About this role
Job summary
This is a locum post (10 PAs) to cover maternity leave. The Department of Pathology is seeking a locum consultant to join a dynamic and supportive team of colleagues. The post holder is expected to have demonstrable major interest and current experience in gynaecological histopathology. However, other specialist interests would be considered as a minor component of a post, depending on the requirements of the department at the time.
The department is involved in many exciting initiatives and we are looking for an individual with appropriate skills to complement the team and keep the service at the forefront of clinical and academic excellence. The laboratory has full UKAS/ISO accreditation status.
As an organisation, we are committed to developing our services in ways that best suit the needs of our patients. This includes asking certain groups of staff to work more flexibly so that we can offer services to patients in the evenings and at weekends. We regard this flexibility as essential if we are to continue to provide first class patient care in the future. As a result, any offer of employment to a consultant post will be subject to you agreeing to work a new more flexible pattern of working in the future if required and in accordance with the provisions of the new Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust consultant contract.
The post will include working at both hospital sites as well as the new Synnovis Blackfriars Hub Laboratory (near Southwark tube station).
Main duties of the job
Gastro-intestinal pathology:
Responsibilities include the reporting GI specimens (biopsies and resections from upper and lower GI tract, 'surgical' liver biopsies and a few biliary tract biopsies).
GSTT is the Upper gastrointestinal cancer centre for South-east London, Medway and East Kent and regional network referral centre for anal tumours. It is also a tertiary referral centre for coeliac disease, complex Inflammatory Bowel Disease cases, the management of early neoplasia in Barrett's oesophagus and EUS Fine Needle Biopsies (the latter reported by the cytopathologists).
The surgical specimens encompass the standard neoplastic and non-neoplastic resections for upper and lower GI, including oesophago-gastrectomies, but we also specialise in radical and salvage pelvic exenterations for complex/ recurrent colorectal and anal tumours.
We routinely perform cancer predictive marker testing for the GI cancers, in accordance with national guidelines.
There are five MDM's, four weekly and one monthly. These are Upper GI, Local Hepato-pancreaticobiliary, Lower GI and Inflammatory Bowel Disease MDMs weekly.
We are involved in multiple research studies and tissue banking.
We are committed to teaching postgraduate students as well as being involved in the university teaching of undergraduate students.
The team is actively involved in the teaching and training of resident doctors including all aspects of specimen dissection, histological interpretation and report writing.
About us
Cellular Pathology Department
The Department of Cellular Pathology provides services to Guy's & St Thomas' Hospitals, local general practitioners in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Strategic Health Authority and local Coroners. It is a major cancer and infection referral centre. The main Cellular Pathology Department is located at St Thomas' Hospital, 2nd Floor North Wing, with cut-up located at the Hub laboratory.
As an organisation, we are committed to developing our services in ways that best suit the needs of our patients. This includes asking certain groups of staff to work more flexibly so that we can offer services to patients in the evenings and at weekends. We regard this flexibility as essential if we are to continue to provide first class patient care in the future. As a result, any offer of employment to a consultant post will be subject to you agreeing to work a new more flexible pattern of working in the future if required and in accordance with the provisions of the new Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust consultant contract.
Job description Job responsibilities
The post holder will be accountable to the Clinical Lead in Cellular Pathology.
Key duties and responsibilities
Specialist Interest
The Department operates a system of specialist reporting, each consultant having one or more special interests, which facilitates dealing with difficult cases and enhances patient care in accordance with Calman-Hine recommendations.
The specialist diagnostic pathology to be delivered by this locum post is gastro-intestinal histopathology. However, a second specialist interest would be considered as a minor component of a post, depending on the requirements of the department at the time.
Gastro-intestinal pathology:
The successful candidate will be joining an existing team of 9 substantive consultants several of whom have other speciality interests. The current gastro-intestinal histopathology team includes both full time and part-time consultants Dr Ula Mahadeva, Dr Harriet Deere, Dr Baljit Gill-Barman, Dr Michael Green, Dr Mark Ong, Dr Vivek Sekhawat, Dr Mojisola Giwa, Dr Maria Buttice, Dr Benita Stevenson.
Responsibilities include the reporting of over 10,000 GI specimens (biopsies and resections from upper and lower GI tract, surgical liver biopsies and a few biliary tract biopsies).
GSTT is the Upper gastrointestinal cancer centre for South-east London, Medway and East Kent and regional network referral centre for anal tumours. It is also a tertiary referral centre for coeliac disease, complex Inflammatory Bowel Disease cases, the management of early neoplasia in Barretts oesophagus and EUS Fine Needle Biopsies (the latter reported by the cytopathologists).
The surgical specimens encompass the standard neoplastic and non-neoplastic resections for upper and lower GI, including oesophago-gastrectomies, but we also specialise in radical and salvage pelvic exenterations for complex/ recurrent colorectal and anal tumours.
We routinely perform (in-house or outsourced) cancer predictive marker testing for the GI cancers, in accordance with national guidelines.
There are five MDMs, four weekly and one monthly. These are Upper GI, Local Hepato-pancreaticobiliary, Lower GI and Inflammatory Bowel Disease MDMs weekly.
We are involved in multiple research studies and tissue banking.
We are committed to teaching postgraduate students as well as being involved in the university teaching of undergraduate students.
The team is actively involved in the teaching and training of histopathology resident doctors. Up to three histopathology resident doctors are allocated to the gastrointestinal pathology team monthly and are involved in all aspects of specimen dissection, histological interpretation and report writing.
