University of Southampton / University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
Academic Clinical Lecturer in Ophthalmology
Job Description
Department: Ophthalmology
Post: Lecturer in Ophthalmology
Grade: Academic Clinical Lecturer, Honorary Specialist Registrar
Responsible to: Professor Andrew Lotery
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Introduction
The University of Southampton, together with the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS), wishes to appoint an (NIHR) Academic Clinical Lecturer (ACL) in ophthalmology. The post-holder will be pursuing his/her development of research and teaching within the vision science research group, University of Southampton. The ACL will also have clinical commitments at UHS that will lead to further clinical skills required for specialist training and leading to full registration within ophthalmology.
The post is subject to terms and conditions of service determined by the University of Southampton and in its honorary clinical capacity by the UHS.
Details of the Post
Academic training and development of the ACL
This is an academic post sponsored by the University of Southampton and UHS. It provides a career pathway for able and ambitious trainees in ophthalmology who have already shown excellence in research by successfully completing a PhD. The post supports national efforts to strengthen academia in ophthalmology. The development and strengthening of the successful candidate’s research will take place in the vision sciences group within the Clinical and Experimental Sciences Academic Unit - a multi-disciplinary division consisting of clinical and basic scientists studying the underlying mechanisms of a wide range of chronic neurological, infectious and inflammatory diseases. The strengths of this Unit result from the combination of an excellent scientific community focused on elucidation of fundamental mechanisms underlying human diseases.
The University of Southampton (http://www.southampton.ac.uk/), member of the Russell Group of highly research active universities, and UHS (http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/home.aspx) have developed a combined research strategy since 1992. Most recently this has been translated within the “2020 vision” of the Trust http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/AboutTheTrust/PlansPoliciesAndStrategies/Corporatestrategy-the2020Vision.aspx
The ACL will join the vision science research group, which is led by Andrew Lotery, Professor of Ophthalmology. The group consists of:
Professor Andrew Lotery, Professor of Ophthalmology
Mr Parwez Hossain, Associate Professor in Ophthalmology
Mr Srini Goverdhan, Associate Professor in Ophthalmology
Mr Jay Self, Associate Professor in Ophthalmology
Dr Arjuna Ratnayaka, Lecturer in Ophthalmology
The group has a wider range of clinical and basic science projects. Major themes of the group are molecular genetics of glaucoma and age related macular degeneration, RPE cell transplanation, gene therapy for retinal diseases, disease modelling via ips cells (Andrew Lotery); corneal infections (Parwez Hossain); AMD and animal models (Srini Goverdhan) and nystagmus (Jay Self). A large number of clinical trials are done mostly for glaucoma and macular degeneration (Andrew Lotery).
Over the past 5 years the groups has published in a number of the highest impact journals including Nature Genetics, Lancet, and Ophthalmology.
The group’s research is embedded into the excellent infra-structure of the CES Academic Unit, refurbished through a joint Wellcome Trust Science Research Investment Fund (SRIF) and University of Southampton grant, totalling £10.1M, and Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility (http://www.suht.nhs.uk/Research/Links/WellcomeTrustCRFat Southampton.aspx). Current funding within the hepatology group is derived from NIHR, various eye charities. In addition the group forms an active part of UK ophthalmology research participating in many of the national research initiatives, the Local Clinical Research Network and multi-centre industry sponsored trials. The group is currently undergoing a phase of active expansion, of which the ACL will form an important part.
Ophthalmology research is located within the Clinical Neuroscience Research Grouping in the Sir Henry Wellcome Laboratories and is supported by other specialised groups - Bioimaging Unit (http://www.biu.soton.ac.uk/), Histochemistry Research Unit (http://www.hru.soton.ac.uk/), Flow Cytometry Unit (with two FACSArias).
Research duties of the ACL
The ACL will have 50% of his/her post protected for further research, benefiting from all the facilities of the CES Academic Unit, as well as those within the Faculty of Medicine, as appropriate. If required, additional arrangements can be made with other faculties in the University of Southampton.
The ACL is expected to continue the research he/she started during his/her PhD studies, moving from a position of an accomplished student towards that of an independent researcher who would be competitive for a Senior Lecturer position.
