Job overview
We are recruiting for a 10PA substantive resident on call Consultant Paediatrician to be based at Worthing Hospital with an earliest start date of March 2026. As a General Paediatric Consultant the candidate will be responsible for delivering high quality paediatric care to neonates, children, and young people within the outpatient and inpatient settings in the Worthing area.
We are looking for an engaging and enthusiastic professional, who is fully committed to the ideals of the RCPCH and the values of our UHSussex Trust. Potential candidates should be keen to drive forward standards and work with a motivated multidisciplinary team including consultants, junior doctors, nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, dieticians and other members of tertiary specialist services either within the Trust or from Tertiary referral centres.
We encourage candidates who may be interested in this post to make contact and arrange a visit to see the department, meet our team, and ask any questions you may have to fully understand the role.
Main duties of the job
This General Paediatric with level 1 Neonates role will be based on 10 PAs to include 9 DCC PAs and 1 SPA. The consultant will undertake twice weekly outpatient general paediatric clinics. Outpatient department sessions give any successful candidate the opportunity to see new and follow-up general paediatric patients in an outpatient setting locally.You will participate in the Consultant of the week rota at a frequency of 1:10 weeks. These attending weeks run Monday-Friday. During consultant of the week attending sessions you will have the opportunity to manage the acute general paediatric and level 1 neonatal wards, utilising an MDT of nurses, doctors, physios and dieticians. There will be opportunities to develop management and leadership qualities during these sessions, as well as an opportunity to carry out bedside teaching to our enthusiastic junior doctors and medical students.
This post includes sessions spent supporting patient flow through the children’s day unit ensuring timely senior decision making and offering supervision and support to junior colleagues. The post includes non-resident Consultant on call duties at a frequency of 1:16 weekdays (expected to be delivered flexibly across the working week), and 1:10 weekends. For resident on call working, the post-holder will work a total of 26 tier 2 resident night shifts per year on week days Monday/Tuesday nights. These shifts are supported by a resident tier 1 doctor and a non-resident consultant on call.
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex (UHSx), diversity is our strength, & we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness & experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, & can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) & a Veteran Aware Trust.
We treat our patients & staff with the same compassion & empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above & beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our candidate information pack & wellbeing programme, for staff which is extensive & designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching & training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us & throughout your career we will help you to grow & develop. We hope that in choosing UHSx you are choosing a long & happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make & feel valued for all that you do.
We look forward to receiving your application & the start of your journey with UHSx.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
This General Paediatric with level 1 Neonates role will be based on 10 PAs to include 9 DCC PAs and 1 SPA. Daytime working during non-attending weeks will be delivered Wednesday-Friday.
The consultant will undertake twice weekly outpatient general paediatric clinics. Outpatient department sessions give any successful candidate the opportunity to see new and follow-up general paediatric patients in an outpatient setting locally.
Consultant of the week attending session 1:10 weeks. Monday to Friday 9-5pm.
·Lead Ward rounds on general paediatric wards daily, and Neonatal wards when the need arises.
·Respond to neonatal and paediatric emergency calls with the resus team, with expectation to take a lead role within the team.
·Be responsible for the management of new patients admitted to the wards or treated on the CYPDU(children and young person day unit) during attending weeks, as well as being responsible for follow up plans and clinics for those same patients.
Non-resident on-call weekdays 5pm to 9am, weekends 48hrs Saturday to Monday 9am-9am
·Carry out ward rounds on weekends followed by non-resident on-call from home.
·To be available to attend from home for clinical reasons, and to be contacted over the phone for clinical and operational advice.
·To provide support and guidance to the resident paediatric junior doctors and nurses
Standard working week (when not attending) Wednesday – Friday. Delivering:
·2 General outpatient clinic sessions
·2 CYPDU clinical sessions
·1 SPA
·1 Admin session
Please see the job description and person specification attached to the advert for further details of the post.
You will participate in the Consultant of the week rota at a frequency of 1:10 weeks. These attending weeks run Monday-Friday. During consultant of the week attending sessions you will have the opportunity to manage the acute general paediatric and level 1 neonatal wards, utilising an MDT of nurses, doctors, physios and dieticians. There will be opportunities to develop management and leadership qualities during these sessions, as well as an opportunity to carry out bedside teaching to our enthusiastic junior doctors and medical students.
This post includes sessions spent supporting patient flow through the children’s day unit ensuring timely senior decision making and offering supervision and support to junior colleagues.
The post includes non-resident Consultant on call duties at a frequency of 1:16 weekdays (expected to be delivered flexibly across the working week), and 1:10 weekends. For resident on call working, the post-holder will work a total of 26 tier 2 resident night shifts per year on week days Monday/Tuesday nights. These shifts are supported by a resident tier 1 doctor and a non-resident consultant on call.
Interviews are tentatively planned to take place on 15 December and applicants will be informed of any changes accordingly.
Person specification
Experience & Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Basic Medical Degree
2. MRCPCH or appropriate specialist qualification
3. •Full and specialist registration (with a licence to practise) with the GMC or be eligible for registration within six months of the interview. • If you trained in the UK, you must also have a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in Paediatrics or be within six months of receiving it by the interview date. • If you trained outside the UK, you must provide evidence that your qualifications are equivalent to the UK CCT. (Equivalence must be confirmed by GMC by date of AAC)
Desirable criteria
4. Higher degree eg MSc
Clinical Skills & Experience
Essential criteria
5. Relevant post registration experience
6. Appropriate acute general paediatril skills
7. Child Safeguarding Level 3
8. Understanding of clinical risk management
9. Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS) or equivalent, Neonatal Life Support (NLS) or equivalent
10. Appropriate neonatal clinical skills
Desirable criteria
11. Experience in other related specialties
Knowledge
Desirable criteria
12. Breadth of experience in and outside speciality
Organisation & Planning
Essential criteria
13. Experience and ability to work in multi-professional teams
14. Understanding of: NHS / Clinical governance / Resource constraints
Desirable criteria
15. Evidence of managerial skills: Achievements / Course attended
Teaching Skills
Essential criteria
16. Evidence of an interest and commitment to teaching
Desirable criteria
17. Recognised teaching qualification
Academic & Research
Essential criteria
18. Evidence of participation in audit
Desirable criteria
19. Research experience
20. Publications
21. Prizes and Honours
Career Progression
Essential criteria
22. Appropriate progression of career to date
Personal arributes
Essential criteria
23. Evidence of:- Good communication skills both oral and written
Important information for applicants:
A Note on AI Use in Applications
We value the individuality and authenticity that each candidate brings to the application process. While AI tools are increasingly accessible, we strongly discourage their use in completing your application. Your responses should reflect your own voice, experiences, and motivations—elements that are essential to a fair and accurate evaluation.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content may misrepresent your abilities and could result in your application being rejected. We encourage you to take the time to present your genuine self, as this helps us better understand your potential and ensures a transparent selection process.
Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.
Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.
Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.
DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check. We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.
Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.
UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications