Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1.     It is expected that the consultants, associate specialists, specialists and specialty doctors in the service will rotate between different areas of clinical responsibility at appropriate intervals agreed by the senior leadership team.

2.     The post holder will perform the duties of a Specialist Doctor within the Palliative Medicine team

3.     Weekday working hours will be undertaken between 07:00 and 21:00, varying depending on the clinical role undertaken.

-        When working for the inpatient unit, supervise the care of patients on the ward, provide senior input to their care including ward rounds, and provide training, supervision and role modelling for the non-consultant ward doctors, working closely with the multidisciplinary team.

-        When working for the hospital service lead ward rounds and MDTs, develop closer links with other specialist services, provide senior medical leadership and clinical support for the team.

-        When responsible for the community services, lead MDTs, provide domicillary visits and outpatient clinics and provide senior medical leadership and clinical support for the team. 

-        Engagement in Supportive Palliative Care services as they dovetail with specialist work.

-        Support the community hub role on a rotational basis along with other senior doctors

4.     Communicate with patients, and their families and friends as appropriate and in accordance with good professional practice.

5.     Communicate with the patient’s general practitioner, hospital doctors and other health and social care staff as necessary to enable seamless care.

6.     Maintain clinical records and other documentation to support clinical care as per OUH Trust working practice e.g. thromboprophylaxsis assessment, cognitive screening, EPR and iCare information, medical certificates and electronic discharge documentation.

Clinical care on call:

1.     Participate in the on call second on consultant/specialist rota. You provide cover for 1 in 6 nights per week and 1 in 6 weekends, at consultant level. Cover is prospective. On call is non-resident at Category B. Work undertaken on call is recognised as direct clinical activity.

Regardless of the in-hours working commitment the frequency of on-call will be 1 in 6 for weeknights and weekends, Friday 1700 to Monday 0900.

2.     Ensure you have had a handover from hospice medical staff before commencing on call. Ensure you have knowledge of any patients waiting for admission including the level of need and order of priority to enable a rapid response to requests for admission. Hand over the same information on completing a period of call. 

3.     When on call at consultant level, you will be supported by a specialty doctor or specialist registrar who are also non-resident. At Sobell House, they are supported by medical trainees below the registrar level in residence, shared with the Oncology and Haematology wards.  At Katharine House there is no resident junior doctor.

4.     Organise and supervise admissions to the inpatient unit in conjunction with the nursing team.

5.     Provide advice to the Senior Specialist Nurses on duty in the hospital and community teams (9am – 5pm 7 days a week) and may need to review patients at home or in the hospital on occasion.