Specialty Doctor in Palliative care in Luton

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Specialty Doctor in Palliative care

The closing date is 29 October 2026

This post is for a Specialty Doctor in Palliative Care.

It would be suitable for doctors who are fully registered with a licence to practice, and who have at least 2 years clinical experience post-registration. Essential and desirable criteria are listed under 'person specifications' below.

This post is particularly suitable for doctors who have an interest in any of the following:

Pursuing a career in Palliative Medicine and/or Frailty and/or Elderly Care

Working across the interface between hospital and community care

Acquiring excellent advanced communication skills

Working in a dynamic environment

Working within a multi-disciplinary team

Main duties of the job

Working collaboratively with other members of the multidisciplinary team (MDT): MDT working is a key component of working in the department. The post holder will work closely with the palliative care Clinical Nurse Specialists, with the End of Life Care Nurses, and with any other members of the MDT.

Reviewing patients referred to the Specialist Palliative Care Team (SPCT) on any ward (including ED) within Luton & Dunstable Hospital (LDH). This will include new patient assessments and reviews of patients on the team's caseload.

As needed, reviewing patients alone or with another member of the SPCT.

Electronic prescribing of medications for symptom management for patients on the SPCT caseload.

Leading and/or attending family meetings as required.

Managing complex communication including breaking bad news, advance care planning, managing the dying phase and more.

Promptly escalating and/or highlighting the need for senior support and/or review for any of the patients on the SPCT caseload.

Liaising with medical and surgical teams within LDH. This could include discussing patients on the SPCT caseload, discussing new or potential referrals, and providing SPC advice.

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology.

Our Values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Job responsibilities

1. Duties and Responsibilities

Working collaboratively with other members of the multidisciplinary team (MDT): MDT working is a key component of working in the department. The post holder will work closely with the palliative care Clinical Nurse Specialists, with the End of Life Care Nurses, and with any other members of the MDT.

Reviewing patients referred to the Specialist Palliative Care Team (SPCT) on any ward (including ED) within Luton & Dunstable Hospital (LDH). This will include new patient assessments and reviews of patients on the teams caseload.

As needed, reviewing patients alone or with another member of the SPCT.

Electronic prescribing of medications for symptom management for patients on the SPCT caseload.

Leading and/or attending family meetings as required.

Managing complex communication including breaking bad news, advance care planning, managing the dying phase and more.

Promptly escalating and/or highlighting the need for senior support and/or review for any of the patients on the SPCT caseload.

Liaising with medical and surgical teams within LDH. This could include discussing patients on the SPCT caseload, discussing new or potential referrals, and providing SPC advice.

Providing care to patients registered with the palliative virtual ward (PVW), who will be receiving hospital care but residing in the community. This could include home visits alone and/or with another member of the MDT, as appropriate, and in line with the PVW Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

For patients on the PVW, acting as the first point of call for medical advice for community CNSs and other non-medical healthcare professionals.

Attending the weekly SPC MDT.

When needed, attending the morning pan-Bedfordshire SPC huddle.

Supporting the consultant and other members of the MDT in any other activities relating to the clinical work. This could include participation in teaching and training of multi-disciplinary staff in hospital and/or the community, clinical audit, other quality improvement activities, reviewing guidelines and more.

Keeping clear and accurate clinical notes (in line with Trust policies and GMC guidance) in relation to all clinical activity, and on all appropriate IT systems as specified by the SPCT. These will include at least NerveCentre and Systmone.

Making onward referrals (internal and external) for patients on the SPCT or PVW caseloads, as appropriate.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• oMBBS or equivalent medical qualification
• oMRCP Part II Written or PACES or equivalent.
• oPostgraduate qualification relevant to palliative medicine or related specialty
• oFull GMC Registration (GMC Licence to Practice is mandatory before employment commences)
• oEvidence of achievement of Foundation competencies by time of appointment in line with GMC standards in Good Medical Practice including: -Good clinical care -Maintaining good medical practice -Good relationships and communication with patients -Good working relationships with colleagues -Good teaching and training -Professional behaviour and probity -Delivery of good acute clinical care
• oEvidence of achievement of ST1/CT1 competences in a relevant specialty at time of application and likelihood of achieving ST2/CT2 competences in a relevant specialty by the start date of the post.
• oTo be eligible to work at this grade the appointee must have a minimum of 2 years clinical experience, with broad medical experience and some experience with managing palliative care patients.
• oEligibility to work in the UK.
• oExperience working in a specialist palliative care team (in hospital, community or hospice settings)

Fitness to practise

• oApplicant's knowledge is up to date and fit to practise safely

Language Skills

• oAll applicants to have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English that are adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues, which could be demonstrated by one of the following: -Applicants have undertaken undergraduate medical training in English -Applicants have scores in the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or equivalent equal to those required for recruitment to MMC specialty training programmes.
• oIf applicants believe that they have adequate communication skills but do not fit into one of the examples they need to provide evidence.

Health

• oMeets professional health requirements (in line with GMC standards in Good Medical Practice)

Clinical Skills

• oRelevant specialty clinical knowledge: capacity to apply sound clinical knowledge relevant to the job.
• oClinical judgement: experience in making clinical decisions and managing risk. Knows when to seek help, able to prioritise clinical need.
• oPractical skills: shows aptitude for practical skills, required for the job.
• oProven ability to work effectively in different clinical settings required in the job.

Specialty specific skills related to the post

• oGood understanding of the principles underlying palliative care practice.
• oBasic or higher knowledge of 1st line palliative care symptom management steps.
• oAbility to summarise and present clinical cases for effective handover.
• oCompetent and safe prescriber, including of controlled drugs.
• oAbility to cooperate in a democratic team environment.

Clinical Governance

• oClinical governance: Capacity to be alert to dangers or problems. Demonstrates awareness of good decision making. Aware of own limitations. Track record of engaging in clinical governance: reporting errors, learning from errors.
• oAudit: evidence of active participation in audit.
• oTeaching: evidence of interest and experience in teaching where required in the job.
• oDemonstrates understanding of the principles of research, evidence of relevant academic and research achievements.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

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