Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated senior doctor in training (above ST4 or equivalent) with an interest in leadership, management and quality improvement to join the Department of Acute Medicine, Whipps Cross University Hospital, as a chief registrar.
The chief registrar role provides senior trainees with 40-50% protected time to develop skills and confidence in leadership, management and quality improvement. Learning that chief registrars gain from the Royal College of Physicians’ (RCP’s) bespoke development programme will be put into practice in a supported environment that provides autonomy, flexibility and support to develop and support projects that address key local challenges and priorities. This may include service improvement, engagement and morale, education and training, workforce, and sustainability.
Main duties of the job
The chief registrar role is a leadership role for senior specialty trainees. The role provides 40-50% protected time to develop and implement local initiatives focusing on, for example, service improvement, engagement and morale, education and training, workforce and sustainability.
Chief registrars benefit from access to a bespoke taught development programme provided by the RCP, which runs from September 2024 to June 2025 and comprises five 2-day modules that chief registrars are expected to attend.
The chief registrar will ideally report to and be mentored by the medical director, a nominated deputy, or other senior clinical leader. The mentor role requires a minimum time commitment of monthly 1 hour meetings with the chief registrar, and this commitment should be taken into account when nominating a suitable mentor.
The chief registrar will also have a named educational supervisor for their clinical role, who may or may not be the same as their clinical supervisor.
There will be formal educational oversight of the role, with an induction, educational agreement, personal development plan and regular appraisals.
Working for our organisation
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain’s leading healthcare providers.
The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.
Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time.
We strive to live by our values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For NTN posts, the chief registrar role may be undertaken in programme or out of programme (training or experience), to be determined locally depending on local workforce requirements and individual training needs and preferences.
Any necessary extension to certificate of completion of training (CCT) date is also negotiated and approved locally, with involvement of the Training Programme Director (TPD)/Head of School where appropriate.
Approval of the relevant Specialist Advisory Committee will be required for OOPT requests.
NTN trainees must discuss applications for chief registrar roles with their education supervisor and TPD in advance of applying. Permission to apply for the role must be obtained from the TPD.
The principle requirement of the GMC is that the chief registrar role should be undertaken at a site approved by the GMC for training in the applicants’ specialty. For LEDs, local discussion should occur with the Trust chief registrar lead and educational supervisor to ensure suitability for the programme.
Local assessment of prior experience to be at ST4 or above will be made within the Trust.
Person specification
Qualifications / training
Essential criteria
1. Full registration with General Medical Council
2. Be fit to practice
3. Should be ST4 (or equivalent) or above
4. Should not hold CCT or be within 12 months of completion of training on intended start date
Desirable criteria
5. Additional relevant degree (intercalated, masters or doctorate)
Qualifications / training (For NTN applicants only)
Essential criteria
6. Approval of TPD to apply
7. Evidence of satisfactory /more than satisfactory progress through training, including annual review of competence progression (ARCP) outcomes
Clinical skills
Essential criteria
8. Competence in managing medical emergencies
9. Evidence of clinical competencies in their medical specialty appropriate for their stage in training
10. An appropriate knowledge base, and ability to apply sound clinical judgement to problems
11. Ability to prioritise clinical need
12. Ability to maximise safety and minimise risk
13. Ability to work without supervision where appropriate
14. Current advanced life support (ALS) provider as certified by the Resus Council UK
Desirable criteria
15. Competence with various procedural skills such as intercostal drain insertion, abdominal paracentesis and lumbar puncture.
Research
Essential criteria
16. Understanding of research, including awareness of ethical issues
17. Understanding of research methodology
18. Knowledge of evidence-based practice
Desirable criteria
19. Evidence of involvement in a formal research project
20. Evidence of involvement in a formal research project
Leadership and management
Essential criteria
21. Evidence of effective team working and leadership, supported by multi-source feedback or workplace-based assessments
22. Self-awareness, with knowledge of personal strengths and weaknesses, impact and areas for development
23. Interest in and knowledge of the importance of leadership and management for clinicians
Desirable criteria
24. Evidence of involvement in local management systems
25. Evidence of effective leadership in and outside medicine (e.g. evidence of leading innovations or improvements)
26. Understanding of leadership theory and practice
27. Understanding of NHS management and resources
28. Understanding of the local and national context of the NHS, including economic and political influences
Quality / service improvement or audit
Essential criteria
29. Understanding of clinical governance, including the basic principles of audit, clinical risk management, evidence-based practice, patient safety and quality improvement initiatives
30. Evidence of active involvement in quality improvement, audit, research or other activity that focuses on patient safety and clinical improvement and innovation
31. Interest in / knowledge of the delivery of safe, effective healthcare services
Desirable criteria
32. Evidence of a portfolio of audit / quality improvement projects, including evidence that the audit loop has been closed and evidence of learning about the principles of change management
33. Evidence of publications / presentations / prizes in quality improvement or audit
34. Good knowledge of the UK healthcare system, including education, research, service provision, regulation, career structures, medical politics and ethics
35. Clear insight into issues facing UK healthcare services
Education and teaching
Essential criteria
36. Evidence of interest in and experience of teaching
37. Evidence of good feedback on teaching approaches
Desirable criteria
38. Development of teaching programmes
39. Participation in teaching courses
40. Participation in degree or diploma courses in education
41. ALS / simulation instructor
Personal skills
Essential criteria
42. Clarity in written / spoken communication
43. Capacity to adapt language to the situation, as appropriate
44. Active listening and empathy
45. Ability to build rapport and communicate effectively with others
46. Ability to persuade, influence and negotiate
47. Ability to communicate effectively under pressure
Desirable criteria
48. Leadership skills gained within the NHS or elsewhere
49. Writing experience clinical and/or non-clinical topics
50. peer-reviewed publications and/or other communication (e.g. blog, letters to journals)
51. Evidence of achievements outside medicine
Personal skills: Problem solving and decision making
Essential criteria
52. Capacity to use logical / lateral thinking to solve problems / make decisions, indicating an analytical / scientific approach and, where appropriate, creativity in problem solving
Personal Skills: Organisation and planning
Essential criteria
53. Capacity to manage / prioritise time and information effectively
54. Evidence of thoroughness (well prepared, self-disciplined / committed, punctual and meets deadlines)
55. Capability to work with long timescales for delivery within agencies with differing priorities