Job summary
This
is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced palliative care clinician who is
able to function autonomously to provide clinical and management support and
advice in palliative medicine to join the team at County Durham and Darlington
NHS Foundation Trust. The initial scope and location of the post is the
inpatient unit at St. Cuthbert's Hospice, but as part of the integrated
palliative care service, the post holder may also provide advice and support to
other elements of the service including in other settings. They would join a
supportive and innovative palliative care service and have the opportunity to
work with medical and multidisciplinary colleagues within the team itself and
at the hospice.
Main duties of the job
The
initial scope and location of the post is the inpatient unit at St. Cuthbert's
Hospice, but as part of the integrated palliative care service, the post holder
may also provide advice and support to other elements of the service. The
post holder will work collaboratively with palliative care consultants who are
both acute and community based across the County to ensure the provision of
high quality palliative care consistent with national and Northern England
Clinical Strategic Network standards and guidelines. They will promote a
seamless transition across all care boundaries for patients with palliative
care needs through collaborative working with primary, secondary and tertiary
care services. In addition, they will faccilitate the roll our of national end
of life initiatives and developments as agreed with the palliative care
services.
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks
We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents
Over reliance on
AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of
success
For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.
From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two years
of experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to consider
sponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria and
have a current visa expiring within 3 months)
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide high quality, flexible and responsive medical
support, assessment and care and/or specialist advice for patients in County
Durham who have complex pain, symptom, spiritual and psychosocial needs which
require specialist palliative care interventions. Responsibilities will
include:
a. Working with the
hospice inpatient team to support the care of patients
b. Liaison with other members of the multidisciplinary team,
patients families, primary healthcare teams, hospital services and other
specialist palliative care teams
c. Completing clinical administrative duties
To participate in teaching and educational activities
(students,health care professional colleagues including junior medical
colleagues, patients and families)
To maintain continuing professional development through personal
development goals and regular review to support and encourage development.
Undertake administrative duties associated with the care of
patients (including activity data as required) in line with Trust Policy.
Contribute to the clinical governance activities of the
specialist palliative care team, including regular audit, development of
appropriate trust-wide standards and annual appraisal.
Participate in local and national audit as agreed with the
service.
Participate in quality improvement initiatives e.g. CQUIN
initiatives.
Maintain continuing professional development in accordance
with the requirements of the Royal College of Physicians/the Royal College of
General Practitioners.
Contribute to the delivery of undergraduate medical education
and GP trainees in all aspects of palliative, end of life care, communication
skills and ethics.
Participate in undergraduate,
postgraduate and multi-professional education programmes across primary care
and within the Trust.
Participate in Specialist Palliative Care Service education
sessions.
Working with the hospice palliative care team to support the
care of patients.
Liaison with other members of the
multidisciplinary team, patients families, primary healthcare teams, hospital
services and other specialist palliative care teams.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide high quality, flexible and responsive medical
support, assessment and care and/or specialist advice for patients in County
Durham who have complex pain, symptom, spiritual and psychosocial needs which
require specialist palliative care interventions. Responsibilities will
include:
a. Working with the
hospice inpatient team to support the care of patients
b. Liaison with other members of the multidisciplinary team,
patients families, primary healthcare teams, hospital services and other
specialist palliative care teams
c. Completing clinical administrative duties
To participate in teaching and educational activities
(students,health care professional colleagues including junior medical
colleagues, patients and families)
To maintain continuing professional development through personal
development goals and regular review to support and encourage development.
Undertake administrative duties associated with the care of
patients (including activity data as required) in line with Trust Policy.
Contribute to the clinical governance activities of the
specialist palliative care team, including regular audit, development of
appropriate trust-wide standards and annual appraisal.
Participate in local and national audit as agreed with the
service.
Participate in quality improvement initiatives e.g. CQUIN
initiatives.
Maintain continuing professional development in accordance
with the requirements of the Royal College of Physicians/the Royal College of
General Practitioners.
Contribute to the delivery of undergraduate medical education
and GP trainees in all aspects of palliative, end of life care, communication
skills and ethics.
Participate in undergraduate,
postgraduate and multi-professional education programmes across primary care
and within the Trust.
Participate in Specialist Palliative Care Service education
sessions.
Working with the hospice palliative care team to support the
care of patients.
Liaison with other members of the
multidisciplinary team, patients families, primary healthcare teams, hospital
services and other specialist palliative care teams.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Practises with the professional values and behaviours expected of all doctors as set out in GMC Good Medical Practice
- Demonstrates the underpinning subject-specific competences ie, knowledge, skills and behaviours relevant to the role setting and scope.
- Manages the difficulties of dealing with complexity and uncertainty in the care of patients: employing expertise and clinical decision-making skills of a senior and independent/ autonomous practitioner.
- Critically reflects on own competence, understands own limits, and seeks help when required.
- Respects patients dignity, ensures confidentiality and appropriate communication where potentially difficult or where barriers exist, eg, using interpreters and making adjustments for patients with communication difficulties.
