Locum Paediatric Neurosurgeon in Oxford

Applications are invited to apply for the post in the Department of Paediatric Neurosurgery based at the Oxford Children’s Hospital, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford. This has come about by illness. The successful applicant will join a current team of substantive Consultants. The post-holder’s commitments will include routine care of emergency and elective neurosurgical patients, covering the whole spectrum of paediatric cranial and spinal neurosurgical pathologies. The distribution of these specialist patients can be adjusted depending on the skills of the successful candidate. Appropriate administrative support will be provided to support this post.

Our neurosurgery department has a dynamic and vibrant training programme with excellent links to the children’s specialist services. The applicant will be involved in teaching both undergraduates and postgraduates, as well as training neurosurgery specialist trainees. Close clinical ties with our adult neurosurgery colleagues exist, and teaching/audit is done jointly with the adult service.

Applicants should possess full neurosurgical training (to FRCS or equivalent) and subspeciality fellowship level training in paediatric neurosurgery. Applicants should also either be on the Specialist Register for neurosurgery at the time of interview.

Main duties of the job

The postholder’s duties will be primarily at the John Radcliffe Hospital, but it is a condition of the appointment that the postholder will be willing to work in any of the Trust’s locations throughout the county (including Banbury or Witney if needed).

Clinical: The department works using a team-based approach, with joint ward rounds being held every weekday morning. The successful candidate will take part in an on-call with prospective cover. Thus, all paediatric neurosurgery patients admitted on their take will become their patients. Close working between consultants means a high level of collaborative decision making and operating does take place.

Teaching/Research: Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust is a teaching hospital trust, and the postholder will be required to participate in programmes for teaching undergraduate clinical students, training junior doctors, multidisciplinary teaching, and in clinical examinations. It is expected that this will be an integral part of everyday clinical activity. The post-holder’s contribution to teaching, training, and research will be included in the regular job plan review. This post is envisaged to spearhead the research activity in the department. Therefore, a postgraduate level of research training is required – ideally to Masters or PhD level.

Working for our organisation

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training, and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington, and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards, and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues, and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence, focusing on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement, and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family.

Oxford University Hospitals promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment. If you want to make a difference with us, come and join our team. Together, we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.