Trust Doctor in Gastroenterology

Applications are invited for the post of Clinical Research Fellow in Gastroenterology at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The ideal applicant will be a specialty trainee (or equivalent) in Gastroenterology who wishes to pursue an interest in an area of luminal gastroenterology and develop a research project under expert supervision, with the aim of attaining a higher degree (MD or PhD).

Research programmes within the department include the epidemiology and treatment of both disorders of gut-brain interaction and inflammatory bowel disease; pregnancy and inflammatory bowel disease; patient knowledge and views in inflammatory bowel disease; academic approaches to quality improvement in inflammatory bowel disease; and novel endoscopic techniques such as spectroscopy, including dysplasia detection. More detail about available projects and supervisors is given in the job description.

The post holder will contribute to the gastroenterology outpatient and endoscopy service and middle grade out of hours on-call rota (0.5 rota commitment).

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will pursue an area of research relating to luminal gastroenterology or endoscopy. There is a strong research pedigree in the unit with three academic consultants (Prof. Hull, Prof. Ford, and Dr. Subramanian) and clinical consultants with their own areas of academic expertise (Dr. Black, Dr. Gracie, Dr. Selinger). The research unit is based in the Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St. James's. There are existing research programmes in clinical trials of colorectal cancer prevention as well as the molecular biology of colorectal cancer and the gut microbiome; the epidemiology and treatment of both disorders of gut-brain interaction and inflammatory bowel disease; pregnancy and inflammatory bowel disease; patient knowledge and views in inflammatory bowel disease; academic approaches to quality improvement in inflammatory bowel disease; and novel endoscopic techniques like spectroscopy, including dysplasia detection.

About us

The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the largest trusts in the UK. The Trust has a values-led strategy known as The Leeds Way and is committed to high-quality patient-centred care and academic and educational excellence.

Leeds is a vibrant city with stylish shopping arcades, a range of theatres, museums and sporting events, excellent transport links and within easy reach of the Yorkshire Dales, a renowned base for outdoor activities such as cycling and walking.

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.

Job responsibilities

The post-holder will pursue an area of research relating to luminal gastroenterology or endoscopy. There is a strong research pedigree in the unit with three academic consultants (Prof. Hull, Prof. Ford, and Dr. Subramanian) and clinical consultants with their own areas of academic expertise (Dr. Black, Dr. Gracie, Dr. Selinger). The research unit is based in the Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St. James's. There are existing research programmes in clinical trials of colorectal cancer prevention as well as the molecular biology of colorectal cancer and the gut microbiome; the epidemiology and treatment of both disorders of gut-brain interaction and inflammatory bowel disease; pregnancy and inflammatory bowel disease; patient knowledge and views in inflammatory bowel disease; academic approaches to quality improvement in inflammatory bowel disease; and novel endoscopic techniques like spectroscopy, including dysplasia detection. There is also close collaboration with Engineering at the University of Leeds with the development of novel medical devices like a magnetically driven Robotic Colonoscope, low-cost disposable upper gastrointestinal scopes, as well as improved dye spray pumps and catheters and injectable solutions for endoscopic therapy. There is the opportunity to gain experience of clinical trials as a NIHR Clinical Research Network Associate PI.

Our trainees gain valuable experience in managing complex patients within our subspecialty services. These include a large IBD service (supported by a team of IBD nurse specialists and weekly MDT with our radiologists and IBD surgeons), enteral and parenteral nutrition (including home PN), small bowel disease, and pancreaticobiliary medicine. We have 2 inpatient wards in the modern Bexley wing at SJUH.

We deliver high-quality endoscopy training with JAG accreditation. We operate 10 endoscopy rooms in 3 modern units around the city and are currently one of the best equipped endoscopy units in the UK. Our centre was one among the three initial sites in the UK to upgrade to state-of-the-art equipment such as high definition 290 endoscopes, 290 processors and 32 high-definition twin monitors from Olympus Keymed. All endoscopy rooms have a water irrigation system and CO2 insufflation. We provide a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, including bowel cancer screening, ERCP, interventional EUS, advanced EMR/ESD, stenting, capsule, double balloon, and spiral enteroscopy and biliary manometry. We are a tertiary referral centre for complex polyp work.

Person Specification

Eligibility, Fitness to practice, and Language Skills

• Eligible for full registration with the GMC at time of application and hold a current licence to practice.
• Eligibility to work in the UK.

Clinical, Academic, and Personal Skills

• Demonstrates clarity in written/spoken communication & capacity to adapt language as appropriate to the situation.
• Able to build rapport, listen, persuade & negotiate.
• Capacity to use logical/lateral thinking to solve problems/make decisions, indicating an analytical/scientific approach.
• Capacity to take in others' perspectives and treat others with understanding; sees patients as people.
• Demonstrates respect for all.
• Able to work in multi-professional teams & supervise junior medical staff.
• Capacity to manage/prioritise time and information effectively.
• 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.

Experience

• Evidence of achievement of CT1 & 2 competencies in medicine (as defined by the curricula relating to Core Medical training).
• Evidence of higher specialty competencies and able to work at ST6+ in gastroenterology.
• Has commenced training in endoscopy.
• Ability to provide complete details of employment history.
• Evidence that present achievement and performance is commensurate with the totality of the period of training.
• At least 2-3 years higher specialty training level experience in gastroenterology or hepatology.
• Evidence of interest and enthusiasm for research.
• Previous experience of research leading to publication.

Qualifications

• Evidence of competence in management of common gastrointestinal conditions and emergencies.
• Evidence of competence to work without direct supervision where appropriate.
• Current ALS certification or equivalent.
• Awareness of GMC's Good Research Practice guidance (General Medical Council, 2010).
• JAG accreditation (or equivalent) in upper and lower diagnostic endoscopy.
• Good Clinical Practice training.

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.