Job overview
We wish to recruit a Doctor to complement our senior middle grade rota and provide cover for the Obstetrics & Gynaecology service. Specifically, we wish to strengthen our specialist services in the areas of high- risk obstetrics and fetal medicine, and maternal medicine in line with national recommendations. We would also like to develop our specialist gynaecology services including urogynaecology and rapid access work.
The Trust consists of the Tunbridge Wells Hospital and Maidstone Hospital and serves a population of approximately 500,000 people, living in the West Kent and East Sussex areas. The Trust also manages the Kent Cancer Centre at Maidstone and Canterbury.
The delivery suite is based at the Tunbridge Wells hospital with Birth Centres adjacent to Maidstone Hospital and in Crowborough. We deliver approximately 5900 babies per annum across the three units. Gynaecology inpatients and most emergencies are treated at Tunbridge Wells Hospital. We also provide a day case service at Maidstone hospital. Outpatient services are at both hospitals.
Main duties of the job
1.Toprovideahighstandardofcaretoanypatientforwhomyouhaveclinicalresponsibility.Thiswillincludeanypatientsreferredtoyouandcaredforbyyoupersonallyorbymembersofyourteamand,inaddition,anypatientsofconsultantcolleagueswhen you arecovering on-call orforannual leave.
2.Toparticipateinclinicalandotherserviceactivitiesanddevelopmentswiththeaimofensuring a highstandard ofpatient care acrosstheTrust.
3.Toworkincloseco-operationwithothermedical,professionalandmanagerialcolleagues,bothwithinandoutsidethespecialty,toprovidehighqualityhealthcaretotheTrust’spatients,andtocontributetofuturethinkingabouttheTrust’sstrategicdirection.
4.ToparticipatefullyinandshareleadershipoftheclinicalgovernanceofthespecialtycoveringitsTrust-wideactivities. Toattendclinicalgovernancehalf-daysasdetailedintheTrust’sGuidetoJobPlanningunlessonagreedleaveorwhileattendingemergencies.
Working for our organisation
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 and 2024 NHS Staff Survey.
We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre.
Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day-care beds, diagnostic services (X-ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms.
Looking for flexible working?
We are a flexible working-friendly organisation. Whether it’s adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.
to hear what our staff say.
Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:
1. At least 27 days of annual leave plus public/bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time staff).
2. Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with a 20.6% employer contribution and life assurance benefits
3. Blue Light card eligibility
4. And more, additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1.Toparticipateactivelyindepartmentalaudits,sharingco-ordinationofauditactivitieswithin the departmentand implementation of change.
2.To take an active responsibilityforundergraduateand postgraduate teaching,trainingand supervision.
3.Toassumeresponsibility,bothpersonallyandcorporatelywithconsultantcolleagues,forthemanagementofjuniormedicalstaff.Youareexpectedtobeinvolvedintheirprofessional development,bothclinical and personal asperguidancefromHEEKSS and GMC.
4.Toensurethatalldoctorsintrainingforwhomyouhavesupervisoryresponsibilitiesundertakedelegatedclinicaltasks thatarewithintheir levelofcompetenceandknowledge.
5.ToensureatalltimesthatyoucomplywiththeGeneralMedicalCouncil’spublishedguide“Good Medical Practice” including the Dutiesofa Doctor.
6.Totakepersonalresponsibilityforriskmanagementinyourworkandundertaketoreviewpracticesandlearnfrom mistakes.
7.Toshareinthe‘on-call’rota.Toprovideprospectivecoverforcolleaguesduringannualandstudyleaveandotherabsencesasfarasispracticableandclinicallysafe.
8.Toensurethatyourespondpromptlyandefficientlytoallcomplaintsrelatedtoanypatientcareyouoryourstaffhavebeeninvolvedwith,assistingtheTrust’scorporateresponsibilityto replytocomplaintswithin a specifiedtimeframe.
9.Toensurethatyoudevelopandmaintaineffectiveworkingrelationshipswiththoseagenciesconcernedwiththeprovisionofhealthandsocialcareservicesandthoserepresenting theinterestsofpatients.
10.Toundertakeanannual appraisalleadingtoapersonaldevelopmentplanasoutlinedintheTrustAppraisalPolicy.YoumustcollectandmaintainsufficientevidencetosupporttheappraisalprocessandyourGMCrevalidation.Theappraisalwillinformthe study leave and job planningprocesses.
11.ToundertakeanannualjobplanreviewasoutlinedintheTrustGuidetoJobPlanning.
12.Youarerequiredtotakereasonablecareforthehealthandsafetyofyourselfandotherswhomaybeaffectedbywhatyoudowhileatwork.YoumustadheretoTrustIRMER Regulations.
13.Involvementinthedevelopmentofclinicalmanagementprotocolssharedwiththecommunityand other consultant colleagues.
CLINICAL GOVERNANCEANDAUDIT
TheTruststronglysupportsclinicalgovernanceandriskmanagementandexpectsallseniormedicalstafftocontributefullytotheseactivities,andactivelyworktowardsandtomaintainhighqualityclinicalcare.Fullinvolvementofindividualpatientsindecisionsabouttheircareisexpected,asistheneedtoinvolvepatientsandthepublicinservicechange.Guidanceandsupportisgiventoclinicaldirectoratesinthe developmentoftheirprogrammes.Thereisanactiveclinicalauditdepartment,ledbyProf.JohnSchofield(ConsultantCellularPathologist).
