Locum Consultant Geriatrician in Swansea

We are seeking to recruit a new dynamic Locum Consultant General Physician with an interest in Geriatric Medicine who is committed to improving the care of older people in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot. Within Swansea Bay University Health Board, we are transforming the acute medical service in Morriston Hospital. There has been considerable investment in recent years in our acute services, including the creation of a £3.5 million purpose-built acute medical unit in 2022 and the plan for a £7m new acute frailty unit and referrals hub to open in Autumn 2024, with the initiation of a frailty specific intake.

We are looking for enthusiastic colleagues who will join a team of Consultants and specialist doctors in developing and delivering geriatric medical care provision. There is a clear commitment in Swansea Bay to create excellent, well-resourced geriatric services and the successful applicants will lead and strengthen our model of care as we continue to improve, innovate and refine our clinical model. All candidates have the opportunity to develop a relevant special interest. Applicants with an interest in interface and community frailty medicine are especially welcomed. Contribution to the department's strong record in undergraduate and postgraduate training, quality improvement work and research is encouraged. We are supportive of flexible working arrangements and will consider annualised hours job plans, part-time working or alternative shift pattern working.

Main duties of the job

The posts will have clinical responsibilities, supported by junior doctors, for the care of acutely unwell older people living with frailty in a variety of settings depending upon the individual posts and the interests of the post-holders. The post holder will participate in a frailty specific intake that is currently being developed with an aim to launch by autumn 2024. Patients will be received through a single point of access integrated hub and co-located frailty unit. The successful candidate will share responsibility with the existing consultants to deliver the acute frailty service. On a rotational basis, the post holder will lead the frailty specific intake and SDEC specific frailty service (OPAS) leading a multidisciplinary team assessing older people admitted to the Acute Frailty Unit and caring for patients based on the acute frailty short stay unit. The post holder will also participate in running the single point of access integrated hub, overseeing and directing community services to avoid medical admission where possible. There will be the expectation that there will be a component of community liaison work built into the job plan.

About us

Swansea Bay University Health Board has responsibility for the health of around 390,000 people in the Neath Port Talbot and Swansea areas, with a budget of around £1 billion and employing 12,500 people. We are a University Health Board working in partnership with Swansea University, Swansea School of Medicine, the School of Health Science and the Institute of Life Science. The HB has three major hospitals providing a range of services: Morriston and Singleton hospitals in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot hospital in Baglan, Port Talbot. The Health Board is part of A Regional Collaboration for Health (ARCH), which is a partnership with Hywel Dda UHB and Swansea University, aimed at improving the wellbeing and wealth of South West Wales.

Swansea is Wales' second-largest city, and sits on the five-mile sweep of Swansea Bay. An ideal base for exploring South-West Wales, there is also much on offer for visitors in Swansea itself. Swansea has a range of shops, cosy cafes, great restaurants, art galleries as well as being able to offer good outdoor lifestyle with its beautiful coastline and beaches on the Gower Peninsula. Swansea also has excellent sporting facilities including the Wales National pool and Liberty Stadium home to the Ospreys and Swansea City football club.

Job responsibilities

You will provide a clinical service, with colleagues, which will include the responsibility for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness. Working with consultant colleagues and the multi-professional team you will have continuing responsibility for the well-being of all patients under your care, allowing for proper delegation to and training of staff. In partnership with clinical and managerial colleagues, you will also have responsibility for the safe, efficient and effective functioning of the services in which you work in line with the values, operational policies and integrated medium term plan (IMTP) of the Health Board. You are encouraged to consider how services can be improved and to report any concerns about safety.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Essential: Registered with the GMC, Licensed to practice, On Specialist Register with GMC as a specialist in Geriatric Medicine and general internal medicine or eligible for CCT within 6 months of date of interview and have passed exit exam or a statement of eligibility for registration issued by GMC or a primary medical qualification and recognized specialist qualification from a European Member State which will allow direct entry to the GMC Specialist Register, MRCP or equivalent.
• Desirable: Relevant higher degree e.g. PhD, MD, MSc, Teaching qualification/Higher qualification in medical education.

Experience

• Essential: Evidence of an ability to develop effective working relationships, on an individual and multi-disciplinary basis with all levels of staff, Evidence of working with management and clinical colleagues to improve a service, Values partnership with other agencies, Evidence of teaching and training of post/undergraduate clinical staff, Evidence of initiating, progressing and completing audit.
• Desirable: Development and commissioning of services, Experience of research in geriatric medicine/general internal medicine.

Skills

• Essential: Effective leadership; ability to take responsibility and demonstrate leadership when appropriate, Understands the importance of effective Team Working with all levels of staff, Understands and can apply the principles of Prudent Healthcare, Excellent interpersonal skills - ability to communicate effectively (written and verbal) with patients, colleagues, relatives and staff; communicate openly and honestly and explain things clearly, Understands information systems and technology, Clinical skills in general and geriatric medicine.
• Desirable: Demonstrates learning in Improvement science and methodology, ability and drive to use information and experience to improve the service.

Personal Attributes

• Essential: Flexible and adaptable to competing demands with the ability to work effectively under pressure and cope with setbacks, Ability to undertake on-call, A commitment to continuous improvement, with a positive attitude, seeks out learning, and continually develops skills and the service, Enthusiasm to take a lead role in clinical development, Empathy and sensitivity: ability to listen, understand and involve people; see people as individuals.