Palliative Care Consultant & Medical Director / Lead

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Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people.

We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. Plus, we provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries.

We welcome and encourage application from anyone with protected characteristics, as well as supporting reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals encourages flexible working in all our roles to support staff in maintaining healthy home-life balance. Working patterns such as: part time working, self-rostering, compressed hours, annualised hours, term time, reverse term time and flexitime working can be explored.

Job overview

Trinity Hospice wishes to appoint a dynamic, motivated and committed individual as its new Medical Director to help lead the organisation forward at an exciting time in its development.

The Hospice is based in Blackpool but serves the wider geographic area covering the entire Fylde Coast and beyond, with a community of c350,000 including the attractive towns of Lytham and Poulton-le-Fylde. The hospice has both an adult and children's unit alongside a wide range of other services. Trinity has the resources to be innovative in partnership with others including Lancaster University and the CCG sponsored Fylde Coast End of Life Strategy Group. Trinity has an excellent reputation as a forward thinking, high performing and progressive organisation and for being a great place to work.

Main duties of the job

Working alongside Trinity's Directors including its Director of Clinical Services and CEO, as well as Palliative Care Consultants and Doctors, the successful candidate will provide strategic leadership to Trinity Hospice, around palliative and end of life care, including how specialist palliative care services should work alongside and influence health and social care colleagues at a time of significant change. The post holder will support the delivery of Trinity's mission statement of "enabling compassionate care on the journey to end of life" through supporting and extending the reach of the hospice and specialist palliative care across the Fylde Coast. They will also be a Director on the senior management team as well as overseeing Trinity's medical establishment.

The successful candidate will have previous extensive experience in clinical medicine - with at least 4 years in a substantive medical role as Consultant (this need not be in palliative care).

Working for our organisation

The successful candidate will be joining an organisation which is highly rated by the people who work there. The 2023 Staff Survey found 98% of respondents enjoy the work that they do, 96% were proud to work for our Charity and 96% enjoy working with the people within the organisation.

Our Staff Benefits:

• 38 days annual leave each year, pro rata (inclusive of Bank Holidays)
• Professional Registration fees reimbursed
• Various Health and Wellbeing benefits including annual flu and Covid-19 vaccinations, access to complementary therapy and counselling.
• Free car parking on site
• Discounted staff meals
• Pension scheme, or NHS Pensions are transferable
• Maternity/Paternity benefits

Trinity is a great place to work, having an outstanding rating with the Care Quality Commission and Investors in People Gold accreditation. If you are looking to join a thriving, increasingly innovative organisation, which puts passion and care at the heart of its operations, then this may well be the post for you!

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Summary of role

As a Consultant in Palliative Medicine, the role holds a consultant standard contract with Blackpool Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and an honorary contract with Trinity Hospice. Clinical supervision is overseen by the Trust. At the hospice, the post is managerially and professionally accountable to the Chief Executive.

The Medical Director / Medical Lead holds an executive post as part of the executive team and therefore shares corporate responsibility for strategic planning and development of hospice services, management of resources and delivery of hospice aims.

The Medical Director / Medical Lead is also involved in influencing local strategy through working with local partners and stakeholders to support the continuing development of services to meet local needs.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

Leadership and Strategy
• Provide clinical leadership in partnership with the Director of Clinical Services of the hospice around service developments, clinical governance and review of policies and procedures.
• Work collaboratively with the other Consultants in Palliative Medicine and the wider multi-professional team to ensure the delivery and continuity of specialist palliative care for the population of the Fylde Coast.
• Take an active role in the planning, development, and delivery of organisational strategy and services to achieve service objectives and continuous improvement of wider specialist palliative care services.
• Support the development and delivery of best practice in palliative and end of life care in line with the Fylde Coast Integrated Palliative & End of Life Care Strategy (2024-2028/9) and the National Ambitions for Palliative and End of Life Care (2021-2026).
• Work with the Fylde Coast Strategic 'Dying Well' Group to support the implementation of the local strategy and the ongoing development of palliative and end of life care across health and social care on the Fylde Coast.
• Develop close links with Fylde Coast General Practitioners, Acute Trust and community colleagues representing Trinity and our desire for successful partnerships.
• Take on leadership role as part of the executive team which includes clinical, risk management, HR, finance and corporate responsibilities.
• Provide professional leadership, vision and direction for medical and knowledge exchange services
• Act as a role model for hospice values and behaviours

