Job summary
Interview will be held on the 20th May 2024
The successful candidates will take a full part in the routine work of the department sharing the surgical pathology, placental pathology and necropsy workload equally with the other consultants. The reporting of tumour specimens will be in accordance with the guidelines of the CCLG and RCPath.
All consultants will be expected to attend and contribute to clinicopathological conferences with colleagues from oncology, gastroenterology, nephrology, clinical genetics, Obstetrics/Neonatology and paediatric surgery. At present there are 11 multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings per month at the Alder Hey site, the majority of which are currently delivered virtually. In addition all consultants contribute to virtual clinicopathological conferences at hospitals which form part of the Regional Fetal and Perinatal Histopathology network, on average further 1-2 meetings per month. This network is established and led by the Paediatric Pathology Department and it provides a comprehensive highly specialised service in fetal and perinatal and placental pathology for the North West region, North Wales, the Isle of Man, and the Regional Perinatal Pathology service of Northern Ireland (via service level agreements signed between AHCH and 10 hospitals). Mutual aid is also delivered to the perinatal pathology service of the West Midlands.
Main duties of the job
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Clinical
Cut up and report routine and urgent surgical specimens.
Cut up and report placentas.
Report non-neoplastic broncho-alveolar lavage cytology.
Perform fetal, neonatal and child hospital post-mortem examinations.
Participate in MDT meetings.
Supervise reporting by specialty registrars.
Teaching & Academic role
Participate in the teaching and training of undergraduates and postgraduates.
Develop research interests in their area of interest and expertise.
Managerial responsibilities
Supervise junior staff.
Participate in departmental meetings related to strategic planning.
Take an active role in service review and development.
CPD, Audit & Clinical Governance
Participate in CPD activity for which financial support is available.
Initiate and undertake appropriate audits as required within the department.
Take part in the clinical governance programme.
About us
Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust is a major teaching hospital of the University of Liverpool. It serves not only the local population of children, but is the tertiary referral centre for children from Merseyside, Cheshire, parts of Lancashire, Shropshire and North Wales for many sub-specialties of paediatrics. The hospital has over 300 beds, including day beds for surgery, a medical day care unit and observations beds in the Emergency Department.
The paediatric services and expertise within the Hospital are considerable and include paediatric cardiology, cardio-thoracic surgery, neonatal surgery, neurology and disability, neurosurgery, audiology and ENT, ophthalmology, nephrology, respiratory medicine, rheumatology, gastroenterology, dermatology, endocrinology, metabolic medicine, haematology, oncology, infectious diseases, immunology, clinical genetics, trauma and orthopaedics, burns and plastics surgery, paediatric intensive care unit and high dependence units, paediatric radiology, paediatric pathology, paediatric emergency medicine, general surgery and general paediatrics all on a single site. A child and adolescent mental health service is also provided with an in-patient unit based at the Trust.
The radiology department provides an excellent supportive service, which includes both a CT and MRI scanning service. There are specialist paediatric support services in pharmacy, laboratory services and Professions Allied to Medicine.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This post attracts 10 programmed activities per week. There may be the opportunity to discuss and review this with the clinical director.
The surgical pathology work involves surgical cut-up and reporting, report checking and signing, and the presentation of cases at the multiple Multi-disciplinary Team meetings. Broncho alveolar lavage cytology samples are also reported. The necropsy work involves the performance of autopsies, their reporting, PM microscopy and its reporting, preparation, checking and signing out of final reports and attendance and presentation of cases at the multiple regional mortality meetings and the Alder Hey PICU and Cardiac departmental mortality meetings, where appropriate. The supervision of the Specialty Registrars is also included. The post requires participation in an on-call system for out of hours (1 in 6, category B) for histopathology advice and rare attendances at the hospital to deal with fresh tumours or urgent post-mortem examinations.
The rota has days for post mortem/ placenta reporting, surgical reporting or off-rota, into which a greater number of supporting professional activity SPAs are allocated. The five consultants will undertake duties on five week rotation; an example is included below. Two consultants will be on PM rota together to enable rapid turnaround times. There is internal cover for annual and study leave, and the rota is swapped around accordingly. The workload complexity scores are calculated annually to ensure compliance with RCPath guidelines.
There is flexibility to time-shift Coronial or forensic work, court attendances or other external duties with professional organisations, provided all NHS duties are maintained, with target turnaround times met, and registrar supervision carried out.
DCC work is divided between post-mortem and surgical/placental pathology work as shown above. In practice, consultants will spread their post mortem and placental histopathology reporting and SPA duties as best suits the daily demands on their time. Autopsy workload is variable, and therefore on some PM rota days there may be no autopsies, allowing histology reporting or SPA activities to be carried out instead.
The head of department is usually a rotational post, each consultant holding the post for a 3 year period. However, this can be varied by discussion between colleagues. This post attracts an additional programmed activity.
The Department
The Department of Paediatric Histopathology is part of the Department of Pathology with other paediatric pathology disciplines, including biochemistry, haematology and microbiology, and sits within the Division of Medicine.
The Laboratory Medicine of which Histopathology forms part, holds full UKAS accreditation. The Department participates in National Technical and Immunocytochemical External Quality Assurance Scheme (NEQAS) and the Consultant Paediatric Pathologists are expected to participate in the National Paediatric Pathology EQA Scheme.
The Histopathology Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operational management of the laboratory and accountable to the Head of Department.
The Pathology Department is situated in a purpose-built facility in the new hospital, completed in 2015. It incorporates office accommodation and departmental seminar room with audio-visual facilities. The mortuary and bereavement suites are located directly below the Pathology department, with a dumb waiter for transfer of samples. The mortuary is fitted with a Fujigo X-ray unit suitable for radiography of foetuses, infants and older children. Digital cameras are used for post-mortem photography and recording surgical specimens and placentas.
The department is part of the National Pathology Imaging Co-operative (NPIC) paediatric pathology network. Two digital slide scanners, PCs and medical-grade displays are in place and we aim to validate digital pathology for routine reporting in Spring 2024.
The Department provides the routine technical facilities for standard tissue processing and staining, along with wide range of histochemical staining (including Acetylcholinesterase/AChE) and immunohistochemistry. Genetic testing and electron microscopy are performed off site as a regular and routine part of investigation of certain tissue samples with short turnaround time and high-quality service.
The Department provides a full range of diagnostic surgical and post-mortem histopathology services to the clinical specialties of the Trust. In addition Alder Hey is the centre of a clinical network for Fetal and Perinatal Pathology serving most hospitals in the former Cheshire and Mersey Strategic Health Authority.
In 2022 the Department handled over 5000 patient requests (including placentae). The bulk of the surgical diagnostic work is related to endoscopic biopsies of the gastro-intestinal tract, abdominal/neonatal surgery, dermatology and general paediatric surgery.
Approximately 55-65 newly diagnosed malignant solid paediatric tumours are analysed per annum. All tumour samples are received fresh which allows tissue to be taken for genetics, electron microscopy and frozen storage as appropriate.
As a part of the overall surgical workload 2200 placentae are analysed including those sent with fetuses for post mortem examination.
In 2022 a total of 523 post mortem examinations were performed, of which 91 were at the request of HM Coroners. Post-mortem examination is carried out on site. There is a need to travel to attend some inquests mainly in Merseyside and Cheshire.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Research
The national Co-ordinating Centre of NIHR Medicines for Children Research Network is based in Alder Hey and there is also the Local Research Network (LRN). There is close collaboration between all of these and with many other stakeholders.
The Trust has a comprehensive research programme and all consultants are encouraged to be involved. The overall responsibility for the Trust's Research Strategy lies with the Medical Director, and the Director of Research. The Research and Development Directorate ensures that research is incorporated into the management infrastructure and is part of the Trust's overall service plan and strategy. The Trust's Research and Development Manager, along with research group leaders, promote research within the overall strategic aims. A number of operational groups and key individuals facilitate the planning coordination and support of research.
Areas of direct relevance to child health in which there exists a critical mass of expertise are focused around research subject groups. The Research and Development Manager, research group leaders and a nurse lecturer practitioner also provide support to new initiatives which fall outside the strategic focus, especially those with potential to develop into programmes of research. Quality assurance of all Trust-based research is achieved through peer review of all proposals by the Research Committee.
Teaching
Alder Hey serves as a teaching hospital to the University of Liverpool. The undergraduate curriculum is based on problem-based learning. All consultants are expected to take part in undergraduate teaching. Support is available to enable new consultants to deliver Level Two training.
All consultants have responsibility for organising the teaching and training of all members of staff in their department. There is an active training scheme for all junior medical staff and all consultants are expected to contribute to this programme. There are many postgraduate activities within the Trust including a weekly Grand Round.
