Job Description and Person Specification
1.
Job Title:
Locum Consultant in Palliative Medicine
Contract:
Fixed Term
Hours of Work:
4-6 PA + ON CALL commitment
THE POST
The consultant will be based entirely at Weston Hospicecare, with involvement in all core clinical
services of the hospice (inpatient care, day services and community services).
2.
INTRODUCTION
2.1
Weston Hospicecare – Clinical Services
A bit about Weston Hospicecare…
The hospice services are based on a team of community nurse specialists who visit and advise patients
and their families; with access available to inpatient, day hospice, out-patient, and bereavement care.
At any given time the hospice is involved in the care of over 250 patients in the community, along with
10 in-patients and up to 12 patients 3 days per week in the day hospice. The majority of the patients
referred to the hospice have cancer, but there has been a clear policy of inviting referrals for patients
with non-malignant disease for over 20 years now, and the numbers of patients with neurological
(particularly MND), renal, cardiac and respiratory diseases is slowly growing (currently this stands at
approximately 15% of our total referrals).
3.
THE WORK OF THE HOSPICE
3.1
Hospice clinical staffing
Medical Directorate

Consultant post (6.5 + on call) shared across the hospice and hospital – Dr Alison Rich

Speciality Doctor (working 1.0 WTE + on call - Dr Helen Horgan

1 x ST1 Doctor on the Severn Deanery GPVTS
Directorate of Patient Care

Director of Patient Services – Mr John Bailey

Community Palliative Care Team Leader – Mrs Amanda Gough, responsible for co-ordinating
6.8 WTE community palliative care nurse specialists

Psychosocial and Spiritual Services
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3.2
A Bereavement Services Co-coordinator responsible for a team of trained bereavement
volunteers
A Chaplain and chaplaincy volunteers
Therapists Team of 1 part-time Physiotherapist
Complementary Therapy Manager and team of trained volunteers

Day Hospice team

In-patient Unit Manager – Mrs Jill Nash, responsible for the team of inpatient nursing staff

Compassionate Communities and Companion Service with over 50 volunteers
Hospice Services
Domiciliary Care
The hospice receives up to 11 new patient referrals per week.
Initial face-to-face assessment for the majority of these patients is via the Hospice Community Nurse
Specialist (HCNS) team who visit and then, if appropriate, maintain regular contact with these
patients, their families and their carers (lay and professional). The role of the HCNS team is advisory,
supplementing the care provided by primary health care services and providing a link into all the other
hospice services; while the GP remains medically in charge of their patient’s care.
Senior hospice doctors and other professionals within the team are available to offer domiciliary visits
as required and take part in weekly community team meetings with the HCNS team. The nurse
specialists regularly attend GSF or equivalent palliative care meetings at the GP practices within their
area.
Day Hospice
Day Hospice services run 3 days per week for up to 12 patients per day.
In-patient Care
The hospice has a 10-bedded in-patient unit where patients are admitted for any combination of
symptom control, psychosocial needs or terminal care. Approximately 50% of patients admitted to
the unit are discharged. The average length of stay for in-patients is approximately12 days, and there
is an emphasis on full multi-disciplinary assessment and treatment with effective discharge planning.
Psychosocial support and Bereavement Care
The psychological and spiritual support offered to patients and families is a key part of our
multidisciplinary care. This psychological support can extend into bereavement with support offered
to adults and children of all ages, if necessary. The main hospice bereavement service is offered by
trained and supervised volunteers, overseen by our bereavement coordinator.
4.
MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE
The appointee will be contractually accountable to the Chief Executive.
All senior medical staff are required to undergo an annual consultant appraisal carried out in
accordance with the hospice Medical Appraisal and Revalidation Policy.
It is a requirement that if the employee has concerns about the professional performance of any
member of the medical staff, they have a duty to raise this. If the matter is potentially serious or
satisfaction is not obtained with a direct approach, such concerns must be discussed with Dr Alison
Rich.
5.
LOCATION
The post is based at Weston Hospicecare where there is access to car parking and local public
transport. It is likely that they will spend a significant amount of time delivering clinical services on
site.
6.
DUTIES OF THE POST
(a)
Clinical Duties
The postholder is likely to have a range of duties across our clinical services. The postholder will play a
role in contributing to the senior medical advice, community nurse specialist caseload reviews and
domiciliary visiting provided for the community services.
The postholder will support the medical management of patients on the in-patient unit in
collaboration and may be required to carry out consultant ward rounds.
The post holder will join the senior on call rota, which is currently 1 in 3 but this may be less frequent
depending on the appointments made to this post.
The hospice’s current Senior Medical Team provide cross-cover for each other for annual, study and
short-term sick leave, and you will also support this cross-cover.
All members of the Senior Medical Team undertake exceptionally to perform additional duties in the
case of emergencies and unforeseen circumstances as necessary for the continuity of patient care.
(b)
Teaching and Supervision of Junior Medical Staff & Students
Along with other members of the Senior Medical Team, the postholder will contribute to the
professional clinical supervision and management of junior medical staff working at the hospice in
training-grade roles.
The postholder will also contribute to the teaching and supervision of medical students who spend
time at the hospice during their training, and other specialty trainees or GP registrars who may
arrange clinical attachments at the hospice
(c)
Study & Research
The postholder will be entitled to 30 days study leave within a 3-year period (pro-rata for a part-time
post).
The hospice is fully committed to ensuring that all necessary support is given for CME. The postholder
will be expected to register, and fulfil the requirements, for CPD monitoring with the Royal College of
Physicians; and to fulfil the requirements for revalidation laid down by the General Medical Council.
(d)
Audit
The postholder will be required to take part in the hospice clinical audit programme – including
participation in local, network wide and national audit.
(e)
Management responsibilities
Whilst the main focus of this role is clinical, the appointee may be asked to participate in managerial
and administrative work and will be expected to be aware of the broader context of Palliative Care and
the voluntary sector.
(e)
Leave
The leave year runs from 1 April each year. All leave in the medical team is booked according to the
agreed rules for medical leave at the hospice.
7.
RESOURCES AVAILABLE
(a)
Facilities (eg wards, outpatient clinics, beds support services)
At the hospice the postholder will share clinical responsibility for the 10-bedded in-patient unit with
the Specialty Doctor and other Consultant. They may also contribute to domiciliary visiting for the
community patients and offer out-patient appointments on an as-needed basis within designated
slots of time within their job plan. (Rooms can be booked on an as-needed basis for such OP
appointments but the hospice does not have a specific outpatient clinic facility at the present time.)
(b)
Clinical Services (eg links with other clinical service departments)
At the hospice, the consultant will attend all relevant multidisciplinary team meetings and may be
asked to participate in the Clinical Forum discussions about all aspects of hospice clinical services.
(c)
Diagnostic Facilities
The postholder and team have access to all diagnostic facilities of the local acute NHS trusts, including
CT and MRI and interventional radiology. This access is via discussion with the relevant radiology staff.
8.
MAIN CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
8.1
The postholder must be, and remain, a fully registered medical practitioner with the General Medical
Council (GMC) with a licence to practise and inclusion on the Specialist Register (for Palliative
Medicine), or have suitable evidence of skills and experience as a senior physician in Palliative
Medicine as Speciality Doctor or Associate Specialist.
8.2
The postholder must adhere to the Policies and Procedures of Weston Hospicecare in their work for
the hospice.
8.3
The NHS Hospital and Community Indemnity Scheme does not apply at the hospice so membership of
a medical defence organisation must be maintained and the relevant organisation must be informed
by the postholder that they are working in a non-NHS Palliative Care setting.
8.4
Pay
Your salary will be calculated with reference to the NHS consultant pay scale, payable monthly. Future
pay progression will be agreed in line with hospice policy.
8.5
Pension Scheme
If you are currently a member of the NHS Pension scheme you have the option of remaining in that
scheme and, subject to your agreement to pay the prevailing contribution required by the NHS,
Weston Hospicecare will pay employer pension contributions into that scheme.
8.6
Sickness Pay
Entitlement to pay for periods of sickness is dependent on length of service as agreed locally and laid
out in the hospice contract of employment.
8.7
You may be required to undergo a medical examination to confirm your fitness to undertake your
duties and satisfactory confirmation of your Hepatitis B status is required.
8.8
An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check is required.
8.9
Health and Safety
Under the provision of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 it is the duty of every employee
i)
To take reasonable care of themselves and others at work.
ii)
To co-operate with the hospice as far as is necessary to enable them to carry out their legal
duty.
iii)
Not to intentionally or recklessly interfere with anything provided including personal protective
equipment for health and safety or welfare at work.
8.10 You will be entitled to receive three months notice of termination of employment and are required
to give Weston Hospice three months notice.
This job description reflects the immediate requirements and objectives of the post. It is not an
exhaustive list of the duties but gives a general indication of work undertaken which may vary in detail
in the light of changing demands and priorities. Substantive changes will be carried out in consultation
with the post holder.
9.
APPLICATIONS
A doctor must be on the GMC’s Specialist Register for Palliative Medicine to hold this post, or have
evidence of being appropriately trained and experienced in Palliative Medicine. Candidates of
Specialist Registrar grade must therefore either already hold CCT or be due to be awarded this
within six months of the interview date for applications to this post.
Applications should include two referees one of which should be your current or most recent
employer. Any offer of interview is subject to the receipt of two satisfactory references.
Candidates are assured that the completed forms will be treated with strict confidentiality. A DBS
check will only be requested if the candidate is recommended for appointment.
Rehabilitation of Offenders
The hospice promotes equality of opportunity for all individuals with the right mix of talent, skills and
potential and welcomes applications from a wide range of candidates, including those with criminal
records. We undertake not to discriminate unfairly against anyone who has previous criminal
convictions and having a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to employment with the hospice
10.
THE SELECTION PROCESS
Candidates are welcome to arrange an informal pre-interview visit, to look around, meet potential
colleagues and to view the work environment and to discuss our culture; candidates wishing to make
such an arrangement should contact the person(s) listed below in Section 11.
The formal interview process will involve a small panel of senior hospice staff and you may be asked to
offer a short presentation at the beginning of the interview. If this is required you will be given the title
for the presentation when invited for interview.
11.
DETAILS FOR VISITING
Candidates wishing to visit Weston Hospicecare should contact the following:
John Bailey, Director of Patient Care, Weston Hospicecare
Email: john.bailey@westonhospicecare.org.uk
Dr Alison Rich, Consultant, Weston Hospicecare
Email: Alison.rich@westonhospicecare.org.uk
Dr Helen Horgan, Specialty Doctor, Weston Hospicecare
12.
PROPOSED JOB PLAN
The key elements of the job plan for this post will be:
A total of 4-6 PAs worked flexibly over 3 or 4 days along with a commitment to our first on-call
medical rota which will be 1 in 3.
The expected distribution of the PAs will be determined according to clinical needs but is likely to
include clinical commitment to all 3 main services- Inpatient Unit, Day Hospice and our Community
Team. Flexibility can be offered in agreeing the exact details of the weekly timetable for this post.
EMPLOYEE SPECIFICATION – LOCUM CONSULTANT IN PALLIATIVE MEDICINE
Qualifications
and
Registration
Essential
Desirable
Maintenance of full registration and licence to
practice with the GMC.
Higher academic degree e.g.
MD, MSc, PhD
Means of
Assessment
On-line check of
registration status.
MRCP or MRCGP
Must have CCT in Palliative Medicine and
have been entered on the GMC Specialist
Register at the time of the appointment, or
demonstrate evidence of working in Palliative
Medicine at a senior level
Application form /
CV.
Portfolio folder
Specialist registrars that do not hold a CCT
must be due to be awarded one within 6
months of the interview date.
Training and
Experience
Recent experience and familiarity of UK
healthcare systems and practices (or
equivalent).
Success in the Specialty
Certificate Examination
Training in management of patients with
specialist palliative care needs. Experience of
the management of both malignant and nonmalignant disease.
Further Training,
Management,
Audit
Research,
Teaching,
Publications
Application form /
CV
Application form /
CV
Experience in audit project and evidence of
completed audit.
Completion of a general
management course or
programme.
Application form /
CV and portfolio
Knowledge of contemporary NHS and
voluntary sector management issues.
Interest in medical
management.
Interview
Knowledge of political context within which
we operate.
Advanced communication
skills training
Presentation and
interview
Evidence of recent CME/ reasonable training
progression at this stage of career.
Portfolio
Good IT skills, word-processing, presentations
and spreadsheets
Presentation and
CV
Proven teaching ability with experience of
large and small group teaching.
Qualification in teaching.
Willingness to undertake teaching for medical
undergraduates and postgraduates + all
grades of nursing staff and AHPs.
Proven track record in
research and willingness to
undertake further research.
Application
form/CV and
portfolio
CV/portfolio and
interview
Awareness of core principles and guidelines in
relation to research in clinical practice.
Personal
Requirements
(eg Leadership,
Skills, Flexibility)
Ability to form effective working relationships
with and among team members of all
disciplines
Presentation and
interview
Ability to inspire, motivate and develop junior
medical staff
Ability to work independently as well as part
of the Medical Directorate and hospice Senior
Medical Team, to balance individual
requirements against those of the Senior
Medical Team and hospice organisation as a
whole.
Any other
General
Requirements
Evidence of relevant
publications in peer
reviewed journals
Good written and verbal communication
skills. Evidence of the ability to communicate
with patients, colleagues, staff and hospice
supporters at all levels.
Ability to fulfil all the duties of the post.
Must be able to independently travel between
the required sites and to patients’ homes in
the community.
A sense of humour
Good health
Interview
CV
Application form
Interview
Interview