About this role
Job summary
Applications are invited to apply for the post of Neurosurgical Skull Base Fellow based at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. This RCS accredited clinical fellowship is intended to allow a senior neurosurgical trainee to obtain experience over twelve months in the management of skull base, pituitary and facial pain pathologies. This post will provide experience sufficient to allow a successful fellow to offer himself/herself for appointment to a substantial consultant position.
Surgeons preparing to work as consultants must be intimately involved with the running of the neurosurgical service and in providing some element of continuity of care for the patients since this will be an integral part of their practice as consultants. The Fellow will therefore participate in the general neurosurgical rota, and will also be expected to share responsibility for the neurosurgical patients in their area of sub specialist interest outside of strict rota commitments.
This position is available from August 2027.
Main duties of the job
The trainee will be given experience in the following broad areas:
1.The assessment and investigation of patients with skull base / pituitary lesions and facial pain pathology. The operative experience is extensive, e.g. the fellow will be expected to perform 60 to 80 pituitary surgeries as lead surgeon by the end of the fellowship.2.The opportunity to conduct research and publish papers in peer reviewed journals.3.The participation in regular multi-disciplinary meetings involving colleagues from various specialties including endocrinology, skull base ENT, neurology/oral medicine and surgery, pain, neuropathology, oncology and clinical nurse specialists. There is a weekly combined pituitary MDM, 3-4 monthly skull base MDMs, a monthly complex facial pain MDM (St Thomas'), a monthly NF-1 and a monthly NF-2 clinic (both held at Guy's).4.The fellow will be expected to attend one or two national / international meetings each year and present abstracts, COVID permitting.
5. Regular progress meetings, formal as well as informal, will be held during the fellowship with the fellowship lead. This Senior Clinical Fellowship was the first to be awarded RCS accreditation in Skull Base and Pituitary Neurosurgery in the country and the successful fellow will be awarded the Royal College of Surgeons Certificate at a ceremony following successful completion of the fellowship.
About us
The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. In June 2026, we launched our new strategy for 2026-31. Our vision is to transform healthcare, and we have agreed six strategic ambitions to help us improve care for patients, and the working lives of our staff.
Our six strategic ambitions are deliveringhigh-quality patient care; creating a great place to work; leading pioneering research, innovation and education; building strong and successful partnerships; providing timely and efficient care; and ensuring long-term financial sustainability.
We have also agreed four new organisational values - Caring, Collaborative, Inclusive, Innovative - and these underpin everything we do, and how our teams interact with the patients under our care.
We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.
King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.
Job description Job responsibilities
The fellows duties will consist of care of patients on the wards, assistance in the operating theatre, attendance at appropriate clinics and a close collaboration with the clinical nurse specialists is expected. He is also expected to conduct regular review of appropriate literature and clinical data.
The fellow will be second on call, 1 in 6, with two junior colleagues, as part of the general neurosurgical rota.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications Essential
Eligible for registration with the GMC MB BS (or equivalent) FRCS (Neurosurgery) or equivalent
Desirable
PhD, MD (original research)
Previous experience Essential
Substantial experience in general neurosurgery Within 12 months of awarding of CCT Experience in trauma neurosurgery
Desirable
Exposure to skull base neurosurgery Commitment to a career in skull base neurosurgery
Skills/Knowledge/Ability Essential
Knowledge and experience in elective and emergency neurosurgery Ability to organize him/herself in a busy department Evidence of participation and active involvement in an audit project/ research Understanding of clinical risk management
Desirable
Previous publications/ presentations
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 King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address King's College Hospital
Denmark Hill
London
SE5 9RS
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.kch.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)