Clinical Fellow in Neurosurgery

We invite applications for the post of Senior Clinical Fellow in Neurovascular Neurosurgery, at The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, in the Department of Neurosurgery.

This RCS-approved, senior clinical fellowship position is suitable for Neurosurgical trainees who are at the end of their training ie at CCT or peri-CCT level. Candidates should have successfully completed the FRCS examination in Neurosurgery. This post is not suitable for more junior applicants.

We seek a dynamic individual, capable of meeting the considerable demands of this fellowship post, working in this complex and demanding subspecialty of neurosurgery.

The department of Neurosurgery in Leeds is proud to offer a world-class vascular neurosurgical MDT service. The service is consultant-led and delivered through a dedicated sub-specialty MDT service and is supported by a dedicated sub-specialty Neurovascular Consultant on call.

The Fellowship is designed for Neurosurgical clinicians towards at end of their training and will provide all aspects of sub-specialty training in Neurovascular microsurgery, in preparation for a consultant role sub-specialising in this challenging field.

The Neurosurgical Vascular Fellowship post will include a thorough grounding in the clinical management, investigation and surgical/radiological techniques for optimally managing adult patients with all forms of neurovascular surgical diseases.

This post is fixed term for 1 year and will commence from August 2025.

This Neurovascular Fellowship post is recognised by the Royal College of Surgeons, as part of the Senior Clinical Fellow Scheme.

The fellowship is designed for Neurosurgical clinicians at the end of training to provide all aspects of subspecialty training in Vascular Neurosurgery and thus prepare for a consultant role subspecialising in this field. Several previous fellows are now working as consultants with a specialist neurovascular interest.

The fellow will be fully immersed in the Neurovascular service. This will include a thorough grounding in the clinical management, investigation and surgical techniques for optimally managing all varieties of vascular lesions.

There are further opportunities to develop a research interest and also to attend neurovascular radiology theatres.

This post is not suitable for more junior applicants, who are not yet at a CCT or peri-CCT standard.

The post is structured such that the training will be planned and delivered over a 12-month period and is therefore not suitable for trainees looking for a briefer fellowship placement.

The Fellow will gain independent competencies in dealing with acute and elective intra-cranial aneurysms, AVMs, cavernomas and dural AV Fistulae.

The Fellow will attend specialist clinics and the Multidisciplinary meeting to gain a thorough understanding of the management of vascular lesions.

The Department of Neurosurgery provides a comprehensive neurosurgical service to the 2.5 million people of West and North Yorkshire. The Neurosurgical Department is housed within the Jubilee Wing of the General Infirmary at Leeds.

The centralised Neurosurgical Department has approximately 84 adult ward beds across three wards, with an additional 7-bedded, dedicated Neuro-intensive Care Unit as well as a 7-bedded dedicated High Dependency Unit. There are four adult operating theatres, including one dedicated to emergency surgery 24 hours per day. There are separate beds, operating theatres and intensive care facilities for Paediatric Neurosurgery.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

We invite applications for the post of Senior Clinical Fellow in Neurovascular Neurosurgery, at The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, in the Department of Neurosurgery.

This RCS-approved, senior clinical fellowship position is suitable for Neurosurgical trainees who are at the end of their training ie at CCT or peri-CCT level. Candidates should have successfully completed the FRCS examination in Neurosurgery. This post is not suitable for more junior applicants.

We seek a dynamic individual, capable of meeting the considerable demands of this fellowship post, working in this complex and demanding subspecialty of neurosurgery.

The department of Neurosurgery in Leeds is proud to offer a world-class vascular neurosurgical MDT service. The service is consultant-led and delivered through a dedicated sub-specialty MDT service and is supported by a dedicated sub-specialty Neurovascular Consultant on call.

The Fellowship is designed for Neurosurgical clinicians towards at end of their training and will provide all aspects of sub-specialty training in Neurovascular microsurgery, in preparation for a consultant role sub-specialising in this challenging field.

The Neurosurgical Vascular Fellowship post will include a thorough grounding in the clinical management, investigation and surgical/radiological techniques for optimally managing adult patients with all forms of neurovascular surgical diseases.

