Job summary
- Main area
- Vascular Surgery
- Grade
- Speciality Trainee (ST1/2)
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 40 hours per week (1 in 6 on call)
- Job ref
- 210-2026-583
- Employer
- Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Countess of Chester Hospital
- Town
- Chester
- Salary
- £54,499 pa
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 20/08/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Trust ST1/2 Vascular Surgery
Speciality Trainee (ST1/2)
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, staff pride themselves on not only leading through clinical excellence, but also by creating an environment where all staff are valued and appreciated. To achieve this, the Trust has embarked on an exciting new strategy focused on continuous improvement.
Our vision is to improve the lives of our community and provide excellence in healthcare, through partnership and innovation
Our High Performance Culture will support everyone to be the best version of themselves by being true to our Trust vision, values and behaviours.
We welcome applications from colleagues from our local and neighbouring communities of all backgrounds and identities, who are currently under-represented within our region such as Black, Asian, Minority ethnic and those with disabilities.
As a region we are reviewing the way we work, and exploring how new working practices that support flexible working can create a positive work-life balance. As part of our recruitment process we will explore how our inclusive employment policies, flexible working, staff engagement forums, Trust facilities and services can be of mutual benefit.
Job overview
Working Full time: 40 hours per week
This post will be one of 6 ST1/2 doctors in the department. The posts will offer candidates from the UK or from further abroad a unique opportunity to consolidate their experience in a busy and supportive NHS foundation hospital and provide a stepping-stone to the next level of clinical experience. They will have educational teaching, learning and assessment equivalent to those on national specialty programmes.
The department delivers vascular services across the Network via a hub and spoke model. The service delivers the full complement of vascular services including aortic aneurysms, carotid territory embolic disease and peripheral vascular disease. We also deliver renal access services to support the nephrology service and offer vascular input into a multidisciplinary diabetic foot service. The programme of training for each individual doctor will be flexible depending on his/her particular needs and stage of training.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be responsible to the appropriate Consultants for admitting cases, the attendance at daily ward rounds, the arrangement of patient investigations as part of the pre and post-operative care of circa 26 vascular patients. The role will require you to liaise with the wider hospital teams and vascular clinical team to support ward-based patient care and facilitate discharges. The role also requires you to participate in operative surgery; with the extent of your involvement being commensurate with your experience and ability, as well as access to renal access lists. The post-holder will participate within the vascular on-call rota 1 in 6 covering vascular and supporting the wider surgical specialties.
There is also an expectation that the post-holder will contribute to departmental audit and research with consultant supervision and participate in teaching programmes for medical staff, medical students and other hospital employees. The post-holder will be expected to attend the rolling half days and take part in audit and case presentation. Log book of the surgical operations performed will be mandatory (Log Book for RCS England).
Research opportunities are available depending on individual interests.
Working for our organisation
The Trust’s services are provided from three locations:
• The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.
• Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
• Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire.
The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.
If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies which is payable to the DBS Service. Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs will be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.
The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Person specification
Qualifications & Skills
Essential criteria
- Full registration with the GMC with a licence to practice at the time the post commences.
- MBBS (or equivalent)
- Experience at minimum of F2 or equivalent
Desirable criteria
- Attendance at relevant course(s) e.g. ALS, ALERT
- UK experience at ST1/2 level
Clinical Experience and Effectiveness
Essential criteria
- Competent in basic clinical procedures e.g. CPR, infection control, physical examination, history taking etc.
- Able to prioritise clinical need
- Aware of own limitations, consults senior colleagues appropriately and knows when to ask for help
- Understands the principles of clinical governance – ensures patients are not put at risk
- Understands the need for and appreciates the role of audit in clinical practice
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of UK health systems, practices and values and awareness of current issues in the NHS
Teaching & Training Experience
Essential criteria
- Keeps professional knowledge and skills up to date
- Understands the basic principles of audit and research
Desirable criteria
- Demonstrates a critical and enquiring approach to knowledge acquisition
Communication and Interpersonal Skills
Essential criteria
- Able to communicate effectively in written and spoken English
- Able to discuss treatment options with patients in a way they can understand
Desirable criteria
- Able to establish good working relations with patients, carers and multi-disciplinary colleagues
Personal Attributes
Essential criteria
- Recognises stressful situations and responds appropriately
- Demonstrates initiative, enthusiasm and common sense
- Respects and promotes individual’s rights, interests, preferences, beliefs and cultures
- Potential to benefit from the training available
Desirable criteria
- Evidence of leadership qualities (not necessarily in medicine)
Probity
Essential criteria
- Displays honesty, integrity, aware of ethical dilemmas, respects confidentiality
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
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.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Mr Gareth Harrison
- Job title
- SMART Vascular Clinical Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01244 364047
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