About this role
Job summary
We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity to work as a Consultant in Palliative Medicine within the King's College Hospital Specialist Palliative Care Service. This is a replacement post to join the team based at Denmark Hill. The palliative care team offers an advisory service to patients with palliative care needs and promotes excellence in end-of-life care across the Trust. We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic individual to join our team, supporting this busy, dynamic, multi-professional team and building on partnerships across the locality. It is envisaged that the appointee will contribute to the delivery and development of specific aspects of the service, depending on their interests and experience, and support general team activities. They will also contribute to teaching and training. The post will sit within a collaborative network across our Clinical Academic Group within King's Health Partners. A wealth of opportunities exist to be involved in research via established links with the Cicely Saunders Institute.
Main duties of the job
Main duties of the job
To provide senior palliative care medical leadership to support skilled decision making and support to patients, palliative care and Trust colleagues, particularly in cases of complexity. To lead, deliver and represent excellent palliative care through innovation, collaboration and education. To support 24/7 specialist palliative care advice across KHP. The On-Call commitment is for a 1:16 rota, which is classed as Category B. On-call telephone advice is provided to health professionals across King's, St Thomas', Guys and Lewisham Hospitals and Guys and St Thomas' community palliative care teams.
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
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of our dedicated workforce and to join one of the largest and most successful Foundation Trusts in the UK, with an international reputation for innovation and a desire to make a difference.
You must be fully registered with the GMC and hold a Licence to Practice and be on the Specialist Register, or within three months of attaining your CCT or equivalent, to be eligible for interview. Informal visits are welcome.
The postholder will have regular contact with vulnerable adults and/or children (0-18 years), therefore, 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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.
1.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.
22.Shared responsibility with other colleagues for providing 24 hours, 7 days a week cover for the Unit on a rota basis. Responsible also for covering colleagues periods of annual leave and short-term sickness as detailed in your contract.
33.Provide clinical supervision of junior medical/dental practitionersas a shared responsibility with other consultant colleagues.
44.Responsible for carrying out teaching, examination, and accreditation duties as required and contributing to CPD and clinical governance initiatives.
55.Responsible for outpatient clinic commitments in peripheral hospitals as agreed with the Care Groups management team, where part of the service structure.
66.Contribute to the Care Groups research interests in accordance with the Trusts R&D framework.
77.Contribute to the audit programmes, Morbidity and Mortality, Clinical Governance programmes and Learning from Deaths.
88.Take an active role in the formulation, implementation, and monitoring of the Care Groups Business Plan. This may include assisting with discussions regarding service plans and developments with internal and external agencies.
99.Conduct all activities within the contracted level of service and operating plan for service(s).
110.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.
111.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
112.Undertake Care Group management duties as agreed with the Care Group/Departmental Manager/Clinical Director.
113.Be aware of, and comply with, all Trust infection prevention and control policies, to include hand hygiene, personal hygiene, environmental and food hygiene.
114.Prepare for and undertake the protective interventions that you are responsible for in a manner that is consistent with evidence-based practice and maintains patient safety.
115.Kings 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.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Registerable medical qualification MRCP, MRCGP or equivalent
Desirable
Other higher degree or diploma (e.g., MD)
Registration Essential
Full Registration with GMC Name on GMC Specialist Register on date of taking up appointment
Interview Eligibility Essential
On the day of interview applicants must be within 6 months of CCT, in final stages of their portfolio pathway application, or be fully registered on the GMC Specialist Register. Any applications not meeting these criteria will not be considered.
Training and Experience Essential
Wide experience in all aspects of palliative care, culminating in award of CCT or equivalent Specialist training in Palliative Care.
Desirable
Previous experience working in an acute Trust
Administration Essential
Experience in day-to-day organisation of Palliative Care services in a busy Teaching Hospital Familiarity with information technology and general computer skills Familiar with current structure of UK National Health Service and conversant with recent initiatives and changes
Desirable
Familiar with current structure of Health Service and conversant with recent initiatives and changes
Management and Leadership Essential
Able to demonstrate leadership capability within multi-disciplinary teams
Desirable
Management course and/or qualification
Audit and Quality Improvement Essential
Thorough understanding of principles of medical audit. Must have undertaken and completed audit projects.
Desirable
Audit Publications
Research and Publications Essential
Experience of conducting or supporting clinical research. Keeps upto date with relevant palliative care and related research developments in the field.
Desirable
Relevant research experience in one or more aspects of palliative care. Publication of relevant review articles or case reports.
Teaching Essential
Experience of undergraduate and post-graduate teaching and exam preparation.
Desirable
Teaching skills course/qualification
Personal Skills and Attributes Essential
Effective communicator, able to work in a close-knit team and co-operate with all medical and paramedical staff Flexible, able to cover colleagues' absence Professional attitude towards work, reliability, good record of attendance and tidy personal appearance Able to demonstrate an understanding of Kings Values
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 Denmark Hill
London
SE5 9RS
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.kch.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)