Clinical Fellow in Supportive Oncology

at  The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

This is an exciting opportunity to train in a newly developing field of cancer care at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, as a Clinical Fellow in Supportive Oncology. There are 3 full-time fixed-term 12-month fellowship posts available.
The posts provide training in the broad range of skills needed to provide day-to-day care across the whole spectrum of the disease, through placements with acute oncology, psycho-oncology, endocrinology, supportive care (including palliative care), pain medicine and older adult oncology/frailty. This fellowship aims to equip the fellow with experience in various aspects of supportive oncology, providing support for patients with different needs throughout the spectrum of cancer care.
The ideal candidate must have obtained MRCP or equivalent qualification (including MRCGP), and ideally will have experience of oncology and/or palliative medicine. These posts may suit those wishing to gain out of programme experience during ST training, or those who have just completed CCT. The posts are particularly suitable for doctors considering careers in oncology, acute oncology or palliative medicine.
You will gain valuable experience working within an integrated supportive oncology service, delivered through the Trust’s new Supportive Oncology directorate. Full Registration and a Licence to Practice with the General Medical Council at time of commencement is required.
There is no on call element associated with this role (although please note variability of work pattern between placements within the job description), the 12-month placement schedule is shown within the job description/person specification.
The successful candidates will be based The Christies Withington main site, and be allocated a clinical supervisor within each of the placements, as well as an over-arching educational supervisor who will oversee the programme. There will be a blend of clinical work and shadowing experience to gain insight into specialist areas of cancer care, and the post holders will be expected to take an active role in providing clinical services in each of the placements. The clinical part of the role will involve supporting inpatient, ambulatory and outpatient services in the delivery of supportive treatments using specialist knowledge in acute oncology, symptom control and side effect management.
The fellowships are underpinned by a new national supportive oncology curriculum, through which the postholders will be required to achieve defined competencies. Webinars will provided throughout the year for additional learning.
The fellowship is badged by the UK Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (UKASCC), and is endorsed by the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR). If the fellows complete the year successfully, achieving curriculum competencies, they will receive a fellowship completion certificate endorsed by UKASCC and the RCR.
The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.
We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years.
We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.
Clinical work will be in the form of placements within the main supportive oncology teams in the hospital, namely: acute oncology, supportive care (including palliative care), senior adult oncology, psycho-oncology and endocrinology . Within these teams, the fellow will take an active role in preventing and managing the adverse effects associated with cancer and its treatment across all settings: inpatient wards, outpatient clinics and on our ambulatory care unit.
Assessments and care delivered will range from complex assessment of physical, psychological, spiritual and social needs to complex end of life care.
Clinical work will also involve the assessment of patients presenting acutely with pain and symptoms, toxicities associated with cancer treatments, and the acute management of these.
The fellow will also gain experience in management of the problems associated with cancer survivorship, assessing complex needs of patients post-treatment and addressing the needs of patients after cancer treatment to facilitate improved quality of life.
Job responsibilities
There will be a blend of clinical work and shadowing experience to gain insight into specialist areas of cancer care including psycho-oncology, frailty and toxicity management. Also includes a research component with 1 day per week allocated to the undertaking, completion and publication of a project which they will lead.
The clinical part of the role will involve supporting inpatient, ambulatory and outpatient services in the delivery of supportive treatments using specialist knowledge in acute oncology, symptom control and side effect management. There will also be the option to participate in outpatient clinics to gain experience in the management of pain and common symptoms and support needs throughout the spectrum of cancer care, including late effects.
This fellowship aims to equip the fellow with experience in various aspects of supportive care, providing support for patient with different needs throughout the spectrum of cancer care. It is envisaged that across the year, the fellow will spend allocated time in the following placements:
(1) Acute Oncology, toxicities management, inpatient care (4 Months) -*please see below
(2) Supportive Care Team, Enhanced Supportive Care Clinics, Palliative & End of Life Care (4 Months)
(3) Psychological medicine, Endocrinology, Senior adult oncology (4 Months)

Daily working pattern (for placements (2) and (3)) will cover the hours of 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday. However, these are new roles, and the work schedule is based on anticipated timetable requirements. There may be occasions where due to clinical demand, fellows may be asked to stay beyond the 5pm finish and if agreeable, the additional time worked would be given back the following day.

• For placement (1) – Acute oncology, toxicities, inpatient care – the shift pattern changes to 11am-7pm for the duration of the placement.

• For placement (1) – Acute oncology, toxicities, inpatient care – the shift pattern changes to 11am-7pm for the duration of the placement