Consultant in Microbiology

NHS; Taunton; On-site; GBP 105,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading NHS Trust as a Consultant Medical Microbiologist in Taunton. Provide vital clinical microbiology services, advise on infection management, and practice within a supportive environment that values work-life balance and career development. Experience a beautiful region with access to diverse professional opportunities.

Benefits

Flexible working options

NHS pension scheme

Generous annual leave allowance

Career development support

Blue Light Card for discounts

Qualifications

• Must hold Full and Specialist GMC registration.
• FRCPath or evidence of equivalent qualification required.
• Experience as an Infection Control Doctor is essential.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for comprehensive microbiology services and clinical duties.
• Advise on antimicrobial prescribing and lead antimicrobial rounds.
• Participate in audits and contribute to public health microbiology.

Skills

Consultation

Infection Control

Antimicrobial Stewardship

Clinical Liaison

Evidence-Informed Practice

Education

Full and Specialist registration with the General Medical Council (GMC)

Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT)

FRCPath or equivalent

Job description

We are delighted to welcome your application for Consultant Medical Microbiologist (with or without Infectious Diseases) to join our existing team of 6 consultants and specialists, along with our wider team of microbiology laboratory staff, antimicrobial stewardship practitioners and infection control colleagues.

You will work mainly in Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, and you will be expected to participate in the provision of clinical cover for Yeovil District Hospital site location. In addition you will participate in the clinical and advisory service offered to General Practitioners, Somerset Foundation Trust Community Hospitals and independent sector treatment centre Practice Plus Group Hospital at Shepton Mallet.

At Somerset Foundation Trust we recognise care is not just for the patient, within the Directorate there is access to Clinical Supervision, mentorship, coaching and counselling as well as a Trust wellbeing team. We work with consultants to ensure flexible and realistic job planning to optimise work-life balance to ensure individuals flourish.

The Department of Microbiology is accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), under the new standard ISO 15189:2012 (UKAS registration no 9679). The last full inspection was January 2024.

The Department is an IBMS-approved laboratory for registration training of Biomedical Scientists. The Department participates in all relevant NEQAS schemes, with an excellent record of results.

The AAC interview date: to be confirmed.

Main duties of the job

The appointee, together with consultant colleagues, will be responsible for the provision of a comprehensive, efficient and cost-effective clinical medical microbiology service that includes;

• Advice regarding appropriate specimens.
• Involvement in specimen analysis.
• Validation and interpretation of results for transmission to wards.
• Regular ward visits (incl. ITU/HDU each day).
• Attendance at various multidisciplinary team meetings (cardiology, haematology, orthopaedic,spinal, vascular).
• Advice on antimicrobial prescribing including regular antimicrobial ward rounds.
• Regular review of patients with C. difficile infection and involvement in the management of individual patients through full clinical liaison.
• Participation in the out-of-hours service: The on-call rota is currently 1 week in 5 with prospective cover.
• Appropriate involvement in antimicrobial stewardship as required.
• Hospital Infection Prevention and Control functions, as required.

It is expected that, on average within each five-week period, each Consultant will spend;

• One week "first on" for clinical duties for Musgrove Park Hospital, and on-call.
• One week "second on" for clinical duties (surgical specialities) for Musgrove Park Hospital.
• One week on clinical duties for Yeovil District Hospital (which will involve visits to Yeovil) plus GPs and community hospitals.

About us

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

To arrange a visit please contact our Service manager [e-mail], or via our microbiology admin team lead Tracy Croom, [e-mail] or 01823 343765.

Job responsibilities

Applicants will be expected to be members of the Royal College of Pathologists or show equivalent experience and training.

Applicants must hold 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.

Consideration will be given to appoint suitable applicants at Specialty Doctor/Specialist Doctor level if the applicant is not on the GMC Specialist Register. Consideration will be given to appoint suitable applicants to a CESR post to achieve GMC Specialist Registration in order to work at consultant level.

Please see below some further details regarding the duties of this role:

• Provision of virology/serology services as appropriate.
• Appropriate involvement in preparation of policies, SOPs, assessment and introduction of new methods, business planning, etc.
• Managerial and administrative duties as agreed with the Clinical Lead for Microbiology and the Clinical Director.
• Such additional duties as may be required from time to time either by the Clinical Lead forMicrobiology or Clinical Director, after appropriate consultation.
• With consultant and other colleagues (and when necessary, with the support of the local HPU), provision of microbiological and epidemiological support, including surveillance for Consultants in Communicable Disease Control, Environmental Health Officers and others, and for clinical staff in hospitals and the community, within the catchment area of the Department of Microbiology.
• Collaboration with UK Health Security Agencys central reference & epidemiological facilities in the reporting and investigation of infections, control of outbreaks, development of laboratory methods, involvement in surveys, etc.
• Public Health microbiology as required, in collaboration with the local Health ProtectionUnit, in the catchment area of the laboratory (e.g. testing of outbreak specimens).

Teaching & training:

• Teaching, examination and accreditation duties as required - including teaching of 3rd year medical students (from Bristol University) attached to Somerset Academy and contribution to postgraduate and continuing medical education activities.
• Audit, clinical governance & research:
• Participation in audit & quality control within the laboratory, and clinical audit within the
• Participation in a recognised scheme of Continuing Professional Development.
• Research activities consistent with the priorities of the Department of Microbiology and the Trust; subject to the availability of funding and resources.

Laboratory Advice to Occupational Health Service:

• Provide interpretation of laboratory results for the Trust's Occupational Health service, whether this may be an in-house provision or outsourced.

Each Consultant will have designated responsibility for a specific area/service(s), these include:

• Clinical Service Lead of Microbiology Department.
• Infection Control Doctor for Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.
• Infection Control Doctor for Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust .
• Lead Consultant for Antimicrobial Stewardship for Somerset.
• Lead Consultant for Laboratory Technical Liaison.

Please see attached the full job description and persons specification for this position. We would love for you to come and visit us. We're confident you'll be pleasantly surprised by the scope of our department. To arrange a visit, or simply have a discussion to find out more about the post and team please contact our Service manager [e-mail], or via our microbiology admin team lead Tracy Croom, [e-mail] or 01823 343765.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Full and specialist registration (and a licence to practise) with the General Medical Council (GMC) (or 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
• Evidence of continuing medical education
• Completed a period of education and training in medical microbiology recognised by the Royal College of Pathologists

Experience

• Experience of all aspects of the work of an Infection Control Doctor
• Extensive experience of ward-based clinical liaison
• Understanding of clinical risk management
• Competent of work without direct supervision
• Clear and logical thinking showing analytical/scientific approach
• Ability to mentor staff both medical and nursing
• Experience of developing & implementing antimicrobial guidelines
• Experience of clinical risk management

Additional Criteria

• Appropriate level of clinical knowledge
• Shows knowledge of evidence-informed practice
• Shows awareness of own limitations
• Ability to prioritise clinical need
• Ability to organise oneself and own work
• Willingness to take a lead in developing/managing a clinical area
• Evidence of participation in audit
• Evidence of training medical and non medical staff
• Experienced in post graduate, particularly multidisciplinary teaching and training
• Demonstrates breadth of awareness of issues
• Information technology skills
• Proven managerial skills, especially team leadership
• Understanding of NHS, Clinical Governance and Resource Constraints

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.

£105,504 to £139,882 a yearBased on 10 PA's per week. Exact salary subject to experience.