Management and Supervision
• Share corporate responsibility for managing the hospice budget but have direct responsibility for cost-effective planning and budget management for the medical team and, in conjunction with the Director People and OD, knowledge exchange.
• Ensure performance management arrangements are in place for the medical team that adhere to hospice standards and policies.
• Directly line manage the hospice doctors.
• Provide direct line management to ACPs until the appointment of a Nurse Consultant.
• Ensure the hospice has a robust medical on-call rota.
• Ensure medical trainees on placement at the hospice receive appropriate support and supervision.

Service Delivery and Development
• Supported by the Chief Executive and other clinical leaders and managers be responsible for delivering coordinated, integrated, responsive and accessible palliative care services in the community and the hospice.
• Review and enhance palliative and end of life care services to align with strategic priorities and annual aims and goals of the hospice.
• In collaboration with other clinical leaders, develop the hospice's business intelligence and data to measure impact of services and inform future developments.

Clinical
• Provide clinical leadership for the medical and other clinical teams in the hospice.
• Provide direct clinical responsibility for the care of hospice inpatients, and other locations.
• Promote high professional standards of clinical care for patients, both through direct patient care and by the maintenance of continuing professional development.
• Act as a role model and expert practitioner by sharing clinical skills and knowledge with the broader multi-disciplinary team.
• Clinical decisions are the responsibility of each senior doctor, but the medical director will offer support and guidance.
• Provide some mentoring and clinical supervision to all members of the medical team.
• Participate in the second on call medical rota to support the integrated adult service and 24-hour specialist palliative care advice line.
• Participate in weekly Specialist Palliative Care Multidisciplinary Team meetings.
• Actively promote and develop evidence based clinical practice.

Clinical Governance
• The Medical Director will work with the Registered Manager to ensure strong clinical governance and regulatory compliance.
• Play a full part in the clinical governance committee and other relevant bodies to ensure their aims and objectives are met.

Knowledge Exchange
• Provide strategic palliative and end of life care education leadership for the hospice and Fylde Coast along with key staff at the hospice and Blackpool Teaching Hospitals.
• Lead the development of a comprehensive programme of training and education for other professionals and students; including long and short-term funded projects.
• Through education and training, encourage best practice in end-of-life care by other service providers.
• Contribute to the delivery of education to all staff groups and act as a clinical or educational supervisor to speciality doctors and trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioners
• Provide guidance and support to the clinical education team by sharing knowledge and skills and ensuring training provided reflects best practice and latest guidance.
• Seek and develop opportunities for income generation through education and training.
• Work with other executives and managers to develop resources and information services to support public awareness.
• Lead the development of a comprehensive programme of clinical education for staff which supports professional development and fulfils regulatory and statutory requirements.
• Lead the hospice's research and innovation sub-committee and strategy for the improvement of patient outcomes and services.

Hospice
• Provide support and commitment for the organisation's charitable activities such as attending events, presentations etc.
• Support the ethos of Trinity Hospice.
• Adherence to hospice policies, procedures and codes of conduct.
• Ensure confidentiality of information at all times.
• Carry out other duties as required by the Chief Executive

Personal / Professional
• Commitment to continuous professional development and participation in the hospice's annual performance review programme.
• Fulfil requirements for revalidation with GMC
• Provide current GMC registration with a valid licence to practice.
• Lead by example

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• MB ChB or equivalent
• MRCP (UK) or equivalent

Desirable criteria

• Teaching qualification such as PGCE
• Higher degree (MD/PhD).

Legal Requirements

Essential criteria

• Entry on the General Medical Council (GMC) Specialist Register via one of the following: a) Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) (the proposed CCT date must be within six months of the interview); b) Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR); c) European Community Rights.

