Consultant in Paediatric Gastroenterology

We are an award-winning organisation providing care at two main hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—and a number of community-based services across London, such as sexual health and HIV clinics. With 6,700 members of staff, we are proud to care for a diverse population of one million people. We are committed to ensuring that our workforce is just as diverse with a strong mix of skills and abilities. Our staff are at the very heart of our organisation and we recognise the valuable contribution that each and every person working at the Trust makes. One of our Trust priorities is to be an employer of choice—a place where people want to start their career and to grow with us through continued education, professional development and support.

West London Children's Healthcare are seeking a full-time Consultant Paediatric Gastroenterologist to join the dynamic West London Children’s Healthcare Paediatric Gastroenterology team at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital. The successful applicant will join our team providing excellent care to our local children and families across the tertiary Paediatric Gastroenterology service as part of West London Children's, and will be based primarily at the Chelsea and Westminster site. This 10PA post comprises attending weeks (presently 1:4) and the remaining time is focused on elective work. The appointee will receive mentoring and support from the team of Paediatric Gastroenterology Consultants.

The Paediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition service provides a multidisciplinary approach to the assessment and management of acute and chronic gastrointestinal disorders and it coordinates the activity of the Nutrition Team. Medical and surgical expertise are closely linked, particularly in relation to the Neonatal Unit and also to the management of children with inflammatory bowel disease. The Gastroenterology/Nutrition service covers the sub-specialty needs of children from NW London and beyond. Clinics take place in a multidisciplinary setting running in parallel with Paediatric Surgical clinics. Sub-speciality clinics include IBD, motility, intestinal rehabilitation and feeding clinic. There is comprehensive Dietetic, Pharmaceutical and Psychological support. Inpatients are managed by the GI/Nutrition Multidisciplinary Team on the Paediatric wards, adolescent unit, and day case beds. Endoscopy (3 lists per week) takes place in dedicated Paediatric Theatres adjacent to the inpatient beds. There is also an emergency service with access to emergency endoscopy lists. Motility investigations including oesophageal pH, impedance monitoring and ano-rectal manometry are undertaken. The Nutrition Team provides advice and supervision for the management of children requiring parenteral and enteral nutritional support. We run shared care clinics in several associated hospitals (Northwick Park / St Marks, West Middlesex, Ealing, St Mary’s, and Hillingdon).

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—along with award-winning clinics across North West London. Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5 million, providing full clinical services, including maternity, A&E, and children’s services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health clinics. The Care Quality Commission rates us 'Good' in safety, effectiveness, care, and responsiveness, and 'Outstanding' in leadership and resource use. We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and Westminster and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex. We are committed to equal opportunities and believe that diversity drives innovation and excellence. As part of our dedication to equity, we actively welcome applications from individuals from the global majority, veterans and underrepresented communities. We value the unique perspectives and experiences that diverse teams bring and are committed to creating an environment where all voices are heard, respected, and empowered to succeed.

The post-holder will share responsibility with the existing consultant staff to:

• Provide the highest possible standards of inpatient care in diagnosis and management of children with gastrointestinal/nutritional disorders.
• Carry out elective and emergency endoscopies.
• Conduct Gastroenterology out-patient clinics.
• Develop areas of special interest and service provision to complement the skills of the current Paediatric Gastroenterologists in post (motility especially desirable).
• Participate in outreach clinics at allied institutions and develop further outreach/shared care work in the West London sector.
• Provide out of hours advice for gastroenterology/nutrition cases, and out of hours endoscopy.
• Participate in on call duties (responsibility shared with the other Paediatric Gastroenterology consultants 1:4).
• Contribute to post-graduate education of junior doctors.
• Actively contribute to clinical governance including audit.
• Support and carry out research in line with the departmental research strategy.
• Undertake specific management tasks and membership of hospital committees as proposed by the Lead Clinician and Directorate Policy Board.

Education and Qualifications:

• MBBS or equivalent
• MRCPCH or equivalent
• Full GMC registration with license to practice
• CCT in Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition or UK specialist trainee within 6 months of CCT
• On GMC specialist register
• Completion or evidence of working towards a higher academic degree
• Subspecialty expertise in GI motility
• Relevant experience in specialty
• Substantial clinical experience in Paediatric Gastroenterology
• Ability to take full and independent responsibility for clinical care of patients
• Experience in managing, and ability to offer clinical opinion on common Paediatric Gastrointestinal emergencies
• Independently competent in diagnostic upper and lower GI endoscopy

Clinical Governance:

• Understanding of clinical governance and audit
• Experience of participation in regular clinical audit
• Level 3 paediatric safeguarding training
• Evidence of written guidelines

Management Skills and Teaching:

• Good understanding of the structure and processes of the NHS
• Organisation, time management, forward planning and attention to detail
• Undergraduate/postgraduate and formal teaching
• Ability to teach clinical skills to meet the requirements of doctors in training and nursing staff
• Knowledge of best practice in management
• Evidence of leadership skills
• Knowledge of business planning and budgets
• Formal teaching qualification

The closing date given is a guide only. There may be some occasions when we have to close a vacancy once sufficient applications have been received. You are therefore advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment. Please check your emails regularly as this is how we will communicate with you throughout the recruitment process. If you have not heard from us within 3 weeks after the closing date, we regret that this usually means your application was not successful. In submitting an application, you authorise the Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process, should you be appointed to the post. Employment at the Trust is offered subject to successful completion of a six-month probationary period.