Specialty Doctor in Palliative Medicine

NHS; Coventry; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 58,000

Job description

Help us make a difference to people with life-limiting illnesses...

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Specialty Doctor in Palliative Medicine to join the team in our Coventry Hospice Inpatient Service.

We encourage you to visit the hospice before applying. To arrange this, please contact Karen Goodman on 01926 838 804 or email [e-mail]

Main duties of the job

Our Specialty Doctors provide support to all members of the multidisciplinary team and work mainly within the Inpatient Service, led by Consultants in Palliative Medicine.

You'll play a vital part in the running of our clinical services and educating our rotating Doctors and GP Trainees.

About you

We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Doctor, capable of delivering high-quality patient care, with:

• Full registration with the GMC with a licence to practise
• At least 4 years' postgraduate experience in clinical practice, at least 2 of which in a relevant specialty
• Interest in Palliative Medicine

Clinical experience working within Palliative Medicine is desirable.

This role will require an enhanced DBS check including the adults' barred list because you will be providing adult healthcare. We will arrange this check and cover the cost.

Although the primary location is our Coventry Hospice, some travel to our Warwick Hospice may be required, so you should be able to travel there occasionally.

Benefits of working at Myton

• Free parking at our hospice sites
• Winter savings club
• Dedicated staff wellbeing team & mental health first aiders
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free on-site flu jabs
• Free feminine hygiene products
• 24/7 GP access
• Free eye tests
• #DoingOurBit online fitness and wellbeing platform
• And more

About us

At The Myton Hospices, we provide specialist care and support for people with life-limiting illnesses, and their loved ones, from the point of diagnosis to end of life. We are a much-loved and well supported charity, at the heart of our community. We have three hospices, a range of community services, and 26 charity shops in Coventry and Warwickshire.

We are committed to building an inclusive workplace and encourage everyone to bring their true selves to work. However you identify, and whatever background you bring with you, we welcome you to apply. If there are any adjustments that would help improve your experience with Myton, we encourage you to share this with us.

We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and from ethnic minorities, who are currently under-represented in our hospices. We also believe our interview process should be inclusive and transparent. If there is anything missing, or a way we can improve, please do let us know.

If you would prefer a paper application form, or if you have any questions including support or adjustments, please contact Myton Recruitment on 01926 838 849, [e-mail], or by post: HR, Warwick Myton Hospice, Myton Lane, Warwick, CV34 6PX

We now share interview questions with all candidates in advance, to help reduce nerves and enable you to truly show your best abilities. You are also welcome to bring any notes with you to your interview, if you would find this helpful.

Job responsibilities

Role Summary

This post will be primarily based in Coventry however flexibility is required to work at the Warwick site. Both units are specialist palliative care training inpatient units serving the whole of Coventry and Warwickshire.

The main focus of the job will be to support the inpatient units and there may be opportunities to work with hospital and community specialist palliative care teams. We welcome applicants who wish to broaden their experience in palliative care.

We are committed to supporting the Specialty Doctor with Consultant supervision, adequate admin support and regular external clinical supervision.

Study leave will be supported to pursue educational activities identified in the appraisal process. The postholder will be encouraged to develop special interests in aspects of Palliative Care and will have the opportunity to become involved in the wider organisation by representing the Medical Department on a range of other committees e.g. Equity and Inclusion.

The postholder will be responsible to the Consultant in charge on a day-to-day basis and also report to the Director of Patient & Family Services.

Accommodation and Support Services

Shared office space and IT facilities are available for the postholder. A Medical Administration Team provides support for all members of the Medical Team and will be available for the postholder.

Leave

32 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays, taken from 1st April - 31st March. Leave cannot be carried over into the following year.

Study leave is up to 10 days over the year, depending on the needs of the service.

Indemnity

The postholder is required to arrange their own medical indemnity.

Travel

It is essential to have access to a vehicle or suitable alternative travel arrangements in relation to the on-call rota and travel required to different units. Mileage will be paid by The Myton Hospices at the rate of 45p per mile.

Renumeration

The post is renumerated at the appropriate level on the Specialty Doctor payscale with a supplement for on-call.

Pension

You are entitled to retain membership of the NHS Pension when you start work at Myton, if you have been eligible for this with another employer at any point within the last 12 months.

As an alternative, details of the Myton workplace pension scheme will be provided to you on request.

On Call / Out of Hours

The first on call rota is currently 1 in 6 non-resident supporting patients in the 2 Inpatient Units. The post-holder will be required to be contactable by telephone and to live within a reasonable distance.

The role involves attending out of hours to clerk any new admissions and review patients already in the hospices.

Support and advice is always available from one of Coventry and Warwickshire Consultants in Palliative Medicine working second on call.

The Myton Hospices

The Myton Hospices believe everyone in Coventry and Warwickshire should live well towards the end of their life and have the right to a good, natural death, the way they want it to be and with their loved ones supported.

