Consultant in Rheumatology

Countess of Chester; Chester; On-site; GBP 114,000 - 151,000; Part time

Job summary

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Chester is seeking a part-time Substantive Consultant in Rheumatology to join a growing team. The post offers 7 sessions per week (3.5 days) with flexible scheduling and opportunities to develop specialist interests within the job plan.

Applicants should be on GMC Specialist Register for Rheumatology or within six months of CCT, with enthusiasm for research and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• MRCP and GMC registration required or within six months of CCT
• ALS certification desirable
• GMC licence to practise required for post
• CCT in Rheumatology with a subspecialty interest or CESR alternative route
• MD/MSc or higher degree preferred
• GMC Specialist Register entry essential or in process
• General Medicine CCT acceptable in combination with Rheumatology specialty

Responsibilities

• Care for a mixed pool of referrals from community and other specialties
• Lead on admission prevention in collaboration with ED and medicine
• Develop and deliver sub-specialty interests within the job plan
• Participate in teaching, audit and service improvement initiatives

Skills

MRCP

ALS

GMC Licence

CCT in Rheumatology

MD/MSc

GMC Specialist Register

Education

MD/MSc

CCT in Rheumatology

MRCP

Job description

Main area Rheumatology Grade Consultant Contract Permanent Hours Part time - 7 sessions per week (Ideally Mon/ Tues/ Wed/ Fri - to be discussed at interview.) Job ref 210-2026-740

Site Countess of Chester Hospital Town Chester Salary £113,565 - £150,569 pa pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 12/11/2026 23:59

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, staff pride themselves on not only leading through clinical excellence, but also by creating an environment where all staff are valued and appreciated. To achieve this, the Trust has embarked on an exciting new strategy focused on continuous improvement.

Our vision is to improve the lives of our community and provide excellence in healthcare, through partnership and innovation

Our High Performance Culture will support everyone to be the best version of themselves by being true to our Trust vision, values and behaviours.
We welcome applications from colleagues from our local and neighbouring communities of all backgrounds and identities, who are currently under-represented within our region such as Black, Asian, Minority ethnic and those with disabilities.

As a region we are reviewing the way we work, and exploring how new working practices that support flexible working can create a positive work-life balance. As part of our recruitment process we will explore how our inclusive employment policies, flexible working, staff engagement forums, Trust facilities and services can be of mutual benefit.

Job overview

Working Part time: 7 Sessions hours per week

We are looking to recruit a Substantive Consultant in Rheumatology, and we are open to incorporating any specialist interests and developed skills within the job plan. The successful candidate will be a part-time appointment working 3.5 days in Rheumatology, which is a growing department with a dynamic and flexible team of enthusiastic consultants and specialist practitioners. We have a well-established Early Arthritis Clinic, Transitional Adolescent Clinic and sub-speciality clinics.

We have a well-established and well supported portfolio of research. We would welcome forward thinking colleagues to join us at this time. As a department we have a culture of continuous improvement and innovation to deliver optimal care to our patient population.

Applicants should ideally be on the GMC Specialist Register for Rheumatology or be within six months of their CCT date at interview.

Main duties of the job

The appointee will join the team pro‑rate to be responsible for the care of:-

• Mixed pool of patient referrals from the community.
• Mixed pool of patient referred across specialities both urgent and routine.

The appointee will lead on the care of:-

• Admission prevention via collaboration with the SDEC and mixed pool of patient referred by the Emergency Medicine Department.
• Additional specialist interest considerations are welcome.

Working for our organisation

The Trust’s services are provided from three locations:

• The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.
• Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
• Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire.

The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies which is payable to the DBS Service.Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.

The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.

Person specification

Qualifications

• MRCP
• ALS
• Registered with the GMC with a licence to Practice
• CCT in Rheumatology with a speciality interest or within 6 months of obtaining this. Alternative route to specialist register (e.g. CESR)
• MD/MSc
• Registered on the GMC Specialist Register
• CCT in General Medicine

Teaching & Training

• Experience/ Interest in teaching
• Demonstrate the use of Clinical Audit within the Service
• Recognised Teaching Skill Course or Qualification/Higher Degree
• Relevant experience in undertaking and organisation of Audit

Personal Skills

• Understand importance of Management skills
• Ability to integrate within, motivate and provide professional lead in multidisciplinary team
• Undertaken any relevant management courses

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
If the role is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 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.

Enhanced DBS check applications that are submitted with omitted or incorrect information will be withdrawn. In the event errors are identified on your original application, a new application will need to be submitted and you will be required to pay the DBS application fee again.

The cost of the DBS application will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.

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. Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - Check if you need a UK visa - GOV.UK

The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet these immigration rules

For further details on skilled worker sponsorship, please consult the UK Home Office guidance: Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.UK. Additionally, the New guidance for overseas applicants | NHS Employers provides helpful information on the recruitment process for candidates applying for roles in the UK.

Overseas candidates are responsible for their travel expenses.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependent's (over 18 years old) will also be subject to this requirement.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.