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria

• Excellent communication skills - both oral and written.
• Competent computer and IT skills.
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload and to delegate responsibility and supervise staff.
• Ability to motivate and inspire a multi-disciplinary team and work sensitively within teams and across organisations.
• Involvement and evidence of implementation of service development and managing change in a healthcare setting.
• Leadership skills - ability to take responsibility, show leadership and make decisions, to inspire colleagues and get the best out of them including ideas and innovations. Able to represent the hospice when necessary with colleagues, partners, patients and those close to them.

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of delivering high quality teaching programmes to undergraduates.
• Evidence of supervising doctors in training.
• Research experience

Management Skills

Essential criteria

• Awareness of independent hospice sector and its links with the NHS.
• Awareness of NHS organisation and core values of NHS.
• Understanding of the management responsibilities of a consultant working in a hospice setting.
• Participation in a management/ leadership training course.

Knowledge/Research

Essential criteria

• Commitment to CPD and requirements of clinical governance and audit.
• A proven track record in self- directed service improvement.

Desirable criteria

• Publications in peer reviewed journals.

Adherence to the Values of the Hospice/Trust

Essential criteria

• Provide person centred care with skills and compassion.
• Respect and value individual difference
• Share knowledge and expertise with others
• Always patient and staff focused.
• Supports effective team work.
• Able to demonstrate integrity through honest and open behaviours
• Communicates widely and effectively
• Respond positively and flexibly to challenges.
• Constantly strive to provide high quality care.
• Work collaboratively based on mutual respect and trust.
• Always shows empathy for patients and staff.
• Always seeks to understand how others are feeling.
• Demonstrate a can-do attitude and be accountable for individual actions
• Maximise our impact by effective team working
• Always staying positive to reassure staff and patients
• Always reflecting the impact of own attitude and behaviours upon the service and staff.
• Strive for improvement, continuously challenge assumptions and strive for cutting edge solutions.
• Always striving to do best for patients and staff.
• Always appreciating the efforts of others.
• Always taking responsibility for actions.
• Always seeking out opportunities for improvements
• Work in partnership with our community.
• Fund services through ethical and transparent behaviours. Communicates widely and effectively. TRUST Compassion Always shows empathy for patients and staff. Always seeks to understand how others are feeling. TRUST Positive Always staying positive to reassure staff and patients. Always reflecting the impact of own attitude and behaviours upon the service and staff. TRUST Excellence Always striving to do best for patients and staff. Always appreciating the efforts of others. Always taking responsibility for actions. Always seeking out opportunities for improvement fundraising.
• Advocate for vulnerable individuals
• Endeavour to be environmentally and financially sustainable

Please click here to view our Care and Compassion Day video

Any invitation to interview will be sent to the email account stated on your application form.

If the role you have applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this as part of your pre-employment checks. Please note, you will be required to repay the cost on appointment. This will be collected via a salary deduction. You can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months from your salary or as a one-off payment on commencement in post. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently the charges are - Basic DBS check £22.00, Standard DBS check £22.00 and Enhanced DBS check £42.00.

You are encouraged where possible, to register for the DBS update service. This is an annual registration fee of £13. By registering for the update service you will not have the additional cost of repeated disclosures.

Should you withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check.

DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions.

By submitting an application for this vacancy you are confirming your agreement to the above in the event you are successfully appointed.

The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here.

Please ensure that you read the Person Specification attached below as your application will be judged against this.

Please note that every effort will be made to keep the vacancy live until published closing date, though there may be instances where such interest is generated, that for administrative reasons the post may close earlier.

Please note that in line with national NHS guidelines this Trust operates a strict non-smoking policy. Members of staff are not permitted to smoke on Trust premises or grounds at any time nor take breaks during working hours for the purposes of smoking.

The Trust does not offer interview expenses to shortlisted candidates unless indicated in the advert.

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.

Documents to download

• Job Description (PDF, 151.8KB)
• Personal Specification (PDF, 122.1KB)
• Medical Director Recruitment Pack (PDF, 839.8KB)
• Guidance on Pre-Employment Checks (PDF, 64.2KB)
• Statement on Recruitment of Ex-Offenders (PDF, 43.2KB)
• Application Guide Booklet (PDF, 511.1KB)