Job overview
We are seeking to recruit 2 new dynamic Consultant General Physicians with an interest in Geriatric Medicine who are committed to improving the care of older people in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot. Within Swansea Bay University Health Board we are transforming the acute medical service in Morriston Hospital. There has been considerable investment in recent years in our acute services, including the creation of a £3.5 million purpose built acute medical unit in 2022 and the plan for a £7m new acute frailty unit and referrals hub that opened in Autumn 2024, with the initiation of a frailty specific intake.
We are looking for enthusiastic colleagues who will join a team of Consultants and specialist doctors in developing and delivering geriatric medical care provision. There is a clear commitment in Swansea Bay to create excellent, well-resourced geriatric services and the successful applicants will lead and strengthen our model of care as we continue to improve, innovate and refine our clinical model.
All candidates have the opportunity to develop a relevant special interest. Applicants with an interest in interface and community frailty medicine are especially welcomed.
Contribution to the departments’ strong record in undergraduate and post graduate training, quality improvement work and research is encouraged.
We are supportive of flexible working arrangements and will consider annualised hours job plans, part time working or alternative shift pattern working.
Main duties of the job
The posts will have clinical responsibilities, supported by junior doctors, for the care of acutely unwell older people living with frailty in a variety of settings depending upon the individual posts and the interests of the post-holders.
Patients will be received through a single point of access integrated hub and co-located frailty unit.
The successful candidate will share responsibility with the existing consultants to deliver the acute frailty service. On a rotational basis the post holder will lead the frailty specific intake and SDEC specific frailty service (OPAS) leading a multidisciplinary team assessing older people admitted to the Acute Frailty Unit and caring for patients based on the acute frailty short stay unit.
The post holder will also participate in running the single point of access integrated hub, overseeing and directing community services to avoid medical admission where possible. The hub includes services such as virtual wards, acute clinical team, social services and domiciliary care. There will be the expectation that there will be a component of community liaison work built into the job plan.
Working for our organisation
Swansea Bay University Health Board has responsibility for the health of around 390,000 people in the Neath Port Talbot and Swansea areas, with a budget of around £1 billion and employing 12,500 people. We are a University Health Board working in partnership with Swansea University, Swansea School of Medicine, the School of Health Science and the Institute of Life Science. The HB has three major hospitals providing a range of services: Morriston and Singleton hospitals in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot hospital in Baglan, Port Talbot.
The Health Board is part of A Regional Collaboration for Health (ARCH), which is a partnership with Hywel Dda UHB and Swansea University. Aimed at improving the wellbeing and wealth of South West Wales.
Swansea is Wales' second-largest city, and sits on the five-mile sweep of Swansea Bay. An ideal base for exploring South-West Wales, there is also much on offer for visitors in Swansea itself. Swansea has a range of shops, cozy cafes, great restaurants, art galleries as well as being able to offer good outdoor lifestyle with its beautiful coastline and beaches on the Gower Peninsula. Swansea also has excellent sporting facilities including the Wales National pool and liberty stadium home to the Ospreys and Swansea City football club.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
You will provide a clinical service, with colleagues, which will include the responsibility for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness.
Working with consultant colleagues and the multi-professional team you will have continuing responsibility for the well-being of all patients under your care, allowing for proper delegation to and training of staff. In partnership with clinical and managerial colleagues, you will also have responsibility for the safe, efficient and effective functioning of the services in which you work in line with the values, operational policies and integrated medium term plan (IMTP) of the Health Board. You are encouraged to consider how services can be improved and to report any concerns about safety.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Registered with the GMC
2. Licensed to practice
3. On Specialist Register with GMC as a specialist in Geriatric Medicine and general internal medicine or eligible for CCT within 6 months of date of interview and have passed exit exam or a statement of eligibility for registration issued by GMC or a primary medical qualification and recognized specialist qualification from a European Member State which will allow direct entry to the GMC Specialist Register
4. MRCP or equivalent
Desirable criteria
5. Relevant higher degree e.g. PhD, MD, MSc
6. Teaching qualification/Higher qualification in medical education
Experience
Essential criteria
7. Evidence of an ability to develop effective working relationships, on an individual and multi-disciplinary basis with all levels of staff (”Working Together”)
8. Evidence of working with management and clinical colleagues to improve a service (“Always Improving”)
9. Values partnership with other agencies
10. Evidence of teaching and training of post/undergraduate clinical staff
11. Evidence of initiating, progressing and completing audit
Desirable criteria
12. Development and commissioning of services
13. Experience of research in geriatric medicine/general internal medicine
Skills
Essential criteria
14. Effective leadership; ability to take responsibility and demonstrate leadership when appropriate
15. Understands the importance of effective Team Working with all levels of staff, take time to listen, understand and involve people; receptive to appropriate change
16. Understands and can apply the principles of Prudent Healthcare
17. Excellent interpersonal skills – ability to communicate effectively (written and verbal) with patients, colleagues, relatives and staff; communicate openly and honestly and explain things clearly (“Caring for each other”)
18. Understands information systems and technology
19. Clinical skills in general and geriatric medicine
Desirable criteria
20. Demonstrates learning in Improvement science and methodology, ability and drive to use information and experience to improve the service
Personal Attributes
Essential criteria
21. Flexible and adaptable to competing demands with the ability to work effectively under pressure and cope with setbacks
22. Ability to undertake on-call
23. A commitment to continuous improvement, with a positive attitude, seeks out learning, and continually develops skills and the service
24. Enthusiasm to take a lead role in clinical development
25. Empathy and sensitivity: ability to listen, understand and involve people; see people as individuals
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Welsh language skills are desirable