Specialty Doctor in Acute Medicine

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust; Torquay; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health service organization in Torquay is seeking a Specialty Doctor in Acute Medicine. This role emphasizes high-quality patient care, teamwork, and teaching within a supportive environment. Ideal candidates will possess GMC registration and proven experience in acute settings, eager to contribute to clinical governance and departmental improvements.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to teach clinical skills within multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience offering expert clinical opinions.
• Evidence of innovative development.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior-level, high quality care to patients.
• Participate in clinical governance and improvement activities.
• Support junior clinicians and ensure effective communication.

Skills

Proven experience at Specialty Doctor level

Ability to take full responsibility for clinical care

Supervision of multi-disciplinary teams

Good spoken and written English skills

Education

Full GMC Registration

Completion of at least four years' postgraduate training

ALS Certification

Tools

Audit experience

IT skills

Job description

Overview

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is offering the rare opportunity to combine a rewarding and stimulating specialty doctor job in Acute Medicine with an unrivalled lifestyle in the heart of one of the most beautiful areas of the country. The closing date is 15 October 2025.

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is a dynamic department known for taking a proactive role in service development, quality improvement, education and training. The Acute Medicine department provides care on the Acute Medical Unit (AMU) and the short-stay Emergency Assessment Unit (EAU4), focusing on the first 48 hours of the patient journey. We also provide an Acute Medicine in-reach service in the Emergency Department during daytime hours. The general medical on-call work is shared with general medical colleagues from a range of specialties. We have excellent working relationships with the specialty physicians, with specialty advice easily available via a hot phone system.

We need enthusiastic, motivated and innovative clinicians to join us in the next stage of our vision, which will see us maximising same-emergency care and virtual ward opportunities, as well as working in closer partnership with primary care and the voluntary sector to deliver high quality care.

Main duties of the job

This post aims to support senior clinical decision-making and same-day emergency care predominantly on the Acute Medical Unit (AMU). Reporting to the consultants, the post holder will be crucial to the day-to-day management of the service. Responsibility for named inpatient care and post-take ward round review will remain with the consultant team. We are looking for a colleague:

• To provide senior-level, high quality care to patients requiring our service, ensuring the highest standards of clinical care are met;
• To provide teaching and training at undergraduate and postgraduate level, and to supervise and train the junior clinical team;
• To be proactive in the department's Clinical Governance agenda and take on roles to support continuous learning and improvement, thereby abiding by the clinical and corporate governance policies of the Trust
• To participate in relevant audit and quality assurance processes.

About us

The Acute Medicine department at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is a dynamic department known for taking a proactive role in service development, quality improvement, and education and training. Acute Medicine benefits from a strong leadership team and has easy working relationships with the hospital executive team through its work in development of our acute services. The Acute Medicine team provides care on the Acute Medical Unit and the short-stay Acute Medicine ward, EAU4, focusing on the first 48 hours of the patient journey. We also provide an Acute Medicine in-reach service in the Emergency Department during daytime hours. The general medical on-call work is shared with general medical colleagues from a range of specialties. We have excellent working relationships with the specialty physicians, with specialty advice easily available via a hot phone system.

Job responsibilities

The post holder will be expected to perform the following activities:

• Taking telephone referrals for medical admissions
• Providing clinical advice over the phone
• Suggesting alternatives to admission where appropriate
• Directing caller to specialist teams if available
• Deciding appropriate admission destination (ED or AMU)
• Identifying and seeing patients from the take that could be rapidly seen and discharged
• Reviewing patients seen by junior clinicians
• Opportunistic bedside teaching and assessments for resident doctors/medical students
• Providing support to nursing staff on the unit with clinical or management queries
• Managing flow through the unit by monitoring Portal 2 and admissions board
• Ensuring effective handover between medical and nursing teams and evening clerking doctors
• Supporting junior clinicians in ensuring effective communication with Primary Care colleagues
• Seeking opportunities to make changes to improve the efficacy of the unit and patient experience
• Working alongside consultant colleagues as senior decision makers and to oversee the running of the unit.

Person Specification

Qualifications and training

• Full GMC Registration (with licence to practice). Minimum of English Level 2 (GCSE grade C/4 or equivalent), IELTS or graduate of a UK Medical School.
• ALS
• Completion of at least four years' full-time postgraduate training (or equivalent gained on a part-time or flexible basis), at least two of which should be in a specialty training programme in a relevant specialty, or as a fixed term specialty trainee in a relevant specialty.
• Distinctions, scholarships, prizes. Other degrees, e.g. BSc, MSc, MD.

Knowledge and experience

• Proven experience at Specialty Doctor level in Acute Medicine or General Medicine
• Experience in offering an expert clinical opinion on a range of problems.
• Ability to take full and independent responsibility for clinical care of patients.
• Ability to prioritise clinical need.
• Ability to supervise multi-disciplinary teams.

Specific Skills

• Ability to advise on efficient and smooth running of the department.
• Ability to demonstrate willingness to lead clinical teams and develop an Effective specialist clinical service.
• Experience of Audit and Management
• Evidence of innovative development and implementation of guidance.
• Evidence of involving patients in practice.
• Active interest in IT.
• Ability to demonstrate familiarity with and understanding of NHS structures, management and current political issues, including awareness of national strategic plans and constraints.

Requirements due to work environment/conditions

• Proven ability to teach clinical skills within multi-disciplinary teams applying evidence based knowledge.
• Good spoken and written English language skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients, relatives and staff.
• Ability to supervise postgraduate research.
• Evidence of relevant research, publications or presentations.
• Willingness and ability to contribute to departmental and Trust teaching Programmes.
• Evidence of patient and colleague feedback.
• Enquiring critical approach to work

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.

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust