Advanced Clinical Training Fellow in Neurology

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Leeds; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading teaching hospital trust in the UK is seeking an Advanced Clinical Training Fellow in Neurology focused on Motor Neurone Disease. The candidate will develop skills in managing this condition, support patients across multiple hospitals, and have opportunities for teaching and research. A minimum of seven years of experience is required, and the role is full-time with potential for part-time applications.

Qualifications

• Minimum of seven years of experience following full GMC accreditation.
• At least five years of experience in neurology.
• Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English.

Responsibilities

• Provide support for patients admitted to wards at various hospitals.
• Develop skills in managing Motor Neurone Disease.
• Contribute to the Neurology Registrar on-call rota.

Skills

Skills in Neurology

Strong commitment to teaching

Research interest

Education

MBBS or equivalent medical qualification

CCT or within 24–36 months of CCT

Job description

Advanced Clinical Training Fellowship – Neurology (Motor Neurone Disease)

Applications are invited for the exciting new post of an Advanced Clinical Training Fellowship in Neurology with a subspecialist focus on Motor Neurone Disease. This post will form a key part of the medical team at the new Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease.

This post is for the new Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease and is based at Seacroft Hospital. The candidate will also provide support for patients admitted to wards at Leeds General Infirmary and St James's University Teaching Hospital.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust is one of the largest teaching hospital trusts in Europe with access to leading clinical expertise and medical technology. We care for people from all over the country, as well as the 800,000 residents of Leeds. The Trust has a budget of £1 billion and employs 17,000 staff.

The Rob Burrow Centre is led by Dr Agam Jung, Director Dr Shaun Foo, co‑director and is supported by a centre manager, three MND specialist nurses and a wider multi‑disciplinary team, including sub‑specialities such as respiratory and gastroenterology.

The Centre comes under the department of Neurology, which is part of the Neurosciences CSU. Mr Robert Rathbone is the General Manager of the CSU, Dr Jonathan Bilmen is the Clinical Director and Mr Robin Darby is the Head of Nursing. Dr Maruthi Vinjam is the Clinical Lead for Neurology.

Expected shortlisting date: 10 December 2025

Planned interview date: 17 December 2025

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant should possess MRCP (or equivalent) and would have achieved CCT, or be within 24 to 36 months of attainment (ST6‑8, 1 WTE) if currently within a training programme in the UK. Applicants will need to have a minimum of seven years experience following full GMC accreditation, with at least five of these in neurology.

Applicants should have established skills in neurology, including a strong commitment to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, and a research interest is desirable.

Interest and ambition to build a specialist practice in the diagnosis, treatment and management of Motor Neurone Disease is crucial.

This is a full time Clinical Fellow post which will focus on developing your skills and knowledge on all aspects of Motor Neurone Disease. The position will be predominantly based at the new Centre at Seacroft Hospital, with support to the wider neurology service and in‑reach to inpatient units at Leeds General Infirmary and St James University Hospital.

The post‑holder has the option to contribute to the Neurology Registrar on‑call rota (pre CCT) or to the Consultant Rota. Consideration will be given to applicants who wish to work full or part time and those wishing to job share.

If shortlisted, you will be required to give a 10‑minute presentation on: The Development of Motor Neurone Services at the Rob Burrow MND Centre, as a local, regional and supra‑regional centre.

Job description

This MND Advanced Clinical Fellowship post is formally recognised by the Association of British Neurologists (ABN). The Fellow will be funded for 12 months primarily by the MND Association and also by the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The funds from the MNDA are from fundraising carried out in the name of the Yorkshire rugby legend Rob Burrow who was cared for by the Leeds MND Service.

The fellowship is designed for neurology clinicians at the end of training who have achieved their Neurology SCE, to provide all aspects of subspecialty training in MND and thus prepare for a consultant role in this field. This will be one of the country’s first MND Clinical Fellowships and we expect the candidate to work as a neurology consultant with a specialist MND interest in the region.

The Fellow will be fully immersed in the MND service, gaining a thorough grounding in clinical management, investigation and new skills such as Botox for optimally managing all varieties of MND and MND mimics. It includes care for the patient holistically at home and in hospice.

Additional opportunities to develop a research interest and attend MND services in other specialist centres (e.g. Sheffield) are available. LTHT has a good network of support with neighbouring Trusts under the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts, which will enable the Fellow to attend supervised clinics.

This post is not suitable for more junior applicants who are not yet at a CCT or peri‑CCT standard. More junior applicants should not apply.

To maximise the available learning opportunity, it is expected that candidates will already have previous neurology experience in the NHS system. Previous experience in MND is desirable.

The post is structured such that the training will be planned and delivered over a 12‑month period and is therefore not suitable for trainees looking for a briefer fellowship placement. The Fellow will have access to an office space and IT including a Trust laptop. They will receive a Trust as well as a departmental induction. A dedicated supervisor and peer mentor (another neurology trainee / ABN peer‑mentoring programme) will be available to support the fellow. They will be expected to attend the weekly Regional Neurology Academic meeting, as well as the monthly Neuromuscular MDT to develop an understanding of MND mimics. Self‑directed learning will be strongly encouraged.

If the Fellow is pre‑CCT, they will also attend monthly regional training days. Joining the on‑call rota can be considered.

Interventional MND activity

The Fellow will gain exposure to muscle biopsy and, in the future, intrathecal treatments as well as learning about Botox delivery. They will be expected to achieve competency in delivering Botox injections for saliva and spasticity management. Training for this will be provided.

Non‑MND clinics

The Fellow also has the option to attend general neurology clinics to continue to gain a thorough understanding of the management of neurological conditions.

The Fellow will be expected to keep a portfolio of their activities and educational progress, utilising a recognised portfolio (e.g. NHS ePortfolios). The Fellow will be expected to support the MND Research nurse to maintain the national MND databases.

The Fellow is strongly encouraged to involve themselves in current research within the MND service, including actively recruiting patients to trials such as MRF / Computer Vision / Drug Trials / Assessment of Informal Carer Well‑being. The Fellow will be expected to lead the PPIE group meetings.

We hope to set up an MND journal club which the MND Clinical Fellow is expected to co‑ordinate and present at.

Out of hours

The post‑holder can participate in the Neurology out‑of‑hours rota via the Trust internal bank services which includes cover of adult neurology patients at a registrar level.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• MBBS or equivalent medical qualification
• CCT (or within 24–36 months of CCT)
• Up to date and fit to practise safely and aware of own training needs
• Ability to provide complete details of employment history
• Evidence that career progression is consistent with personal circumstances
• Evidence that present achievement and performance is commensurate with totality of their period of training

Desirable

• Be eligible for full registration with, and hold a current licence to practise from, the GMC at intended start date
• Eligibility to work in the UK

Additional Criteria

Essential

• All applicants to have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues
• Evidence of thoroughness (well prepared, shows self‑discipline/ commitment, punctual and meets deadlines)
• Capacity to monitor developing situations and anticipate issues
• Capacity to operate under pressure
• Demonstrates initiative & resilience to cope with application form, interview / selection centre, references, changing circumstance
• Is able to deliver good clinical care in the face of uncertainty
• Understands, respects and demonstrates the values of the NHS Constitution (e.g. everyone counts, improving lives, commitment to quality of care, respect and dignity, working together for patients)
• Demonstrates probity (honesty, integrity, aware of ethical dilemmas, respects confidentiality)
• Capacity to take responsibility for own actions
• Shows initiative/drive/enthusiasm (self‑starter, motivated, shows curiosity, initiative)

Experience

Essential

• 7 years of experience after full GMC registration or equivalent, 5 of which should be in neurology, and evidence of achievement of foundation competences, in line with GMC standards
• Demonstrates clarity in written/spoken communication & capacity to adapt language as appropriate to the situation
• Able to build rapport, listen, persuade & negotiate
• Capacity to use logical/lateral thinking to solve problems/make decisions, indicating an analytical/scientific approach
• Capacity to take others perspectives and treat others with understanding, seeing patients as people
• Demonstrates respect for all
• Able to work in multi‑professional teams & supervise junior medical staff
• Ability to show leadership, make decisions, organise and motivate other team members for the benefit of patients through, for example, audit and quality improvement projects
• Capacity to work effectively with others
• Capacity to manage/prioritise time and information effectively
• Capacity to prioritise own workload & organise ward rounds

Desirable

• Ability to apply sound clinical knowledge and judgement to problems
• Ability to prioritise clinical need
• Ability to maximise safety and minimise risk
• Recognition of, and ability to undertake the initial management of, an acutely ill patient
• Demonstrable interest in, and understanding of, the specialty
• Commitment to personal and professional development
• Evidence of attendance at organised teaching and training programme(s)
• Evidence of self‑reflective practice

C9298-MED-867A