Specialty Doctor in Palliative Medicine - Fixed Term in Farnham

Specialty Doctor in Palliative Medicine - Fixed Term ending March 31st 2027

16-24 hours a week

Salary £61,542 - £99,216 per annum pro-rata (WTE based on 40 hours a week and experience in Palliative Medicine)

Locations: Farnham and Guildford

Are you looking for a job where you can make a real difference? At Phyllis Tuckwell, we pride ourselves on offering exceptional care to our patients and their families and carers.

An opportunity has arisen for a Palliative Medicine Specialty Doctor to join our Phyllis Tuckwell multi-professional team. They will have strong skills in community working and will support patients and their families living with advanced and terminal illness with complex and often rapidly changing needs. The role requires holistic assessment, problem solving, prioritisation and decision-making skills, working within the multi-professional responsive team to identify and meet initial needs. Central to the role is holistic assessment, symptom management, advance care planning and supporting patients and their families to adapt to change and uncertainty; and optimise quality of life.

We are looking for someone who works well in a team, has excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and utilises these to rapidly build trust, provide support and education, particularly around complex moving and handling techniques and use of adaptive equipment. This post would suit a doctor wishing to increase their Palliative Medicine knowledge such as a GP.

Main duties of the job:

• Regular clinical supervision and support is provided by Phyllis Tuckwell, and team members are encouraged to develop their skills and ensure evidence-based practice to provide best quality patient care.
• If you would like to feel part of a welcoming and committed team, benefit from strong peer and managerial support, and want to develop your career with excellent training and education opportunities, we would be delighted to hear from you.

About You:

• Current license to practice with the GMC
• Community and or palliative / end of life care experience (essential given the short-term nature of post)
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a busy team

For a full list of essential requirements, please refer to the job description and person specification document.

About Us:

We are based in Farnham and Guildford, and provide bespoke, compassionate palliative and end of life care for people living with an advanced or terminal illness, across West Surrey and North-East Hampshire. Phyllis Tuckwell is a very special place to work. Our consultants and doctors are pivotal in helping deliver our vital services, ensuring every day is precious for our patients.

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive culture, with the principles of fairness and equality at its core.

We are an equal opportunities employer, who values and respects our employees' unique knowledge, skills and experiences. We warmly welcome applications from all sections of the community. All appointments are made following a fair and equitable process, based on merit, job requirements and business need.

We Offer:

• Continuation of NHS Pension or Phyllis Tuckwell Group Personal Pension Plan (matched contributions up to 7.5%)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Blue Light Discount Card
• Access to learning and professional development opportunities (we have an on-site education team)
• Consultant in Palliative Medicine supervision
• Support and learning from the specialist multi-disciplinary team
• Study leave budget
• Professional growth
• A Great Place to Work
• Flexible hours and flexible working
• Clinical supervision and support

97% of our staff are proud to work for Phyllis Tuckwell.

This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Job responsibilities:

• The appointee will provide medical input predominantly within the Community team in hours based both in Farnham and the smaller site at the Beacon centre in Guildford plus on the ward in Camberley as part of the 1st on call rota.
• The Specialty Doctor will be professionally accountable to the Medical Director and ultimately to the Trustees of the PT. On a day-to-day basis the appointee will be under the supervision of community palliative medicine consultants.
• The Specialty Doctor will be expected to undertake solo or joint domiciliary visits to patients known to the community team and work with the primary care clinicians in supporting the patient at home/nursing homes.
• To support palliative meetings and forums based on the community/primary care.
• To review the patients' progress at regular meetings with the multi-disciplinary team.
• To keep accurate records that are individual, timely and identifiable, using the PT electronic record system.
• To work in partnership with patients and their families and carers as a member of the multi-disciplinary Specialist Palliative Care Team.
• To clerk patients on admission to the in-patient unit (IPU) assessing and documenting patients' physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs and devising a treatment plan when working on the IPU.
• To review patients during ward rounds, and when clinically appropriate, reviewing and changing the treatment plan, in collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team, to provide good quality palliative care.
• To refer deaths to the medical examiner/coroner and complete the medical certificate of cause of death as needed.
• To reassess the patients' problems as necessary and to communicate changes of treatment and new diagnoses to the GP.
• To be involved in the provision of out of hours cover to the In-patient Unit. It is non-resident on call overnight during the week plus a focused face to face daytime ward round at the weekend before returning to the non-resident on call overnight. This is part of a rota of approximately 1 in 6 to 1 in 8.
• To participate in Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care's educational programme and help with informal teaching of visiting doctors or medical students on ward rounds and to participate in audit as requested.
• To be familiar with, and to adhere to, PT policies and guidelines.
• Engage with appraisal and with continuing professional education sufficient to maintain fitness to practise. Funding for study leave will be made available.

Person Specification:

• Sound knowledge of basic science and ability to apply this to clinical practice
• Clinical knowledge relevant to palliative care: Capacity to apply sound clinical knowledge relevant to the job including: symptom control, demonstrable skills in communication around end of life care, understanding of ethical issues relevant to palliative care etc.
• Experience in making clinical decisions and managing risk. Knows when to seek help, able to prioritise clinical need.
• Evidence of understanding and application of specialty knowledge exam.
• Experience of managing end stage of non-malignant disease palliatively.
• Show aptitude for practical skills, required in the job. E.g. syringe pumps, venepuncture, catheterisation.
• Applicants' knowledge is up to date and is fit to practise safely.
• Current licence to practice held with the GMC.
• Meets professional health requirements (in line with GMC standards in Good Medical Practice).
• At least 3 years post graduate experience in relevant specialities.
• Either previous palliative care experience post-registration or previous community medicine experience such as GP work.
• Must hold full GMC registration and belong to a medical defence organisation.
• Full driving licence and a vehicle to use for home visits.
• Good IT literacy and a willingness to learn use of application related to the post e.g. EMIS.
• Ability to use Teams, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint and WhatsApp.
• Demonstrates excellent ability in written/spoken English communication and capacity to adapt language as appropriate to the situation.
• Capacity to listen and take in others' perspectives.
• Always considers patients' preferences when discussing treatment options.
• Always considers the full impact of clinical decisions on the patients. Practice shared decision making.
• Directs and supports patients to access the information they need to support decision making.
• Ability to use Excel.
• Professional integrity and respect for others: capacity to take responsibility for own actions and demonstrate a non-judgmental approach towards others. Displays honesty, integrity, awareness of confidentiality and ethical issues.
• Demonstrates interest in the specialty required for the job. Demonstrates a commitment to maintaining professional skills and knowledge relevant to the job. Demonstrates a willingness to fully engage in appraisal. Self-awareness and ability to accept and learn from feedback.
• Demonstrated experience working in a team, values the input of other professionals in the team.
• Capacity to work co-operatively with others and demonstrate leadership when appropriate. Experience of working effectively in multi-professional teams.
• Capacity to operate under pressure. Demonstrates initiative and resilience to cope with setbacks and adapt to rapidly changing circumstances.
• Capacity to use logical/lateral thinking to solve problems and make decisions.
• Capacity to organise oneself and prioritise own work. Demonstrates punctuality, preparation and self-discipline. Understands importance of information technology.
• Able to adapt and work with employers to deliver improved patient care.
• Promotes equality and values diversity.

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.