The Myton team provide high quality, specialist palliative care to people whose condition no longer responds to curative treatment, from diagnosis to death. We aim to meet their physical, psychological, spiritual and social needs and ensure their families are supported both through and after this difficult time.

We are also committed to training, supporting and encouraging other care providers to practise good palliative care.

We have close working relationships with our colleagues working in the 3 local Acute Hospital Trusts: UHCW NHS Trust in Coventry/Rugby, George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton and Warwick Hospital, South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT); the 2 Community NHS Trusts SWFT and Coventry Community: Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust (CWPT), and the other 3 local Hospice services The Shakespeare Hospice, Mary Ann Evans Hospice and Shipston Home Nursing.

Current Medical Staffing (March 2025)

Consultants in Palliative Medicine

• Dr Nial McCarron

Specialist Doctors

Specialty Doctors

Other

• Palliative Medicine Specialty Trainee Registrar on rotation for 12 months
• Up to 4 GPSTs on rotation for 4 months who also contribute to the first on-call rota
• Medical Administration Team
• Specialist Support from the Palliative Care Pharmacist also working at UHCW NHS Trust

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide specialist medical care, advice and support, in order to provide high-quality, individualised care to patients, in line with local and national guidelines
• Provide medical assessment and care for all patients in the Inpatient Unit, in line with the patient's care plan, as part of the multidisciplinary team, ensuring that medical care is evidence-based (as far as is possible) and best practice
• Work together with other members of the medical team to ensure each patient is reviewed as frequently as their symptom management dictates
• Participate in inpatient MDT meetings and other meetings as required
• Holistically assess patients admitted to the inpatient unit, planning initial management in discussion with the available Senior Doctor
• Carry out clinical procedures as necessary, including phlebotomy, cannulation, abdominal paracentesis and urinary catheterisation
• Liaise with acute services to organise procedures not available within the hospice e.g. blood transfusions or pleural drainage
• Maintain accurate and timely patient records
• Ensure legible prescribing in accordance with local policy
• Liaise with primary and secondary care services (and other statutory and voluntary agencies) as appropriate to ensure continuity of medical care
• Complete holistic assessment records, discharge letters, letters notifying death, TTO prescriptions and anticipatory prescribing in line with local guidance
• Confirm and certify cause of death in line with local protocol, liaising with the Coroner's Office where required by law and local practice
• Liaise with family members/carers as appropriate
• Provide specialist palliative care medical advice, on request, within limitations of their own experience, referring on to the available Senior Doctor as necessary
• Provide medical support to the Referrals and Admissions team as required
• Act as clinical supervisor to GP Trainees on rotation, based on level of experience
• Participate in clinical supervision
• Participate in the first on-call rota, providing medical cover to the inpatients in Coventry and Warwick out of hours, shared with medical colleagues working at Myton and locally e.g. Clinical Fellows, GPSTs, Palliative Medicine Registrars and other Specialty Doctors
• Act at all times in a professional and responsible manner and have due regard to confidentiality and Health & Safety Legislation
• Any other reasonable duties as instructed by the Senior Leadership Team

Other Duties

• Join and contribute to the regular department teaching sessions
• Take an active role in undergraduate and postgraduate medical and nursing teaching and training
• Assume the role of educator, both formally and informally, to all those involved in the care of the patient, to support Myton's commitment to training Doctors, Nurses and Allied Health Professionals
• Participate in the induction of new members of staff
• Participate in audit and quality improvement projects
• Adhere to the GMC code of professional conduct outlined in the GMC publication 'Duties of a Doctor'
• Work with other members of the team to ensure that evidence from research is systematically considered and practices changed as appropriate
• Actively contribute to policy development as appropriate
• Complete mandatory training
• Participate in the annual job planning process
• Engage actively in continuing professional development and maintain a portfolio to reflect this
• Keep appropriate records in order to comply with GMC requirements for revalidation
• Participate in regular medical appraisal and revalidation and Myton's professional appraisal process

Person Specification

Skills and Knowledge

• Able to demonstrate good clinical knowledge in general and palliative medicine
• Able to work effectively under pressure
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Evidence of the ability to communicate with patients, colleagues and staff at all levels
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team
• Ability to balance individual requirements against those of the service as a whole
• Ability to motivate self and others

Qualifications

• Medical degree MBBS or equivalent
• Full registration with the General Medical Council with a licence to practise
• MRCP or MRCGP or equivalent
• Evidence of postgraduate qualifications

Other

• UK Driving Licence & access to a vehicle, or suitable alternative travel arrangements, and living within a reasonable distance of our two Inpatient Units, in order to participate in the first on-call and travel to these units when required
• The right to work in the UK (we cannot provide sponsorship)
• Interest in the specialty

Experience

• At least 4 years postgraduate experience in clinical practice, at least 2 years of which should be in a relevant specialty
• NHS or equivalent experience in general practice or inpatient care, especially in palliative medicine, oncology, haematology, geriatrics, or general medicine

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.

£59,175 to £95,400 a year FTE. £35,505 - £57,240 pro rata. + On-call enhancements.