Overview
St Giles Hospice is a leading provider of specialist palliative care services, committed to delivering compassionate, patient-centred care for individuals with life-limiting illnesses. We support patients and families in achieving the best possible quality of life through an interdisciplinary approach, including medical, nursing, psychosocial, and spiritual care.
Job purpose The Consultant in Palliative Care leads the medical provision and medical team at St Giles Hospice as part of a multi-disciplinary team. The role forms part of the Hospice Senior Leadership Team and supports the strategic direction of the Hospice.
Responsibilities
The Consultant in Palliative Care will:
* Lead and deliver high-quality specialist palliative care services at St Giles Hospice on our In Patient Unit (IPU) and in the community.
* Provide day-to-day medical cover over 7 days a week onsite and on-call support at weekends to ensure high quality clinical care.
* Work with the multidisciplinary team to provide clinical expertise, support education and training initiatives, and contribute to service development across the hospice.
* Lead weekly multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings and contribute to holistic patient management plans.
* Provide full holistic assessment of patients and ongoing medical review; supervise the medical team in the day-to-day management of IPU patients.
* Prescribe in line with hospice and regional guidelines; maintain accurate drug charts and requisitions for supplies.
* Offer clinical leadership and support to junior medical staff, trainees, nursing and allied health professionals.
* Lead ward rounds, outpatient clinics, and home visits as required; support symptom control, advance care planning and end-of-life discussions.
* Participate in the Hospice weekend medical rota.
Leadership and Governance
Lead day-to-day requirements of the medical team via HR processes (one-to-ones, team meetings, appraisals) and align with St Giles policy. Support the Director of Clinical Services by developing and delivering a strategy for quality, patient safety, risk management, clinical effectiveness and patient experience. Provide visible leadership and evidence-based practice across services, and ensure services are patient-centered and accessible. Represent medical services at the Hospice Senior Leadership Team and maintain professional standards and awareness of current practice and policy. Lead and contribute to the annual integrated governance programme and monitoring framework in line with the Hospice clinical strategy, assurance framework, risk register and Quality Account priorities, including Care Quality Commission considerations.
Clinical Service Development and Governance
Contribute to the development, implementation, and evaluation of clinical guidelines and protocols. Engage in quality improvement initiatives and participate in clinical governance activities (audits, incident reviews, risk assessments). Play an active part in the organisation’s Senior Leadership Team and contribute to strategic direction. Contribute to clinical audits, review national guidelines (e.g., NICE), keep up-to-date with medical developments in palliative care, and share learnings.
Education and Training
Lead the development of the medical team (ANPs, Specialty Doctors, trainees) through training and mentorship. Contribute to local and regional teaching programmes and internal teaching for the multidisciplinary team and external education where appropriate.
Research and Innovation
Collaborate with the Hospices Professor in End-of-Life Care to assess practice and participate in research. Promote research initiatives and collaborate with academic partners to enhance the Hospice’s reputation as a centre of excellence.
Liaison and Advocacy
Work cross-organisationally with internal stakeholders, build strong relationships with GPs, hospital teams and community services to ensure seamless care pathways, and represent the hospice at regional and national forums.
General
Be aware of external commitments and ensure compliance with policy. Must be fully registered with the General Medical Council and maintain appropriate medical defence membership. Note: Employees do not benefit from NHS indemnity.
Just so you know: Applications may be reviewed before the application review date; if you apply after the review date, your application may not be considered. Applications may be accepted until the role is filled. If you have not heard within 14 days of the close date, please assume your application was unsuccessful. Your data will be managed in line with St Giles Hospice Privacy Policy and kept for 6 months. See https://www.stgileshospice.com/privacy-policy/ for details.
Person Specification
Experience
* Extensive experience in managing patients with advanced, life-limiting illnesses
* Proven ability to lead MDTs and provide clinical supervision
* Expertise in symptom control, advance care planning, and ethical decision-making
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with patients, families and colleagues
* Knowledge of current UK healthcare legislation, end-of-life care policies
* Knowledge of evidence-based practice and quality improvement
* Extensive experience of teaching and clinical audit
Desirable
* Experience in hospice or community-based palliative care settings
* Active involvement in service development, quality improvement or education
Qualifications
* Full GMC registration with licence to practise
* CCT in Palliative Medicine (or within 6 months of attaining CCT)
* Inclusion on the Specialist Register for Palliative Medicine
Desirable
* Higher degree (e.g., MD, PhD) or equivalent research experience in palliative care
Skills
* Excellent clinical skills in palliative medicine
* Excellent communication skills
* Ability to manage patients with complex physical, psychological and social problems
* Ability to lead and manage a team
* Ability to work with a multidisciplinary team
* Aware of own limitations
Personal Attributes
* Commitment to holistic, person-centred care
* Strong leadership, collaborative and flexible approach
* Ongoing professional development and reflective practice
* Empathetic, team player, able to work under pressure
* Collaborative, ambassador for St Giles Hospice
Other Requirements
* Valid driving licence
* Eligibility to work in the UK
* St Giles Hospice does not hold a sponsorship licence
Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and will require a DBS check.
UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. See NHS Careers for details.
Employer details
Employer: St Giles Hospice
Address: Fisherwick Road, Whittington, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS14 9LH
Website: https://www.stgileshospice.com/
#J-18808-Ljbffr