Youareexpectedtotakepartintheprocessesformonitoringandimprovingthequalityofcareprovidedtopatients,includingriskmanagementandclinicalaudit.Teamandindividualperformancedataarebeingdevelopedandyouareexpectedtoreviewyourpracticeaccordingly.ThecommitmentofallstafftoclinicalgovernanceisassistedbyamonthlycompulsoryTrust-widehalf-dayforstructuredclinicalgovernanceactivities.Consultantsareexpected to attendand lead clinical governanceactivitiesduring the half-daysand youwill beheld accountablefor thisatyourannualappraisal.
EDUCATIONAND RESEARCH
PostgraduatecentresatMaidstoneandTunbridgeWellsHospitalsareundertheleadershipoftheDirectorofMedicalEducation. Thecentresprovideexcellentaccommodationforarangeofpostgraduateactivities.TherearegoodmedicallibrarieswithInternet access.
Clinicalresearchisencouraged.IfyouengageinclinicalresearchyoumustfollowTrustprotocolsandensurethattheresearchhashadlocalethicalapproval.ThereisanactiveResearch andDevelopmentCommittee.
TRUSTPOLICIES AND MANDATORY TRAINING
All Trustemployeesshould befamiliarwith and complywith Trustpolicies.These areavailable on theTrustintranet. Consultant staffare requiredtoremainup-to-date withstatutoryandmandatorytraining.The Directorof Medical Education andthe Head ofLearning & Development will provide informationand organisetraining much ofwhich can becompletedonline.
LEAVE MANAGEMENT
You mustco-ordinate yourleave arrangementswith those ofyourcolleaguesto provide aclinicallysafe environment. Inrespect ofclinical cancellationsetc.thismeansgivingat leastsixweeks’ notice ofintended annual andstudy leave.TheClinical Directoror directoratemanagement mustagreeall leave.Leave shouldbe bookedwith Directoratemanagementand takenin accordancewith Trust Policy.TheTrustsupportsstudy leave with expensesforCME activitiesand withinagreedfinancial limits(currently£950 perannum).Leavemanagementwithin thespecialtyshould ensure adequate andsafecross coverarrangementswith colleagues.Upto2 weeks study leave perannumis allowed providedthat itistaken evenly acrossclinical and non-clinical days.Special or professional leave canonlybe taken with the priorpermission oftheclinical directorandwith duenotice and coverarrangements.
INFECTION CONTROL
Asan employee oftheTrust you arerequiredtobefamiliarwith,and complywith,Trustpoliciesforinfectioncontrol and hand-hygiene inorder toreducethe spread ofhealthcare-associated infections. Forclinical staffwith direct contactwith patientsthiswill includecompliance with Trustclinical proceduresand protocols, including the uniform and dresscode (“barebelowthe elbows”), the use ofpersonal protective equipment policy,safeproceduresforusing aseptictechniquesandsafedisposal ofsharps.All staffarerequiredtoattendmandatorytraining in Infection Control andbe compliantwith all measures known tobe effective in reducing healthcare-associatedinfections.Trust Consultantsin theirpositionasclinical leadersareexpectedto leadon infection control within theirclinical areasandtosetanexampleforotherTrust employeesandthepublic.
ITSKILLS
TheTrustusesMicrosoft Officeand NHS.netandusesemail asameans ofcascadingimportantinformation and forinternal communication. Itisexpectedthat staffshould have basicIT skillsand befamiliarwith theuse ofemails, Outlook,Word,Excel andPowerPoint. Clinical Leadsand Clinical Directors are expectedto have atleastintermediateskillswith theseapplications.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
5. MB BS (or equivalent
6. •MRCOG part 1
7. •Evidence of training progression
8. •Full GMC registration with a license to practice
Desirable criteria
9. •Prizes
10.. •MRCOG part 2
11. •MRCOG part 3
12. •Other qualifications -ACLS/ALS/APLS.
Clinical Skills & Experience
Essential criteria
13. •Appropriate skill levels to provide resident on call duties on the third on call rota equivalent to completion of RCOG basic training including independent competence at operative vaginal delivery, uncomplicated Caesarean section, foetal blood sampling, perineal repair, evacuation of uterus, Surgical Management of Miscarriage.
14. •Experience and familiarity with UK hospital systems and practices (or equivalent).
Desirable criteria
15. •Laparoscopic management of ectopic pregnancy
Knowledge
Essential criteria
16. •Evidence of understanding and knowledge of specialty.
Desirable criteria
17. •Evidence of interest in O&G eg: audit or quality improvement project.
Communication Skills
Essential criteria
18. •Good Communication skills, both oral and written
19. •Able to establish good working relationships with all members of the multidisciplinary team.
20. •Fluent in English.
Desirable criteria
21. •Computer literate (Microsoft Word/Excel/Access or equivalent).
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
22. •Good organisational skills and time management.
23. •Able to function successfully under pressure.
Desirable criteria
24. •Flexible to new ideas
Other Requirements
Essential criteria
25. •Willing to seek help from senior colleagues as appropriate.
26. •Ability to fulfil all the duties of the post including weekend working and night shifts.
27. •Prepared to be flexible in working patterns.
28. •Able to take responsibility for training needs
Desirable criteria
29. •Experience of supervising junior medical staff
30. •Demonstrate some experience in teaching undergraduates.