Consultant in Palliative Medicine in Dorchester

Expert Clinical Practice

• Make complex clinical decisions and provide senior medical leadership in situations of uncertainty, including prognosis, treatment escalation and end-of-life decision-making.
• Undertake complex and sensitive holistic care assessments and plan, implement and evaluate care utilising advanced communication skills.
• Ensure accurate and timely clinical documentation in line with organisational requirements.
• Identify areas for improvement and development which will enhance the palliative care provision for patients and carers.
• Work with the other clinical leads within the hospice in undertaking service improvements as identified.
• Provide clinical leadership for the Medical and ANP Team in the absence of the Lead Consultant.
• Actively promote and develop evidence based clinical practice.
• Help to create a culture that is respectful, fair, supportive, and compassionate by role modelling behaviours consistent with these values.
• Undertake consultant rounds and attend MDT Meetings.
• Provide IPU cover when others are on AL/sick etc if a suitable locum cannot be arranged.
• Provision of outpatient clinics when appropriate at Weldmar Hospicecare IPU.
• Undertake domiciliary visits for advice and assessments.
• On call commitment – the post holder will be part of the on-call rota providing support to those cared for by Weldmar Hospicecare and providing specialist palliative care advice to other healthcare professionals in the catchment area.
• Assist with the recruitment of new doctors and senior nurse posts.
• You will initially be the Deputy Caldicott Guardian for Weldmar.
• Participate in annual appraisal, revalidation and continuing professional development in line with GMC requirements.
• Act as Clinical Supervisor for GP trainees.
• Contribute to the Patient Services Risk Register.

Leadership and Strategy

• Provide clinical leadership in partnership with the Director of Clinical Services and the Lead Consultant around service developments, clinical governance and review of policies and procedures.
• Take an active role in the planning, development, and delivery of organisational strategy and services to achieve service objectives and continuous improvement of wider specialist palliative care services.
• Provide professional leadership, vision and direction for the medical and ANP team.
• Ensure performance management arrangements are in place for the medical team that adhere to Weldmar standards and policies.
• Directly line manage junior members of the medical/ANP team.
• Ensure medical trainees on placement at the IPU receive appropriate support and supervision.
• Contribute to the leadership of clinical audit and research activity within the hospice, including identifying priorities, contributing to delivery where appropriate, and ensuring findings are used to improve patient care.
• Support a culture of enquiry and evidence-based practice within the clinical team.
• Attend the Clinical Leadership Group in the absence of the Lead Consultant.
• Contribute to the review and authorship of clinical policies.
• Maintain close working links with Supportive Care UK for the provision of second on call support when required.

Teaching & Education

• Be competent in delivering education and training sessions at all levels for a variety of stakeholders, patients and their carers.
• With the Learning & Development team, identify training needs of the clinical teams and participate in the wider hospice education programme.
• Participate in the development of clinical standards within the total quality audit framework of the Hospice and undertake clinical audit activity as required.
• Support the ongoing professional development of the ANPs and the development of the trainee ANP.
• Provide teaching to GP trainees, medical students, doctors and other healthcare workers on placement at Weldmar.