Consultant Geriatrician

Applications are warmly invited for two Consultants in Geriatric Medicine, based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in Woolwich, to join the existing 8 substantive consultants.

The posts have been created to develop and consolidate new ways of working. The trust has a separate “on take” system for older frail patients. The Frailty Unit enhances the flow of appropriate patients to the complex care wards, which Consultant Geriatricians lead comprehensive assessment and discharge planning.

The Frailty consultants provide daily telephone support to primary care and there is a daily frailty clinic.

The Frailty Unit is supported by appropriately skilled nursing staff, therapists and two facilitated discharge teams which serve the surrounding areas of Greenwich and Bexley.

The Frailty unit is working with local clinical commissioning groups and community partners to improve delivery of intermediate care, both within a person’s home and within local nursing homes and community hospitals.

The new incumbent will form part of a team of ten Consultants developing and managing these services. It is envisaged that colleagues will have the opportunity to rotate around the various components of the care pathway (acute care, complex care, community interface), though colleagues with a special interest may wish to remain within their preferred area.

Newly appointed consultants will be offered a mentor from within the Trust. This may be from within the department or another speciality.

Main duties of the job

1. Support and further develop the geriatric service
2. Support and develop the interface frailty services for ED and relevant clinical areas
3. Support, lead and develop integrated care working with CCG’s and community partners
4. Be an advocate for the care of older people within the organization.
5. Lead, support and mentor junior medical staff within the department and ensure training requirements are met.
6. Undertake work within a relevant area of interest.

About us

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement.

Job responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

1. Support and further develop the initiatives within the Department of Geriatric Medicine.
2. Provide high quality health care for older patients referred for diagnosis and treatment.
3. Respond to inpatient and outpatient referrals from other specialties.
4. Participate in educational and audit meetings.
5. Meet CPD and revalidation requirements.
6. Provide cover for Consultant colleagues during periods of leave.
7. Support the Hospitals Clinical Governance Strategy.
8. Contribute to all other aspects of the Directorate and trust affairs.

Medicine for the Elderly

1. Provide a consultant-led service in the specialty.
2. Lead daily board rounds and ward rounds on relevant wards.
3. Lead on the new initiatives for the care of older people.
4. Contribute to research in Medicine for the Elderly in an area of special interest.
5. Contribute to meeting the 18 week outpatient target.
6. Contribute to meeting the 4 hour waiting time target in the Emergency Department.
7. Contribute to other quality indicators where relevant.
8. Contribute to community services (Bat phone and Frailty Clinic).

Medical Education & Teaching

1. Supervise and teach Medical Students.
2. Participate in formal teaching of the Medicine in Old Age Syllabus to Year 4 medical students, and acute medicine to Year 3 students.
3. Supervise and manage trainee medical staff and ensure training requirements are met.
4. Provide post-graduate training in Medicine for the Elderly for all grades of Medical Staff and for non-medical clinical staff.
5. Contribute to regular training and teaching sessions for General Practitioners.
6. Be a Clinical supervisor and Education supervisor to a number of trainees.

Clinical Audit/ Clinical Governance/ Research

1. Participate in clinical audit and implement audit findings as appropriate.
2. Support NIHR funded research.

Continuing Professional Development

1. Participate in continuing professional development at local and national level.
2. Implement audit and research findings as appropriate in clinical practice.
3. Prepare and participate in an annual appraisal in accordance with Trust policy.
4. A willingness to undertake additional professional responsibilities at local, regional or national levels.

Policy, Planning and Management

1. Support the Trust to deliver quality patient care.
2. Contribute to the development of clinical and organisational protocols and guidelines.
3. Assist in the development of the Annual Service Plan for the Directorate and Division.
4. Comply with all Trust policies.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• MBBS or equivalent MRCP or equivalent.
• Full registration with the GMC and hold a licence to practise.
• Be on the GMC Specialist Register for Geriatric Medicine or within six months of obtaining CCT at the time of interview.
• Broad based general training.
• MD/PhD or other higher degree.

Training

• Broad based training and wide experience of acute & general medicine.
• Broad-based training in Geriatric Medicine.
• A special interest within Geriatric Medicine complementing those currently in the directorate.
• An interest in managing frailty in acute care and the community would be particularly welcome.

Clinical Experience

• Understanding of the principles of clinical governance and clinical risk.
• Understanding and experience of audit.
• Previous broader experience of clinical governance, clinical risk management and associated areas.

Teaching Experience

• Understanding of the implications of the NHS Plan and other national guidance and policy relevant to the provision of geriatric medicine.
• Understanding of NHS organisation and management.
• A commitment to participate in the management of the Directorate of Medicine.
• Formal management course with previous management experience especially of change management.
• Understanding of, or previous experience of, working closely with older people’s services.

Management and Administrative Experience

• Knowledge of research methodology & Clinical trials.

Other Attributes

• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to lead a multidisciplinary team.
• Flexibility to respond to the varying needs of a busy department.

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.

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