Consultant in Interface Medicine

Job description

Job responsibilities

This is a full time substantive post and supports our ongoing comprehensive reconfiguration of services. The successful applicant will develop the role of Consultant in Interface Medicine across acute, frailty and community pathways. This innovative new post will have clinical leadership responsibility whilst developing the new models of care a Hospital at Home integrated with our existing Intensive Home Support Service (IHSS) and evolving and expanding the Virtual Ward model to address frailty, multi-morbidity and deterioration in those long term conditions. The role will work alongside our Acute Physicians in the Acute Medical Unit, support the frail elderly patients on the Older Persons Rapid Assessment (OPRA) Unit and Older Persons Units (OPU), and support community services to increase the complexity of patients who can be cared for in their own home.

The successful candidate must hold or be within 6 months of being eligible for specialist registration in General (Internal) Medicine.

Our Acute Medical Unit has significantly expanded in size over recent years, with improved facilities and additional staff. A new area resulting from a £10m investment was opened in December 2020, and incorporates an enhanced care area. The department is forward-looking, with point-of-care ultrasound facilities, Advanced Nurse practitioner training and recruitment, and integrated pharmacist support. There is ongoing expansion of ambulatory care services.

The OPRA Unit has 9 assessment areas and two 19 bedded Older Persons Units. This forms our new Frailty Unit with consultant board rounds throughout the day and full MDT input. There are no long-stay beds. The frailty model continues to develop, and it is anticipated that the postholder will work closely with the Frailty Team to facilitate care closer to home where appropriate.

Our community services incorporate the Intensive Home Support Service (IHSS) and the Intermediate Care Allocation Team (ICAT). IHSS are an integrated health and social care team, consisting of Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Community Nurses, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers and a Mental Health Nurse. IHSS provide in reach provision into ED, AMU A & B, OPRA and acute wards.

The Intermediate Care Allocation Team (ICAT) offers a single point of access to all Intermediate Care services throughout East Lancashire. ICAT is an established and truly integrated team of health and social care professionals, consisting of Social Workers, Occupational Therapists and Nurses as well as a team of Co-ordinators and business support staff with the aim of ensuring timely access to the most appropriate intermediate care services for the people of East Lancashire.

This is a 10 programmed activity (PA) post, although additional PAs up to a maximum of 12 may be negotiated with the post-holder by mutual agreement. 7.5 PA are set aside for Direct Clinical Care (DCC) and 2.5 PA for Supporting Professional Activities (SPA), of which 1.5 PA SPA will be designated as core activities, in line with trust policy. The remaining SPAs are dependent upon the individual role in clinical/educational supervision, governance, patient safety, quality, improvement etc.

In line with the specific leadership responsibilities with respect to development of the new interface model, the starting job plan will substitute some of the DCC and SPA with PAs for these additional responsibilities (see below).

The job plan will be subject to re-negotiation and annual review with the line manager.

This post will contribute to the acute medical on-call rota which is a 1:21 (3% supplement to pay) for overnight cover and 1:6 for weekend cover of the acute medical units.

Responsibilities:

1. To develop the interface medicine and hospital at home model, in conjunction with the management team and consultant colleagues in the Directorates of Medicine for Older People, Acute Medicine and Community Services.

1. To develop and support the service to create a sustainable model of care which interfaces with primary care, community care and secondary care.

1. Lead the development of a Clinical Governance framework for interface medicine.

1. Evolve and expand the Virtual Ward model to address frailty, multi-morbidity and deterioration in those with long term conditions.

1. To provide continued clinical responsibility for the patients under his/her care in conjunction with colleagues in medicine for older people, acute medicine and community services.

1. To take part in agreed provision of cover for consultant colleagues during leave.

1. To develop and promote services that minimise hospital stay and maximise opportunities for recovery and independent living.

1. To lead/participate in medical audit and clinical governance.

1. To provide professional supervision, direction and training to junior medical and allied health professional staff.

1. To participate in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching

1. To attend appropriate meetings of the Directorate of Medicine for Older People, acute medicine and community services

1. Support compliance with the two hour community rapid response standard.

1. Increase the complexity of patients who can be cared for in their own home.

It is the responsibility of the appointee to ensure that they maintain their knowledge and skills to the appropriate level laid down for their specialities by the relevant professional bodies (e.g. Royal College, Speciality societies) and to ensure validation is completed in a timely manner. The trust for its part supports CPD in principle and is committed to providing the necessary time and financial support for such activities, subject to agreed local policies.

There is a degree of flexibility within the role and candidates will be supported in specialist interest where this compliments current service availability and service need.

The Trust will consider time off in lieu to support an appropriate work/life balance where required.

Person Specification

Attainments

Essential

• Full registration with General Medical Council

Desirable

• A higher degree such as MD, MSc, PhD or equivalent

Qualifications

Essential

• Inclusion on the Specialist Register in General (Internal) Medicine, or due admission to register within six months
• MRCP or equivalent
• CCT or within 6 months of CCT Or CESR or European Community Rights

Desirable

• Specialist registration in Acute Medicine or Geriatric Medicine

Training

Essential

• Experience in teaching under-graduates, postgraduates, nurses and professions allied to medicine
• Experience of clinical audit and understanding of the process

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).

Employer details

Employer name

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Community and Hospital sites

Church Street

Burnley

BB11 2DL

Employer's website

http://jobs.elht.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)