Provide High Quality Care to Patients
The post holder must be medically qualified and maintain GMC full and specialist registration and hold a current licence to practice
To develop and maintain the competencies required to carry out the duties required of the post.
To ensure prompt attendance at agreed direct clinical care Programmed Activities.
To provide expert histopathology services with the object of ensuring a high standard of patient care To participate in clinical and other service activities with the object of ensuring a high standard of patient care
Research, Teaching and Training
Where possible to collaborate with academic and clinical colleagues to enhance the Trusts translational research portfolio, at all times meeting the full requirements of Research Governance.
To provide high quality teaching to medical undergraduates and members of other health care professions as required by the Clinical Director.
To act as educational supervisor and appraiser as delegated by the Clinical Director to ensure external accreditation of training post.
Performance Management
To work with medical, nursing and managerial colleagues to ensure high performance in the following areas:
Clinical efficiency e.g. LOS reductions, reducing cancelled operations and DNA rates.
Quality of outcomes e.g. infection control targets, reducing re-admission rates.
Financial management, e.g. identification, implementation and achievement of cost improvement programmes and participating in efforts to ensure services are provided cost effectively such as managing locum agency spend, monitoring and managing the drug budget to target, ensuring accuracy of clinical data for the team.
Operational efficiency, e.g. day-case rates, waiting list activity and demand management.
Medical Staff Management
To work with colleagues to ensure junior doctors hours are compliant in line with EWTD and New Deal.
To ensure that adequate systems and procedures are in place to control and monitor leave for junior medical staff and to ensure that there is appropriate cover within the clinical areas, including on-call commitments
To participate in the recruitment of junior medical staff as and when required.
To participate in team objective setting as part of the annual job planning cycle.
To be responsible for the annual appraisal of all doctors in training, Trust doctors, Clinical Fellows and non-consultant grades as delegated by the Clinical Director/General Manager.
Governance
To review clinical outcomes in designated area using external benchmarking data where appropriate, to identify and advise variances to the Clinical Director.
To participate in clinical audit, incident reporting and analysis and to ensure resulting actions are implemented.
To work closely with the Directorate, Patient and Public Involvement panels in relation to clinical and services developments as delegated by the Clinical Director.
To participate in ensuring NICE requirements are reviewed and implemented and monitored in the speciality areas.
To ensure clinical guidelines and protocols are adhered to by junior medical staff and updated on a regular basis.
To keep fully informed about best practice in the speciality areas and ensure implications for practice changes are discussed with the Clinical Director.
To role model good practice for infection control to all members of the multidisciplinary team.
Strategy and Business Planning
To participate in the business planning and objective setting process for the directorate and Trust where appropriate.
To represent the Trust at appropriate clinical networks/other external clinical meetings, as delegated by the Clinical Director.
Leadership and Team Working
To demonstrate excellent leadership skills with regard to individual performance, clinical teams, the Trust and when participating in national or local initiatives.
To work collaboratively with all members of the multi-disciplinary team and Kings Health Partners as required.
To chair regular meetings for the specialties.
To resolve conflict and difficult situations through negotiation and discussion, involving appropriate parties.
Adhere to Trust/departmental guidelines on leave, including reporting absence.
The successful candidate will be expected to participate in continuing professional development (CPD) and this form part of the supporting programmed activities in the agreed job plan (please see example below).
Person Specification
Professional Qualifications Essential
Full and Specialist registration (and with a licence to practise) with the General Medical Council (GMC), or be eligible for registration within six months of interview. Applicants that are UK trained, must ALSO be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview. Applicants that are non-UK trained, will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT. FRCPath or show evidence of equivalent qualification
Desirable
PhD or other Higher Postgraduate degree in Medicine or Science Any additional medical or sub-speciality qualifications either national or international.
Clinical Experience Essential
Comprehensive clinical experience in histopathology. Proven record of experience as a trainee in histopathology. Continuing and recent diagnostic practice experience in gastro-intestinal histopathology, as a major specialist interest, however, another specialty interest will be considered as a minor component of the post depending on the requirements of the department at the time.
Clinical Skills Essential
Ability to work as an effective member of a multidisciplinary team. Familiarity with modern morphological and molecular diagnostic techniques
Desirable
Experience in clinical guideline development.
Audit Management & IT Essential
Evidence of contribution to effective clinical governance, audit clinical risk management, and IT skills. Understanding of principles of audit. Evidence of understanding of the role of clinical management.
Desirable
Management training or qualification. Evidence of leadership in the development of clinical services.
Research, Teaching skill & experience Essential
Understanding of the principles and applications of clinical research. Evidence of original research. Ability to supervise junior staff in diagnostic work. Experience of teaching and training undergraduates, postgraduates and junior medical staff.
Desirable
Appraisal training. Teaching qualification. Evidence of original research and publication in gastrointestinal pathology.
Leadership/Management skills Essential
Communication; Ability to communicate with clarity and intelligently in written and spoken English; ability to build rapport, listen, persuade/ negotiate. Accountability; Ability to take responsibility, lead, make decisions and exert appropriate authority. Interpersonal Skills; Empathy, understanding, listening skills, patience and ability to work co-operatively with others. Able to change and adapt, respond to changing circumstances and to cope with setbacks or pressure. Ability to work as part of a team Staff Management; Experience of performance management, developing and motivating staff. Finance; Knowledge of finance and budgets.
Desirable
Previous experience in management positions, e.g. speciality lead, clinical lead, clinical director.
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.
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 Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Address St Thomas' Hospital
London
SE1 7EH
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/careers/careers.aspx (Opens in a new tab)