Consultant in Palliative Medicine in Peterborough

This post provides an exciting opportunity to continue, and to build upon, the work of the previous postholder in leading and developing our well-established North West Anglia Foundation Trust (NWAFT) team in the provision of specialist palliative care across the Huntingdon and Peterborough areas, part of the Central East ICB. The postholder will be part of a team of four palliative medicine consultants, who cover the two acute hospital sites, Thorpe Hall Hospice in Peterborough, the surrounding community in patients’ homes and the community hospital in Stamford, and whom, together with the lead nurse and services manager, drive service development and enhance patient care in a supportive and forward-thinking environment.

Main duties of the job

A full description of duties and responsibilities can be found in the Job description. In brief this role is to support the deliver of high quality palliative care both within the hospital and community settings, supporting teaching and overseeing governance of the delivery of specialist Palliative care to patients in our region

Working for our organisation

North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust is a large, complex organisation serving a diverse population across multiple sites. We are committed to delivering high quality, safe and effective care, with a strong focus on continuous improvement and clinical leadership.

You will be joining a supportive and collaborative senior leadership community, working closely with clinical and corporate colleagues to address key priorities and challenges. This role offers a unique opportunity to make a rapid, visible difference at a critical time, improving care, strengthening standards, and embedding a positive, accountable culture.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical/Managerial/Strategic

• To be an active member of the NWAFT Specialist Palliative Care Service and help deliver the departmental mission of excellence in clinical care and teaching and participate in developing and establishing models of delivering specialist palliative care advice
• To provide clinical care for patients who have been referred to the specialist palliative care service, including inpatients and outpatients, providing specialist advice and a referral service for other clinicians in the Trust
• To lead on specialist palliative care provision in the community area surrounding Hinchingbrooke Hospital alongside consultant colleagues and provide specialist palliative care advice and input to the community when appropriate
• To participate in the consultant on-call rota and provide cover for colleagues in time of absence and leave when required
• To undertake administrative duties associated with the care of patients in their charge and the running of their clinics or departments
• To provide clinical leadership in specialist palliative and end of life care within NWAFT
• To liaise effectively and on a timely basis with general practitioners, community services and all health care agencies
• To lead specialist palliative care multidisciplinary team meetings and share in attendance at other cancer and relevant non-cancer MDMs
• To contribute to locality, network and national workforce streams
• To participate in the activities of the service by attending service meetings, and other team meetings and by contributing to the development of an ethos of effective and efficient management of resources and performance
• To undertake the appropriate management responsibilities and be aware of individual responsibilities in accordance with the Trust’s Health and Safety policy and report as necessary any accident or potentially hazardous environment

Teaching

• To be involved with the education of all members of the multi professional team both formally and informally including undergraduates
• To undertake professional supervision and management of junior staff

Clinical Governance

• To have regard at all times to the clinical and quality standards set out in the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance reports
• To participate in the Trust’s clinical governance activities, and to encourage and foster improvements in the quality and standards of clinical services
• To be responsible for clinical audit activities, and participate in relevant national and local audit programmes
• To have responsibility for ensuring that serious untoward incidents, incidents and near misses are appropriately reported into the Trust’s risk management systems
• To handle patient and user complaints as requested and to work with the Trust’s complaints department in ensuring timely responses for complainants

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

• MRCP/MRCGP/FRCR/FRCA or equivalent
• Fully registered with the GMC
• CCT (or equivalent for non-UK applicants of equivalent status), or be accredited (or equivalent), and be on the GMC Specialist Register in Palliative Medicine at the time of taking up the consultant appointment. Alternative, candidates can hold or be within 6 months of their CCT at interview
• Higher Degree (e.g.MA, MSc, PhD, MD)

Clinical Experience

• Expertise in full range of Palliative Medicine conditions
• Ability to lead a multi-professional team and take full and independent responsibility for clinical care of patients
• Ability to provide expert palliative care advice and support to other healthcare professionals in the hospice, hospital and community settings
• Understanding and experience of all aspects of Clinical Governance

Audit/Management/IT

• Experience of audit and management
• Evidence can manage priorities
• Evidence of management/leadership skills training

Teaching and Research

• Ability to teach clinical skills to trainees and multidisciplinary teams
• Experience of research and ability to appraise research critically and to apply research outcomes to clinical problems
• Publications in peer reviewed journals
• Evidence of formal teaching qualifications

Personal attributes

• Ability to work in partnership to deliver a patient centred service
• Caring and empathetic attitude to patients
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients, relatives, GPs, hospital staff and other agencies
• Ability to undertake travel requirements of post

Disclosure & Barring Check Fee

Where your role requires a DBS check, the Trust will pay the fee upfront and reclaim the cost (including a £5 admin fee) from your first month’s salary. Volunteers are exempt.

Our Values – At the heart of all we do
We recruit not just for skills but for behaviours aligned with our core values: dedication, care, courage, and innovation. Show us how you live these values in your application and interview.

Early closure notice

We may close this advert early if we receive enough applications—please apply without delay.

International Applicants & Sponsorship
Applications from candidates requiring UK sponsorship are welcome where the role is eligible for sponsorship under current UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) rules.

Please note that not all roles will meet the eligibility requirements for Skilled Worker sponsorship. Eligibility is determined by factors including occupation code, skill level and salary thresholds in line with UKVI guidance.

Most non-UK/Republic of Ireland nationals require a visa to work in the UK. Candidates are encouraged to review current visa requirements and eligibility before applying:
Check UK visa eligibility

If applying from overseas, you may also be required to provide a criminal record certificate for any country in which you have lived for 12 months or more during the past 10 years.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Jane Carpenter Job title Palliative and End of Life Lead Nurse Email address jane.carpenter2@nhs.net Additional information

Also available to contact for further information are,

Bev Williams - Service Manager for cancer services - bev.williams11@nhs.net, Dr Richard Partridge - Consultant in Palliative Medicine - richardpartridge@nhs.net Dr Reema Pal - Consultant in Palliative Medicine -reema.pal3@nhs.net