About this role
Job summary
We are seeking a committed and enthusiastic GP with a special interest in Children in Care (CiC) to join Suffolk's integrated community paediatric services.
Working as part of a county-wide multidisciplinary team, the postholder will undertake statutory Initial Health Assessments (IHAs) for children and young people entering the care of Suffolk County Council, ensuring assessments are completed within required timescales and to a high professional standard.
Please See Full Job Description attached for details
Main duties of the job
The role involves identifying physical, emotional and developmental health needs, capturing the views of children and young people, and making appropriate referrals and recommendations to improve health outcomes. The postholder will work closely with community paediatricians, nursing and allied health professionals, social care and education colleagues to support effective care planning and safeguarding arrangements.
The successful candidate will join a well-established and collaborative service with strong partnerships across health, education and social care. As part of a wider county-wide community medical team, they will contribute to the delivery of equitable services across Suffolk and play an important role in improving the health, wellbeing and life chances of Children in Care.
About us
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyone's voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Job description
Job responsibilities
To undertake statutory Initial Health Assessments for children and young people aged 5 to 18 years who are in the care of Suffolk County Council, and for children placed in Suffolk by other local authorities where required.
To review all relevant health information prior to assessment, including medical history, immunisation status, previous healthcare involvement and any information provided by partner agencies.
To complete comprehensive, evidence-based health assessments using approved Children in Care assessment documentation and frameworks.
To identify and assess the child or young person's physical, developmental, emotional and mental health needs, taking account of their individual circumstances, vulnerabilities and safeguarding risks.
To ensure that the views, wishes and experiences of the child or young person are sought, heard and reflected throughout the assessment and healthcare planning process.
To develop a SMART healthcare plan that clearly identifies health needs, objectives, actions, referrals, responsibilities and timescales, in partnership with the child or young person and their carers where appropriate.
To provide health promotion, preventative healthcare advice and education to children, young people and carers, supporting positive health outcomes and increased independence in managing healthcare needs.
To initiate and make appropriate referrals arising from the assessment and ensure that actions identified within the healthcare plan are progressed in a timely manner.
To complete all clinical documentation, healthcare summaries, action plans and electronic records accurately and within agreed timescales, using SystmOne and other designated clinical information systems.
To work collaboratively with the Children in Care Health Team, Community Paediatric Services, Social Care, Education and other partner agencies to support safeguarding responsibilities and improve the health, wellbeing and life chances of children and young people in care.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Special Training
Essential
- Full GMC registration and hold a license to practice
- MRCP or equivalent
Clinical experience
Essential
- At least 2 years working as a qualified doctor
- At least 2 years working within a General Practice
Desirable
- With a special interest in Children in Care
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Demonstrates core competencies and knowledge, skills, attitudes and values at levels 1-4 of Looked after Children. This includes Knowledge, skills and competences of health care staff: Intercollegiate Role Framework, (RCPCH, December 2020)
- Demonstrate knowledge of relevant national policies and implications for practice
- Demonstrate knowledge regarding quality of practice and the journey for CiC and care leavers
- Demonstrate understanding of the legal processes underpinning care planning for CiC and children with an adoption plan and how they relate to other statutory processes such as special educational needs and disability processes
- Demonstrate understanding of the processes and legislation for CiC, Care Leavers, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and those undergoing adoption including after-care/adoption services
- Demonstrate knowledge of strategies for CiC management across the health community
- Have knowledge of medico-legal issues relating to CiC and the law applying to children in the court process.
Desirable
- Be clinically active in the field of Children in Care
Experience
Essential
- An accredited consultant or primary care physician with experience in care of children
- Experience in safeguarding and child protection practice
- Experience of multi-disciplinary working
- Have clinical experience of the health needs of CiC
- Have relevant experience in the clinical management of children including those with neuro-developmental, emotional, behavioural and attachment difficulties, child protection and adult health issues pertinent to parenting
- Have substantial clinical experience of the health needs of CiC and ideally should have
Desirable
- Experience of working as a medical adviser for fostering and adoption
- Prior experience of paediatrics, for example obtained through a paediatrics rotation in training
- Experience of undertaking Initial Heath Assessments
Leadership and communication
Essential
- Have proven negotiating and leadership skills and experience of multi-agency working
- Have good verbal and written communication skills, with an ability to express complex medical issues in lay terms
Desirable
- Able to reconcile differences of opinion among colleagues from different organisations and agencies
Personal Skills and Qualities
Essential
- Good personal interactive communications skills
- The ability to work as a team member
- Acceptance of management and administrative duties by working within a structured team for the greater good
- Ability to communicate effectively with patients, relatives, GPs, nurses and other agencies
- Enquiring, critical approach to work
- Commitment to Continuing Medical Education and the requirements of clinical governance
- The ability to communicate with clarity and intelligibility in written and spoken English; ability to build rapport, listen, persuade, negotiate
- All applicants to have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English that are adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues which could be demonstrated by one of the following:- -PLAB 1 -PLAB 2 If applicants believe that they have adequate communication skills, but do not fit into one of the examples they need to provide evidence
Desirable
- Has ability to travel
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
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Address
West Suffolk Hospital
Hardwick Ln
Bury St Edmunds
IP33 2QZ
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.wsh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)