Job overview
Applications are invited for this substantive post as a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon with a special interest in Shoulder & Elbow surgery. The appointed candidate will become part of a large and talented Trauma & Orthopaedic department with a role based between the Royal Sussex County Hospital (RSCH) in Brighton and the Sussex Orthopaedic Treatment centre (SOTC) in Haywards Heath.
The appointed surgeon will have an elective and trauma practice primarily in shoulder and elbow surgery and an on-call commitment covering Orthopaedic Trauma on a 1:12 basis within the major trauma centre in Brighton.
The successful candidate will be supported to develop further skills and interest within shoulder and elbow surgery to support the growth of the Shoulder and Elbow unit and Orthopaedic department as a whole.
Main duties of the job
The clinical duties of the post include the following:
1. Conduct shoulder and elbow elective clinics
2. Conduct Shoulder and elbow fracture clinics
3. Manage trauma lists and elective surgical theatre lists
4. Be part of a 1:12 on call rota in the major trauma centre
5. Perform ward rounds on a 1:12 on call basis
6. Supervise fellows, trainees and medical students
7. Actively contribute to the development of the department through management, education or research roles .
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
The Shoulder & Elbow unit is a busy team managing all shoulder and elbow pathologies, with a high volume of both primary work and tertiary referrals. We have access to all contemporary surgical technologies including robotics, 3D planning and custom implant design. We are the South East England GIRFT hub for primary and revision elbow arthroplasty but also perform a high volume of primary and revision shoulder arthroplasty.
Within the Shoulder and elbow team we have post-CCT fellows, training registrars and run a timetabled MDT meeting every 4 weeks.
There is a busy trauma workload that is shared amongst the team equally and an expectation that the appointed surgeon can provide high quality care for specialist shoulder and elbow trauma. Because of the high volume of complex elective and trauma work dealt with in our department, we encourage dual consultant operating, openness and discussion to help optimise outcomes for our patients.
The post holder will have the opportunity to build an elective practice that meets their interests, in conjunction with the other members of the Shoulder and Elbow team. They will form part of the hand MDT group. Elective surgery will be undertaken at the SOTC.
The Job Plan contains 40 hours a week, separated into 10 x 4 hour segments known as a PA (Programmed Activity). These 10 PAs will consist of 8 Direct Clinical Care (DCC) PAs for clinic and theatre lists, and 2 Supporting Professional Activity (SPA) PAs for administrative work, teaching and supervision roles.
On Call Commitment:
Part of a 1:12 on call rota in the major trauma centre.
Person specification
Qualifications and Experience
Essential criteria
8. •Basic medical degree
9. •FRCS Tr & Orth. or its recognised equivalent
10. •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 Trauma & Orthopaedics 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
11. •Higher Degree
12. •E.g. MSc, MD or PhD
Clinical Skills and Experience
Essential criteria
13. •Minimum 12 months fellowship training in Shoulder & Elbow Surgery
14. •At least 6 months working in a major trauma centre at registrar level
15. •Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues.
Desirable criteria
16. •Greater than 12 months fellowship training in Shoulder & Elbow Surgery
17. •6 months Trauma Fellowship training
18. •Worked independently as a consultant in Shoulder and elbow Surgery in a substantive or locum position
Knowledge
Desirable criteria
19. •Breadth of experience in and outside specialty
Organisation and Planning
Essential criteria
20. •Experience and ability to work in multi-professional teams.
21. •Understanding of: NHS / Clinical governance / Resource constraints
Desirable criteria
22. •Evidence of managerial skills: Achievements / Course attended
Teaching Skills
Essential criteria
23. •Evidence of an interest and commitment to teaching
Desirable criteria
24. •Recognised teaching qualification
Academic and Research
Essential criteria
25. •Evidence of participation in audit
Desirable criteria
26. •Research experience
27. •Publications
28. •Prizes and honours
Career Progression
Essential criteria
29. •Appropriate progression of career to date
Personal Attributes
Essential criteria
30. •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