Clinical Fellow/Trust Grade in Palliative Medicine for ED

Job overview

This post has been created to support a new quality improvement project to enhance care of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) who require input from the palliative care team. The post is ideal for any doctor looking to expand their palliative care skills and to prepare for application to internal, general or palliative medicine training.   The post holder will be involved in a dynamic project incorporating quality improvement and service development. They will work as part of and with support from the hospital palliative care team with a working focus in the ED, providing urgent patient reviews, supporting those important to the patient and assisting with complex discharges for patients at the end of life.

This is a fixed term 6-month post. It is not a formally approved training post, but the postholder will join a busy and supportive department, have consultant-led education and supervision and will be supported in their professional development. There is no on-call requirement in the post but there is the opportunity to participate in bank shifts at the hospital if desired.

The successful candidate would be employed by the Royal Free Trust, to work at NMUH. The North Middlesex hospital palliative care team comprises clinical nurse specialists, resident doctors (IMT, GPTVS and StR), a nurse consultant and 4 part time palliative medicine consultants as well as admin support.

Main duties of the job

1.    CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1.1 Medical review of patients as part of the palliative care team (PCT), with appropriate support by team members 1.2 Holistic assessment and follow-up of palliative care patients with action plans supported by the PCT 1.3 Clear documentation and handover, including in discharge documentation and to community services if applicable, and liaison with patients’ responsible team and supporting services 2.    RESPONSIBILITY FOR PATIENTS

2.1  Provide patient-centred care and advise, including about the role of the hospital PCT

2.2  Ensure patient and those important to them are involved in decision making

2.3  Respect and respond to individuald ideas, concerns and expectations as well as potential cultural needs

3.    RESPONSIBILITY FOR POLICY AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT

3.1  Engage with QI techniques and participate in the audits or projects with the service

4.    RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES

4.1  Awareness of NHS and voluntary sector resources, use these with clear indications for best patient-centred care

4.2  Contribute to data collection as required for the service

5.    RESPONSIBILITY FOR LEADING AND MANAGING

5.1  No direct managerial responsibility but expected to support and educate where appropriate a)    other members of the Palliative Care Team b)    members of the MDT  c)    medical students during their placement with the Palliative Care Team

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1.    CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• 1.1 Medical review of patients as part of the palliative care team (PCT), with appropriate support by team members
• 1.2 Holistic assessment and follow-up of palliative care patients with action plans supported by the PCT
• 1.3 Clear documentation and handover, including in discharge documentation and to community services if applicable, and liaison with patients’ responsible team and supporting services2.    RESPONSIBILITY FOR PATIENTS
• 2.1  Provide patient-centred care and advise, including about the role of the hospital PCT
• 2.2  Ensure patient and those important to them are involved in decision making
• 2.3  Respect and respond to  individual  ideas, concerns and expectations as well as potential cultural needs
• 3.    RESPONSIBILITY FOR POLICY AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
• 3.1  Engage with QI techniques and participate in the audits or projects with the service
• 4.    RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES
• 4.1  Awareness of NHS and voluntary sector resources, use these with clear indications for best patient-centred care
• 4.2  Contribute to data collection as required for the service
• 5.    RESPONSIBILITY FOR LEADING AND MANAGING
• 5.1  No direct managerial responsibility but expected to support and educate where appropriatea)    other members of the Palliative Care Teamb)    members of the MDT c)    medical students during their placement with the Palliative Care Team

6.    RESPONSIBILITY FOR INFORMATION RESOURCES

6.1  Use of hospital systems, discharge letters and Universal Care Plan as per patient’s consent to ensure coordinated care across services