Senior Clinical Fellow in Neonatology

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Fixed Term - initial duration of 6-12 months (TBC).

We have positions available starting in March 2025 and September 2025. We operate a rolling rota that complies fully with the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) and the current contract guidelines (42 hours/week, with a maximum of 1:3 weekends). This position is suitable for candidates with previous registrar-level experience in a level three neonatal unit. Senior candidates meeting the criteria outlined in the Job Description and Person Specification will be appointed at a Nodal point 4 or 5 level, depending on the experience demonstrated in their application and interview, as well as their ability to fulfil the specific roles described in this advert.

In accordance with the seniority required for this role, MTI candidates who are in their first experience in the UK will not be considered for appointment.

Closing Date: 01/12/24 at 23:59

Interview date: week starting 09/12/24, exact date to be confirmed

Interview modality: online

Start Date: 03/03/2025 or 01/09/2025

Main duties of the job

Registrar-level posts on the Neonatal Unit, with responsibility for the first- and second-line medical care of babies admitted to the Neonatal Unit. Role will be tailored to clinical experience. Seniority level will be assessed based on the candidates' online application and interview performance.

Senior Fellow/case loading doctor: equivalent to ST4-5 (Nodal Point 4). Providing direct care to babies in the different areas of the unit (ITU, HDU, SCBU, PNW, labour ward), working as part of the team in the neonatal unit.

Senior Fellow/coordinator: equivalent to ST6-7 or post-CCT (Nodal Point 5). This role includes more expectation of leadership, supervision, teaching, independent working, while still supported by the consultant body. The candidates will need to prove ability in leading resuscitation and stabilisation at birth of complex patients, coordinating intensive care, and managing referrals from other hospitals, providing teaching and supervision for the junior members of the team, offering antenatal counselling and supporting families, taking part in multidisciplinary meetings. The role also includes a high level hands-on activity, especially in the most complicated cases, where full confidence in technical skills will be required.

Ability to fulfil the criteria of case loading doctor or coordinator will be determined by the level of seniority demonstrated during the interview process.

Job responsibilities

1. Clinical duties

The post holder will, together with colleagues, be responsible for the provision of services to the Guys & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust to include:

(a) Diagnosis and treatment of patients of the trust in such hospitals, health centres or clinics or other premises as required.

(b) Continuing clinical responsibility for the patients in your charge, allowing for all proper delegation to, and training of, your staff.

Case Loading Doctors: to provide direct clinical care for inpatients in Intensive Care, High Dependency, Special Care, Labour Ward and Postnatal Ward. To work at an appropriate level within a 3-tier junior medical team. To develop knowledge and experience in straightforward and complex neonatal problems, including subspecialty neonatology (particularly in neonatal cardiology and surgery). To develop antenatal and postnatal counselling skills. To develop practical skills including: neonatal stabilisation and resuscitation, airway management, central lines insertion, POCUS (particularly lung ultrasound, cranial ultrasound and line ultrasound for tip position identification).

Coordinators: all the above, plus provide leadership in the junior doctors team on the clinical floor. To develop, teach and supervise practical skills including: neonatal resuscitation, airway management, line insertion under ultrasound guidance, POCUS, lung ultrasound. To undertake independent antenatal and postnatal counselling for parents. To confidently arrange discharge planning and to liaise with other teams for transfer to and from other units. To develop skills in follow-up assessment in outpatient clinic.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Skills

• Capacity to apply sound clinical knowledge and judgement.
• Demonstrates understanding of importance of audit, quality improvement and risk management
• Evidence of interest and experience in teaching
• Clinical training in paediatrics (including general paediatrics, neonatology, paediatric subspecialties)
• Previous experience in tertiary neonatal unit
• Clinical training in tertiary level neonatology at senior level
• Previous experience in PICU or transport
• Previous experience in cardiac and/or surgical intensive care

Education/Qualifications

• MBBS or equivalent primary medical qualification
• Progress in Paediatric Training (MRCPCH or equivalent)
• Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics
• Newborn Life Support training or equivalent
• Child protection training
• IELTS/OET exam as per GMC requirement if non-UK trained
• GMC registration (required before starting date)
• Newborn Life Support instructor
• POCUS Ultrasound skills training

Research

• Understanding of the importance, principles and applications of clinical research
• Evidence of academic or research achievements (e.g. degrees, prizes, awards, distinctions, publications, presentations...)
• GCP training

Additional Information

• Understanding and awareness of requirements when working with children and their parents.
• Demonstrates reflective approach to practice and commitment to personal development
• Understanding and awareness of particular requirements when working as part of a multidisciplinary team

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.

Employer name

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

£61,825 to £70,425 a year NP4 or NP5 depending on experience