stated in the Terms and Conditions of Service.

It is anticipated that evaluations of the project are submitted for publication.

The post holder is expected to:

Participate in the appraisal scheme appropriate to their discipline, in accordance with Royal College recommendations and the requirements laid down by the General Medical Council for revalidation
Engage in appropriate professional development activity in order to maintain clinical competence and performance
Participate in, encourage and support professional development within the service
Ensure that high clinical standards are maintained throughout the service including clinical audit

The Trust is committed to ensuring that support is given for Continuing Medical Education. Study leave funding for Specialty Doctors is £1,000 per annum for course fees, travel and subsistence (pro rata for part-time posts).

The post holder will not necessarily be expected to undertake research however opportunities do exist and encouragement is given to develop collaborative projects with other departments within Trust or with the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England. The post-holder will be required to submit all research development plans which have resource implications to the Clinical Director prior to implementation.

There are professionally staffed Medical Libraries in the Medical Postgraduate Centre at Southmead Hospital, with a rapid service between this and the University Library situated in the centre of Bristol city. A computer literature search facility is available for which a charge is made and the library has links with other networks. The libraries are at the forefront of developments in electronic knowledge delivery.

Audit

The post holder will be expected and encouraged to participate in clinical governance initiatives, e.g. CPD, clinical effectiveness and audit and risk management. The Trust has an audit department which supports and monitors such activity. There is an active Trust Clinical Audit Committee.

Professional and legal responsibilities

Maintain accurate and relevant documentation and patient records.

Participate in education, research, quality improvement and risk management activities

Take the responsibility for ones own Professional Development by undertaking appropriate activities to update clinical knowledge and skills.

Undertake appropriate audit and research projects and as appropriate support papers for publication.

Be aware of and work within the policies of North Bristol NHS Trust carrying out such duties as may be required and are consistent with the responsibilities of the Grade.

Be aware of and comply with Health and Safety regulations, cardiac resuscitation procedures, fire procedures and equipment safety.

To ensure confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity.

To have responsibility for the Health, Safety and Welfare of self and others and to comply at all times with the requirements of the Health and Safety Regulations.

Promote equal opportunities for staff and clients in accordance with NBTs Healthcare Policies, to ensure that no person receives less favourable treatment than another on the grounds of sex, marital status, race, religion, colour, creed, nationality, ethic or national origin or sexual orientation.

For further details / informal visits contact: