Senior Clinical Fellow (ST6+ Equivalent) in Neurology

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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Neurology Department currently has 8 substantive and 2 locum consultants.

Dr Paul Watts, Clinical Director, Dr Amit Batla, Professor Anette Schrag, Dr Anna Cohen, Dr Floriana De Angelis, Dr Anna Latorre, Dr Sara Collorone, Dr Mara Sittampalam and Dr Talal Al-Mayhani. A specialist registrar from the Royal Free attends once per week on a Tuesday and sees ward referrals and holds an outpatient clinic in the afternoon. The service is also currently supported by two Senior Clinical Fellows.

The department is also staffed by three MS Specialist Nurses, a Parkinson's Disease Specialist Nurse, and an Epilepsy Specialist Nurse. There are Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy Departments, which are well equipped. Swallowing and Language Therapy Services are supported by the Speech and Language Service and Dieticians, with assistance, as required from a Nurse Specialist in Nutrition.

The Neurology Department currently has four secretaries and an admin lead.

Over 2000 new out-patient referrals and over 1500 in-patient ward referrals are received each year. Almost all in-patient referrals are seen within 48 hours of receipt of the referral and most are seen the same day. There are currently 11 General and Specialist Consultant Out-Patient clinics per week including a monthly MS clinic, a monthly Parkinson's Disease Clinic and a monthly Botulinum Clinic. In addition, a clinic for pregnant women with epilepsy held every 6 weeks.

The post holder would be encouraged to participate in audits / research with allocated time in their time table. The appointee would have access to all our Library facilities, and be encouraged to attend the Regional Specialist Registrar Programme Teaching Sessions. The appointee will be entitled to study leave as prescribed by the deanery. They would have an allocated Educational Supervisor for all e portfolio activities.

This post would have all the training elements of the current Specialty Registrar programme with opportunities where available to support outpatient clinics whereby they have a specialty interest. The post holder would be encouraged to participate in audits / research with allocated time in their time table. They would have access to all our Library facilities, and be encouraged to attend the Regional Specialist Registrar Programme Teaching Sessions. They would be entitled to study leave as prescribed by the deanery. They would have an allocated Educational Supervisor for all e portfolio activities.

The postholder will be given a PDP folder by the Medical Centre staff which you should discuss with your educational supervisor at the beginning of your post.

The Luton and Dunstable University Hospital (L&D) has always been renowned for its friendly atmosphere and good working relationships. The Hospital has an excellent track record of financial and senior executive stability.

The Trust has University Hospital status which provides an academic environment to the hospital. In addition to postgraduate training, we welcome medical students from the UCL Medical School throughout the year and by arrangement with the medical school provide a programme of clinical placements to support their education. We have an excellent reputation for junior staff training. Within the Centre of Multi-Professional Educational & Training (COMET) is the Medical Education Department, the library including an IT suite, and the Training & Development Department. The main aim of the Medical Education Department is to promote postgraduate and continuing medical education and training for all doctors and dentists. The Hospital actively promotes career development and progression for all staff.

The Hospital has excellent access to the surrounding areas with easy access to central London and the rural Chilterns. The rural areas include many attractive villages and towns within easy reach of the Hospital including St Albans and Harpenden. Excellent schools are found nearby. There is also very good access to the Midlands and North by road using the M1 or A1, or by rail to one of the Luton's three stations. A direct link using the new 'Busway' takes passengers from Luton Train station just 7 minutes to reach a stop that is within a short walking distance of the hospital. London Luton Airport is within fifteen minutes of the hospital.

All applicants will be required to demonstrate a working knowledge of the English language.

Full registration with the General Medical Council is required at time of application.

The appointment will be subject to full Occupational Health Clearance and Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check for the successful candidates prior to commencement.

Please refer to the Job Description for full details of the post.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• MBBS or equivalent medical qualification

Eligibility

Essential criteria

• Eligible for full registration with the GMC at the time of appointment.
• Evidence of achievement of Foundation competencies by time of appointment in line with GMC standards in Good Medical Practice
• Good clinical care
• Maintaining good medical practice
• Good relationships and communication with patients
• Good working relationships with colleagues
• Good teaching and training
• Professional behaviour and probity
• Delivery of good acute clinical care
• Evidence of achievement of ST1/CT1 competences in a relevant specialty at time of application and likelihood of achieving ST2/CT2 competences in a relevant specialty by the start date of the post.
• Eligibility to work in the UK.

Application Completion

Essential criteria

• ALL sections of application form FULLY completed

Clinical Skills

Essential criteria

• Acute Care Safe: ALS (or equivalent life support course) provider, Hospital at night team working/experience. Out of hours experience relevant to the job.
• Relevant Specialty clinical knowledge; capacity to apply sound clinical knowledge relevant to the job, specialty knowledge exam.
• Clinical judgement: experience in making clinical decisions and managing risk. Knows when to seek help, able to prioritise clinical need.
• Practical skills: shows aptitude for practical skills, required for the job.
• Proven ability to work effectively in different clinical settings required in the job

Desirable criteria

• ALS Intructors Certificate

Specialty specific skills related to the post

Essential criteria

• 2 years' experience in neurology at registrar level

Clinical Governance

Essential criteria

• Clinical Governance: Capacity to be alert to dangers or problems. Demonstrates awareness of good decision making. Aware of own limitations. Track record of engaging in clinical governance, reporting errors, learning from errors.
• Audit: Evidence of active participation in audit.
• Teaching: Evidence of interest and experience in teaching where required in the job.

Desirable criteria

• Research Skills: Demonstrates understanding of the principles of research, evidence of relevant academic and research achievements.e.g. degrees, prizes, awards, distinctions, publications, presentations, other achievements.
• Teaching: Evidence of experience in teaching where required in the job.

Fitness to Practise

Essential criteria

• Applicant's knowledge is up to date and fit to practise safely

Language Skills

Essential criteria

• All applicants to have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English that are adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues, which could be demonstrated by ;
• a) having undertaken undergraduate medical training in English
• b) having scores in the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or equivalent to those required for recruitment to MMC specialty training programmes.

Health

Essential criteria

• Meets professional health requirements (in line with GMC standards in Good Medical Practice)

Communication Skills

Essential criteria

• Effective communication skills: demonstrates clarity in written/spoken communication and capacity to adapt language as appropriate to the situation.
• Empathy and sensitivity: capacity to listen and take in others' perspectives.
• Works in partnership with patients: always considers patients preferences when discussing treatment options. Always considers the full impact of clinical decisions on the patients, Practice shared decision making. Directs and supports patients to access the information they need to support decision making.

Desirable criteria

• 360 feedback
• Patient survey feedback and reflections.

Personal Skills

Essential criteria

• Team working: demonstrated experience working in a team, values the input of other professional in the team.
• Managing others and team involvement: capacity to work co-operatively with others and demonstrate leadership when appropriate. Capacity to work effectively in multi-professional teams.
• Coping with pressure: capacity to operate under pressure. Demonstrates initiative and resilience to cope with the setbacks & adapt to rapidly changing circumstances.
• Problem solving & decision making: capacity to use logical /lateral thinking to solve problems & make decisions.
• Organisation and planning: capacity to organise oneself and prioritise own work. Demonstrates punctuality, preparation and self-discipline. Understands importance of information technology.
• Flexible approach to work: able to adapt and work with employers to deliver improved patient care.
• Equality and diversity: promotes equality and values diversity.

Desirable criteria

• Able to adapt to work with employers to deliver Leadership skills: experience in leadership
• Demonstrates skills needed for effective delegation within the team: 360 feedback
• Driver with a valid license.

Probity

Essential criteria

• Professional integrity and respect for others: capacity to take responsibility for own actions and demonstrate a non-judgmental approach towards others. Displays honesty, integrity, awareness of confidentiality and ethical issues.

Commitment to clinical governance / improving quality of patient care

Essential criteria

• Clinical governance: Capacity to be alert to dangers or problems. Demonstrates awareness of good decision making. Aware of own limitations. Track record of engaging in clinical governance: reporting errors, learning from errors.
• Audit: evidence of active participation in audit. Teaching: evidence of interest and experience in teaching where required in the job.

Desirable criteria

• Research Skills: Demonstrates understanding of the principles of research, evidence of relevant academic and research achievements.
• Teaching: evidence of experience in teaching where required in the job.

It is an exciting time to join the newly formed Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.

You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. Travel between hospital sites may be required. We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.

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

• JD (PDF, 480.3KB)
• JD (PDF, 480.3KB)
• JD (PDF, 480.3KB)
• L&D Hospital site map (PDF, 96.8KB)
• Disclosure & Barring Information and Recruitment of Ex-Offenders (PDF, 78.5KB)
• Information for Disabled Applicants (PDF, 98.7KB)