Consultant Community Paediatrician

As part of an expansion of the service, we wish to appoint two Consultant Paediatricians in Community Child Health. Wye Valley NHS Trust is committed to providing first-class care to the children and families of Herefordshire.

The posts are based at the Child Development Centre in the City of Hereford, with some peripheral clinics in the county's special schools.

A good general Community Child Health background is essential; we are particularly looking to recruit a paediatrician with an interest and experience in autism/neurodevelopment. Other special interests to complement the team, for example, neurodisability, ADHD, safeguarding, are welcomed, and the opportunity exists for on-the-job development of special interests. For the successful applicant, there is scope for leadership roles.

Applicants wishing to work less than full time are welcome to apply. Other flexible working options such as condensed working hours, e.g., working 40 hours over 4 days, and/or some remote working will be considered. There is no on-call commitment with this post.

This advert will close on 10th April 2025

Interview date will be held on 22nd May 2025

Main duties of the job

• Clinical responsibilities will be adjusted to meet expertise and may include:

- Provision of clinics for Statutory Health Assessments for Children in Care

- Provision of neurodevelopmental clinics/completion of ASD assessments

- Provision of clinics in one of the county’s special needs schools

- Provision of general clinics

- Provision of clinics to provide medical advice to education

• Equal admin to clinical time is allocated, e.g., a four-hour clinic will have four hours of admin timetabled
• SPA allocation of 1.5 PA per week with the possibility of additional time, up to 2.5 PA for specific responsibilities
• 1 PA of DCC to be agreed within the job plan per week to cover activities as required e.g.:

- Multi-agency meetings (Team around the Child; child protection conferences, etc.)

- Nursery and school visits

- Multidisciplinary meetings for children with complex needs

- Any clinical admin undertaken as a result of delivering any of the above clinical activities

Working for our organisation

Wye Valley NHS Trust is a member of an NHS Foundation Group with South Warwickshire NHS FT, the George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

Located on the border with Wales in the shadow of the Black Mountains, we provide acute and community services across Herefordshire and into parts of Powys and run Hereford County Hospital and the community hospitals in Bromyard, Leominster, and Ross-on-Wye.

Worcestershire is our neighbouring county. The post holder will be required to travel between sites.

We are a progressive and forward-looking trust with ambitious plans to improve quality and integrate patient pathways through close collaborative working with our partners to deliver the quality of care we’d want for our family and friends.

More than 3,500 people work for the Trust – they tell us it’s a great place to work, blending the busyness of a DGH with the benefits of working in a beautiful rural and unspoilt county like Herefordshire.

We can offer a great work-life balance and have a fine tradition of working with staff to help them achieve their full potential.

Russell Hardy, Trust Chairman: “The strength of the Trust is its amazing staff; a great place to work, a great place to develop your career and a great place to reach your potential.”

Our values - Care, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence - are at the heart of all we do. We believe in providing the right care in the right place at the right time… all the time.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached job description and personal specification for further detailed information regarding the role.

Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to visit to see the department and chat informally with staff and are invited to contact:

Dr Fiona Goodwin, Consultant Paediatrician in Community Child Health 01432 356438

Person specification

Education & Qualifications

• Full registration with the General Medical Council
• MRCPCH or equivalent
• Entry on Specialist Register in Community Child Health via CCT or CESR, or within six months of obtaining Specialist Registration (at the date of interview)
• Higher degree e.g., MSc, MD, or other higher degree
• DCH, DCCH, or other relevant diplomas

Experience & Knowledge

• Wide experience, knowledge, and skills in Paediatrics.
• Training and experience in paediatrics (minimum 5 years at middle grade level)
• Knowledge of child protection and experience in managing child abuse and neglect
• Level 3 or higher formal training in Child Safeguarding within the last 12 months
• Knowledge of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Framework
• Knowledge of health needs and Statutory Framework for Children Looked After
• Knowledge and experience undertaking Neurodevelopmental Assessments including Autism
• IT skills and competency to work within health digital systems
• Up-to-date Basic Life Support training
• Experience or training in one or more of the following areas; child mental health, Looked After Children services, EHCP, ASD
• Experience working in Community Paediatrics
• Experience of Named Doctor for Children Looked After role
• Membership of appropriate professional societies, i.e., BACCH, BACD, BAAF, etc.

Management

• Knowledge of the role of clinical governance in current clinical practice
• Understanding of clinical risk management
• Ability to mentor staff
• Understanding of management issues including medical management; clinical governance, service planning, and quality improvement. Willingness to lead service developments
• Formal management training
• Demonstrated ability to manage e.g., project work; mentoring junior staff
• Demonstrated ability to take on a leadership role

Audit/Quality improvement

• Experience of writing and developing clinical guidelines and applying such in clinical practice
• Commitment to development and adherence to departmental guidelines and protocols
• Recent evidence of participation in clinical audit

Research

• Willingness to participate in research
• Demonstrate ability to design and complete a research project
• Publications and national presentations
• GCP Training

Teaching

• Evidence of teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level in a variety of settings
• Completed teaching courses/training/qualification

Communication Skills & Abilities

• Communication skills (ability to build rapport, listen, persuade, negotiate & counsel families in difficult circumstances) including clear written and spoken English
• Willingness to work as part of a multidisciplinary team and share administrative responsibilities
• Ability to develop good working relationships as part of a team
• Good organisational and time management skills
• Willingness to adapt to service requirements
• Experience of working within multidisciplinary and multi-agency teams

Commitment to Trust Values & Behaviours

• Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust’s Values and Behaviours

Other requirements specific to the role

• Able to travel to meet the requirements of the post

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020, and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name: Lesley Peers Job title: Consultant and Clinical Director Paediatrics Email address: Lesley.Peers@wvt.nhs.uk Telephone number: 01432 364145