- Develops effective relationships across teams and contributes to work and success of these teams promotes and participates in both multidisciplinary and interprofessional team working.
- Critically reflects on decision-making processes and explains those decisions to others in an honest and transparent way.
- Demonstrates ability to challenge others, escalating concerns when necessary.
- Implements quality improvement methods and repeats quality improvement cycles to refine practice; designing projects and evaluating their impact.
- Engages with relevant stakeholders to develop and implement robust governance systems and systematic documentation processes.
- Recognises and takes responsibility for safeguarding children, young people and adults, using appropriate systems for identifying, sharing information, recording and raising concerns, obtaining advice and taking action.
- Applies appropriate equality and diversity legislation, including disability discrimination requirements, in the context of patient care.
- Promotes and participates in individual and team learning; supporting the educational needs of individuals and teams for uni-professional, multidisciplinary and interprofessional learning.
- Plans and provides effective teaching and training activities as required by the role.
Desirable
- Applies basic human factors principles and practice at individual, team, organisation and system levels.
- Collaborates with multidisciplinary and inter professional teams to manage risk and issues across organisations and settings, with respect for and recognition of the roles of other health professionals.
- Evaluates and audits own and others clinical practice and acts on the findings.
Special Requirements
Essential
- Ability to independently travel as required by the role
Special Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Awareness of legal responsibilities such as around mental capacity and deprivation of liberty; data protection; equality and diversity.
- Awareness of their leadership responsibilities as a clinician and demonstrates appropriate leadership behaviour; managing situations that are unfamiliar, complex or unpredictable and seeking to build collaboration with, and confidence in, others.
- Demonstrates ability to challenge others, escalating concerns when necessary.
- Can act as a role model, educator, supervisor, coach or mentor for medical and non-medical practitioners.
- Keeps up to date with current research and best practice in the individuals specific area of practice, through appropriate continuing professional development activities and their own independent study and reflection.
Desirable
- Demonstrates understanding of a range of leadership principles, approaches and techniques so can adapt leadership behaviours to improve engagement and outcomes appreciates own leadership style and its impact on others.
Statutory Registration
Essential
Qualifications
Essential
- MB ChB or equivalent
- Higher Medical Qualification
Desirable
- Diploma in Palliative Medicine
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Practises with the professional values and behaviours expected of all doctors as set out in GMC Good Medical Practice
- Demonstrates the underpinning subject-specific competences ie, knowledge, skills and behaviours relevant to the role setting and scope.
- Manages the difficulties of dealing with complexity and uncertainty in the care of patients: employing expertise and clinical decision-making skills of a senior and independent/ autonomous practitioner.
- Critically reflects on own competence, understands own limits, and seeks help when required.
- Respects patients dignity, ensures confidentiality and appropriate communication where potentially difficult or where barriers exist, eg, using interpreters and making adjustments for patients with communication difficulties.
- Develops effective relationships across teams and contributes to work and success of these teams promotes and participates in both multidisciplinary and interprofessional team working.
- Critically reflects on decision-making processes and explains those decisions to others in an honest and transparent way.
- Demonstrates ability to challenge others, escalating concerns when necessary.
- Implements quality improvement methods and repeats quality improvement cycles to refine practice; designing projects and evaluating their impact.
- Engages with relevant stakeholders to develop and implement robust governance systems and systematic documentation processes.
- Recognises and takes responsibility for safeguarding children, young people and adults, using appropriate systems for identifying, sharing information, recording and raising concerns, obtaining advice and taking action.
- Applies appropriate equality and diversity legislation, including disability discrimination requirements, in the context of patient care.
- Promotes and participates in individual and team learning; supporting the educational needs of individuals and teams for uni-professional, multidisciplinary and interprofessional learning.
- Plans and provides effective teaching and training activities as required by the role.
Desirable
- Applies basic human factors principles and practice at individual, team, organisation and system levels.
- Collaborates with multidisciplinary and inter professional teams to manage risk and issues across organisations and settings, with respect for and recognition of the roles of other health professionals.
- Evaluates and audits own and others clinical practice and acts on the findings.
Special Requirements
Essential
- Ability to independently travel as required by the role
Special Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Awareness of legal responsibilities such as around mental capacity and deprivation of liberty; data protection; equality and diversity.
- Awareness of their leadership responsibilities as a clinician and demonstrates appropriate leadership behaviour; managing situations that are unfamiliar, complex or unpredictable and seeking to build collaboration with, and confidence in, others.
- Demonstrates ability to challenge others, escalating concerns when necessary.
- Can act as a role model, educator, supervisor, coach or mentor for medical and non-medical practitioners.
- Keeps up to date with current research and best practice in the individuals specific area of practice, through appropriate continuing professional development activities and their own independent study and reflection.
Desirable
- Demonstrates understanding of a range of leadership principles, approaches and techniques so can adapt leadership behaviours to improve engagement and outcomes appreciates own leadership style and its impact on others.
Statutory Registration
Essential
Qualifications
Essential
- MB ChB or equivalent
- Higher Medical Qualification
Desirable
- Diploma in Palliative Medicine
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).