Clinical training of the ACL
The clinical training of the ACL will be provided and supervised by the Specialist Training Committee (STC), allocating 50% of the ACL’s training time to clinical work that will lead to completion of specialist training. This will take place within the Wessex Deanery’s region, covering an area from Portsmouth in the east, Basingstoke in the north, Dorchester to the west and Isle of Wight in the south. The ACL will be placed in one of the accredited NHS Trusts following agreement between the ACL, the STC Chair/Programme Director, Mr Nigel Hall, and the Academic Programme lead, Professor Andrew Lotery. Every attempt will be made to place the ACL in Southampton or in a nearby Trust to facilitate continuing contact between the ACL and their academic mentors.
Full details of the UHS are provided below, while details of the whole programme in the region can be obtained on request.
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
UHS is the 8th largest in the country and is recognised as a centre of clinical, education and research excellence. It provides a service for acute medicine and all aspects of secondary care for the Southampton population and serves as a tertiary referral centre for a wide region in south England and, for many specialties, beyond the region. It is a regional centre for ophthalmology, with state-of-the-art facilities for ophthalmic imaging.
Care Group Information
Southampton Eye Unit opened in 1994 as a purpose built block within the Southampton General Hospital. The Department consists of an Eye Short Stay Unit (ESSU) with 4 side rooms and two day case areas, two fully equipped ophthalmic theatres, an administrative area, an ophthalmic casualty department and an independent outpatient facility. Within the outpatient area are 16 slit lamp examination cubicles, an orthoptic department, a photographic and imaging suite, ultrasound and laser rooms, visual field analysers and a minor operations theatre. There is also a medical retina suite comprising an examination room and 4 clean rooms for delivering high volume anti-VEGF injections. An electrodiagnostic laboratory has been developed within the unit, including facilities for complex paediatric examination, staffed part time by a clinical scientist. Ophthalmic photographers perform fluoresceins, ICG angiographic investigations and OCTs. The laser facility includes the capacity to carry out photodynamic therapy. The unit performs nearly 6,000 FREs annually. General ophthalmic work is provided for the population of Southampton with tertiary referrals in the fields of special interest drawn from Wessex and the Channel Islands.
The Ophthalmology Care Group has its own Care Group Manager, supported by an elected member of the Consultant staff in the form of a Care Group Clinical Lead. Management is devolved to Heads of Department: a Senior Clinical Nurse, ESSU Manager, Theatre Manager, Casualty Sister, Outpatient Sister, Senior Optometrist and Lead Orthoptist.
Care Group Clinical Lead Parwez Hossain
Care Group Manager Victoria White
Medical Staff
There are 21 Consultant Ophthalmologists within the Department, each with a special interest:
Mr Philip Alexander Locum, Surgical Retina
Miss Nishani Amerasinghe Glaucoma
Mr David Anderson Cornea & External Eye Disease
Miss Gabriella De Salvo Medical Retina
Mr Srini Goverdhan Medical Retina
Mr Parwez Hossain Associate Professor, Cornea & External Eye Disease
Mr Aby Jacob Glaucoma
Mrs Doreen Khan-Lim Oculoplastic Surgery
Miss Radhika Krishnan Medical Retina
Mr Steve Lash Surgical retina
Prof Andrew Lotery Professor, Medical Retina & Genetics
Miss Ruth Manners Oculoplastic Surgery
Mrs Kristina May Paediatric Ophthalmology
Mr Rob Morris Strabismus
Mr Richard Newsom Surgical Retina
Mrs Christina Rennie Medical Retina
Mr. Deb Sahu Medical Retina
Mr Jay Self Paediatric Ophthalmology
Mr Stephanie West Paediatric Ophthalmology
The Directorate includes colleagues at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester who undertake sessions at the Eye Unit (0.45 wte):
Mr Nigel Hall Uveitis
Mr Alex MacLeod Glaucoma
Clinical training of specialist registrars in ophthalmology
It is anticipated that the post will comprise 6 months of academic work and 6 months of clinical work per year. These can be taken as two six month blocks or on a half-time clinical basis, subject to need and local negotiation. Clinical training will be the equivalent of usual clinical training to CCT standard in ophthalmology, but will be undertaken at 0.5 rate overall. The ACL will perform one or two weekly outpatient clinics at Southampton General Hospital and one or two surgical lists according to training need. The lecturer will also contribute to the ongoing clinical trial programme which runs on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Specialty registrar education
The ACL will take part in the Wessex StR training programme in ophthalmology. This is an active programme, which has been well received and currently runs every Friday afternoon within the region, under the supervision of the ophthalmology Training Committee in Wessex. There is an active clinical audit and clinical governance committee at Southampton and the ACL will be expected to undertake at least one audit during his/her time at Southampton. Weekly in house teaching in glaucoma and medical retina is held for Junior Doctors and the ACL will be expected to participate in these sessions.
