Specialty Doctor in Palliative Medicine in St Austell

Cornwall Hospice Care is a 24/7 Cornish healthcare charity that provides end of life support for people with terminal illnesses. Our clinical staff and volunteers care for patients and their families, carers and friends at Mount Edgcumbe Hospice in St Austell, St Julias Hospice in Hayle, through our Community Services and where appropriate, in people's own homes and in local care homes.

Our staff and volunteers are at the very heart of everything we do, and every member of our team has a role to play in helping deliver the care we provide. We are all ambassadors in the community too, spreading the word about the end of life care we provide, care that's 100% free to our patients and funded by the Cornish community.

About The Role

To be part of the medical team to deliver high quality Palliative and End of Life medical care, whilst encouraging and supporting the holistic approach to patients and their families within the hospice, taking social, spiritual, psychological, as well as medical factors into consideration.

Main duties

• Provide care to patients with palliative care needs and medical co-morbidities with strong clinical assessment and with the ability to weigh up risks and benefits of intervention to achieve best patient care.
• Communicate effectively with patients, families and significant others as appropriate and in accordance with professional practice.
• Carry out daily management of patients in the inpatient unit, including practical procedures such as venepuncture and IV infusions.
• Comprehensively and accurately admit patients on admission to the ward.
• Participate in the multi-disciplinary team meetings and ward rounds.
• Liaise with all appropriate agencies in assisting in the support of patients in the community, hospital or care setting where referral for admission to the inpatient unit is being considered.

About Us

Cornwall Hospice Care is a leading Cornish charity providing specialist care for people with terminal illnesses. This care is provided free of charge at our two hospices Mount Edgcumbe Hospice in St Austell and St Julias Hospice in Hayle, in Cornwall's hospitals, care homes and in the community. We also run a 24-hour advice line for other healthcare professionals.

We Offer An Excellent Working Environment As Part Of a Dedicated And Professional Team.

In return for the contribution our employees make to the lives of other people, we offer:

• A chance to make a real difference.
• Supportive working environment.
• Access to a wide range of training and development opportunities including specialist palliative care qualifications.
• Generous annual leave entitlement including bank holidays, including the option to buy or sell one week's annual leave.
• Contributory pension scheme; Standard Life or NHS.
• Life Assurance.
• Non-contributory medical cash plan, with the option to include your family members.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Enhanced sick pay.
• Early Pay Scheme.
• Free on-site parking.
• (Relocation may be available).

Job Details

Salary: Depending on experience
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time

Job Responsibilities (Summary)

To work flexibly and collaboratively with all members of the hospice multidisciplinary team to provide day to day specialist palliative care to patients on the Cornwall Hospice inpatient units.

Job Specific Duties And Responsibilities

The range of duties considered appropriate for the Specialty Doctor in Palliative Care is set out below. This list is not exhaustive, and the responsibilities will be regularly reviewed and adapted. This will occur at least annually during job planning. The postholder will be expected to be flexible.

• Medical Management: The medical management of hospice inpatients to deliver specialist palliative care including comprehensive holistic assessment on admission considering physical, psychological, social and spiritual aspects of care.
• To work collaboratively with other members of the medical team to review existing hospice inpatients and contribute to their daily ongoing care, under the guidance of local palliative care consultants who act as Responsible Clinicians, supported by Cornwall Hospices Specialist Doctor. This will include ongoing management of symptoms such as pain, and of the psychosocial effects of advanced illness, to establish a holistic therapeutic relationship to support patients and those close to them.
• To maintain comprehensive patient clinical records in line with Cornwall Hospice requirements to ensure that accurate and up to date information is always available for multi-disciplinary colleagues.
• To liaise with external multi-disciplinary healthcare professionals and relevant agencies to support effective and timely admission and discharge from the hospice as appropriate.
• To ensure timely accurate completion of referral to local medical examiner service and associated paperwork.
• Participate in the on-call rota for medical cover at both hospice sites.
• To engage in hospice quality improvements activities including clinical audit, clinical governance and policy review to ensure our hospice policies and procedures remain up to date with best practice in palliative care. The post holder will actively engage in efforts to improve patient safety, recognising the importance of continuous learning and improvement.
• To keep up to date with best practice in palliative care, to maintain personal continuing professional development, engaging with internal professional review, external annual appraisal and five-yearly revalidation with the requirements of the GMC.
• Maintain the standards of professional accountability as determined by the GMC.
• Contribute to Cornwall Hospice educational programmes including clinical support and training of hospice medical and nursing staff and provide support for clinical placements for medical students from the University of Exeter Medical School (UEMS) within limits of experience.
• To comply with the Cornwall Hospices mandatory training requirements.

People & Culture

Work across teams and departments to support effective communication and collaborative working through a ONETEAM philosophy. Demonstrate the behaviours expected to achieve the charity's strategic objectives. Positively contribute to the cultivation of a work environment that attracts and retains great people, committed to the achievement of the strategic objectives. Nurture a culture of collaboration, innovation, commitment and resource efficiency to ensure the provision of exceptional patient care and support. Hold all staff and volunteers in positive regard and foster a culture of respect and consideration between all members of the charity.

General

This job description is intended to provide an outline of the duties and responsibilities of the post and is not exhaustive and may be amended periodically as necessary. The post holder may be asked to undertake other duties within the general level and scope of the post and to work at other Cornwall Hospice sites as required.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.