Consultant Neonatologist in Leicester

There is an exciting opportunity to join the consultant team working for the Leicester Neonatal Service. This is a substantive post and includes a resident on call commitment, working as a resident consultant with a team of advanced neonatal nurse practitioners, middle grades and tier 1 doctors.

The Leicester Neonatal Service is currently split across 2 sites. There are currently 42 cots with a plan to incrementally increase to a total of 48 cots over the next 3 years. The first phase of this expansion is planned later this year. There are wider plans to expand capacity to 70 cots as part of a new-build single site reconfiguration project.

The Neonatal Service provides the full range of tertiary neonatal services including care for babies of all gestations, advanced modes of ventilation, neonatal surgery and close working links with the East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre and the UK's largest ECMO service. There are currently around 11,000 deliveries per annum in Leicester. We are the lead perinatal centre for the south hub of the East Midlands Neonatal Operational Delivery Network. University Hospitals of Leicester is also host to the regional transport service (CenTre neonatal transport service).

The Leicester Royal Infirmary is our main site. There are currently 18 cots that can provide flexible ITU / HDU care and 12 Special Care cots. Our smaller unit is based at Leicester General Hospital. This unit functions as a Special Care Baby Unit and has 12 cots.

Main duties of the job

• To support the provision of the highest quality patient care through personal actions and continuous improvement.
• Responsibility for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness, and the proper functioning of the department.
• To participate in service development and business planning in collaboration with the other Consultants in the department, the CMG and local GPs and commissioners within the local CCGs.
• Professional supervision and management of resident medical staff including the observance of local employment and human resource policies and procedures.
• The post-holder is expected to participate in the teaching and training of resident staff and other clinical staff groups.
• The appointee will also have supervision responsibilities for resident medical staff within the specialty.
• If appropriate, the post-holder will be named in the contract of resident staff as the person responsible for overseeing their training and as an initial source of advice to such doctors regarding their careers.
• The post-holder is expected to participate in professional continuing medical education; study leave is provided for this purpose.
• Work effectively with Obstetrics, Fetal Medicine and Paediatric colleagues.
• Work alongside the CMG Quality and Safety Team to ensure identification and reduction of risks, incidents and complaints to ensure learning takes place and the overall improvement of patient safety.
• Actively ensure the appropriate safeguarding of patients.

Working for our organisation

Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years. We have four primary goals: high-quality care for all, being a great place to work, partnerships for impact, and research and education excellence. We will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.

Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all: we are compassionate, we are proud, we are inclusive, and we are one team. This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.

About The University Hospitals Of Leicester NHS Trust

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

The overriding purpose is to support the provision of highest quality patient care through personal actions and continuous improvement.

• Responsibility for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness, and the proper functioning of the department.
• Cover for colleagues' annual leave and other authorised absences.
• To participate in service development and business planning in collaboration with the other Consultants in the department, the CMG and local GPs and commissioners within the local CCGs.
• Professional supervision and management of resident medical staff including the observance of local employment and human resource policies and procedures.
• Responsibilities for carrying out teaching, examination and accreditation duties as required and contributing to undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing medical education activity, locally and nationally.
• Participating in medical audit, the Trust's Clinical Governance processes and in CPD – CPD is provided in job plans and attendance at audit and other governance meetings is mandatory.
• Managerial, including budgetary responsibilities where appropriate and compliance with standing orders and standing financial instructions of the Trust.
• In line with GMC Good Medical Practice it is the responsibility of the post-holder to ensure that all duties are carried out to the highest possible standard, and in accordance with current quality initiatives within the area of work.
• The post-holder is expected to respond in a timely fashion to legitimate requests from Trust officers – this might include investigations of incidents or complaints.
• The post-holder is expected to participate in teaching and training of resident staff and other clinical staff groups.
• The appointee will also have supervision responsibilities for resident medical staff within the specialty.
• If appropriate, the post-holder will be named in the contract of resident staff as the person responsible for overseeing their training and as an initial source of advice to such doctors regarding their careers.
• The post-holder is expected to participate in professional continuing medical education; study leave is provided for this purpose.
• The post-holder will be expected to undertake the Trust Corporate and Directorate specific Induction and competency Programmes appropriate to role.
• The post-holder will be required to maintain their continuing professional development (CPD) to be able to successfully revalidate.
• As per the Trust requirement the successful candidate will be required to have annual appraisal and attend / keep fully up to date with statutory and mandatory training as stipulated.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Essential criteria
• MRCPCH by examination or equivalent.
• Full GMC Registration.
• On the GMC's specialist register OR within six months of CCT at time of scheduled interview. Note: Portfolio pathway (formerly CESR) applicants must be on the specialist register at the point of appointment. Note: If not currently on the Neonatal Subspecialty Register, must have 24 months middle grade experience in neonatal intensive care in a level 3/NICU.
• Desirable criteria
• Membership of relevant Specialist Societies or Associations.
• Higher degree e.g. MSc, MD or equivalent.
• Hold a Neonatal Subspecialty CCT.

Experience / Clinical Skills

• Essential criteria
• Fully trained in Neonatal Medicine.
• Excellent clinical skills and experience requisite to meeting all aspects of the Job Plan.
• Ability to apply sound clinical judgement to problems.
• Demonstrates clear, logical thinking / analytical approach.
• Willingness to develop skills and experience in areas of interest.
• Valid Level 3 safeguarding training.
• Valid NLS training.
• Desirable criteria
• Evidence of clinical or research commitment and a relevant specialty of interest.
• Evidence of work relating to health inequities.
• Community focused/neonatal public health interest.
• Commitment to BFI programme.

Management

• Essential Criteria
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and supervise residents.
• Experience of leading teams and awareness of leadership styles.
• Ability to effectively organise, prioritise and manage clinical workload.
• Understanding of wider health agenda and modern NHS.
• Ability to work to overcome barriers to change (negotiating, influencing and persuasion skills).
• Knowledge and understanding of clinical governance issues.
• Desirable criteria
• Management training on an accredited course.
• Awareness of Service Development issues.
• Evidence of management and administration experience.

Communication Skills

• Essential criteria
• Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English that are adequate to enable effective communication with patients and colleagues.
• To be empathic and sensitive; capacity to take others perspectives and treat others with understanding.
• Highly Developed Emotional Intelligence.
• Desirable criteria
• Highly developed emotional intelligence.
• High standard of presentation both written and verbal.
• Demonstrable track record of successful change management.
• Proven ability to maintain focus in a demanding environment.

Audit/ Quality Improvement

• Essential Criteria
• Effective participation in and a commitment to clinical audit.
• Participation in a quality improvement programme.
• Experience of quality improvement work and audit.
• Desirable criteria
• Undergone training in teaching and willingness to organise relevant audit activities including quality improvement evidence.
• Completion of formal courses in Audit and quality improvement.
• Published Audit including quality improvement.

Teaching

• Essential Criteria
• Experience of and a commitment to training/ teaching undergraduate and postgraduates.
• Appraisal and assessment skills.
• Ability to assess clinical competencies.
• Enthusiastic and ability to inspire and lead others.
• Desirable criteria
• Willingness to develop new approaches to teaching.
• Post Graduate qualification in teaching and training.

Research

• Essential Criteria
• Understanding and interest in research.
• Ability to appraise research critically.
• Ability to supervise residents undertaking research projects.
• Evidence of recent research and development activity.
• Desirable criteria
• Publications in nationally and internationally recognised peer-reviewed journals on subjects relevant to the specialty.

Equality & Diversity

• Essential Criteria
• Able to demonstrate a commitment and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs.