Speciality Doctor in Palliative Medicine SHG0147

• Location
• Hove and Worthing
• Vacancy Type
• Part Time/Fixed Term
• Pay Range
• £61,542 to £79,038 per annum
• Contracted Hours
• 4-10 PAs per week plus 1 in 5 non-resident on call
• Application Deadline
• Monday, January 5, 2026
• Job Profile
• Job Profile document
  
  
• Job Summary
• About the role

  St Barnabas House in Worthing and Martlets in Hove provide specialist palliative care to adults in their localities through a range of services, including in-patient care and community services.

  In June 2024, these two adult Hospices merged alongside Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice to form Southern Hospice Group.

  We are looking for an enthusiastic doctor with an interest in palliative care to join the Southern Hospice Group medical team on a fixed term (for 1 year) basis and will consider applications for both full-time and less than full time applicants.

  This post would be suitable for specialty level doctors, GPs and ST4+ equivalent level doctor No specialist palliative care experience is necessary provided experience in relevant or allied specialties can be demonstrated, e.g. internal medicine, care of the elderly and general practice. The post will provide excellent experience for those who want to increase their palliative care skills appropriate for their ongoing careers.

  St Barnabas House is located in Worthing, West Sussex with its catchment area covering Worthing, Adur, Arun and Henfield. The organisation’s clinical services include a specialist palliative care in-patient unit (8 beds), a 4-bedded unit for patients who fulfil continuing health care fast track criteria, and a busy community specialist palliative care service, which includes a dedicated clinical nurse specialist team, respiratory and heart failure specific services, Hospice at Home team and out-patient clinics. Our Living Well service is aimed at patients with lower intensity needs and we provide well-being services to patients and their informal carers, and a pre- and post-bereavement service.

  Essential criteria

  This post forms part of the medical team, which under the leadership of the relevant Hospice Medical Lead provides care for patients seen in the specialist palliative care in-patient and community settings on a day-to-day basis.

  This post would be suitable for doctors who wish to pursue a career in Palliative Medicine or for those trained or training in general practice wishing to develop skills in this area.

  The post-holders would have an opportunity to further develop their skills in this specialist area in a supervised and supported learning environment.

  The post-holders will be responsible to the relevant Hospice Medical Leads in fulfilling the following duties:

  The chief responsibility will be the day-to-day clinical management of patients under the service as needed, whether in the community or on the in-patient unit. This might include domiciliary visits, out-patient assessments, conducting admissions, discharge planning, advance care planning discussions, venesection, intravenous cannulation. This would be with the support of the rest of the medical team (senior and resident) and the wider multidisciplinary team.

  To communicate with the family of patients and those close to them as appropriate.

  To be responsible for undertaking the administrative duties associated with the care of patients and the administration of the department, including writing discharge summaries, organising TTOs, completing the required post-death duties and paperwork, and organising relevant imaging and other clinical investigations as needed.

  The post holders will be expected to liaise with hospital staff, GPs and other agencies involved in the patient’s care.

  The post holders will be expected to work within Southern Hospice Group Operational Policies and Guidelines.

  The post holders will be required to work on the first on call out of hours rota. This will be on a 1 in 5 WTE non-resident basis.

  About us

  Southern Hospice Group is the largest group of hospices in Sussex and one of the largest in the UK. We are committed to providing exceptional and compassionate care to adults, children and their families across Sussex. Bringing our teams and resources together as one organisation means we can focus on new and exciting visions and plans for our people and patients and provide even greater opportunities for our workforce.

  St Barnabas House provides specialist palliative care to adults in the Worthing, Adur, Arun and Henfield areas through a range of services, including in-patient care and community living well services.

  Chestnut Tree House is the children’s hospice for East and West Sussex and South East Hampshire, providing specialist palliative care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions.

  Martlets provides essential care to people affected by terminal illness in Brighton and Hove and surrounding areas. Our expert teams provide the very best care and support, helping patients and their loved ones to live life to the full during the precious time they have together.

  We warmly welcome applications from all sections of our community. We also invite applications from suitably experienced people for all industry sectors who can demonstrate the skills, ability and enthusiasm to work with a people-centric organisation like ours.

  Benefits
  • Company pension scheme or NHS pension scheme for eligible employees
  • Up to 35 days’ annual leave inclusive of bank holidays
  • On-site education support and study leave opportunities
  • Option to access Health Shield and cover your everyday cost of healthcare for less
  • Free parking, subsidised meals and various social activities
  • Corporate rate gym membership, discounts with local complementary therapies and Blue Light Card
  • Employee Assistance Programme
  • Death in Service

  Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy before the published closing date where applicant volume is high.

  This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for an Enhanced submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.