Specialty Doctor In Palliative Medicine

This is an excellent opportunity for a doctor with experience in palliative medicine who is looking to take the next step in their career, combining hands-on clinical work with opportunities to develop leadership, teaching and service development experience. The post holder will be based predominantly within the inpatient unit and will participate in the hospice first on call rota. We are offering a full-time substantive post within a supportive multidisciplinary team.

The specialty doctor is an experienced member of the medical team who works closely with consultants to deliver high-quality palliative care across hospice services. Alongside direct patient care, the post holder will support the development of resident doctors and medical students, contribute to quality improvement and service development initiatives, and undertake agreed administrative and operational responsibilities within the department.

Main Duties of the Job

• Provide day-to-day clinical support and guidance to resident doctors, clinical fellows, and medical students
• Contribute to multidisciplinary clinical decision-making and support collaborative working across professional groups
• Assess new admissions to the hospice, including holistic assessment of physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs
• Develop initial management plans covering symptom control, advance care planning, and treatment escalation decisions
• Participate in consultant ward rounds, multidisciplinary team meetings, and other clinical discussions relating to patient care
• Communicate proactively with patients, families, and carers, providing appropriate information and support
• Liaise effectively with professionals and organisations involved in patient care to ensure continuity of care
• Ensure timely completion of clinical documentation, including medical correspondence and discharge summaries

Community Palliative Care Duties and Responsibilities

• Reviewing community patients and providing advice to community team Clinical Nurse Specialists
• Undertaking home visits, video calls, and providing telephone contact and advice to patients and their families
• Working closely alongside the primary healthcare team to ensure good co-ordination of care and effective communication
• Use of the multi-lingual advocacy service to undertake joint visits or telephone contacts

Out-of-Hours / On-Call Duties and Responsibilities

• The on-call component of this role comprises a full on-call rota working 1 in 5 weekdays and 1 in 4 single weekend days
• Participation in the hospice first on-call rota, providing out-of-hours cover for the hospice inpatient unit and community palliative care team
• Must be available to attend the hospice within 60 minutes during all non-resident on-call periods

Non-Clinical Duties / Education, Training & Support

• Teaching and supervision of medical students, and supporting the learning and development of resident doctors and clinical fellows
• Contribute to induction and orientation programmes for rotating resident doctors
• Large group teaching to year 3 and 5 Barts, The Royal London and Queen Mary's Hospitals Medical School students, GPs, DNs, and multi-disciplinary groups
• Undertaking of clinical audit and quality improvement projects
• Supervision of audit projects undertaken by other St Joseph's Hospice staff

Benefits

• 27 days holiday plus public holidays, increasing up to 33 days with service
• Subsidised cafe and early access to retail sale events
• Season ticket loans
• Continuation of NHS Pension Scheme or an excellent salary-exchange pension scheme
• Santander cycles discount and cycle to work scheme
• Health Cash Plan and access to the EAP services