Responsible Officer in London

Directorate: Medical Director’s Office

Contract: Fixed‑term, three years (tenured)

Hours: 4 Programmed Activities (PAs) per week

As our Responsible Officer (RO), you will lead the systems and culture that assure professional standards across our medical and dental workforce (including Physician Associates). You will oversee appraisal and revalidation, evaluate fitness to practise concerns, liaise with regulators, and champion clinical governance so that patient safety, effectiveness of care, and patient experience remain central to everything we do. The RO role is underpinned by the Medical Profession (Responsible Officers) Regulations 2010 (as amended).

You will join the Medical Director’s Office team of Chief Medical Officer, Deputy Medical Directors, Associate Medical Directors and Guardian of Safe Working and contribute to the team’s success. You will be expected to complete the Responsible Officer training following your appointment, in which you will be supported by the Chief Medical Officer, Deputy Medical Director and the Head of Employee Relations.

Main duties of the job

• To adhere to the Medical Profession (Responsible Officer) Regulations 2010 (as amended)
• To provide professional leadership and support to Medical and Dental staff (including Physician Associates), ensuring compliance with Statutory instruments, GMC/ GDC Professional Standards and local policies and effective job planning.
• To maintain a list of doctors connected to the designated body.
• To provide a system, that allows a safe and confidential space for annual appraisal to take place, and where the main focus is to support the professional and personal development of the doctor.
• To ensure that sufficient numbers of appraisers are trained to support the appraisal process.
• To ensure that the appraisal professional governance supports revalidation by enabling doctors to demonstrate the key professional behaviour of learning from reflection and that the doctor is meeting the requirements of Good Medical Practice.
• To support the Medical Employee Relations Group to ensure the maintenance of high professional standards by investigating concerns that are raised with them in a timely and effective manner.

This should be carried out in accordance with Trust policy and ensuring that disciplinary procedures are carried out fairly and in a timely fashion in line with the Trust Policy and Maintaining High Professional Standards (MHPS). This will involve liaising with the ELAs from both the GMC and NHSR.

Working for our organisation

GOSH is committed to recruiting the best person for the job, based solely on their ability and individual merit as measured against the criteria for the role; through a process that is fair, open, consistent and free from bias and discrimination.

We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture where all staff are valued, respected and acknowledged. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, disability status or length of time spent unemployed.

We particularly welcome applications from BAME communities, people with disabilities and/or long-term health conditions and LGBT+ community members.

We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants and employees are treated fairly and consistently. We are proud to be accredited as a Disability Confident Employer, a member of Business Disability Forum and a Stonewall Diversity Champion.

We have active and Executive supported BAME, LGBT+ and Allies, Disability and Long-Term Health Conditions and Women’s staff networks. Staff networks are employee-led groups formed around interests, issues and a common bond or background. Staff network members create a positive and inclusive work environment at Great Ormond Street Hospital by actively contributing to the Trust’s mission, values and efforts specific to inclusion. All of our staff networks are open to any employee.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role. The Person Specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both documents please view the attachments.

Person specification

GOSH Culture and Values

Essential criteria

• Always welcoming
• Always helpful
• Always expert
• Always one team

Knowledge and understanding of diverse backgrounds and perspectives

Understanding of Diversity and Inclusion challenges in the workplace

Demonstrable contribution to advancing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

Experience/Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Previous Medical Leadership experience
• Knowledge of management structures within healthcare
• Working knowledge Trust governance frameworks
• Evidence of completion of annual Consultant appraisal

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of Responsible Officer Regulations

Academic/Professional qualification/Training

Essential criteria

• A Medical Practitioner with a license to practice, and named on the Specialist Register with the GMC/GDC
• Minimum 5-year substantive Consultant experience
• Evidence of Continuing Professional development
• Not currently the subject of either a local or GMC investigation with no restrictions on practice.

Desirable criteria

• Medical Leadership qualification
• Responsible Officer Training

Skills/Abilities

Essential criteria

• Demonstrable leadership skills via capability to translate policy into practice
• Ability to support and hold individuals and teams to account