Consultant Ophthalmologist in Vitreoretina in London

The Department of Ophthalmology is seeking a new full-time (10 PA - no on-call commitment) Consultant to join a dynamic, enthusiastic and forward-thinking team. The department is currently involved in many exciting initiatives and we are looking for an individual with appropriate skills to complement the existing team and help keep the service in the forefront of clinical and academic excellence. The department offers a wide range of sub-specialty ophthalmic services to patients. The new consultant will help run and develop these services and have particular responsibility for developing the Vitreoretina service. They will be expected to take an active role in audit and governance and to participate in the teaching programmes of the department. This is an excellent opportunity to join a first-class team in an active and progressive central London teaching hospital environment.

Main duties of the job

This is a full-time (10 PA's) consultant post. The post holder will be part of the Vitreoretina specialty working at St Thomas' hospital. The post holder will participate in the diagnosis and management of patients in outpatients. The post holder will be expected to take an active role along with the other sub-speciality consultants in delivering and further developing the service. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the service to ensure the Trust continues to deliver excellent ophthalmic care well into the future.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Provide High Quality Care to Patients
• The post holder must be medically qualified and maintain GMC specialist registration and hold a licence to practice.
• To be responsible for the clinical & professional supervision of junior staff in the post holders clinics/ theatre lists/ admissions.
• To help investigate patient complaints, PALS, incidents, RCAs, serious incidents or never events as required by the Trust.
• The post holder will be expected to cross cover in the absence of colleagues in cases of annual leave, study leave and sickness as far as is practicable to ensure continuous patient care.
• To develop and maintain the competencies required to carry out the duties required of the post.
• To ensure prompt attendance at agreed direct clinical care Programmed Activities.
• To ensure patients are involved in decisions about their care and to respond to their views.

Research, Teaching and Training

• Where possible to collaborate with academic and clinical colleagues to enhance the Trust's translational research portfolio, at all times meeting the full requirements of Research Governance.
• To provide high quality teaching to medical undergraduates and members of other health care professions as required by the Clinical Director.
• The Trust supports Continuing Professional Development in line with the requirements of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.
• The post holder will be expected to actively participate in CPD activities to maintain and develop clinical knowledge and skills.
• Appropriate study leave and funding will be provided in accordance with Trust policy to support these activities, in line with national consultant contract provisions.

Performance Management

• To work with medical, nursing and managerial colleagues to ensure high performance in the following areas: Clinical efficiency e.g. LOS reductions, reducing cancelled operations and DNA rates.
• Financial management e.g. identification, implementation and achievement of cost improvement programmes and participating in efforts to ensure services are provided cost effectively e.g. managing locum agency spend, monitoring and managing the drug budget to target, ensuring accuracy of clinical data for the team.
• Operational efficiency e.g. day-case rates, waiting list activity and demand management.

Medical Staff Management

• To work with colleagues to ensure junior doctors hours are compliant in line with EWTD and New Deal.
• To ensure that adequate systems and procedures are in place to control and monitor leave for junior medical staff and to ensure that there is appropriate cover within the clinical areas, including on-call commitments.
• To participate in the recruitment of junior medical staff as and when required.
• To participate in team objective setting as part of the annual job planning cycle.
• To be responsible for the annual appraisal of all doctors in training, Trust doctors, Clinical Fellows and non-consultant grades as delegated by the Clinical Director/General Manager.

Governance

• To review clinical outcomes in designated area using external benchmarking data where appropriate, to identify and advise variances to the Clinical Director.
• Participate in clinical audit, incident reporting and analysis and to ensure resulting actions are implemented.
• To work closely with the Directorate, Patient and Public Involvement panels in relation to clinical and services developments as delegated by the Clinical Director.
• Participate in ensuring NICE requirements are reviewed and implemented and monitored in the speciality areas.
• To ensure clinical guidelines and protocols are adhered to by junior medical staff and updated on a regular basis.
• To keep fully informed about best practice in the speciality areas and ensure implications for practice changes are discussed with the Clinical Director.
• To role model good practice for infection control to all members of the multidisciplinary team.

Strategy and Business Planning

• To participate in the business planning and objective setting process for the directorate and Trust where appropriate.
• To represent the Trust at appropriate clinical networks/other external clinical meetings, as delegated by the Clinical Director.

Leadership and Team Working

• To demonstrate excellent leadership skills with regard to individual performance, clinical teams, the Trust and when participating in national or local initiatives.
• To work collaboratively with all members of the multi-disciplinary team and Kings Health Partners as required.
• To chair regular meetings for the specialties.
• To resolve conflict and difficult situations through negotiation and discussion, involving appropriate parties.
• Adhere to Trust/departmental guidelines on leave including reporting absence.

Person Specification

Professional Qualifications

• Essential: Eligible for full UK GMC registration and a Licence to Practise. FRCOphth or/and MRCP or equivalent. Must be on the Specialist Registrar, hold a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT/CCST) or be within 6 months of obtaining the CCT.
• Desirable: Higher degree (e.g. MD or PhD) in subject relevant to role.

Clinical Experience and Skill

• Essential: Consultant level clinical experience in the treatment of vitreoretina.

Audit Management & IT

• Essential: IT skills required. Understanding of principles of audit and demonstrable record of delivering completed audits.

Research, Teaching skill & experience

• Essential: Experience of teaching and training medical undergraduates, postgraduates and allied healthcare professionals.

Leadership / Management skills

• Essential: Communication; Ability to communicate with clarity and intelligently in written and spoken English; ability to build rapport, listen, persuade/ negotiate.
• Accountability; Ability to take responsibility, lead, make decisions and exert appropriate authority.
• Interpersonal Skills; Empathy, understanding, listening skills, patience and ability to work co-operatively with others. Able to change and adapt, respond to changing circumstances and to cope with setbacks or pressure. Ability to work as part of a team.
• Staff Management; Experience of performance management, developing and motivating staff.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration.