Locum Consultant in Palliative Medicine

12 month fixed contract - Permanent position also available

Weldmar Hospicecare is seeking a Locum Consultant inPalliative Medicine to join our established, compassionate and forward-thinkingteam. This is an opportunity to practise high-quality, patient-centred care inan environment where time, continuity of care and multidisciplinary working aregenuinely valued.

Set in beautiful Dorset, with its stunning JurassicCoast, picturesque villages and vibrant local towns, Weldmar offers an exceptionalplace to live and work. The role is primarily based at our 12-bedded InpatientUnit, caring for patients with complex palliative care needs. You will alsoprovide specialist medical support to our Specialist Hospice at Home teams,delivering care to patients in the community.

Main duties of the job

You will:

• Provide senior clinical leadership within the inpatient unit
• Deliver expert symptom control and holistic care for patients and those important to them
• Support and develop the wider multidisciplinary team
• Participate in clinical governance, education and service improvement.
• Work collaboratively across hospice, community and hospital interfaces

About us

Weldmar Hospicecare provides specialist care foradults in Dorset who have a life limiting illness, and support for their lovedones. We are dedicated to fostering a culture of equality, diversity, andinclusion across all aspects of our organisation.

Job responsibilities

ExpertClinical Practice

Make complex clinical decisions and provide senior medical leadership insituations of uncertainty, including prognosis, treatment escalation andend-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 withorganisational requirements.

Identify areas for improvement and development which will enhance thepalliative care provision for patients and carers.

Work with the other clinical leads within the hospice in undertakingservice improvements as identified.

Provideclinical leadership for the Medical and ANP Team in the absence of the LeadConsultant.

Activelypromote and develop evidence based clinical practice.

Help to create a culture thatis respectful, fair, supportive, and compassionate by role modelling behavioursconsistent with these values.

Undertakeconsultant rounds and attend MDT Meetings.

Provision of outpatient clinics whenappropriate at Weldmar Hospicecare IPU.

Undertakedomiciliary visits for advice and assessments.

Oncall commitment the post holder will be part of the on-call rota providingsupport to those cared for by Weldmar Hospicecare and providing specialistpalliative care advice to other healthcare professionals in the catchment area.

Assistwith the recruitment of new doctors and senior nurse posts.

Youwill initially be the Deputy Caldicott Guardian for Weldmar.

Participatein annual appraisal, revalidation and continuing professional development inline with GMC requirements.

Actas Clinical Supervisor for GP trainees.

Contributeto the Patient Services Risk Register.

Leadership and Strategy

Provide clinical leadership in partnership with the Director ofClinical Services and the Lead Consultant around service developments, clinicalgovernance and review of policies and procedures.

Take an active role in the planning, development, and delivery oforganisational strategy and services to achieve service objectives andcontinuous improvement of wider specialist palliative care services.

Provide professional leadership, vision and direction for the medicaland ANP team.

Contribute to the effective management, supervision and professionaldevelopment of the medical/ANP team.

Ensure medical trainees on placement at the IPU receive appropriatesupport and supervision.

Contribute to the leadership of clinicalaudit and research activity within the hospice, including identifyingpriorities, contributing to delivery where appropriate, and ensuring findingsare used to improve patient care. Support a culture of enquiry andevidence-based practice within the clinical team.

Attend the Clinical Leadership Group in theabsence of the Lead Consultant.

Contribute to the review and authorship ofclinical policies

Maintainclose working links with Supportive Care UK for the provision of second on callsupport when required.

Teaching & Education

Be competent indelivering education and training sessions at all levels for a variety ofstakeholders, patients and their carers.

With the Learning& Development team, identify training needs of the clinical teams andparticipate in the wider hospice education programme.

Participate in thedevelopment of clinical standards within the total quality audit framework ofthe Hospice and undertake clinical audit activity as required.

Support the ongoing professional developmentof the ANPs and the development of the trainee ANP.

Provide teaching to GP trainees, medicalstudents, doctors and other healthcare workers on placement at Weldmar.

Person Specification

Experience

• Significant experience in Palliative Medicine.
• Proven leadership experience.
• Experience of working in and relating to the complex and political external environment of health and social care.
• Experience in being on call and providing specialist palliative care telephone advice out of hours at senior level.
• Experience of working within a multi-professional team.
• Significant experience of effectively managing patients with complex physical, psychological and social needs.
• Experience of teaching in a variety of settings and to different trainees, and be willing to teach others as part of the role.

Qualifications

• Full GMC registration, have a higher postgraduate qualification e.g. MRCP/MRCGP, and be entered on the GMC specialist register in Palliative Medicine
• Be on GMC Specialist Register in Palliative Medicine or due to complete Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training within 6 months.
• Understanding of clinical governance structures and audit processes.
• Excellent understanding of communication skills to both patients and colleagues, as well as principles of clinical leadership.

Skills and Abilities

• Highly advanced communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to gain confidence and trust.
• Commitment to the development others, with the ability to influence and motivate.
• Excellent team working skills, including ability to work effectively with a diverse range of colleagues / individuals involved in palliative care service delivery and demonstrate positive outcomes for patients.
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team and being a good team player is essential.
• Ability to think creatively and contribute to strategic development.
• Ability to plan and develop services in collaboration with other agencies.
• Ability to work autonomously, cope under pressure and to recognise and deal with stress in self and others.
• Forward thinking and able to engage and motivate others in leading, managing and responding to change.
• Able to translate national policy into local practice and understand its impact.
• Able to influence local health and social care and maintain Weldmars reputation as a key player.
• Awareness of own limitations.
• Ability to respond to change.
• Understanding of and adherence to the principles of Good Medical Practice set out by the General Medical Council.

Other Requirements

• An Enhanced plus Adult barred list Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check: which will disclose any spent and unspent convictions and cautions (subject to filtering), as well as any relevant police information plus a check of the relevant Barred List/s. It may disclose other information that the police consider is relevant to the role and level of check applied for.
• Commitment to the values and ethos of Weldmar Hospicecare.
• Act as an advocate and ambassador for the Charity.
• Commitment to and understanding of equality and diversity and how this translates into good practice.
• Understands and conforms to Weldmar Hospicecare infection prevention and health and safety policies and actively promotes best practice at all times.
• Commitment to own continued personal development.
• Ability to travel which requires a full valid driving licence and business insurance (if applicable).

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

Depending on experienceNHS Consultant Grade