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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Patient safety, dignity and care are the highest priority and at the centre of all that we do.

To provide high quality consultant delivered care to patients including clinical leadership and supervision of junior medical staff, ensuring the highest standards of clinical are are provided to all patients attending the hospital.

To be proactive in ensuring that all patients receive rapid assessment, treatment and clinical decision making, whilst ensuring our standard to deliver safe quality and performance are delivered and sustained.

To provide teaching and training at undergraduate and postgraduate level; supervised and train the juniors and specialty doctors.  To be proactive in the department's clinical governance agenda and take on leadership roles to support continuous learning and improvement, thereby abiding by the clinical and corporate governance policies of the Trust.

To liaise with clinicians and managers within and outside the department to address any issues arising that may affect the services.

To participate in relevant audit and quality assurance processes.

To communicate with local GPs.

The post is advertised for full time or part time considered, Consultant Rheumatology post, 10 PAs.  The Consultant will have outpatient clinics at both the DGH and peripheral hospitals.

The main aims of this new post are to:

• To enhance the outpatient capacity of the Rheumatology Department
• To assist the development of innovative ways to deliver services
• To promote the involvement of the Rheumatology Department in the peninsular medical student training programme
• To work the commissioners and primary care locally, to further develop systems for managing rheumatology patients, in particular those with chronic disease
• There will be an opportunity of developing a sub-specialty interest that complements the service

Other responsibilities include:

Junior Medical Staff: Recruitment, appointment and educational supervision including educational contracts, regular appraisal, organisation of study leave, annual leave and rotas.

Budget: Co-operate with the Deputy Medical Director, Associate Medical Director and Operational Manager on budgetary issues.

Communication: This will include the responsibility for and arrangement of communication and liaison with all other medical and service departments within the Trust, other Trusts and local GPs.

Teaching: To have an active role in the junior doctor and medical student training programmes.

Audit: To participate in relevant audit and quality assurance processes.

There is no on-call commitment associated with this role.

The successful candidate will be encouraged and supported to pursue a sub-specialty interest.

There will also be opportunities to develop academic links, research and medical education roles to support training for GPs, F2s and medical students.

There are no dedicated rheumatology beds but the department receives inpatient referrals, which are shared amongst the team and the table below shows the commitment of this post.

* Where outpatient clinics are provided in community settings (usually community hospitals) clinic templates will be adjusted to accommodate travel time as appropriate.

** Ward referrals and advice and guidance (A&G) , e-mails (Primary Care) are divided amonst the team and managed in DCC time.

Please note:

• Clinic templates are adjusted by agreement with Consultants to meet patient demand/need.  Usual practice is to allow 30 minutes for a new general rheumatology patient and 15 minutes for a follow-up. but adjustment will be made for more complex patients.

Administrative Support and Office Accommodation:  Secretarial support will be allocated.  Office space with PC and internet access will be provided.

PATIENT SAFETY, CLINICAL GOVERNANCE, EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is fully committed to improving patient safety and experience.  Consultants are expected to comply with GMC/GDC guidance and all Clinical Risk Management processes.  Consultants must audit their own clinical outcomes, report clinical incidents, alert the Trust to risk, participate in annual appraisal and work to foster good team relationships.  The appointee will be given a mentor upon commencement.

It is expected that the appointee will plan a programme of personal development and continuing medical education (CME) and through the appraisal process ensure that adequate training is undertaken both to maintain their skills, knowledge and expertise and to ensure revalidation.  There is extensive local support and the Trust provides reasonable costs for formal study leave.

All consultants have responsibilities for teaching doctors, student and non-medical healthcare professionals and should ensure they use the time allowed in the working week for duties of teaching and supervision.  Consultants should also include some element of educational development within their personal development plan.

INFECTION CONTROL

In accordance with the Health Act (2006) all staff are expected to comply with National and Local Infection Control policies and procedures and any other related infection prevention policies or procedures.  In addition, all staff whose normal duties are directly or indirectly concerned with patient care should ensure they have received annual mandatory training (including hand hygiene).  It is expected that all staff take responsibility to ensure the workplace is kept clean and tidy so that it is safe for all other users of that area.  All staff will be expected to communicate any identified infection risk to the Infection Prevention and Control Team in line with the Trust's Incident Reporting Policy.  Consultants will lead by example in this area which receives maximum attention.

SUMMARY OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

The post will be appointed under the Terms and Conditions - Consultants (England) 2003 as amended from time to time.