Consultant in Older Peoples Services

NHS; Colchester; On-site; GBP 109,000 - 146,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider is seeking a Consultant in Older Peoples Services. You will be responsible for leading a consultant-led service in elderly medicine and developing frailty services for patients. The role requires full GMC registration and involves significant responsibilities for inpatient care and training junior medical staff. This permanent, full-time position is based in Colchester, offering a competitive salary range from £109,725 to £145,478 annually.

Qualifications

• Full registration with the General Medical Council is essential.
• Completion of MRCP or an equivalent qualification is required.
• Entry onto the Specialist Register or UK SpR within 6 months of CCT date at interview.

Responsibilities

• Provide a consultant-led service with the highest standard of care.
• Collaborate with the multi-professional team to develop care pathways.
• Participate in the appraisal of medical staff within the department.

Skills

Good practical clinical skills

Excellent verbal communication skills

Ability to build, lead and work as part of a multi-disciplinary team

Strong interpersonal skills

Education

Full registration with the General Medical Council

MRCP or equivalent

At least 4 years at SpR level

Job description

Job Summary

Applications are invited for the post of Consultant in Older Peoples Services at Colchester Hospital and Clacton Hospital. The appointee will join four other consultants in elderly medicine who provide a comprehensive service for residents of Northeast Essex as part of ESNEFT.

It is expected that the new appointee will participate in the development of the Frailty service for elderly patients in Northeast Essex. Other subspecialty interests are also welcome. The key elements of the role include inpatient care, frailty work, on‑call acute care as well as teaching and training junior medical staff.

Responsibilities

• Work with colleagues to provide a consultant‑led service with the highest standard of care;
• Work with the multi‑professional team to develop care pathways and clinical guidelines;
• Develop and maintain good working practices with wards, out‑patients and the Emergency Department;
• Collaborate and promote close working links with colleagues, other departments and primary care;
• Offer educational, clinical support and leadership to junior medical colleagues, nursing colleagues and other members of the multi‑disciplinary team;
• Ensure appropriate information is made available to staff to measure clinical performance and enable meaningful benchmarks to be established and evaluated within your area of responsibility;
• Ensure there is a robust process for reviewing the quality of services provided, explaining the causes of success and failure and ensuring the highest standards are maintained;
• Provide a role model of professional leadership, which underpins the corporate values and behaviours agreed by the organisation, ensuring these are understood and demonstrated by the medical workforce within your area and take remedial action where poor behaviour are demonstrated;
• Ensure that junior doctors training confirms to College requirements;
• Participate in the appraisal of medical staff within the department in line with the Trust’s agreed policy.

Acute Care Duties

• Take part in the acute medical intake working. Provide ongoing medical supervision for patients admitted under your care following the acute take. There are four Older Peoples Services wards (excluding the stroke ward, orthogeriatrics and EAU); a ward‑based system for junior doctors and patients currently operates so patients admitted under one consultant are often transferred to the care of another once they move off EAU and onto another ward. You will be supported by an SPR (shared with one other consultant) and a foundation doctor / CMT / GP trainee doctor. You will be responsible for managing in‑patients on your allocated ward.
• Work closely with the other consultants in Older Peoples Services to share in the care of patients in all aspects of care including acute care, rehabilitation;
• Liaise with consultants within the department on the development and implementation of protocols and guidelines for the management of elderly patients and the development of clinical audit;
• Provide a consultant advisory service to colleagues in other specialties in the trust as well as those in the mental health trust;
• Participate in the postgraduate and undergraduate teaching programmes, and teaching of other health professionals, within the department;
• Participate in the appraisal and assessment of junior medical colleagues, as delegated by the Unit Training Director;
• Participate in teaching of registrars and resident doctors.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Full registration with the General Medical Council;
• MRCP or equivalent;
• Entry onto the Specialist Register or a UK SpR within 6 months of CCT date at interview;
• Good practical clinical skills;
• An awareness of current specialty specific developments and initiatives;
• Ability to offer expert clinical opinion on a full range of acute medical emergencies, rehabilitation and intermediate care;
• At least 4 years at SpR level (or equivalent);
• Ability to build, lead and work as part of a multi‑disciplinary team;
• Excellent verbal, listening and written communication skills, along with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to deal with difficult situations;
• Ability to organise and prioritise work effectively and to be involved in the organisation of the department;
• Must be able to travel to meet requirements of post.

Desirable

• Post‑graduate degree e.g. MD, PhD, MSc;
• Entry onto the Specialist Register in G(I)M & Geriatric Medicine;
• Evidence of work submitted for peer review;
• Ability to apply research outcomes to clinical problems;
• Attendance at teaching course;
• Attendance at management course.

Details

Date posted: 14 November 2025

Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade: Consultant

Salary: £109,725 to £145,478 a year per annum

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full‑time

Reference number: 432-MC2768

Job location: Colchester Hospital, Turner Road, Colchester, CO4 5JL

Additional Information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service will be required to check for any previous 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. Applications must also provide a criminal record certificate from each country resided in for 12 months or more in the last ten years as per UK Visas and Immigration guidance.

UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. Further information can be found on the NHS Careers website.

Employer’s website: https://www.esneft.nhs.uk/