University of Southampton / University Hospital Southampton NHS
Foundation Trust
Academic Clinical Lecturer in Respiratory Medicine
Job Description
Department:
Post:
Grade:
Responsible to:
Medicine (Respiratory)
Lecturer in Respiratory Medicine
Academic Clinical Lecturer, Honorary Specialist Registrar
Dr Tom Wilkinson Reader in Respiratory Medicine
________________________________________________________________________
Introduction
The University of Southampton, together with the University Hospital Southampton NHS
Foundation Trust, wishes to appoint an Academic Clinical Lecturer (ACL) in Respiratory
Medicine. The post-holder will be pursuing his/her development of research and teaching
within the Respiratory Research Group of the Academic Unit of Clinical and Experimental
Medicine Sciences of the University of Southampton Faculty of Medicine and the
Southampton NIHR Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit (BRU). The ACL will also have
clinical commitments at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust with
training in clinical skills required for specialist accreditation and to full registration within
the respiratory specialty.
The post is subject to terms and conditions of service determined by the University of
Southampton and in its honorary clinical capacity by the UHS NHS FT board.
Details of the Post
Academic training and development of the ACL
This is an academic post sponsored by the University of Southampton and University
Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. It provides a career pathway for able and
ambitious trainees in respiratory medicine who have already shown excellence in
respiratory research by successfully completing a PhD. The post supports national efforts
to strengthen respiratory academia. The development and strengthening of the successful
candidate’s respiratory research will take place in the respiratory academic group within
the CES Unit, a multi-disciplinary division consisting of clinical and basic scientists focusing
on mechanisms of inflammation and tissue repair in the context of a range of diseases
caused by environmental agents, including allergens and microbes. The Division aims to
develop improved methods of diagnosis and interventions which will prevent, ameliorate and/or
cure infections and chronic inflammatory and fibrosing disorders. The strengths of this Unit
result from the combination of an excellent scientific community focused on elucidation of
fundamental mechanisms underlying human diseases.
The University of Southampton (http://www.southampton.ac.uk/), member of the Russell
Group of highly research active universities, and UHS NHS FT have developed a combined
research strategy since 1992. Most recently this has been translated within the “2020
vision” of the Trust.
The ACL will join the Respiratory Research Group, which is directed by Professor Donna
Davies, Head of the Clinical and Experimental Academic Unit, and the NIHR Respiratory
Biomedical Research Unit, directed by Professor Ratko Djukanovic. The Group has within
its ranks eminent and internationally recognised experts in both adult and paediatric lung
diseases and allergy:
Professor Hasan Arshad, Professor in Allergy
Professor Howard Clark, Professor of Child Health
Professor Donna Davies, Professor of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology
Professor Ratko Djukanovic, Professor of Respiratory Medicine
Professor Stephan Gadola, Professor of Immunology
Professor Stephen T Holgate, MRC Professor of Immunopharmacology
Professor John Holloway, Professor in Allergy and Respiratory Genetics
Professor Peter Howarth, Professor of Respiratory Medicine
Professor Anthony Postle, Professor in Developmental Biochemistry
Professor Graham Roberts, Professor in Paediatric Allergy and Respiratory Medicine
Dr Paul Elkington, Senior Lecturer in TB Research
Dr Saul Faust, Reader in Child Health
Dr Chris Grainge, Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer in Respiratory Medicine
Dr Anthony Sampson, Reader in Allergy & Inflammation Research
Dr Andrew Walls, Reader in Immunopharmacology
Dr Tom Wilkinson, Reader in Respiratory Medicine
The Group is recognised for its excellence and breadth of expertise, ranging from
epidemiology of respiratory and allergic disorders, genetics, and basic cellular and
molecular mechanisms to clinical research, including clinical trials with novel drugs such as
anti-IgE, anti-TNFα and interferon ß. The respiratory research programme is translational
and has the following broad objectives: (1) identification of key genetic and epigenetic
mechanisms predisposing to the development of lung and allergic diseases, (2) elucidation
of the cellular and molecular mechanisms which drive the process of airways (upper and
lower) inflammation, tissue injury and repair and the interaction of these with such
environmental factors as allergens, viruses, pollutants and cigarette smoke, (3)
identification of targets for novel therapies of allergic and respiratory diseases, and (4)
improved understanding of the mechanisms which underlie the clinical effectiveness of
recently developed as well as established drugs.
The research of the Group is embedded into the excellent infra-structure of the CES Unit,
refurbished through a joint Wellcome Trust SRIF (Science Research Investment Fund) and
UoS grant, totalling £10.1M, and Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility. In July 2008, the
group was awarded an NIHR Respiratory BRU with funding (total £6.25M) to conduct a
series of translational research projects and establish an excellent infra-structure in staff
(research fellows, nurses, statistician, data management, technical and administrative
support). Completion of the new BRU building in November 2010 and further funding
success in 2012 for 5 years continued BRU support provides an unrivalled platform for the
ACL position to succeed.
The Respiratory Research Group has extensive national and international collaborations
including the UBIOPRED consortium programme (a €21M project aimed at removing
bottlenecks to drug discovery for severe asthma) in which Southampton is leading the
“omics” platform and the application of ex vivo human models of asthma. Vaccine
development with GSK and other industrial collaborators.
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The Respiratory group is funded by grants from the NIHR, Medical Research Council, the
(US) National Institutes of Health, EU Framework Programme 5 (including a Marie Curie
Host Fellowships for Early Stage Researchers), the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI),
Wellcome Trust, Asthma UK, British Lung Foundation, Action Research, The Rayne
Foundation, Sir Jules Thorn Trust and collaborative grants from the pharmaceutical
industry.
Research Duties of the ACL
The ACL will have 50% of his/her post protected for further research, benefiting from all
the facilities of the Respiratory Group and CES, as well as any other facilities from within
the Faculty of Medicine, as appropriate. If required, additional arrangements can be made
with other faculties of the University of Southampton.
The ACL is expected to continue the research he/she started during his/her PhD studies,
moving from a position of an accomplished student towards that of an independent
researcher who would be competitive for a Senior Lecturer position.
It is expected that the research will be supported by a Clinician Scientist Award for
which the lecturer will be expected to apply.
The ACL will be responsible to a chosen supervisor/mentor (from the Unit) based on a
common research interest and to Dr Tom Wilkinson, Director of Academic Respiratory
Training for the Wessex Deanery. In respect of personal and administrative mattersjurisdiction of CES.
Clinical training of the ACL
The clinical training of the ACL will be provided and supervised by the Specialist Training
Committee (STC), allocating 50% of the ACL’s training time to clinical work that would lead to
completion of specialist training. This would take place within the Wessex Deanery’s region,
with the Deanery being in Otterbourne and the programme covering an area from
Portsmouth in the east, Basingstoke in the north, Dorchester to the west and Southampton in
the south. The ACL will be placed in one of the accredited NHS Trusts in agreement between
the ACL, the STC Chair/Programme Director, Dr Kevin McKinley, and the Academic
Programme lead, Dr Tom Wilkinson. Every attempt will be made to place the ACL in
Southampton or in a nearby Trust to facilitate continuing contact between the ACL and his
academic mentors.
Full details of the Southampton University Hospitals Trust are provided below, while details
of the whole programme in the region can be obtained on request.
University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
UHS) is the 8th largest in the country and is recognised as a centre of clinical, education and
research excellence. It provides a service for acute medicine and all aspects of secondary
care for the Southampton population and serves as a tertiary referral centre for a wide
region in south England and, for many specialties, beyond the region.
Respiratory Service, Southampton General Hospital
New out-patient attendances
approx. 2500/year
Follow-up out-patients attendances
approx. 5000/year
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Admissions: Day cases (in the respiratory centre)approx. 6000/year
Emergency
approx. 1500/year
Staffing of the Department
19 Consultants (13 NHS, 6 University)
6 Specialist Registrars,
5 FT 2 Doctors
5 Foundation 1 Doctors
Respiratory Consultants and their Lead duties
Academic Medicine
Professor Ratko Djukanovic, Director BRU and SCBR
Professor Peter Howarth, Professor in Respiratory Medicine, Head of Clinical Trials Unit
Professor Hasan Arshad, Professor in Allergy
Dr Tom Wilkinson, Reader in Respiratory Medicine
Dr Paul Elkington, Senior Lecturer Tuberculosis Research
Dr Chris Grainge Senior Lecturer Asthma research
UHS Hospital Trust Consultants
Dr Ben Marshall, Lead for Tuberculosis and the Immunocompromised Host
Dr Jane Wilkinson, Lead for Sleep medicine, Domiciliary NIV
Dr Mary Carroll, Director of Cystic Fibrosis Centre
Dr Ramesh Kurukulaaratchy, Lead for Asthma, Allergy and the Respiratory Centre
Dr Simon Bourne, Military Medicine, COPD
Dr Julia Nightingale, Cystic Fibrosis Clinical
Dr Anastasios Lekkas, Lead for Bronchiectasis
Dr Anindo Banerjee, Lead for Lung cancer, bronchoscopy and Pulmonary function
Dr Rachel Limbrey, Lead for Pulmonary vascular disease & Respiratory Ward Administrator
Dr Thomas Daniels, Cystic Fibrosis Lead
Dr Zoe Pond, COPD Integrated Care
Dr David Land HDU Lead
Dr Sophie Fletcher Locum HDU
Respiratory Clinical Service
The respiratory clinical service in UHS covers all aspects of respiratory and allergic
diseases. Specialist clinics are held for respiratory and other allergic diseases, difficult
airways diseases (asthma, COPD, chronic cough), lung cancer, interstitial lung diseases,
sleep-related breathing disorders and chronic non-invasive ventilation, cystic fibrosis,
bronchiectasis and tuberculosis. The service also has a specialised Respiratory Assessment
Centre established to provide quick access to COPD patients during exacerbations and now
providing additional diagnostic and therapeutic services for respiratory diseases. Many of
the services provided by these specialist clinics is supported by multi-disciplinary teams.
Furthermore, there is a specialist asthma service which also provides anti-IgE monoclonal
antibody treatment for selected patients with severe asthma.
Clinical training of specialist registrars in respiratory medicine
It is anticipated that the post will comprise 6 months of academic work and 6 months of
clinical work per year, each taken en bloc. Clinical training will be the equivalent of usual
clinical training to CCT standard in Respiratory Medicine, but will be undertaken at 0.5
rate. During the clinical slot (50% of the post), the ACL will perform a weekly respiratory
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outpatient session at Southampton General Hospital, and will perform all other duties
expected of a clinical trainee at this stage of training, including one of the following: 1)
participate as a member of a ward based respiratory team based on one of the two
respiratory wards, with 4 weekly consultant led ward rounds and on-call/take general
medical take responsibilities according to a standard roster, 2) a member of a respiratory
outreach team, 3) a member of the high dependency unit, 4) a member of the CF team. All
SpRs attend 2 clinics per week and a bronchoscopy session 1 in 3-4 weeks.
We have designed seven placements and timetables (see table below) to enable individual
SpRs/ STs to gain experience in a variety of special interest respiratory disciplines, as well
as improving training in both general respiratory and general medical conditions. We
currently have three respiratory firms to manage the inpatient workload, as well as to
provide a daily ‘in reach’ service to our acute medical unit. We have a six-bedded Medical
High Dependency Unit adjacent to our ward, which we run seven days a week with
respiratory consultant cover at night. We also offer a daily outreach service to review and
advise on management of in-patients with respiratory problems, under other medical and
surgical teams. Each consultant holds special interest respiratory clinics each week, the
majority of which have pairs of consultants working together to support subspecialist
services, as well as a multidisciplinary x-ray meeting. A weekly combined pathology and xray meeting is held on a Thursday evening, and we now have a monthly interstitial lung
disease MDT meeting. SpRs are encouraged to participate in the weekly bronchoscopy list
and opportunities exist for training in lung function testing. We can offer special interest
training in the following areas:- cystic fibrosis, sleep medicine, non-invasive ventilation
(acute and domiciliary), tuberculosis, allergy, difficult airways (including difficult chronic
cough), COPD, interstitial lung diseases, HDU and the immunocompromised patient. Three
firms currently exist to provide leads on in-patient care.
Weekly timetable of respiratory trainees
Medical HDU StR
AM
PM
Monday
HDU WR
Difficult Airways
RJK/TW
Ward Team 1 StR
Monday
AM
Cons WR
PM
Bronchs 1/3
Ward Team 2 StR
Monday
AM
Cons WR
Tuesday
HDU WR
Wednesday
HDU WR
Thursday
HDU WR
Alt weeks HDU
OPD
(supranumerary)
ILD
(SF/BGM/RML)
(supranumerary)
Tuesday
lung cancer
(WEJ/AKB/
DL/ APL)
Personal WR
Wednesday
RSH TB /
General
(BGM/AKB)
Wards / Cons
WR
Thursday
Personal WR
Tuesday
Personal WR
Wednesday
Cons WR
Thursday
Personal WR
Friday
HDU WR
Friday
Cons WR
Months 1&2
ILD
(SF/BGM/RML)
Months)
Friday
Cons WR
5
PM
Bronchs 1/3
1 / 2 Combined lung
clinic
General
Bronchiectasis
(MPC)
Week 1 TRC
(WEJ)
Week 2 SGH
sleep / NIV
(WEJ)
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
AM
Cons WR
Cons WR
Personal WR
Cons WR
PM
Bronchoscopy 1/3
weeks
1 / 2 Combined lung
clinic
Lung cancer
(WEJ/AKB/
DL/ APL)
Personal WR
ILD
(SF/BGM/RML)
Allergy
(RJK)
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Ward Team 3 StR
CF service StR
Monday
AM
CF Ward
PM
SGH CF OPD
(alternate wks 1,3,5)
StR 6
CF Ward
SGH CF OPD
SGH CF
discussion
SGH CF OPD
ITU 4 months
StR 7
AM
PM
Monday
Respiratory Outreach
CF clinic alternate
weeks
Tuesday
Lung cancer/
general chest
clinic
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Respiratory
Outreach
Respiratory
Outreach
Difficult
asthma clinic
Allergy
clinic/sleep
reporting
Specialty registrar education
The StR will take part in the Wessex StR training programme in both respiratory medicine
and general internal medicine. This is an active programme, which has been well received
and currently consists of ten full day sessions run at within the region, under the
supervision of the Respiratory Training Committee in Wessex. There is an active clinical
audit and clinical governance committee at Southampton and the StR will be expected to
undertake at least one audit during his/her time at Southampton.
A weekly in house educational meeting is held for Junior Doctors specifically on a Monday
lunch time and for all respiratory staff of a Thursday morning.
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Training and educational duties of the StR
The ACL will join the staff of the Respiratory Service in the provision of undergraduate and
postgraduate education in the specialty. He/she will be expected to take an active part in
teaching junior doctors, medical students and allied health professionals at Southampton
in both general and respiratory medicine.
Southampton is home to a large medical school with an intake of over 250 medical
students. Undergraduate education in respiratory medicine is provided through a modular
course (Cardio-pulmonary course) at the University of Southampton Medical School in year
1 and a student selected unit (SSU) in respiratory medicine in year 3 through lectures and
ward-based teaching; additionally, students rotate through the respiratory service during
the clinical period, either as part of their training in general internal medicine or through
elective attachments.
Postgraduate respiratory teaching is directed at both hospital staff and general
practitioners. The post-holder will contribute to the weekly respiratory meetings held on
Thursday mornings.
Management duties
Southampton General Hospital established a clinical management system in 1986 which
was extended throughout Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust in 1991. This
system is one of the most highly developed Clinical Directorate organisations in the
country. Its continuation is a matter of paramount importance and it will be carefully
developed and enhanced to meet the needs of the trust as a major provider in the
reforming NHS.
All staff in each Directorate are managerially accountable to the Clinical Director who has
overall responsibility for the services within the Directorate. The medical directorate has
Lead Consultants within each sub-specialty who also act as liaison between individual
consultant teams and the Clinical Director.
Administrative duties
The post-holder will be required to:
1. undertake the administrative duties associated with the care of patients.
2. travel as necessary between units
General provisions
Subject to the provisions of the Terms and Conditions of Service, the post-holder will be
expected to observe the Trust’s agreed policies and procedures, drawn up in consultation
with the profession on clinical matters, and to follow the standing orders and financial
instructions of the Trust.
In particular, where the post-holder manages employees of the Trust, he/she will be
expected to follow the local and national employment and personnel policies and
procedures. The post-holder will be expected to make sure that there are adequate
arrangements for hospital staff involved in the care of his/her patients and to be able to
contact him/her when necessary.
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Residence
Residence within either 10 miles of or thirty minutes by road from Southampton General
Hospital is a requirement of this post unless specific approval for alternative arrangements
is given by the Trust.
Visiting
The main point of contact is Dr Tom Wilkinson (t.wilkinson@soton.ac.uk), Director of the
Academic Respiratory Programme. For additional details about the clinical training of the
post, candidates should contact Dr Ben Marshall (ben.marshall@uhs.nhs.uk) to arrange a
visit to the clinical service.
Review of the Job Description
This job description will be reviewed each year by the post-holder, Dr Tom Wilkinson and
Dr Ben Marshall. Local procedures will be followed in the event of any disagreement over
proposed changes culminating an appeal to a sub- committee of the University of
Southampton. Job description changes will be reviewed under the Service Level Agreement.
TERMS OF APPOINTMENT
1.
The appointment will be governed by the general conditions applicable to Clinical
Lecturers in the University of Southampton; details of these are available on request and
will be sent to candidates called for interview. The appointee will be subject to the
relevant terms of appointment as determined by the appropriate NHS Trust, in
connection with his/her clinical duties, in so far as they may apply to clinical academic
staff holding honorary NHS Trust contracts. The appointee will be responsible to the
Head of the Faculty of Medicine through the Divisional Director/Head of the University
Clinical Group for the satisfactory conduct of his/her duties.
2.
The successful candidate will be expected to take up their appointment.
3.
The appointment will be made within the Clinical Lecturer’s salary scale, depending on
qualifications and experience.
4.
The appointment may be terminated by a term’s notice on either side.
5.
In addition to the substantive contract of employment with the University, the
successful candidate will also hold an honorary NHS contract with an NHS Trust and
will be required to be registered with the General Medical Council. This honorary
contract and registration is essential for the proper performance of the duties of
employment with the University. In the event that the honorary contract is terminated
or the registration is revoked or suspended, continued employment with the
University under this contract will need to be reviewed and may be terminated. The
procedure for considering whether to terminate the substantive contract of
employment with the University in such circumstances is set out in the University’s
Statutes and Ordinances from time to time in force and in a protocol between the
University and the NHS Trust. The appointee will be required during their tenure of
office to undertake appropriate clinical work on an honorary basis under the National
Health Service. No professional contact with National Health Service patients may be
undertaken unless a duly authorised honorary contract has been issued and is
currently valid.
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6.
The appointee will be subject to full assessment via the RITA process in addition to
appraisal with his/her University line manager.
7.
The actual cost of removal of personal and household effects and/or incurred legal
costs for the purchase of a house or flat in or near Southampton will be paid by the
University subject to a maximum contribution of £4500. The purchase of such a house
or flat must be as a consequence of taking up the appointment and the claim must
normally be submitted within twelve months of taking up the post.
8.
The person appointed will be required to observe the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances
of the University and to carry out all orders and regulations of the Council. It should be
noted that these regulations include a policy of no smoking at work which, with the
exception of certain designated areas, prohibits smoking in most University buildings.
9.
The person appointed will be expected to work within the spirit and letter of the
University's Equal Opportunities Policy:
"The University of Southampton confirms its commitment to a comprehensive policy of
equal opportunities in employment and for students in which individuals are selected
and treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities and are given equal
opportunities within the University. The aim of the policy is to ensure that no job
applicant or employee, prospective student or student, should receive less favourable
treatment on any grounds which are not relevant to good employment practice for staff
or to academic ability and attainment for students. The University is committed to a
programme of action to make the policy fully effective."
10.
Because of the nature of the work for which you are applying, this post is exempt from
the provisions of Section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 by virtue of
the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Applicants are,
therefore, not entitled to withhold information about convictions and, in the event of
employment, any failure to disclose such convictions could result in dismissal or
disciplinary action by the University. The University will routinely conduct checks on
criminal records for all those appointed to posts that have contact with children or
vulnerable adults. Any information given will be completely confidential and will be
considered only in relation to an application for positions to which the order is applied.
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