Audit and Clinical Governance
The appointee will be expected to participate in the audit programme.
Whilst the Trust organises regular half day sessions to enable intra and inter-departmental audit and general education programmes, it is expected that the successful applicant will maintain their personal portfolios in accordance with the requirements of the Royal College of Pathologists and ensure that they achieve suitable continuing professional development. An appraisal system for all consultants is now established, including an annual review of job plans and CPD.
Consultants are also expected to be aware of the principles of clinical governance and to contribute to the aims of each Trust in achieving continuing improvement in all aspects of delivery of the service.
Continuing Professional Development
Consultants are expected to maintain their personal portfolios in accordance with the requirements of the Royal College of Pathologists, including the acquisition of the appropriate CPD points. The Trust has introduced an Appraisal system for all consultants which includes a review of Continuing Professional Development.
Mentoring of newly appointed consultants by a more senior colleague is available within the Trust and the appointee will be encouraged to make use of this resource.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This post attracts 10 programmed activities per week. There may be the opportunity to discuss and review this with the clinical director.
The surgical pathology work involves surgical cut-up and reporting, report checking and signing, and the presentation of cases at the multiple Multi-disciplinary Team meetings. Broncho alveolar lavage cytology samples are also reported. The necropsy work involves the performance of autopsies, their reporting, PM microscopy and its reporting, preparation, checking and signing out of final reports and attendance and presentation of cases at the multiple regional mortality meetings and the Alder Hey PICU and Cardiac departmental mortality meetings, where appropriate. The supervision of the Specialty Registrars is also included. The post requires participation in an on-call system for out of hours (1 in 6, category B) for histopathology advice and rare attendances at the hospital to deal with fresh tumours or urgent post-mortem examinations.
The rota has days for post mortem/ placenta reporting, surgical reporting or off-rota, into which a greater number of supporting professional activity SPAs are allocated. The five consultants will undertake duties on five week rotation; an example is included below. Two consultants will be on PM rota together to enable rapid turnaround times. There is internal cover for annual and study leave, and the rota is swapped around accordingly. The workload complexity scores are calculated annually to ensure compliance with RCPath guidelines.
There is flexibility to time-shift Coronial or forensic work, court attendances or other external duties with professional organisations, provided all NHS duties are maintained, with target turnaround times met, and registrar supervision carried out.
DCC work is divided between post-mortem and surgical/placental pathology work as shown above. In practice, consultants will spread their post mortem and placental histopathology reporting and SPA duties as best suits the daily demands on their time. Autopsy workload is variable, and therefore on some PM rota days there may be no autopsies, allowing histology reporting or SPA activities to be carried out instead.
The head of department is usually a rotational post, each consultant holding the post for a 3 year period. However, this can be varied by discussion between colleagues. This post attracts an additional programmed activity.
The Department
The Department of Paediatric Histopathology is part of the Department of Pathology with other paediatric pathology disciplines, including biochemistry, haematology and microbiology, and sits within the Division of Medicine.
The Laboratory Medicine of which Histopathology forms part, holds full UKAS accreditation. The Department participates in National Technical and Immunocytochemical External Quality Assurance Scheme (NEQAS) and the Consultant Paediatric Pathologists are expected to participate in the National Paediatric Pathology EQA Scheme.
The Histopathology Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operational management of the laboratory and accountable to the Head of Department.
The Pathology Department is situated in a purpose-built facility in the new hospital, completed in 2015. It incorporates office accommodation and departmental seminar room with audio-visual facilities. The mortuary and bereavement suites are located directly below the Pathology department, with a dumb waiter for transfer of samples. The mortuary is fitted with a Fujigo X-ray unit suitable for radiography of foetuses, infants and older children. Digital cameras are used for post-mortem photography and recording surgical specimens and placentas.
The department is part of the National Pathology Imaging Co-operative (NPIC) paediatric pathology network. Two digital slide scanners, PCs and medical-grade displays are in place and we aim to validate digital pathology for routine reporting in Spring 2024.
The Department provides the routine technical facilities for standard tissue processing and staining, along with wide range of histochemical staining (including Acetylcholinesterase/AChE) and immunohistochemistry. Genetic testing and electron microscopy are performed off site as a regular and routine part of investigation of certain tissue samples with short turnaround time and high-quality service.
