Job overview
This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic and supportive team and help deliver an innovative service for palliative patients.
Working closely with the Hospital Palliative Care Team as part of Acute Hospital at Home, the postholder will gain valuable experience in palliative care in both acute and community settings, developing skills in identification of patients, assessment and management of acute palliative care problems and multi-professional working, with the purpose of providing enhanced palliative care in the patients home and thus avoiding hospital admission and supporting earlier discharges.
As this is a new service and one of very few nationally, quality improvement activity will be integral to the post and there will be opportunity to present the outcomes at regional and national meetings.
Informal enquiries are welcome and interested parties are invited to contact Dr Rachel Thorp or Dr Jack Gillham in the first instance.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will be working as part of the Urgent and Integrated Division at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, working with the Hospital Palliative Care Team and Acute Hospital at Home team (AHAH) to deliver and develop the new palliative care virtual ward. This has been established to help support admission avoidance and the safe delivery of care to palliative patients in the emergency department and at home under AHAH.
The postholder will be able to gain experience in acute palliative care whilst being supported by the palliative care team, including a consultant and a specialist doctor. Their duties will include daily AHAH senior led virtual ward round, admitting patients from ED to the virtual ward, reviewing palliative patients in SDEC, working with the acute medical teams to support identification of patients for the palliative care virtual ward on board rounds and ED huddles.
There will be opportunities to make domiciliary visits and work closely with primary care and community services as well as reviewing palliative care patients on the general medical and surgical wards.
As a member of the Acute Hospital At Home team you will be expected to support the general AHAH team working with a second AHAH doctor and providing cross cover as necessary and able.
Quality improvement and service development is expected to constitute a significant part of this role.
Working for our organisation
At DCHFT, we pride ourselves on the care we provide for our patients, and on the culture, we are creating for our staff. We work hard to create a fair, inclusive environment for our staff.
Our Mission is to work in partnership to provide high quality, compassionate services and to nurture an environment where people can be at their best. Our vision is healthier lives, empowered citizens, thriving communities.
We are a Trust that celebrates diversity, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from people in all under-represented groups.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The postholder will be working as part of the Urgent and Integrated Division at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, working with the Hospital Palliative Care Team and Acute Hospital at Home team (AHAH) to deliver and develop the new palliative care virtual ward. This has been established to help support admission avoidance and the safe delivery of care to palliative patients in the emergency department and at home under AHAH.
The postholder will be able to gain experience in acute palliative care whilst being supported by the palliative care team, including a consultant and a specialist doctor. Their duties will include daily AHAH senior led virtual ward round, admitting patients from ED to the virtual ward, reviewing palliative patients in SDEC, working with the acute medical teams to support identification of patients for the palliative care virtual ward on board rounds and ED huddles.
There will be opportunities to make domiciliary visits and work closely with primary care and community services as well as reviewing palliative care patients on the general medical and surgical wards.
As a member of the Acute Hospital At Home team you will be expected to support the general AHAH team working with a second AHAH doctor and providing cross cover as necessary and able.
The palliative care virtual ward is a new service and as such provides an exciting opportunity for the post holder to work in a rapidly evolving field of palliative care and engage in meaningful quality improvement and service development, which is expected to constitute a significant part of this role.
The postholder will have access to training opportunities and funded study leave and access to an ePortfolio will be offered.
Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for the full details relating to this innovative post.
Person specification
Education, Qualifications and Training
Essential criteria
* Medical Degree (MBBS, MChB or equivalent)
* Full GMC registration and a licence to practise is required
Experience and Knowledge
Essential criteria
* At least 2 years clinical experience in general medicine
* At least 1-year clinical experience in UK
* Experience of multidisciplinary working
Desirable criteria
* Experience in palliative care
* Evidence of assisting in or training in medical procedures
* Evidence of experience in NHS discharge planning
Current Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria
* Evidence and understanding of clinical governance and the individual responsibilities it implies
* Evidence of good communication skills
Audit and Research
Essential criteria
* Knowledge/ experience of medical and clinical quality improvement activity