Deputy Chief Medical Officer

NHS; London; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 132,000

Job description

Job summary

We are looking for an inspirational medical leader with a passion to deliver high quality patient care to join the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) team. The Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO) will be required to deputise as required across the full range of CMO responsibilities.

This QEH-based post holder will lead on the development and improvement in quality of the Trust's job planning process, with the development of a consistency panel and team job planning professional standards, relating to timeliness of attendance and review for emergency department and inpatients, and referral pathways between specialties and to tertiary centres medical recruitment, workforce development and our medical leadership programme.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be expected to have significant clinical leadership experience, ideally at Deputy or Divisional Medical Director level.

The DCMO portfolio will be reviewed annually and is subject to change to meet the needs of the CMO office.

The DCMO will work alongside the CMO and will work closely with other executive colleagues/their deputies, and Divisional triumvirates. The post holder will support creating a site-based clinical community with shared understanding of issues and commitment to collaborative problem solving.

The DCMO will act as the senior clinical lead for each site, working collaboratively with divisions and external partners to ensure exceptional quality care is delivered.

About us

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

1. Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
2. Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
3. Improving the experience of staff with disability
4. Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
5. Making equalities mainstream

Date posted: 25 March 2025

Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade: Specialty Doctor

Salary: £52,530 to £131,964 a year per Annum pro rata

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Part-time

Reference number: 197-AA6597

Job locations: University Hospital Lewisham and Queen Elizabeth hospital, QEH, London, SE18 4QH

Job description Job responsibilities

Job plan (illustrative)

We will work with you to shape the ideal job plan upon successful appointment and review it with you after three months, and then annually.

We will also provide the essential resources to support you in your duties, including administrative support.

Role specific duties

The Deputy Chief Medical Officer will take the lead with delegated authority from the CMO for agreed aspects of the CMO portfolio Trust wide (see section 2).

The DCMO will hold responsibility for the leadership and management of professional issues associated with the medical workforce and the services provided by doctors on their base site, working closely with and supporting the Divisional Medical Directors. This includes all relevant operational, developmental and strategic matters, including liaison with primary care representatives of the area (Bexley and the Royal Borough of Greenwich for the QEH postholder).

The post will directly contribute to the strategic leadership and direction of the Trust. The DCMO is expected to work as part of a cohesive team and, when necessary, take lead responsibility for corporate issues outside their immediate sphere of responsibility.

You will:

• Communicate complex and sensitive information concerning standards and governance practice (including in highly charged situations).
• Provide advice and guidance to medical managers on matters relating to Maintaining High Professional Standards in the Modern NHS.
• Provide advice to the Trusts CMO on matters of policy and staffing.
• Support where appropriate investigations including analysis of clinical and other incidents, review research and national guidelines to improve practice and provide judgment where medical practice may differ to deliver a learning culture.
• Advise the Chief Medical Officer and medical colleagues on clinical and professional standards and priorities.
• Deputise for the Chief Medical Officer where required and take a lead role in developing links between the CMOs office and the wider organization.
• Secure effective engagement with clinicians at all levels and encourage cross professional collaboration to deliver service improvement.
• Develop collaborative working relationships across the organisation, and with the wider medical workforce.
• Champion LGT and its services.
• As a senior post holder, you will be required to be an inspirational leader and great line manager.
• Ensure that excellence in communication and engagement of staff, service users and stakeholders is at the centre of everything you do. Critical to this is effective communications with patients and colleagues.
• Establish excellent working relationships with clinicians and other colleagues across the organisation as required to enable transformation and delivery on all areas of performance.
• Demonstrate a can-do approach to problem solving and delivery of services.
• Ensure that robust governance is embedded in your area of responsibility.
• At all times demonstrate behaviours that are consistent with your role as a senior colleague in the organisation.

Person Specification

Qualifications Essential

• Full GMC registration
• Post graduate qualification in relevant specialty.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Evidence of leadership development. Minimum 3 years' experience in senior medical leadership roles.

Desirable

• FMLM fellowship or other Medical Leadership Qualification
• Responsible Officer Training Case Manager Training
• Medical director/ Deputy Medical Director experience

Skills And Experience Essential

• Highly developed leadership and influencing skills.
• Demonstrable evidence of preparing and leading change management and proven record of successful delivery.
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of current medical policies e.g., appraisal and revalidation and job planning.
• Have demonstrated strong and inspirational clinical leadership.

Desirable

• Training in / understanding of quality improvement methodology.
• Extensive experience of leading and directing change in clinical practice with evidence of successful outcomes.

Clinical Governance Essential

• Good understanding and demonstrable experience of working within clinical governance frameworks

Personal/professional attributes Essential

• Possess excellent communications skills with the ability to be clear and persuasive in speech and writing. Ability to handle difficult and sensitive situations.
• Well-organised and able to work to deadlines
• Determination to always achieve high standards and constantly strive to deliver improvements in patient care.
• Be resilient, optimistic, and have emotional intelligence

Other requirements Essential

• Seek to tackle health care inequality and diversity challenges in the NHS.
• Ability to work in partnership with stakeholders and demonstrates a breadth of leadership styles and approaches that fit with the values of LGT.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see the NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name: Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Address: University Hospital Lewisham and Queen Elizabeth hospital, QEH, London, SE18 4QH

Employer's website: https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/