Job summaryWe are looking for an enthusiastic and flexible person to work within our existing medical team, gaining experience across all services within the hospice and our community as part of our providing outstanding personalised care to patients and their loved ones.Main duties of the jobYou will have completed a minimum of 12 years medical work (either continuous or aggregate) of which 6 years experience should have been spent working in palliative medicine.If you are committed to providing remarkable care, want to make a difference and are passionate about helping people with life limiting conditions and diseases then we want to hear from you.About usHospice in the Weald provides care across all settings to the population of Tunbridge Wells and surrounding areas of Kent and East Sussex. Services include a 15-bed ward at our Pembury site and a 10-bed ward at our Cottage Hospice in Five Ashes, medical and nurse led outpatient clinics, Living Well therapies, counselling and support services and a community palliative care team with Advanced Clinical Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, and Paramedic Specialists.Job descriptionJob responsibilitiesJob TitleSpecialist Doctor Palliative CareReports toPalliative Medical ConsultantLocationBased at the Hospice buildings in Pembury, Kent, or Five Ashes, East Sussex, with potential requirement to work at other locations within West Kent and East Sussex.Responsible for3 doctors out of Specialty Doctors, Associate Specialists, Specialty Registrar or Specialty Trainee (as agreed with Clinical Director).Scope & Job PurposeTo act as a Specialist Palliative Medicine resource to the Hospice multi- disciplinary team, the Hospice Outreach Service, the Hospital Palliative Care Team, as well as those in Primary Care across the catchment area. To work to ensure a proactive integrated model of palliative care service delivery to all patients within the catchment area.Key Responsibilities1. Deliverables/OutcomesTo act as a Specialist Palliative Medicine resource to the Hospice multi- disciplinary team as well as those in Primary Care across the catchment area.To be the medical lead for either the In-Patient Unit or Hospice Outreach Service as agreed with the Clinical Director and to provide medical input to the Living Well Service and Counselling and Support Services as required.To cross cover the other hospice consultant when absent, taking up their regular clinical commitments and meetings as appropriate.To clinically supervise the doctors in training, Specialty Doctors, ACPs and Associate Specialists in the Hospice, providing them with expertise and leadership and training around clinical decision making. To act as Clinical Supervisor and/or Educational Supervisor for the doctors in training as appropriate.2. Management and LeadershipTo liaise with managers of the appropriate services, looking at performance outcomes and ensuring excellent documentation and evaluation of services.To line manage hospice specialty doctors and associate specialists, meeting with them regularly and undertaking their annual PDRs, setting their objectives and job plans.To participate in the Clinical Management Team, helping to represent the medical team and disseminate information back to the team.To be the chair for the Clinical Medicines Optimisation working group, feeding into Clinical Safety subgroup and to contribute to the requirements of Clinical Governance within the Hospice.To ensure effective working relationships with those agencies concerned with the provision of health and social care services and those representing the interests of patients.To attend external working parties as appropriate to contribute to the development of Palliative Medicine in the wider context.To continue to develop Specialist Palliative Care clinical provision in line with local priorities and the discerned needs of the catchment population.3. Communications and TeamworkTo strive to achieve excellent verbal and written communication with patients, carers, staff, and volunteers within and outside the organisation.To be a co-operative and supportive member of the hospice workforce ensuring that the line manager is aware of any issues in the workload which may affect other members of the hospice team.To maintain confidentiality of all information acquired, including that of patients, carers, staff and volunteers.To respect and guide all volunteers and to develop effective working relationships including, when requested, providing regular feedback on their performance.4. Audit and ResearchTo participate in clinical and other service audits and developments with the aim of ensuring a high standard of patient care and to encourage and support other staff undertaking audits.To contribute to the development of policies and clinical guidelines within the organisation, using an evidence-based approach.To act as Principal Investigator when appropriate and ensure excellent documentation for research files.To actively contribute to the Trusts Education and Clinical Governance programme alongside the current consultant.5. Training and DevelopmentTo play a key role in the delivery of teaching in palliative medicine to healthcare professionals served by the hospice and within the acute trustTo share the responsibility of post-graduate training and clinical supervision of the specialty and training doctors working at the hospiceTo be involved with the placement of medical students at the hospice and to coordinate and evaluate their teaching.A proactive interest in life-long learning is expected along with engagement in continuing professional development.To undertake an annual appraisal both at the hospice and at MTW NHS Trust and through self-development, continuously update and improve knowledge and competencies. To be proactive in undertaking any additional activities required to be revalidated.6. GeneralTo ensure compliance with the General Medical Councils published guide Good Medical Practice including the Duties of a Doctor.Maintain professionalism through adherence to recognized Code GMC and work within the boundaries of Hospice in the Weald policies.Maintain personal development through the Hospice Personal Development Plan. Continuously updating and improving knowledge and competencies.Engage in the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in the area you are working and achieve the required level of competence.Any other duties that may be reasonably requested.Recognise the growing need for 24/7 working patterns and flexibility.Always strive for excellence.Person SpecificationSkillsEssentialExcellent communication and interpersonal skillsComputer LiteracyDesirableManagement skills.Leadership skillsBasic Ultrasound skillsProject Management SkillsPersonal AttributesEssentialAbility to work under pressure.Strong team playerEnthusiastic and motivatedCommitted to striving for Excellence.Ability to reflect on own practiceDesirableAwareness of own limitationsQualificationsEssentialFull registration with the GMCCompleted a minimum of 12 years medical work (either continuous period or aggregate) since obtaining a primary medical qualification, of which a minimum of 6 years should have been in palliative careMeets the criteria set out in the generic capabilities framework for the Specialist grade developed by AoMRC, BMA, and NHS Employers.DesirableFurther postgraduate qualification, e.g. MSc, MAFormal training in teaching techniquesExperienceEssentialAt least 6 years palliative care experience and breadth of awareness of palliative care issuesKnowledge of evidence-based practiceDemonstrates knowledge of oncological and hematological malignancy and non-cancer life limiting conditionsExperience of teaching in a multidisciplinary settingKnowledge of research methodology and experience of conducting research in palliative careDesirableExperience of committee workDisclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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.UK RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).Employer detailsEmployer nameHospice in the WealdAddressMaidstone RoadPemburyTunbridge WellsKentTN2 4TAEmployer's websitehttps://www.hospiceintheweald.org.uk (Opens in a new tab)