Leeds General Infirmary operates a strong, collaborative MDT-based approach to Neurovascular disease with close and collaborative links to the Interventional Neuro-Radiology Department. There are significant further opportunities to develop research projects. Close teamwork with the neuro-radiologists, researchers and the Clinical Nurse Specialist team is expected. The Fellow will gain independent competencies in managing adult patients presenting with aneurysms (acute and elective), cavernoma and AVM.

The successful applicant will also be expected to contribute towards the Departmental Neurosurgical On-Call Service, at a registrar level.

Consideration will be given to applicants who wish to work full- or part time and those wishing to job share.

If shortlisted, candidates will be required to give a 10-minute presentation on:

How should an evidence-based neurovascular department practice?

• Communication Skills:
• Demonstrates clarity in written/spoken communication & capacity to adapt language as appropriate to the situation
• Able to build rapport, listen, persuade & negotiate
• Problem Solving & Decision Making:
• Capacity to use logical/lateral thinking to solve problems/make decisions, indicating an analytical/scientific approach
• Empathy & Sensitivity:
• Capacity to take in others perspectives and treat others with understanding sees patients as people
• Demonstrates respect for all
• Managing Others & Team Involvement:
• Able to work in multi-professional teams & supervise junior medical staff
• Ability to show leadership, make decisions, organise and motivate other team members for the benefit of patients through, for example, audit and quality improvement Projects
• Capacity to work effectively with others
• Organisation & Planning:
• Capacity to manage/prioritise time and information effectively
• Capacity to prioritise own workload & organise ward rounds
• Evidence of thoroughness (is well prepared, shows self discipline/ commitment, is punctual and meets deadlines)
• Vigilance & Situational Awareness:
• Capacity to monitor developing situations and anticipate issues
• Coping with Pressure and managing uncertainty:
• Capacity to operate under pressure
• Demonstrates initiative & resilience to cope with changing circumstances
• Is able to deliver good clinical care in the face of uncertainty
• Values:
• Understands, respects and demonstrates the values of the NHS Constitution (e.g. everyone counts improving lives commitment to quality of care respect and dignity working together for patients compassion)

Experience
Essential

• Experience after full GMC registration or equivalent, and evidence of achievement of foundation competences, in line with GMC standards / Good Medical Practice including:
• make the care or your patient your first concern
• provide a good standard of practice and care
• take prompt action if you think that patient safety, dignity or comfort is being compromised
• protect and promote the health of patients and of the public
• treat patients as individuals and respect their dignity
• work in partnership with patients
• work with colleagues in the ways that best serve patients interests
• be honest and open and act with integrity
• never discriminate unfairly against patients or colleagues
• never abuse your patients trust in you or the publics trust in the profession.
• CCT in Neurosurgery is preferred.
• Ability to apply sound clinical knowledge and judgement to problems
• Ability to prioritise clinical need
• Ability to maximise safety and minimise risk
• Recognition of, and ability to undertake the initial management of, an acutely ill patient
• Demonstrates understanding of research, including awareness of ethical issues
• Demonstrates understanding of the basic principles of audit, clinical risk management, evidence-based practice, patient safety, and clinical quality improvement initiatives
• Demonstrates knowledge of evidence-informed practice

Desirable

• Prior experience of working in neurosurgery, within the NHS system
• Demonstration of prior career interest in neurovascular neurosurgery (publications, presentations, audits etc)
• Evidence of active involvement in audit
• Evidence of active involvement in research
• Evidence of active involvement in teaching

Qualifications
Essential

• Primary medical degree - MBBS or equivalent medical qualification
• Be eligible for full registration with, and hold a current licence to practise from, the GMC at intended start date.
• Eligibility to work in the UK.
• Is up to date and fit to practise safely and is aware of own training needs.
• All applicants to have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues demonstrated by one of the following:
• Applicants have undertaken undergraduate medical training in English.
• OR
• Achieved the minimum score of 7 across all 4 of the following categories in the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) in a single sitting within 24 months at time of application Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. (An overall minimum score of 7.5)
• OR
• Achieved the minimum Grade B across all 4 of the following categories in the Occupational English Test (OET) in medicine in a single sitting within 24 months at time of application Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. (You must provide your candidate number)
• If applicants believe they have adequate communication skills, but do not have evidence in one of the above forms, they must provide alternative supporting evidence of language skills

Desirable

• CCT in neurosurgery is preferred

C9298-MED-716