Consultant Geriatrician

CDDFT has developed an integrated, consultant-led frailty-care model that includes the Frailty SDEC Unit, the service, and the Geriatrician of the Day initiative. These services work together to improve outcomes for patients living with frailty, reduce unnecessary hospital admissions, and support care closer to home.

The Frailty SDEC is a dedicated acute secondary care service operating from 8am to 8pm. It is led by consultant geriatricians and supported by a multidisciplinary team. Separate from the Acute Medical Unit and ED, the SDEC provides rapid assessment and management for patients identified as frail, either already admitted or referred from ED by the Frailty Assessment Team. Direct admission is also promoted to avoid ED altogether.

The service is a consultant-led virtual ward model that delivers acute hospital-level care in the patient’s own home. It operates through a step-up and step-down approach. The introduction of a Geriatrician of the Day has further strengthened the frailty care pathway. This role ensures that patients living with frailty are assessed and managed by a specialist from the outset, improving clinical outcomes and streamlining care.

Main duties of the job:

• Leading the assessment & management of patients living with frailty, including those with complex needs and frailty syndromes (e.g. falls, immobility, delirium).
• Making treatment decisions and providing ongoing care for patients.
• Supporting the Frailty SDEC pathway by providing timely, specialist-led input.
• Acting as the Geriatrician of the Day to ensure rapid CGA and appropriate streaming of patients to the right care setting.
• Facilitating early discharge planning and step-down care from inpatient wards to home-based services.
• Participating in clinical governance activities, including maintaining up-to-date protocols, guidelines, and contributing to clinical audits.
• Revising and developing evidence-based protocols for frailty care and undertaking associated administrative duties, supporting innovation in service delivery aligned with national strategies, including the NHS 10-Year Plan.
• Maintaining continuing professional development in line with the RCP guidance.
• Acting as an educational and clinical supervisor for Resident doctors.
• Supporting the training of resident doctors and multidisciplinary team members across inpatient and outpatients.

We provide hospital services from two acute sites – Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community-based settings and in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as these groups are currently under-represented.

Job responsibilities:

The post holder will be committed to the delivery and ongoing development of Elderly Care and Acute Frailty services. Clinical duties will be undertaken in collaboration with consultant colleagues and other professional staff that make up the wider MDT to maintain and enhance the service, while supporting the development of specialist skills in line with individual and service needs. The service is transitioning to a 7-day model on a rostered basis in a 1:7 on-call rota.

Acute Frailty:

• Inpatient specialist care
• Movement Disorders
• Ortho-Geriatric support

This is delivered alongside established outpatient clinic commitments. The post holder will be expected to participate on the Frailty SDEC service, working within a fully integrated MDT, with CGA being central to delivering holistic and patient-centred care. The service operates with an ethos of discharge is the rule and admission is an exception, supported by a well-established, consultant-led Hospital at Home service model that enables delivery of acute care within the patient’s home environment. The team is also committed to a geriatrician of the day rota providing direct clinical advice to a range of professionals to support decision making and ensure patients are managed in the most appropriate setting.

The successful candidate will be expected to lead a board and ward round, managing patients with complex needs and extensive comorbidities and facilitating safe and timely discharges through the effective use of available services. Close collaboration with Orthopaedic and Surgical colleagues ensures timely geriatric input for patients undergoing treatment outside of Elderly Care services. The department also provides clinics in general geriatrics and Movement Disorders. The post holder will be expected to triage referrals relating to frailty syndromes, dementia, falls and other general geriatric assessments and/or work closely with specialist Movement Disorder CNS to manage a caseload.

Person Specification:

• Statutory Registration: Full registration with GMC and inclusion on specialist register (or pending in next 6 months)
• Special Skills & Knowledge: Evidence of continuous development in the specialist field of practice.
• Qualifications: Teaching Qualification. Certificate of Medical Education or other formal training programme. Training in sub-specialty complementary to that of the existing Consultants.
• Experience: Good clinical skills including the management of acutely unwell medical patients and up-to-date knowledge in geriatric medicine. Experience in working within a multidisciplinary team with good communication skills. Ability to liaise well with colleagues in other specialties. Experience of supervising training and teaching trainees. Ability to provide evidence of career planning through appraisal process. Evidence of being up to date with professional development. Experience of close liaison with community services. Experience of service development. Evidence of research experience and clinical effectiveness work.

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.

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust £113,565 to £150,569 a year YC72 Pay Scale per annum pro rata