Job description

Job responsibilities

The stroke service sits within Integrated Medical Specialities Care Group. The care group is supported by the following Triumvirate-

Care Group Director: Dr Deepak Kejariwal

Associate Director of Operations: Jo Colledge

Associate Director of Nursing: Sharon Morgan

Hyper-Acute Stroke Unit

Central to the provision of our high-quality service is the 32-bed stroke unit at University Hospital North Durham (UHND). This comprises 8 hyper-acute beds and 24 acute beds. Supported by our current stroke consultants, the post-holder will take part in a dedicated on-call rota providing 24/7 reperfusion decisions. This is done remotely via telemedicine in evenings and overnight (1:7) with an on-site commitment at weekends (1:5) for which compensatory leave during the week is provided. The post does not have any acute medicine on call responsibilities, but this can be explored as an area of interest if required. There is excellent support staff within the stroke unit made up of:

Specialty and Foundation Trainees

Stroke nurse consultant and Advance Care Practitioner

Stroke Nurse specialists (Band 7 Practitioner and Band 6 Practitioners)

Dedicated multi-disciplinary therapy team

Seeing approximately 1100 new stroke patients per year, the team are continually focussed on reducing our door to needle times. The service has access to 24 hour CT and CTA imaging and CT perfusion, as well as Artificial Intelligence clinical decision aids and 7-day MRI access within working hours.

The stroke service also provides access to daily TIA services with rapid access to imaging, including MRI, and a close relationship with the vascular surgical team.

Stroke Rehabilitation Unit

The Trust has a dedicated 30-bed rehabilitation unit at Bishop Auckland Hospital (BAH) with a dedicated multi-disciplinary therapy team. With significant consultant input and presence at the rehabilitation unit this allows early transfer of stable patients from the acute unit to the rehabilitation unit. There is an Associate Specialist assigned to the ward and dedicated junior doctor support on the rehabilitation unit. There is also a weekly MDT meeting on the rehabilitation stroke unit.

Outpatient services

The post holder will help deliver outpatient clinic review to stroke survivors to optimise secondary prevention, appropriate investigation and support a patients ongoing rehabilitation. This now includes a botulinum toxin therapy service and is set to develop a dedicated young stroke clinic to address the more specific needs of our stroke population.

Community Stroke Rehabilitation service

There has been significant investment in our community therapy teams across County Durham and Darlington which now enables the stroke team to discharge promptly with rapid community review and ongoing therapy. This drives the Trusts aim to provide care closer to home and improves the patient journey.

Acute General Medicine

There is a 32 bedded Acute Medical Unit (Ward 4 UHND) and an MAU of 30 beds at DMH. There are Coronary Care Units at both sites. There are critical care facilities at both sites. At present, the majority of GIM accredited consultants rotate to cover AMU (Physician of the day), with the input into MAU based around RCP guidelines. However currently the stroke consultants are not expected to participate in this rota unless they have an expressed wish to do so. If the post holder has an interest in acute general medicine, we will of course consider a flexible job plan. Job plans are continuously under review to ensure that it is both acceptable to consultants and sufficient to meet the needs of the service. Please contact us to discuss in more detail if required.

Based primarily at UHND or BAH to provide in-patient and out-patient services.

To undertake clinical work in conjunction with colleagues and other professional staff in order to maintain and develop stroke services and develop specialist skills in accordance with the needs of patients.

Responsible in conjunction with colleagues for planning future developments of our stroke care pathway and stroke services.

To maintain continuing responsibility for the care of patients in their charge and to provide a collaborative support to consultant colleagues in other clinical disciplines in the hospital, and to general practitioners in County Durham and Darlington.

To cover colleagues in their absence and ensure continuous patient care.

The professional and educational supervision of junior staff.

Participate in the postgraduate teaching of medical staff and undergraduates attached to the Trust and in the training of all grades of staff across disciplines.

To actively lead and develop research and innovation activities within stroke services.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) - The post-holder is responsible for ensuring that they meet the national requirements for CPD, both internal and externally and will be expected to attend regularly, and contribute to, the weekly half-day educational activities held by the Care Group. The Trust supports requirements for CPD as laid down by the Royal Colleges and is committed to providing support for these activities.

To actively and regularly participate in clinical audit.

The post-holder will be expected to deputise in the absence of colleagues in cases of annual leave, study leave and sickness as far as practicable.

Where appropriate, to work on behalf of the Trust to provide appropriate consultations and services for other agencies.

To be familiar with, and follow, national guidance and Trust policies, procedures and guidelines in relation to patient care, health and safety, governance and equality of opportunity.

PROPOSED TIMETABLE AND JOB PLAN

The final job plan/on-call arrangements will be agreed in partnership prior to appointment. The stroke service is committed to increasing flexibility in working hours and extended-days may be considered to suit the needs of the candidate and service.

It is anticipated that each PA of direct clinical time will attract a further 0.2 PA of admin time.

Upon starting, a formal job plan will be agreed between the appointee and their clinical lead within the first 6 months, and approved by the Medical Director. The job plan will then be reviewed annually in accordance with the Trust policy on Consultant Job Planning.

We would be keen to discuss this in more detail with interested candidates.

The post currently includes:

Commitment to being on-call on a 1 in 7 basis

Participation of Physician of the week 1 in 6 (ward rounds)

Hyper-Acute Stroke Unit admissions

Outpatient clinics, including TIA and stroke follow-up

Supporting consultant cover on our rehabilitation ward

The post-holder will be expected to deputise in the absence of colleagues in cases of annual leave, study leave and sickness as far as is practicable and ensure continuous patient care.

Person Specification

Statutory Registration

Essential

• Full registration with GMC and inclusion on specialist register (or pending in next 6 months)

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of active teaching of undergraduates, junior doctors, nurses or allied health professionals
• Evidence of previous research experience or clinical effectiveness work

Desirable

• Subspecialty interest
• Involvement in research, including previous CI / PI role where applicable
• Leadership of an audit project

Qualifications

Essential

• MBBS degree or equivalent
• MRCP or Equivalent.
• CCT or equivalent in an appropriate speciality and on the specialist register (or expected within 6 months of application)

Desirable

• Preferably sub-speciality CCT in stroke medicine and CCT in GIM

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Independent ward rounds of acute inpatients presenting with stroke
• Comprehensive patient management including other general medical conditions
• Ability to make decisions at consultant level and take responsibility for the care of patients
• Knowledge and ability to assess potential candidates for reperfusion therapies related to stroke including IV thrombolysis and thrombectomy, and for neurosurgical referral
• Recent experience and familiarity of UK hospital systems and practices (or equivalent)
• Evidence of appropriate experience in stroke medicine and acute inpatient care
• Able to take responsibility for delivering service without direct supervision
• Up to date knowledge and evidence of continued professional development relevant to stroke medicine
• Knowledge of NHS priorities with reference to stroke

Desirable

• Certificate of Medical Education or other educational qualification
• Training or experience in providing educational and clinical supervision for doctors in training
• Evidence of involvement in service improvement and or patient safety projects
• Rehabilitation expertise pertaining to stroke patients including spasticity management

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Address

University Hospital Of North Durham

North Road

DURHAM

DH1 5TW

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)