Consultant in Palliative Care

at  North Bristol NHS Trust

Consultant in Palliative Medicine – Substantive.
We are seeking a dedicated and passionate Consultant in Palliative to join cover the department. We are looking for someone who can help us to provide outstanding and exemplary care for palliative care patients in the South West.
The Palliative Care team works in an advisory capacity across all specialties and divisions in the Trust. We see more than 1800 new referrals a year. We are a dynamic and energetic team passionate about ensuring excellent palliative and end of life care and are very fortunate to foster excellent relationships with hospital teams across a wide range of specialities in all divisions of the Trust.
The team accepts referrals from all clinical areas and divisions across the Trust to support teams to manage patients with a variety of needs including:
Complex symptom control in patients with both malignant and non-malignant disease
Psychological or emotional support
End of life care – we review all patients commenced on our local End of Life Care bundle
Complex and rapid discharge planning including liaison with our local hospice teams to support these discharge
We offer a 6 day ‘on the ground’ service with a Doctor (1 in 6) and CNS on site every Saturday. Outside of this we have a 24/7 (1 in 6) out of hours consultant on call service.
In addition to our clinical work, we are involved in regular teaching to doctors of all grades and of medical students. We have two Clinical Nurse Specialists who work as End-of-Life Practice Education Facilitators to support on-going staff development and support staff to take care of patients at End of Life. The team receives a high volume of visitors from a wide range of disciplines including regular rotation of IMT doctors and medical students.
We have a robust Clinical Governance structure with regular review of incidents relating to palliative and end of life care patients. Themes identified by this process then inform our dynamic audit programme and focus for our educational initiatives across the trust
We are central to the Trust End of Life steering group and regularly feedback about themes affecting patients with palliative and end of life care needs as well as showcase exceptional work and projects being led by other teams in the trust.
There are 6 substantive Consultants all of whom work part-time including the Speciality Lead.
North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award-winning hospital building at Southmead. We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialities. Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered.
We commit to treating each patient as an individual with respect and dignity, aiming to deliver excellent clinical outcomes and a first-class experience for everyone who uses our services.
North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.

Knowledge, Training, Experience And Skills Required

• The postholder will be required to have full GMC registration, have a higher postgraduate membership qualification e.g. MRCP/MRCGP, and be entered on the GMC specialist register in Palliative Medicine (or be within 6 months of CCT).
• The postholder must be able to work autonomously and have experience of working in a palliative care team within an acute hospital setting.
• They must have experience in being oncall and providing specialist palliative care telephone advice out of hours at Consultant level.
• Being able to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team and being a good team player is essential.
• The postholder must have an understanding of clinical governance structures and audit processes.
• They must have experience of teaching in a variety of settings and to different trainees, and be willing to teach others as part of the role.
• The post holder must be able to demonstrate excellent communication skills to both patients and colleagues, as well as clinical leadership skills

Main Duties & Responsibilities Of The Post
(i) Clinical Duties
The postholder will be responsible for relevant aspects of the clinical management of patients referred to the team. The postholder will be responsible for a combination of triage and initial assessment of all new patients and ward reviews for medical advice for patients already known to the team. Where possible these reviews are undertaken jointly with the CNSs.
The Palliative Care team works in an advisory capacity with a shared care model and does not have inpatients under their direct care. Close liaison and good working relationships with the patient’s consultant and team are an essential and established part of our daily practice. Although we work in an advisory role, the team has full access to all diagnostic and therapeutic services.
We currently do not run formal outpatient clinics but endeavour to support our colleagues if they feel our input is needed for their patient. We receive ad hoc outpatient referrals through our electronic referral system and co-ordinate with teams to find most appropriate time and setting to see the patients.
As well as the clinical and educational responsibilities the postholder will actively contribute to our clinical governance structures including QI projects and audit.
(ii) Teaching and Supervision of Postgraduate doctors in training & Students
The postholder will be responsible for the professional supervision and management of postgraduate doctors in training. Where appropriate, the postholder will be named in the educational contract as the person responsible for overseeing their training and as an initial source of advice to such doctors regarding their careers. This may include educational supervision of a speciality registrar.
The postholder will be able to attend the required training sessions to support them in this role. Additional SPA allowances are made to support supervision of post graduate doctors in training.
In liaison with the Director of Postgraduate Medical Education the postholder will be required to contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate education.
The Palliative Care Team would expect the postholder to be fully involved in teaching and support of medical students and post graduate doctors in training both formally, during placements and with regular teaching sessions and informally on a day to day basis on the wards.
(iii) Study & Research
The postholder can request up to a maximum of 30 days study leave within a 3-year period (pro rata for part-time posts) as stated in the Terms and Conditions of Service.
The Trust is committed to ensuring that support is given for Continuing Medical Education. The postholder will be required to fulfil the requirements laid down by the relevant Royal College, and to fulfil the requirements for revalidation laid down by the General Medical Council.
The postholder will not necessarily be expected to undertake research. However, opportunities do exist and encouragement is given to develop collaborative projects with other departments within the Trust or with the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England. The post-holder will be required to submit all research development plans which have resource implications to the Clinical Director prior to implementation.
There are professionally staffed Medical Libraries in the Medical Postgraduate Centre at Southmead Hospital, with a rapid service between this and the University Library situated in the centre of Bristol city. A computer literature search facility is available for which a charge is made and the library has links with other networks. The libraries are at the forefront of developments in electronic knowledge delivery.
(iv) Audit
The postholder will be required to take part in a Clinical Audit Programme. The Trust has an audit department which supports and monitors such activity. There is an active Trust Clinical Audit Committee.
(v) Appraisal and Revalidation
The postholder is responsible for maintaining their CPD diary and for their annual appraisal and PDP. There is a Trust Revalidation Officer to support this process.
(vi) Mentoring
The Trust is introducing a mentoring system for all new consultants to support them through their first year as a consultant. This is led by the needs of the newly appointed consultant.
(vii) Office Facilities and Secretarial Support
The Palliative Care team two shared offices in the Brunel building all with hot desks. SPA/ nonclinical work can be completed from home/ off-site and a NHS laptop will be provided to support this.
(viii) Professional and legal responsibilities
Maintain accurate and relevant documentation and patient records.
Participate in education, research, quality improvement and risk management activities
Take the responsibility for one’s own Professional Development by undertaking appropriate activities to update clinical knowledge and skills.
Undertake appropriate audit and research projects and as appropriate support papers for publication.
Be aware of and work within the policies of North Bristol NHS Trust carrying out such duties as may be required and are consistent with the responsibilities of the Grade.
Be aware of and comply with Health and Safety regulations, cardiac resuscitation procedures, fire procedures and equipment safety.
To ensure confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity.
To have responsibility for the Health, Safety and Welfare of self and others and to comply at all times with the requirements of the Health and Safety Regulations.
Promote equal opportunities for staff and clients in accordance with NBT’s Healthcare Policies, to ensure that no person receives less favourable treatment than another on the grounds of sex, marital status, race, religion, colour, creed, nationality, ethic or national origin or sexual orientation.
(viiiI) SPA Allocation
There is a 1.5 core SPA allocation for this post. Additional responsibilities, such as educational supervision of juniors, a lead role within the team (clinical governance/ audit/ education), or trust roles will attract additional SPA time. Any additional roles will be discussed with the Specialty Lead and Clinical Director

Please refer the Job description for details