Consultant in Critical Care & Anaesthesia

Job Summary

The successful applicant will take up the position of Critical Care Consultant alongside the existing consultant group.

There is an opportunity to recruit following a restructuring of some working patterns.

We are a very welcoming and cohesive group of colleagues that work closely as a team to provide an excellent critical care service to Wirral. We are looking for an individual that shares our values of Integrity, Team working and Commitment.

Our goal is be the best we can be and make a difference to all our patient's lives. Patient safety is integral to everything we do and we have a mission to respond to risk and cause no harm. We look forward to appointing a likeminded colleague who enjoys working in a challenging and rewarding specialty.

The unit is staffed by a diverse workforce consisting of clinicians, nurses and AHP's (Physiotherapy, Dietetics and Pharmacy). The current consultant intensivist workload is provided by 12 whole time equivalent individuals, who each provide 6.3 PAs per week towards Critical Care, and all have additional PAs contributing to services elsewhere in the Trust. We have 13 consultants currently, as two colleagues are job sharing for sustainability and flexible working purposes.

To improve patient care and continuity of decision making, the critical care unit is staffed by 2 consultants during the daytime, 7 days a week, one of which operates on a 'consultant of the week' model.

Main duties of the job

The role of the Critical Care consultant is to provide timely admission and administration of critical care interventions to patients. The role requires the consultant to lead and direct activity on the Critical Care Unit, including twice daily ward rounds and providing support to the wards and outreach services when required.

There is a requirement to supervise and educate trainees. The working pattern is that of a consultant of the week in order to provide continuity of patient care.

The Consultant of the week works Monday-Friday 8am-6pm. This activity is provided every 12 weeks.

Weekend cover is provided by 2 consultants on a 1:4 frequency.

The weekend is split so that a different consultant is responsible for the 24-hour periods of work covering Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with the following 24 hours off. There is a formal handover period from 0800-1100 on the Monday morning following the Sunday 24 hours on call period, for added continuity of care.

Overnight activity Monday to Thursday is provided from 5pm to 8am the following day (non-resident from 2030).

All consultants have additional duties outside of the critical care. In this job description there are 2.29 PAs allocated to providing additional consultant led anaesthesia sessions.

Applicants are welcomed with Anaesthesia as the accompanying area of interest.

About Us

All new colleagues can expect to receive a warm and friendly Wirral welcome from the very first time they make contact with us. We are described as "competent and caring staff" by our patients. Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is situated on The Wirral peninsula which has a stunning coastline and beautiful countryside surroundings, with great activities for its residents. We are one of the largest and busiest acute Trusts in the North West of England, comprising of the Wirral's only Emergency Department. We provide a high quality range of acute care services and employ over 6,000 staff, who serve a population of approximately 400,000 people across Wirral, Ellesmere Port, Neston, North Wales and the wider North West footprint. We have approximately 855 beds trust-wide and our financial turnover is in excess of £337m. The Wirral is easily accessible with excellent transport links including motorway, train, bus or ferry and within easy reach to the major cities of Liverpool, Chester and Manchester as well as neighbouring North Wales.

Job Description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description for further information about the Consultant in Critical Care & Anaesthesia position available at WUTH.

Person Specification

Qualifications Essential

1. MB ChB or Equivalent
2. FFICM
3. Full registration with the GMC with licence to practise and evidence of Revalidation within the last 5 years and appraisal within the last year
4. CCT (or equivalent) for Anaesthesia, or within six months of anticipated CCT
5. CCT (or equivalent) with entry on the specialist register for ICM or within 6 months

Desirable

1. DICM, EDIC or equivalent diploma in Intensive Care Medicine
2. An appropriate higher degree (MD, PhD or equivalent)
3. ALS
4. ATLS
5. APLS
6. BSE accreditation for echocardiography
7. FICE accreditation (or other focused cardiac ultrasound qualification)
8. Formal qualification in medical education

Knowledge, Experience and skills Essential

1. Advanced or stage 3 training/fellowship in ICM or equivalent experience
2. Ability to take full and independent responsibility for the care of critically ill patients
3. Smooth progression through training
4. Clear evidence of an interest in and a commitment to intensive care medicine
5. Percutaneous tracheostomy and bronchoscopy skills
6. Completion of higher training relevant to subspecialty of interest (if applicable)

Teaching and Training Qualities Essential

1. Active participation in teaching and education of medical students, junior doctors and allied healthcare professionals
2. Evidence of achieving GMC standards to be recognised as a Clinical Supervisor
3. Active consistent engagement with quality improvement projects and clinical audit
4. Evidence of reflective practice
5. Understanding of NHS management structures and roles

Desirable

1. Evidence of achieving GMC standards to be recognised as an Education Supervisor
2. Experience in medical education
3. Evidence of implementing change to improve patient care
4. Evidence of leadership development

Research Desirable

1. Significant involvement in clinical research (data collection, PI, CI)
2. Posters/Presentations at regional and national meetings
3. Publications in peer reviewed journal

Personal Qualities Essential

1. Good communication and interpersonal skills
2. Good organisational skills
3. Commitment to team working
4. Excellent written and spoken English
5. Ability to work in a flexible manner

Other Essential

1. To live within 10 miles of the Trust (unless negotiated otherwise)

Desirable

1. Member of a medical indemnity organisation