Consultant in Palliative Medicine

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust; Hebburn, Sunderland; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A local NHS trust is seeking a Consultant in Palliative Medicine to provide consultant-led community and inpatient hospice care. The role entails working within a multi-disciplinary team, influencing palliative care services, and training junior medical staff. Candidates should have a primary medical qualification, full GMC registration, and possess experience in managing Specialist Palliative Care needs. The role is based in Hebburn, and offers an opportunity to make a significant impact on patients and their families during end-of-life care. Competitive benefits including training opportunities are provided.

Benefits

Flexible working policy

Access to training and career progression

Fitness Centre access

Qualifications

• Experience in managing patients with Specialist Palliative Care needs.
• Experience of audit and research methodology.
• Experience of supervising junior medical staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide consultant-led community and inpatient hospice care.
• Support the wider Multi-Disciplinary team with advice.
• Contribute to leadership, education, and policy development.

Skills

Experience of working within a multi-professional team

Ability to make clinical decisions and manage risk

Ability to work with sensitivity and diplomacy

Education

Primary medical qualification

Full GMC registration

Entry onto the GMC Specialist Register

Job description

Go back South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Consultant in Palliative Medicine

The closing date is 09 January 2026

South Tyneside and Sunderland Foundation Trust (STSFT) are looking to fill two Specialist Palliative Care consultant posts in the Sunderland and South Tyneside localities. The posts will primarily be Community based and to provide support to the main hospital sites as required, plus on call cover for the 14‑bedded IPU based at St Benedicts Hospice.

The posts are based in St Benedicts Hospice and Clarendon in Hebburn delivering Specialist Palliative Medicine across Sunderland and South Tyneside for MDT working, on call, education and peer support, providing consultant‑led care to community palliative care services, outpatient services and delivering education.

The Specialist Palliative Care Teams in South Tyneside and Sunderland are well established and have been steadily developed, providing integrated and multidisciplinary services in both localities.

Main duties of the job

This post will be an integral part of an established specialist palliative care medical team providing consultant‑led community and inpatient hospice care. The role offers an excellent opportunity to influence palliative and end of life care services, and to make a meaningful difference to people at the end of their life and their families.

The appointee will be jointly, with the other consultants, registrars and non‑consultant career grade doctors, support the wider Multi‑Disciplinary team. Much of this will be in the form of advice and support to the experienced specialist nursing team.

The appointee will be expected to contribute to leadership, education, policy and guidance development across the healthcare community.

About us

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One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under‑represented groups. Looking after our workforce health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co‑ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.

If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

Job responsibilities

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLES.

The appointee will have responsibility for the training and supervision of junior medical staff and will devote time to this activity on a regular basis. If appropriate, the appointee will be named in the contracts of doctors in training grades as the person responsible for overseeing their training and as the initial source of advice to such doctors on their careers.

The appointee will be expected to work with managers and professional colleagues in the efficient running of services and will participate in, with consultant colleagues, the medical contribution to management. Subject to the provision of the Terms and Conditions of Service, the appointee will be expected to observe the Trusts agreed policies and procedures, drawn up in consultation with the profession on clinical matters, and to follow the standing orders and financial instruction of the Trust.

Where the appointee manages employees of the Trust, he/she will be expected to follow Trust employment and personnel policies/procedures. The appointee will be expected to make sure that there are adequate arrangements for staff included in the care of his/her patients to be able to contact the appointee when necessary.

Person Specification

Clinical Experience

• Experience of working within a multi‑professional team.
• Competent in the management of patients with Specialist Palliative Care needs and those at the end of life.
• Experience of audit and research methodology.
• Sound clinical knowledge and ability to apply in the workplace.
• Experience in making clinical decisions and managing risk.
• Shows aptitude for practical skills required for the role.
• Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to work with sensitivity and diplomacy.

  Personal Attributes

  • Alignment with the Trust core values and behaviours.
  • Flexible approach to service delivery and committed approach to development.
  • Committed to share in professional, managerial and teaching responsibilities necessary to fulfil the obligations of the Directorate, to the Trust and its workforce.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with patients, relatives and healthcare workers and other agencies.
  • Evidence of understanding of and adherence to principles of Good Medical Practice set out by the GMC.
  • Knowledge of and ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team.
  • Ability to work with colleagues and fit in with current department.

  Teaching and Education

  • Experience of supervising junior medical staff.
  • Experience of participation in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.
  • Ability to teach clinical / technical / practical skills.
  • Qualification in medical education.

  Audit and Research

  • Ability to apply research outcomes to clinical practice.
  • Involvement in quality improvement measures.
  • Ability to undertake multi-disciplinary audit / audit in specialty area.
  • Experience of clinical research.
  • Undertaken research with published papers in refereed journals.

  Qualifications

  • Primary medical qualification.
  • Full GMC registration.
  • Entry onto the GMC Specialist Register or eligibility for entry within six months of the date of the AAC [there is flexibility with the 6‑month period with Executive Medical Director approval].
  • Knowledge of clinical governance.

  Management and Administrative Experience

  • Understanding of the NHS, Clinical Governance process and resource issues.
  • Evidence of organisational, management and time management skills.
  • Evidence of management and administration experience and understanding management goals.
  • Management course and / or certificate.

  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.

  South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust