Willowbrook Hospice
20,000 - 30,000 per year
St Helens and Knowsley
Full-time
Job Description Job Title Specialty Doctor in Palliative Medicine. Salary Band Dependant on experience and aligns to Willowbrook Hospice banding Hours per week 8 hours plus on-call 1:4 to 1:8 first on-call (as required). Dept/Location Medical Reporting to: Medical Director Clinically Accountable to: Medical Director / Associate Medical Director Job Summary / Main Purpose: The post holder is required to: • Work as a valuable member of the multi-professional team providing medical services to patients across all clinical service areas. The role is primarily for the inpatient unit, but all doctors work flexibly and may be required to assess or review patients in the community, outpatient clinics or Outreach Service under the supervision of a senior doctor. • • • To provide clinical leadership within the multi-disciplinary team under the supervision of the consultant To ensure senior medical staff are kept closely informed to ensure continuity of care and good communication To participate in the delivery of education to primary care, undergraduates, post- graduates, nursing staff and other healthcare professionals • To participate in the out-of-hours on-call rota which includes weekday evenings, weekends, and Bank Holidays Background Willowbrook Hospice: Willowbrook Hospice is an independent charitable organisation providing specialist palliative care for the population of St Helens and Knowsley. It provides complex symptom control, psychological, social, and spiritual support for patients and their families/carers. It is CQC registered for 10 inpatient beds, has an outpatient department and an Outreach service which offers wellbeing services for patients in a dedicated Outreach Centre and at home. Family support is provided both pre and post bereavement. Willowbrook Hospice co-ordinates a 24-Hour Specialist Palliative Care Telephone Advice Line for health care professionals working in Halton, St Helens and Knowsley. The Specialist Palliative Care Service for St Helens and Knowsley comprises of the Hospice, Community and Hospital teams. The teams work together through an integrated MDT which meets weekly and via daily information sharing ‘Huddles’. The Community and Hospital teams provide a 9-5, 7 day per week service. The service participates in training for junior doctors and has one Specialty Registrar in Palliative Medicine and 2 WTE GP registrars. Medical students from the University of Liverpool attend placements at the Hospice throughout the year. Secretarial support is provided by the Medical Administrative Team located in the Hospice. 1 The following information details are the main requirements of the post. However, they are not exhaustive, and the post holder may be required to carry out additional duties as and when necessary, provided they are not inconsistent with the main requirements of the post and that they fall within the capabilities of the post holder. This role is for 2 sessions (1 day) per week. The working day will be fixed and agreed in advance. This may be subject to change with prior agreement. Flexibility in working hours is expected but will be agreed in advance of change. Main Duties & Responsibilities : 1. Working alongside clinical colleagues (in the in-patient unit or community) and under the supervision of a senior medic, contribute to the clinical management of patients including initial assessment and review. 2. Work closely with and respect roles and skills of all members of the multi professional team. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Attend the daily multi-disciplinary team meetings or cross setting clinical huddle meeting if required. Liaise with other health care professionals e.g. GPs where appropriate in providing and planning for care of the patient. Maintain accurate, comprehensive, and contemporaneous medical and multi professional records within the appropriate electronic patient record. Meet with families and carers as required Contribute to the clinical supervision and training of junior medical staff Be resident on site during day sessions and within 30 minutes response time during out of hours on call. Conduct a daily ward round when on call at the weekend and accept admissions where that is appropriate as agreed with senior on call. Provide clinical advice by telephone to other healthcare professionals via the 24-Hour Specialist Palliative Care Telephone Advice Line 10. Participate in the first on call rota for Willowbrook Hospice – for this role it is anticipated that this would be 1:4 to 1:8 depending upon the requirements of the service and number of clinicians contributing. 11. Attend the daily multi-disciplinary team meetings or cross setting clinical huddle meeting if required. 12. Provide clinical advice by telephone to other healthcare professionals via the 24-Hour Specialist Palliative Care Telephone Advice Line. 13. Participate in the first on call rota for Willowbrook Hospice – for this role it is anticipated that thus would be 1:4 to 1:8 depending upon the requirements of the service and number of clinicians contributing. Education / Learning : 1. 2. To take an active part in the Integrated Specialist Palliative Care Service Education Programme To maintain and develop skills in Palliative Medicine by participating in CME and maintaining an appropriate portfolio of evidence 3. To maintain CPD 4. 5. Share skills and knowledge with others to assist in their professional development Contribute to the teaching of undergraduate medical students and junior doctors Undertake annual appraisal with a designated appraiser and meet requirements for 5-yearly revalidation with the GMC 6. Attend and complete Hospice mandatory training and job specific compulsory training on an annual basis Audit / Research : 1. 2. Take an active part in hospice audit Encourage and support approved research projects 2 General : 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Act as a core member of the Integrated Specialist Palliative Care MDT for St Helens and Knowsley Co-operate with staff and management in contributing to the responsible and efficient running of services Assisting in ensuring that clinical administration is kept up to date Participating in hospice and community meetings where appropriate Covering of medical colleagues where possible during periods of absences Adhere to clinical and management governance policies and procedures Follow all applicable rules and procedures relating to health and safety and universal precautions Be aware of obligations and statutory rights with regard to disciplinary and grievance procedure Undertake other duties which are clinically appropriate and agreed in advance 10. Complete mandatory training where it is applicable to the role in both settings 11. Maintain full registration with General Medical Council 12. Maintain fully subscribed membership of a recognised medical defence organisation 13. Maintain business car insurance Confidentiality : Through the course of the employment the postholder will be aware of information concerning patients and staff. All such information must be treated as confidential. Breach of this confidence may result in dismissal. The post holder must recognise and respect the personal contribution of all staff and volunteers. The post holder must contribute a patient and family centred positive attitude. The post holder will be expected to work with professional colleagues and local managers in the efficient running of services and will share with other practitioners in the medical contribution to management. Subject to the Terms and Conditions of Service the post holder will be expected to observe the agreed policies and procedures drawn up in consultation with the profession on clinical matters. They must ensure that there are adequate arrangements in place for clinical staff to be able to make contact with them when necessary. All medical staff are expected to comply with appropriate Health and Safety policies. The list of duties is not intended to be exhaustive, and the post holder is expected to be flexible. The Hospice operates a NO SMOKING policy. Staff on duty will refrain from smoking on Hospice premises. 3 Job Planning / Programmed Activities : The job plan will be dependent on the training and interests of the successful candidate. A Job Plan will be agreed with the Medical Director and will include protected time pro-rata of sessions. Thereafter job plan reviews will take place annually. The post is subject to a probation period of 6 months. Study Leave / Annual Leave : Study Leave: The post holder will be entitled to 30 days study leave in a 3-year cycle. This is flexible depending upon educational needs and development and is pro-rata for part-time staff. All study leave requests should be submitted to and agreed by the Medical Director in advance. Study leave requests that support the hospice aims and objectives and agreed job plan are prioritised. Annual Leave: The post holder will be entitled to 5 weeks annual leave plus statutory/bank holidays. After 5 years completed service, the post holder will be entitled to 2 extra days; after 10 years of completed service, a further day’s leave and after 15 years’ service, another day’s leave (pro-rata for part-time staff). Please note this entitlement is different to that of the NHS. All annual leave must be authorised by the Medical Director or Associate Medical Director. The post holder will be expected to co-ordinate leave with other medical colleagues in the Hospice to ensure continuity of service provision. Salary : The Willowbrook Hospice salary scale for work conducted during normal working hours will be based on a Specialty Doctor in the NHS 2021 contract. The starting point on the scale will take account of the relevant experience of the post holder. Out-of-hours work will be paid according to the pay scale used at Willowbrook Hospice. Willowbrook terms and conditions apply for annual leave and other benefits such as parental leave Employment is subject to an Enhanced DBS. 4 SPECIALTY DOCTOR Person Specification Essential Desirable • Diploma or MSC Palliative Care • MRCP / MRCGP or equivalent • Teaching qualification • Advanced Communication Skills Training • Experience in oncology • Evidence of team working • Experience of teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level • Proven ability to communicate in written form (publications, reports etc.) • Track record of ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team • Peer reviewed publications • Involvement in service development Qualifications & Training: • Full GMC registration with a licence to practice • MBBS or equivalent • At least 4 years training / experience of managing medical patients in primary or secondary care at postgraduate level Experience: • Experience of working in a hospice or palliative Skills & Knowledge: Personal Attributes: care in another setting • Experience of working in community-based services • Communication skills, clear, fluent and articulate in communication in English (verbal and written) • Evidence of understanding of importance of research and critical appraisal of evidence • Evidence of effective and sustained contribution to clinical governance, clinical risk management and clinical audit activities • Capacity to be alert to dangers or problems • Demonstrates awareness of good decision making • Track record of engaging in clinical governance, reporting errors, learning from errors • IT skills: Ability to use word processor, spreadsheet programme and web browser • Ability to recognise stress in oneself and a team member • The ability to communicate with clarity & intelligibility in written & spoken English • Interpersonal skills so that he/she can see patients as people, empathise, work co- operatively with others, open and non-defensive, sense of humour • Uses a non-judgemental approach to patients and colleagues (regardless of their sexuality, ethnicity, disability, religious beliefs or financial status) • Ability to cope constructively with stress and conflict in the workplace • Teaching experience • Probity: (displays honesty, integrity, aware of ethical dilemmas) • Meets professional health requirements • Car driver with current UK license 5