Consultant Microbiologist

Job overview

This is a replacement consultant post, and forms part of our Infection Sciences Department. The post-holder will be based and work at the Denmark Hill site and will support and develop our Infection service at DHS. This service consists of Microbiology, Virology, Infection Prevention and Control and the Infectious Diseases (ID) and OPAT services.

The appointee will deliver Infection services for in/out-patients and the local CCG as part of the microbiology consultant team and play an active role in the general workload of the department including overseeing the resident doctors. There is a 1:9 on-call commitment providing ‘second on’ out-of-hours cover for a week at a time (Band A).

Main duties of the job

The post holder will join the microbiology “duty day” rota, providing senior supervision and support to trainees, fellows and the laboratory in managing significant microbiology results, complex clinical queries (by telephone and EPIC referral system), and authorisation of results. Ward-based consults are encouraged (by trainees and consultants) to optimise patient management and outcomes. The post holder will also be expected to provide support for the interpretation and authorisation of serology results, working in conjunction with other consultants and clinical scientists. The successful candidate will provide regular microbiology support to the adult Critical Care Units as part of a team of Infection Consultants, and if the candidate has sufficient ID experience, will join the ID consultation service, ID outpatient clinic and OPAT services on a rotational basis. All infection consultants have a responsibility to promote antimicrobial stewardship in their area of clinical cover, and contribute to prospective audit and feedback to the clinical teams. He/she will also join a team of other consultants with dedicated PAs to cover infection control and provide support to the Director of Infection Prevention and Control and the IPC nursing team.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Together with other colleagues, to provide a high-quality care service to patients. This includes all aspects of treatment and relevant management duties for the proper functioning of the Care Group.
• Shared responsibility with other colleagues and Responsible also for covering colleagues periods of annual leave and short-term sickness as detailed in your contract.
• Provide clinical supervision of junior medical/dental practitioners as a shared responsibility with other consultant colleagues.
• Responsible for carrying out teaching, examination and accreditation duties as required and contributing to CPD and clinical governance initiatives
• Responsible for outpatient clinic commitments in peripheral hospitals as agreed with the Care Group’s management team where part of the service structure.
• Contribute to the Care Group’s research interests in accordance with the Trust’s R&D framework.
• Contribute to the audit programmes, Morbidity and Mortality, Clinical Governance programmes and Learning from Deaths
• Take an active role in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of the Care Group’s Business Plan. This may include assisting with discussions regarding service plans and developments with internal and external agencies.
• Conduct all activities within the contracted level of service and operating plan for service(s).
• Exercise professional leadership for all staff working in the specialty. This will include fostering and developing projects focused towards these ends and ensuring that the momentum of post- qualification professional education and other appropriate training is maintained.
• Work in conjunction with clinical and other professional colleagues to ensure that the productivity of staff within the specialty is maintained and their job satisfaction is enhanced. This may include involvement in the appraisal process for peers and/or junior colleagues
• Undertake Care Group management duties as agreed with the Care Group/Departmental Manager/Clinical Director.
• Be aware of, and comply with, all Trust infection prevention and control policies, to include hand hygiene, personal hygiene, environmental and food hygiene.
• Prepare for and undertake the protective interventions that you are responsible for in a manner that is consistent with evidence-based practice and maintaining patient safety.
• King’s is committed to providing Consultant led 7-day services and in the event of future developments the post holder would be expected to contribute equally with other Consultant colleagues.