Training and educational duties of the ACL
The ACL will join the staff of the ophthalmology Service in the provision of undergraduate and postgraduate education in the specialty. He/she will be expected to take an active part in teaching junior doctors, medical students and allied health professionals at Southampton in ophthalmology
Southampton is home to a large medical school with an intake of over 250 medical students. Undergraduate education in ophthalmology is provided through a one week attachment at the University of Southampton Medical School in year 4 and through lectures and ward / out patient-based teaching; additionally, students rotate through the ophthalmology service through elective attachments.
Management duties
Southampton General Hospital established a clinical management system in 1986 which was extended throughout Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust in 1991. In 2011 the UHS Trust achieved foundation status.
All staff in each Division are managerially accountable to the Clinical Director who has overall responsibility for the services within the Division. The medical directorate has Lead Consultants within each sub-specialty who also act as liaison between individual consultant teams and the Clinical Director.
Administrative duties
The post-holder will be required to:
1. undertake the administrative duties associated with the care of patients.
2. travel as necessary between units
General provisions
Subject to the provisions of the Terms and Conditions of Service, the post-holder will be expected to observe the Trust’s agreed policies and procedures, drawn up in consultation with the profession on clinical matters, and to follow the standing orders and financial instructions of the Trust.
In particular, where the post-holder manages employees of the Trust, he/she will be expected to follow the local and national employment and personnel policies and procedures. The post-holder will be expected to make sure that there are adequate arrangements for hospital staff involved in the care of his/her patients and to be able to contact him/her when necessary.
All medical and dental staff employed by the Trust are expected to comply with its Health and Safety Policy and Procedures.
Residence
Residence within either 10 miles of or thirty minutes by road from Southampton General Hospital is a requirement of this post unless specific approval for alternative arrangements is given by the Trust.
Visiting
Candidates are strongly encouraged to visit. The main point of contact is Professor Andrew Lotery, Tel 023 8120 5049 Director of the ophthalmology programme.
Review of the Job Description
This job description will be reviewed each year by the post-holder, Professor Andrew Lotery and Mr Nigel Hall. Local procedures will be followed in the event of any disagreement over proposed changes culminating an appeal to a sub- committee of the University of Southampton. Job description changes will be reviewed under the Service Level Agreement.
TERMS OF APPOINTMENT
1. The appointment will be governed by the general conditions applicable to Clinical Lecturers in the University of Southampton; details of these are available on request and will be sent to candidates called for interview. The appointee will be subject to the relevant terms of appointment as determined by the appropriate NHS Trust, in connection with his/her clinical duties, in so far as they may apply to clinical academic staff holding honorary NHS Trust contracts. The appointee will be responsible to the Head of the School of Medicine through the Divisional Director/Head of the University Clinical Group for the satisfactory conduct of his/her duties.
2. The successful candidate will be expected to take up their appointment.
3. The appointment will be made within the Clinical Lecturer’s salary scale, depending on qualifications and experience.
4. The appointment may be terminated by a term’s notice on either side.
5. In addition to the substantive contract of employment with the University, the successful candidate will also hold an honorary NHS contract with an NHS Trust and will be required to be registered with the General Medical Council. This honorary contract and registration is essential for the proper performance of the duties of employment with the University. In the event that the honorary contract is terminated or the registration is revoked or suspended, continued employment with the University under this contract will need to be reviewed and may be terminated. The procedure for considering whether to terminate the substantive contract of employment with the University in such circumstances is set out in the University’s Statutes and Ordinances from time to time in force and in a protocol between the University and the NHS Trust. The appointee will be required during their tenure of office to undertake appropriate clinical work on an honorary basis under the National Health Service. No professional contact with National Health Service patients may be undertaken unless a duly authorised honorary contract has been issued and is currently valid.
6. The appointee will be subject to full assessment via the RITA/ARCP process in addition to appraisal with his/her University line manager.