Consultant in Audiovestibular Medicine

Job overview

We are excited to be recruiting two part-time Consultants in Audiovestibular Medicine. They will be joining the existing consultants based at St Helier Hospital. The work as a consultant is mainly carried out on the St Helier Site with some sessions held at Epsom Hospital. The service represents a modernisation of audiovestibular pathways and consultants work closely with other trust specialists. This service is strongly supported and resourced by the Trust. The posts include sessions in both Adult and Paediatric Audiovestibular Medicine and include the opportunity to further develop the paediatric dizzy clinic.

Audiovestibular medicine (AVM) has been established in the Trust since 1989. It is part of the Department of Audiology AVM and Hearing Therapy. There are six consultants in the department and one specialist registrar who is on the Pan-Thames Specialist Registrar rotation. The service is well received and supported by local general practitioners and the majority of the referrals received come from GPs and other consultants within the trust. Referrals are also received from neighbouring CCGs and from boroughs further afield without AVM provision.

Main duties of the job

The speciality is outpatient-based with no designated beds for inpatient activity although there is good liaison with the ENT specialist for access to the operating list for paediatric ABR testing under GA where appropriate, and access to day case beds on QMCH for sedated ABR testing. Adult AVM clinics are held at Ferguson House in the recently refurbished audiology department, and the Springall Outpatient Unit, and also at Epsom. Paediatric AVM clinics are held at the Queen Mary’s recently refurbished Audiology Unit and Outpatient Department, where there are plenty of opportunities for collaboration with other paediatric specialists.

• It is anticipated that the 2 post holders will provide adult and/or paediatric AVM outpatient clinics according to service needs and the candidates’ interests. There is also an opportunity to provide and further develop a paediatric dizzy/vestibular clinic.The post includes 3.5 outpatient clinics, 1 session for SPA, and 1.5 session for clinic related activity. The post has arisen due to a vacancy, and continued increased demand for the AVM service. The post-holder will, in conjunction with other health professionals, investigate and manage:
• Adults and children with, vertigo, imbalance and/or tinnitus.
• Investigate progressive and fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss
• Interpret audiovestibular test results in the context of clinical findings

There is scope for the post holder to develop their areas of interest within the department.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job Title: Consultant in Audiovestibular Medicine Grade: Medical & Dental Consultant Substantive: 2 x 6PA Posts Contract: Substantive Department: Specialty Medicine Reports To: Clinical Lead for AVM Accountable To: Clinical Director Site: St Helier and Epsom Hours of work(p/w): 6PAs (24 hours per week) Post Description We are recruiting 2 part time , 6PA consultants in Audiovestibular Medicine, they will be joining the existing consultants in this area based St Helier Hospital. The work as a consultant is mainly carried out on the St Helier Site with some sessions which may be held at Epsom Hospital. The service represents a modernisation of audiovestibular pathways and consultants closely with other trust specialists. This service is strongly supported and resourced by the Trust. Audiovestibular Model of Care at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals Trust Audiovestibular medicine (AVM) has been established in the Trust since 1989. It is part of the Department of Audiology. There are 6 consultants in the department and one specialist registrar who is on the Pan-Thames Specialist Registrar rotation. The service is well received and supported by local general practitioners and the majority of the referrals received come from GPs and other consultants within the trust. We provide ototoxicity monitoring for the Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton. Referrals are also received from neighbouring CCGs and from boroughs further afield without AVM provision. The speciality is outpatient-based with no designated beds for inpatient activity although there is good liaison with the ENT specialist for access to the operating list for paediatric ABR testing under GA where appropriate, and access to day case beds on QMCH for sedated ABR testing, when necessary. Clinics are held at Ferguson House in the recently refurbished audiology department, and the Springall Outpatient Unit, for adult patients, and at the Queen Mary’s Hospital for Children’s recently refurbished Paediatric Audiology Unit and Outpatient Clinics for paediatric patients. The entire range of audiovestibular and neuro-otological symptoms are seen in both paediatric and adult AVM clinics. The staffing component of the Department comprises: 3 x Band 8 heads of service (Adult and Paediatric) 2 x Hearing therapists 6 x Band 7 senior Specialist Audiologists 7 x band 6 senior Audiologists 4 x band 5 Audiologists 5x band 3 assistant audiologists Audiology POD admin team The audiology department provides a full range of tertiary diagnostic services, (including auditory brainstem response, otoacoustic emissions, acoustic reflex and speech audiometry, videonystagmography, VEMP and caloric test, vHIT, balance platform, mastoid vibration) and therapeutic interventions for imbalance, dizziness, tinnitus and hearing loss. The work of the Consultant AVPs is supported by the audiologists and hearing therapists in the department. There is also good support and interaction with the advisory service for children with hearing loss from the boroughs of Merton, Sutton and Surrey and other professionals in the multi-disciplinary team around the child. The team also benefit from being members of a dynamic and proactive CHSWG. Medical investigations such as radiological and phlebotomy services are provided on site. There is specialist radiological input: monthly radiology meetings, fortnightly neuroradiology meetings, and access to play specialist support for children undergoing investigations and procedures as needed. Some investigations, such as 3T MRI, and neurovestibular physiotherapy can be accessed by referring to St George’s Hospital as we are now part of the same organisation (GESH). Joint MDT with regional clinical genetics is held quarterly. There are 8 interesting/challenging cases meetings, shared with St George’s AVM colleagues, per year. We are a friendly and cohesive team. There are monthly adult and paediatric team meetings, regular clinical governance meetings and we participate in quarterly South West Regional Audit Group peer review meetings. Consultant Audiovestibular Medicine Posts It is anticipated that the 2 post holders will provide adult and/or paediatric AVM outpatient clinics according to service needs and the candidates’ interests. There is also an opportunity to provide and further develop a paediatric dizzy/vestibular clinic. The post includes 3.5 outpatient clinics, 1 session for SPA, and 1.5 session for clinic related activity. The post has arisen due to a vacancy, and continued increased demand for the AVM service. The post-holder will:

• In conjunction with other health professionals, investigate and manage adults and children with, vertigo, imbalance and/or tinnitus
• Investigate progressive and fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss
• Interpret audiovestibular test results in the context of clinical findings There is scope for the post holder to develop their areas of interest within the department. Secretarial / Administrative Support There is administrative and secretarial support for the post. Main Responsibilities and Duties Principle Duties of the Post The principal duty of this post is to provide a comprehensive clinical service to patients. 1. To at all times, comply with the GMC’s guidance on ‘Good Medical Practice’ as amended or substituted from time to time. 2. To ensure that patient confidentiality is maintained at all times. 3. To undertake duties as defined within the attached job plan in so far as practicable and in agreement with your Clinical Director. 4. To be responsible and managerially accountable for the reasonable and effective use of Trust resources that you use and influence, and professionally accountable to the Medical Director. 5. On commencement to ensure personal attendance at the Trust’s corporate Induction (or arranged Consultant Induction). 6. To participate in the Trust’s Statutory & Mandatory training programme. 7. To be responsible for the Clinical Management of in and out patients under your care. 8. Review ward referrals either in person or to give advice to junior members of the team Teaching & Training
• To share responsibility with other Consultants for the recruitment, appointment and supervision of junior medical staff in accordance with Trust policies.
• To devote time on a regular basis for teaching and training of junior medical staff, contributing as appropriate to post-graduate and continuing medical education.
• To devote time, through agreement on a regular basis for teaching and training of medical students as part of agreed teaching arrangements with the Foundation School. Management & Governance 1. To be responsible for the management, appraisal and discipline of junior doctors who are attached to you, after taking appropriate advice, where appropriate. 2. To maintain personal and professional development. The post holder will be expected to register with their respective Royal College for the purpose of CME/CPD and to fulfil the requirements of that registration. 3. To provide advice, as required to the Executive and Trust board, General Practitioners and other interested parties, on the provision of planning of clinical services locally, regionally and nationally in keeping with confidentiality agreements relating to Trust business. 4. To co-operate in the present framework agreement of management arrangements. 5. To fully participate in Clinical Governance arrangements across the Trust including participation in clinical audit, research (where appropriate), pursuing an agreed agenda with colleagues and the Trust Board and fully co-operating in implementing the results in order to achieve best practice. 6. To participate, on at least an annual basis in consultant appraisal and job planning reviews. 7. To comply with Trust policies and procedures where appropriate. 8. To ensure that all intellectual property rights of the Trust are observed. Proposed Job Plan The proposed job plan for this post is attached below. This will be discussed in detail with the post holder on appointment. Job plans will be reviewed annually, following an appraisal meeting. The job plan will be a prospective agreement that sets out a Consultants typical working pattern, duties, objectives and responsibilities for the coming year. It will cover all aspects of a Consultants professional practice including clinical work, teaching, research, education, managerial responsibilities and external commitments. On appointment of the post holder, the Clinical Director may commence discussions to finalise the job plan which will become operational on appointment. The job plan is an indicative plan of the duties the post holder is likely to be asked to undertake. Additional programmed activities may be offered to the post holder. Any offer of additional programmed activities will be based on the needs of the service and in line with the Trust objectives and will be reviewed on an annual basis. The post is predominantly expected to be at St Helier hospital. If cross site working is necessary then allowance for travelling time between sites will be made within the programmed activities detailed on the job plan. Private Practice The post holder should ensure that any private practice commitments are discussed with your Clinical Director and entered into the prospective job plan. Any change to these will need to be discussed between the post holder and the Clinical Director and recorded in an amended job plan. Consultants will be required to ensure that they meet the code of conduct for private practice at all times. Any successful Candidate will be given an opportunity to meet and discuss and agree the Job plan in detail in accordance with the Trust Job planning Process.

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.