The Department provides a full range of diagnostic surgical and post-mortem histopathology services to the clinical specialties of the Trust. In addition Alder Hey is the centre of a clinical network for Fetal and Perinatal Pathology serving most hospitals in the former Cheshire and Mersey Strategic Health Authority.
In 2022 the Department handled over 5000 patient requests (including placentae). The bulk of the surgical diagnostic work is related to endoscopic biopsies of the gastro-intestinal tract, abdominal/neonatal surgery, dermatology and general paediatric surgery.
Approximately 55-65 newly diagnosed malignant solid paediatric tumours are analysed per annum. All tumour samples are received fresh which allows tissue to be taken for genetics, electron microscopy and frozen storage as appropriate.
As a part of the overall surgical workload 2200 placentae are analysed including those sent with fetuses for post mortem examination.
In 2022 a total of 523 post mortem examinations were performed, of which 91 were at the request of HM Coroners. Post-mortem examination is carried out on site. There is a need to travel to attend some inquests mainly in Merseyside and Cheshire.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Research
The national Co-ordinating Centre of NIHR Medicines for Children Research Network is based in Alder Hey and there is also the Local Research Network (LRN). There is close collaboration between all of these and with many other stakeholders.
The Trust has a comprehensive research programme and all consultants are encouraged to be involved. The overall responsibility for the Trust's Research Strategy lies with the Medical Director, and the Director of Research. The Research and Development Directorate ensures that research is incorporated into the management infrastructure and is part of the Trust's overall service plan and strategy. The Trust's Research and Development Manager, along with research group leaders, promote research within the overall strategic aims. A number of operational groups and key individuals facilitate the planning coordination and support of research.
Areas of direct relevance to child health in which there exists a critical mass of expertise are focused around research subject groups. The Research and Development Manager, research group leaders and a nurse lecturer practitioner also provide support to new initiatives which fall outside the strategic focus, especially those with potential to develop into programmes of research. Quality assurance of all Trust-based research is achieved through peer review of all proposals by the Research Committee.
Teaching
Alder Hey serves as a teaching hospital to the University of Liverpool. The undergraduate curriculum is based on problem-based learning. All consultants are expected to take part in undergraduate teaching. Support is available to enable new consultants to deliver Level Two training.
All consultants have responsibility for organising the teaching and training of all members of staff in their department. There is an active training scheme for all junior medical staff and all consultants are expected to contribute to this programme. There are many postgraduate activities within the Trust including a weekly Grand Round.
Audit and Clinical Governance
The appointee will be expected to participate in the audit programme.
Whilst the Trust organises regular half day sessions to enable intra and inter-departmental audit and general education programmes, it is expected that the successful applicant will maintain their personal portfolios in accordance with the requirements of the Royal College of Pathologists and ensure that they achieve suitable continuing professional development. An appraisal system for all consultants is now established, including an annual review of job plans and CPD.
Consultants are also expected to be aware of the principles of clinical governance and to contribute to the aims of each Trust in achieving continuing improvement in all aspects of delivery of the service.
Continuing Professional Development
Consultants are expected to maintain their personal portfolios in accordance with the requirements of the Royal College of Pathologists, including the acquisition of the appropriate CPD points. The Trust has introduced an Appraisal system for all consultants which includes a review of Continuing Professional Development.
Mentoring of newly appointed consultants by a more senior colleague is available within the Trust and the appointee will be encouraged to make use of this resource.
Person Specification
Education and training
Essential
- Full registration with GMC
- FRCPath and specialist registration in Paediatric and Perinatal Pathology
Desirable
- Higher Degree (MSc or MBA)
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of extensive experience in paediatric and perinatal pathology.
Desirable
- Experience of departmental management
Skills
Essential
- Teaching skills and experience
- Ability to supervise the clinical work of doctors in training and other staff
- Oral and written communication skills in English
Desirable
- Teaching qualification
- Leadership qualification.
Person Specification
Education and training
Essential
- Full registration with GMC
- FRCPath and specialist registration in Paediatric and Perinatal Pathology
Desirable
- Higher Degree (MSc or MBA)
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of extensive experience in paediatric and perinatal pathology.
Desirable
- Experience of departmental management
Skills
Essential
- Teaching skills and experience
- Ability to supervise the clinical work of doctors in training and other staff
- Oral and written communication skills in English
Desirable
- Teaching qualification
- Leadership 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.
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).
