JOB SUMMARY

We are seeking a Specialty Doctor in Oncology to join our ambitious team who are active within national roles. We are a research- orientated department with a dedicated Clinical Trials team. This is a great opportunity to gain valuable clinical experience in oncology in a hospital setting, the role attracts 10 PA’s per week.
With the support of the Consultant team, this role will involve becoming an integral part of a selection of the following clinical subsite teams, which may include, breast, skin radiotherapy, radiation for haematological malignancies, gynae-oncology, colorectal, urology, and lung. Preferences can be discussed in pre-interview conversations with one of the Clinical Service Leads.
You will join a professional but friendly team of Clinical and Medical Oncologists, Specialist Doctors, Specialty Doctors, Clinical Fellows, Consultant Radiographers, Consultant Pharmacists, Chemotherapy Nurse Prescribers and Immunotherapy Advanced Nurse Practitioners. We work with a team of supportive and collaborative colleagues and enjoy training a group of motivated trainees from two deaneries.
Our Beacon Centre (Taunton) and St Margaret’s Hospice (Yeovil) provide cancer care to the population of Somerset of approximately 560,000. We have received a number of accolades for the high-quality care delivered. These include CHKS ISO 9001 accreditation, Macmillan Quality Environment Mark score of 5 (out of 5) on all principles, Investors in People Gold and Customer Service Excellence A+++ award.

ABOUT US

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we’re committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you’ll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it’s a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Please see attached Oncology Specialty Doctor Job Description for further detail regarding this position.

Key benefits to highlight about this role:

• Pre-clinic huddles - these are embedded in our weekly job plans. Patients due to attend clinic or already seen are discussed within the team. This ensures the team remains abreast of developments and it also promotes peer support and joint decision making in a supported environment to ensure patients are offered the highest quality of care, including enrolment into available clinical trials. These huddles also help with scheduling of patients so that clinics are well managed
• Adequate clinic administration time, in addition to general administration time - job plans include 50% of the time for direct clinical care (DCC) spent in clinic for clinic-associated administration. Therefore a 4 hour clinic attracts 2 hours of associated admin time in our job We also offer 1 PA of general admin time and admin time for clinical trials proportionate to the number of trials you are Principal Investigator for
• Experienced immunotherapy team with specific IO toxicity ward rounds, preassessment and IO toxicity follow up clinics
• Nurse led acute oncology team, overseen by an experienced AOS oncologist
• Supportive and inclusive team who value work-life balance
• Established job planned radiotherapy peer review with no overlapping activities at this time
• Team based structure to support annual leave
• Access to regular restorative supportive supervision
• Friendly medium sized hospital and trust which makes change management easier to navigate
• Research active department with trials portfolio across all tumour sites, as well as local Chief Investigators
• Great location and local schools- public and private
• Relatively young department ( approx. 10 years to next retirement) so agile and open to innovation and change.
• Travel time to non-base hospital

MAIN DUTIES, TASKS & SKILLS REQUIRED

Our Department provides Clinical and Medical Oncology inpatient and outpatient services, as well as radiotherapy and systemic anti-cancer therapy to all common tumour sites. We are a single oncology department across Somerset with acute bases in Musgrove Park Hospital and Yeovil District Hospital with outpatient clinics and treatment delivery from St Margaret’s Hospice (Yeovil).
We will agree a prospective Job Plan within 3 months of commencing the post that sets out your full duties and responsibilities, schedule for carrying out your Programmed Activities, managerial responsibilities, accountability arrangements, objectives and supporting resources, with the aim of seamless service provision. Please note that on occasion, you may be required to work some programmed activities during evenings and weekends but will have time off in lieu during the working week.

The clinical responsibilities are:

• Provide medical care and clinical services to inpatients in both acute sites.
• Provide outpatient clinics for patients across the county.
• Attend and contribute in weekly MDTs reviewing patients in both sub specialties.
• Support hospital CNS team with competency framework and support learning.
• Encourage a holistic response to the care of patients and their families.
• Participate in teaching for medical students and other health care professionals.
• Develop Somerset oncology service in line with appropriate guidelines and frameworks.

Key benefits to highlight about this role:

• Pre-clinic huddles - these are embedded in our weekly job plans. Patients due to attend clinic or already seen are discussed within the team. This ensures the team remains abreast of developments and it also promotes peer support and joint decision making in a supported environment to ensure patients are offered the highest quality of care, including enrolment into available clinical trials. These huddles also help with scheduling of patients so that clinics are well managed
• Adequate clinic administration time, in addition to general administration time - job plans include 50% of the time for direct clinical care (DCC) spent in clinic for clinic-associated administration. Therefore a 4 hour clinic attracts 2 hours of associated admin time in our job We also offer 1 PA of general admin time and admin time for clinical trials proportionate to the number of trials you are Principal Investigator for
• Experienced immunotherapy team with specific IO toxicity ward rounds, preassessment and IO toxicity follow up clinics
• Nurse led acute oncology team, overseen by an experienced AOS oncologist
• Supportive and inclusive team who value work-life balance
• Established job planned radiotherapy peer review with no overlapping activities at this time
• Team based structure to support annual leave
• Access to regular restorative supportive supervision
• Friendly medium sized hospital and trust which makes change management easier to navigate
• Research active department with trials portfolio across all tumour sites, as well as local Chief Investigators
• Great location and local schools- public and private
• Relatively young department ( approx. 10 years to next retirement) so agile and open to innovation and change.
• Travel time to non-base hospita