Senior Clinical Fellow in Neonates with special interest in POCUS

Job overview

Service is one of the largest in the UK, comprising two units: a Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospital and a Level 2 Local Neonatal Unit at St Mary’s Hospital. We are the regional centre for therapeutic hypothermia for Northwest London and provide specialist clinical and research services in neonatal and perinatal neurology, cardiology, haematology, respiratory care and nutrition.

Our teams work closely with the Centre for Paediatrics and Child Health, Imperial College. SHOs and Registrars work a full‑shift rota compliant with the New Deal, EWTD and the junior doctors’ contract.

Main duties of the job

This post will provide training with high standards for an individual wishing to gain experience in Neonatal Intensive Care. The neonatal SHOs and Registrars work to a full shift rota, which is compliant with New Deal, European Working Time Directive and new junior doctors’ contract. We actively support continuing personal and professional development through an established online and virtual courses, in‑service training and external courses. There are also opportunities to undertake formal postgraduate study. If you are dedicated to contributing to a team delivering excellence in neonatal care and serious about pursuing a rewarding career, the neonatal department at Imperial is definitely the place for you. Take the opportunity to be part of our dedicated team where innovation and the desire to make a difference is the key.

Working for our organisation

At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care. Become part of a vibrant team living our values – expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You’ll get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career. Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.

The statutory requirement to be fully Covid-19 vaccinated as a condition of employment from April 2022 is subject to legislative review. At Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, we strongly encourage and support vaccination uptake as this remains the best line of defence against COVID19. The successful applicant may have contact with patients and service users and as part of our pre‑employment checks and risk assessments, we will ask all candidates to confirm whether or not they have been fully vaccinated or have a medical exemption.

As part of our continued response to Covid19 we are still conducting the majority of our interviews virtually.

We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part‑time or job share. Please talk to us at interview.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will be expected to participate in the delivery of a high standard of care to all newborn babies within the hospital. This will include work on postnatal and labour wards and the neonatal unit. You will be encouraged to maximize your potential to acquire skills, both clinical and technical. You will be expected to work well within the multidisciplinary environment to ensure the delivery of high quality care.

You are expected to clerk patients, arrange and collate investigations, write notes and generate discharge summaries for each baby before they leave the unit. You will attend high risk deliveries including emergencies. You will attend regular ward rounds, help in formulating management plans, and carry out practical procedures and finish ward work. All of these duties will be under the support and under supervision of the attending consultants

You will be invited to attend Unit meetings and the Clinical Management Group; motivated Junior Doctors are able to participate in the development of protocols, guidelines and teaching packages.

There is an active teaching programme including simulation, neurology teaching, echocardiography, grand rounds and monthly neonatal study afternoons that are aligned to the neonatal training curriculum.

Doctors are expected to provide cover for colleagues in the event of illness or unexpected absence until such time as a locum can be obtained.

Essential Competencies and Skills

Neonatology

• Strong clinical skills in neonatal intensive care including management of extremely preterm infants, neonatal resuscitation, respiratory support, nutritional management, and neonatal emergencies.
• Experience in the management of neonatal neurology, cardiology, infectious diseases, and nutrition.
• Competence in practical neonatal procedures such as intubation, umbilical line insertion, and lumbar puncture.

POCUS (Point of Care Ultrasound)

• Ability to acquire and optimize ultrasound images of neonatal cardiac anatomy and function, central vascular line placement, and lung ultrasound. Ability to recognize normal and abnormal sonographic findings relevant to neonatal pathology as related to above
• Capable of interpreting these results to provide a clinical impact on patient management collaboratively with neonatology and cardiology specialists.
• Documentation and reporting of these findings accurately in clinical records.
• Adherence to infection control and equipment safety protocols related to ultrasound use.
• Commitment to ongoing development of ultrasound skills through clinical practice, formal training courses, and assessments.
• Maintain an ultrasound logbook demonstrating competency through supervised scans in cardiac, lung and line assessment.
• Ability to deliver teaching and training to colleagues in this area.

Qualifications and Experience

• Medical qualification with full GMC registration and license to practice.
• MRCPCH or equivalent postgraduate qualification.
• Recent and relevant experience in Level III neonatal units.
• Demonstrated experience or formal in neonatal POCUS or willingness to develop this skill early in the post.
• Evidence of contribution to audit, research, and clinical governance.

Working Conditions

• Full shift rota compliant with the European Working Time Directive and Junior Doctors Contract.

Person specification

Education & Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Medical qualification with full GMC registration and license to practice.
• MRCPCH or equivalent postgraduate qualification.
• Recent and relevant experience in Level III neonatal units.
• Demonstrated experience or formal training in neonatal POCUS or willingness to develop this skill early in the post
• Evidence of contribution to audit, research, and clinical governance.

Neonatology

Essential criteria

• Strong clinical skills in neonatal intensive care including management of extremely preterm infants, neonatal resuscitation, respiratory support, nutritional management, and neonatal emergencies.
• Experience in the management of neonatal neurology, cardiology, infectious diseases, and nutrition
• Competence in practical neonatal procedures such as intubation, umbilical line insertion, and lumbar puncture.

Aptitudes & Personal Characteristics

Essential criteria

• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Good time management skills
• Enthusiastic
• Knows own limits and seeks help at appropriate times
• Demonstrable evidence of being able and willing to understand our Trust values

Knowledge and Ability

Essential criteria

• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Commitment to multidisciplinary team working and education.
• Professionalism with clinical and ethical awareness.
• Time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to work under pressure in a busy clinical environment.

POCUS (Point of Care Ultrasound)

Essential criteria

• Ability to acquire and optimize ultrasound images of neonatal cardiac anatomy and function, central vascular line placement, and lung ultrasound. Ability to recognize normal and abnormal sonographic findings relevant to neonatal pathology as related to above
• Capable of interpreting these results to provide a clinical impact on patient management collaboratively with neonatology and cardiology specialists.
• Documentation and reporting of these findings accurately in clinical records.
• Adherence to infection control and equipment safety protocols related to ultrasound use.
• Commitment to ongoing development of ultrasound skills through clinical practice, formal training courses, and assessments.
• Maintain an ultrasound logbook demonstrating competency through supervised scans in cardiac, lung and line assessment.
• Ability to deliver teaching and training to colleagues in this area.

Physical Requirements

Essential criteria

• Health clearance by occupational health
• Able to undertake out of hours and night duties and work flexibly

Right to work

If you need sponsorship to work in the UK, please visit the Home Office website for information on sponsorship and visa status before you fill in your application form. Due to recent changes in the UK immigration rules which affect Skilled Worker Visas, Global Business Mobility, Higher Skill Level and Increased Salary Thresholds, please ensure that you are able to meet the requirements to live and work in the UK before applying. Further information about eligibility is available on

Please ensure you check your emails regularly as this is how we will communicate with you throughout the recruitment process. If you are shortlisted you will be contacted by email and text message (if you provide a mobile contact number).

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