Consultant in Stroke Medicine

Job responsibilities

Based primarily at UHND or BAH to provide in-patient and out-patient services.

To undertake clinical work in conjunction with colleagues and other professional staff in order to maintain and develop stroke services and develop specialist skills in accordance with the needs of patients.

Responsible in conjunction with colleagues for planning future developments of our stroke care pathway and stroke services.

To maintain continuing responsibility for the care of patients in their charge and to provide a collaborative support to consultant colleagues in other clinical disciplines in the hospital, and to general practitioners in County Durham and Darlington.

To cover colleagues in their absence and ensure continuous patient care.

The professional and educational supervision of junior staff.

Participate in the postgraduate teaching of medical staff and undergraduates attached to the Trust and in the training of all grades of staff across disciplines.

To actively lead and develop research and innovation activities within stroke services.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) - The post-holder is responsible for ensuring that he/she meets the national requirements for CPD, both internal and external. Youwill be expected to attend regularly, and contribute to, the weekly half-day educational activities held by the Care Group. The Trust supports requirements for CPD as laid down by the Royal Colleges and is committed to providing support for these activities.

To actively and regularly participate in clinical audit.

The post-holder will be expected to deputise in the absence of colleagues in cases of annual leave, study leave and sickness as far as practicable.

Where appropriate, to work on behalf of the Trust to provide appropriate consultations and services for other agencies.

To be familiar with, and follow, national guidance and Trust policies, procedures and guidelines in relation to patient care, health and safety, governance and equality of opportunity.

PROPOSED TIMETABLE AND JOB PLAN

The final job plan/on-call arrangements will be agreed in partnership prior to appointment. The stroke service is committed to increasing flexibility in working hours and extended-days may be considered to suit the needs of the candidate and service.

It is anticipated that each PA of direct clinical time will attract a further 0.2 PA of admin time.

Upon starting, a formal job plan will be agreed between the appointee and their clinical lead within the first 6 months, and approved by the Medical Director. The job plan will then be reviewed annually in accordance with the Trust policy on Consultant Job Planning.

We would be keen to discuss this in more detail with interested candidates.

The post currently includes:

Commitment to being on-call on a 1 in 6 basis

Participation of Physician of the week 1 in 6 (ward rounds)

Hyper-Acute Stroke Unit admissions

Outpatient clinics, including TIA and stroke follow-up

Supporting consultant cover on our rehabilitation ward

The post-holder will be expected to deputise in the absence of colleagues in cases of annual leave, study leave and sickness as far as is practicable and ensure continuous patient care.

Qualifications

Essential

• MB BS degree or equivalent
• Full registration with GMC
• MRCP or Equivalent.
• CCT or equivalent in an appropriate speciality and on the specialist register

Desirable

• Preferably sub-speciality CCT in stroke medicine and CCT in GIM or entry on specialist register expected within 6 months or applied for entry

Statutory Registration

Essential

• Full registration with GMC and inclusion on specialist register (or pending in next 6 months)

Experience

Essential

• Independent ward rounds of acute inpatients presenting with stroke
• Comprehensive patient management including other general medical conditions
• Ability to make decisions at consultant level and take responsibility for the care of patients.
• Knowledge and ability to assess potential candidates for reperfusion therapies related to stroke including IV thrombolysis and thrombectomy, and for neurosurgical referral
• Recent experience and familiarity of UK hospital systems and practices (or equivalent)
• Evidence of appropriate experience in stroke medicine and acute inpatient care
• Able to take responsibility for delivering service without direct supervision
• Up to date knowledge and evidence of continued professional development relevant to stroke medicine
• Knowledge of NHS priorities with reference to stroke
• Awareness of managerial role of a consultant in NHS and the ability to provide appropriate leadership within this role
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload effectively
• Ability to plan strategically and to exercise sound judgments when faced with conflicting issues
• Ability to motivate and develop the multi-disciplinary team
• Excellent communication skills and empathy
• Flexibility to respond to changing patterns of work in line with service change
• Computer literate - confident in using Microsoft office, e- mail, internet

Desirable

• Evidence of involvement in service improvement and or patient safety projects
• Rehabilitation expertise pertaining to stroke patients including spasticity management
• Experience of teaching and training medical and non-medical staff and undergraduates across healthcare professions
• Experience in clinical governance
• Experience of protocol / pathway
• Development and influence in change in management
• Evidence of delivery of a significant quality improvement project

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Previous active involvement in audit and QiP work
• Evidence of active teaching of undergraduates, junior doctors, nurses or allied health professionals
• Evidence of previous research experience or clinical effectiveness work

Desirable

• Involvement in research, including previous CI / PI role where applicable
• Leadership of an audit project
• Certificate of Medical Education or other educational qualification
• Willingness to become involved in departmental research projects and to lead some research or academic development

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).