JOB DESCRIPTION
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Specialty Doctor in Palliative Care
Job Description
Job Title:Specialty Doctor in Palliative Care
Location:St Margaret of Scotland Hospice
Ultimate Accountability:Chief Executive
Professional Accountability:Professor John Welsh, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, and Medical Director
Responsible for:Palliative Medical Care
Qualifications:
Essential:Medical Qualification. Full registration with the GMC with a licence to practise
Desirable:Evidence of attaining or progressing towards suitable post-graduate medical qualification e.g. MRCGP or MRCP
Job Purpose:To deliver a high quality medical carefor patients and their families (including young adults), throughout the patient’s illness and into bereavement.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities
The range of duties considered appropriate for the Specialty Doctor in Palliative Care is set out below. This list is not exhaustive and the responsibilities will be regularly reviewed and adapted in discussions with the Consultant in Palliative Medicine and the Chief Executive. This will occur at least annually during job planningThe Postholder will be expected to be flexible.
CLINICAL
The Postholder should provide Clinical care and supervision of patients in the Hospice, In-patient, Edwina Bradley Day Hospice Community Palliative Care Service and Outpatient Symptom Control Clinicin accordance with current policy and protocols together with other non-consultant medical staff and under the guidance of the consultant in Palliative Medicine, Professor John Welsh.
As a member of the Medical Team, The Postholder will be responsible for maintaining the highest possible standard of medical care for patients and will encourage and support the holistic approach to patients and their families within the Hospice, taking social, spiritual, psychological, as well as medical factors into consideration. The Postholder will work closely with all professional colleagues as part of the multi-disciplinary team.
a)The Postholder will ensure there is a comprehensive handover to out of hours medical staff promoting seamless care
b)Communicate effectively with patients, families and significant others as appropriate and in accordance with professional practice.
c)To carry out daily management of patients in the inpatient unit, including practical procedures such as venepuncture, IV infusions and paracentesis.
d)To comprehensively and accurately admit patients on admission to the ward.
e)To participate in the multi-disciplinary team meetings and ward rounds.
f)To liaise with and provide advice to GPs, Community Specialist Nurses and other members of the healthcare team (advising within the limits of current experience) in assisting in the support of patients in the community and where referred for admission to the ward is being considered.
g)Provide regular medical support to the Edwina Bradley Day Hospice patients, and to outpatients and Community patients as directed.
h)The assessment of patients in their own homes or in care homes at the request of the General Practitioner, the Hospice Clinical Nurse Specialistswith the approval of senior medical staff.
i)Providing advice and medical care to Edwina Bradley Day Hospice patients as required.
j)Clinical supervision and training of junior medical staff within limits of experience.
k)Participating in the on-call rota for medical cover at the Hospice.
l)Taking part in regular audit/research of clinical care. Understand the importance of audit and research to the continuing development of specialist palliative care.
m)To participate in regular appraisal of performance and training needs.
n)To undertake appropriate continued professional development and revalidation activities in accordance with the requirements of the Royal College of Physicians.
o)Responsibility for maintaining accurate comprehensive medical records upon which evaluations and audit may subsequently be based. These records are stored in accordance with Hospice policy and Data Protection legislation.
p)To work with the Chief Executive, Director of Clinical Services and Senior Management team in maintaining accurate and comprehensive documentation, audits, education and continuing professional development as required by Healthcare Improvement Scotland to maintain the excellent standards of the Hospice.
q)To provide clinical advice by telephone to external care professionals as required within the limits of experience.
r)Promoting and delivering appropriate education in the Sir Patrick Hamill Education Centre and within the ward
s)Provide telephone advice to patients, families and other professionals on the management of palliative care in the community and local hospitals when requested within the limits of experience.
t)Seek appropriate advice and support from the consultants in Palliative Medicine, in accordance with the post holder’s experience and competence.
u)Committed to team working in a multi-professional setting.
v)Actively participate in Clinical Governance sub groups
w)Actively participate in Risk Assessment and Management within the Hospice
GENERAL
a)Maintain the standards of professional accountability as determined by the GMC and any other professional bodies.
b)The Postholder is required to be fully covered by Medical Defence insurance as a condition of employment.
c)Ensure the Mission Statement, Core Values and ethos of St Margaret of Scotland Hospice underpin all practice and interaction.
d)Demonstrate support in the preparation of events such as ‘Light up a Life’, Christmas Mass, Remembrance Services and Bereavement Support Groups which are important events for pastoral care and all members within the Multi-disciplinary Team.
e)All employees are required to be aware of their responsibilities towards Health and Safety in the workplace.
f)The Postholder must be able to drive and have their own transport which is available to them.
g)The Hospice operates a “No-Smoking” policy which extends to both the buildings and grounds of the Hospice.
h)Confidentiality and loyalty to the Chief Executive, the Organisation of the Sisters of Charity and the Hospice must be practised at all times.
i)This document defines the general and specific scope of the duties involved, and may be amended to meet the changing requirements of the service. The Chief Executive will ensure that opportunities exist within the review and appraisal process to alter the scope and content of the job description. Duties may also be amended in light of operational requirements.
This document defines the general and specific scope of the duties involved, and may be amended to meet the changing requirements of the service. The Chief Executive will ensure that opportunities exist within the review and appraisal process to alter the scope and content of the job description. Duties may also be amended in light of operational requirements.
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