Consultant Rheumatologist

Overview

We are seeking to recruit a Consultant Rheumatology, for 9 PAs, who will help provide a comprehensive service for the populations of South Devon in both acute and community settings. We will be happy to discuss the opportunity of developing a sub-specialty interest that complements the services. Departmental visits are welcome and you can arrange an appointment or have an information discussion by contacting Dr Catherine Gwynne, Clinical Lead – 07817 175460. To apply for this vacancy, you must be GMC registered with a license to practice, with CCT Specialist Registration or will obtain CCT within 6 months of interview date. Please state your GMC details in your supporting information. To enhance the outpatient capacity of the Rheumatology Department. To assist in 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 with 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. 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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 with commissioners and primary care locally, to further develop systems for managing rheumatology patients, in particular those with chronic disease.
• 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: Responsibility for and arrangement of communication and liaison with all other medical and service departments within the Trust, other Trusts and local GPs.
• Audit: To participate in relevant audit and quality assurance processes.
• No on‑call commitment associated with this role.
• Encouraged to pursue a sub‑specialty interest; opportunities to develop academic links, research and medical education roles to support training for GPs, F2s and medical students.
• Compliance with infection control policies; ensure annual mandatory training in hand hygiene and infection prevention is completed.

Qualifications

• GMC registered with a licence to practice, with CCT Specialist Registration or will obtain CCT within 6 months of interview date.
• Must comply with GMC/GDC guidance and all Clinical Risk Management processes.
• Must audit own clinical outcomes, report incidents, alert the Trust to risk, participate in annual appraisal and work to foster good team relationships.
• Must plan a programme of personal development and continuing medical education (CME) and, through the appraisal process, ensure adequate training is undertaken to maintain skills, knowledge and expertise.
• Must use the time allowed in the working week for duties of teaching and supervision, and include educational development within the personal development plan.
• Must have received annual mandatory training in infection control (including hand hygiene).
• Applicants who identify as part of the Armed Forces community will be guaranteed an interview, provided they meet the minimum essential criteria outlined in the job description and person specification for the role.
• Prepared to work within an Equal Opportunities Employer framework; no discrimination on the basis of any of the nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.
• Awareness of the Trust’s Carer‑friendly employer policy and willingness to access flexible working where possible.

Additional Information

The post is full time or part time considered, with 9 PAs. Consultants will have outpatient clinics at both the DGH and peripheral hospitals. No dedicated rheumatology beds exist but the department receives inpatient referrals, which are shared amongst the team. Administrative support will be allocated and office space with PC and internet access will be provided.

Consultants must comply with GMC/GDC guidance and all Clinical Risk Management processes. They must audit their own clinical outcomes, report incidents, alert the Trust to risk, participate in annual appraisal and foster good team relationships. The appointee will be given a mentor upon commencement and is expected to plan a programme of personal development and CME. The Trust provides reasonable costs for formal study leave.

All consultants have responsibilities for teaching doctors, students and non‑medical healthcare professionals and should ensure they use the time allotted for teaching and supervision. Infection control policies and procedures are mandatory; staff should ensure the workplace is kept clean and tidy and report any identified risk to the Infection Prevention and Control Team.

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer and an Carer‑friendly employer. The post will be appointed under the Terms and Conditions – Consultants (England) 2003, as amended from time to time.

We reserve the right to close vacancies early if we receive a high volume of applications; therefore, we encourage you to apply promptly. Applicants who identify as part of the Armed Forces community will be guaranteed an interview provided they meet the minimum criteria. The Trust is committed to preventing discrimination and values diversity. If you require support you can obtain it from our Equality Business Forum which has representatives from all protected groups.

This is an exciting opportunity to join Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust, which is one of the first vertically‑integrated health and care organisations in the country; enabling us to rethink and reshape the way we deliver care. The Trust has a commitment to an ambitious and inclusive vision to improve health and well‑being for the population from all local stakeholders across health and social care, and that vision has been awarded Pioneer status by NHS England.

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