Job overview

This post has been created to support a newly established quality improvement project working to enhance care of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) who require input from the palliative care team. The post is ideal for any doctor looking to expand their palliative care skills, and to prepare for application to internal, general or palliative medicine training. 

They will work as part of and with support from the hospital palliative care team in a role focused on the ED, actively case-finding, providing urgent patient reviews, supporting those important to the patient, and assisting with complex discharges for patients at the end of life. They will also follow-up patients after admission to the hospital to contribute to and coordinate care.

This is a fixed term 6-month post. It is not a formally approved training post, but the postholder will join a busy and supportive department, have consultant-led education and supervision and will be supported in their professional development (including access to study leave and budget pro rata).

There is no on-call requirement in the post but there is the opportunity to participate in bank shifts at the hospital if desired.

The North Middlesex hospital palliative care team comprises clinical nurse specialists, resident doctors (IMT, GPTVS and StR), a nurse consultant and 4 part time palliative medicine consultants as well as admin support. 

Main duties of the job

1.    CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1.1 Medical review of patients as part of the palliative care team (PCT), with appropriate support by team members
1.2 Holistic assessment and follow-up of palliative care patients with action plans supported by the PCT
1.3 Clear documentation and handover, including in discharge documentation and to community services if applicable, and liaison with patients’ responsible team and supporting services

2.    RESPONSIBILITY FOR PATIENTS 

2.1  Provide patient-centred care and advise, including about the role of the hospital PCT

2.2  Ensure patient and those important to them are involved in decision making

2.3  Respect and respond to individuald ideas, concerns and expectations as well as potential cultural needs

3.    RESPONSIBILITY FOR POLICY AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT 

3.1  Engage with QI techniques and participate in the audits or projects with the service

4.    RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES

4.1  Awareness of NHS and voluntary sector resources, use these with clear indications for best patient-centred care

4.2  Contribute to data collection as required for the service 

5.    RESPONSIBILITY FOR LEADING AND MANAGING

5.1  No direct managerial responsibility but expected to support and educate where appropriate
a)    other members of the Palliative Care Team
b)    members of the MDT 
c)    medical students during their placement with the Palliative Care Team

Working for our organisation

North Mid is part of North Central London integrated care system – consisting of the NHS and Local authority organisations in Camden, Islington, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey. As with other ICS’s, we are working increasingly closely with partners and indeed many of our financial and performance objectives are measured at this system level. Whilst all organisations remain as standalone, statutory bodies we have an ICS infrastructure for making shared decisions and agreeing shared approaches.

We are proud of our staff and want to ensure their training allows them to provide excellent clinical care. We are also a training unit for medical students from UCL and St George’s University Grenada, and for nursing and midwifery students from Middlesex and City Universities.

Take a tour of our hospital here