Specialty Doctor in Palliative Medicine

WILLOWBROOK HOSPICE; Knowsley; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

An independent charitable organization is seeking a Specialty Grade Doctor to join their medical team. The role is focused on inpatient care and may involve community patient reviews. The successful candidate will have at least 4 years of postgraduate experience, with a strong background in palliative care. Responsibilities include providing clinical leadership, participating in education programs, and contributing to patient assessment and management.

Qualifications

• 4 years postgraduate experience, including 2 in palliative care or related specialty.
• Experience working in a hospice or palliative care setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide medical services to patients across clinical areas.
• Contribute to clinical management under supervision of senior staff.
• Participate in the delivery of education to healthcare professionals.

Skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Advanced Communication Skills Training

Education

MBBS or equivalent

Diploma or MSC Palliative Care

Teaching qualification

Job description

Willowbrook Hospice is seeking aSpecialty Grade Doctor to join our medical team. This post will commence on orafter 7th November 2025.

The post is for 2 sessions per week (Tuesday) with additional on-call weeknights and weekendswith an indicative frequency of 1:6. This may vary between 1:4-1:8 dependingupon rota requirements.

This is a great opportunity for thesuccessful candidate to join a Consultant led service that was ratedOutstanding by CQC in 2020.

Willowbrook Hospice is CQC registeredfor 10 beds and provides Specialist Palliative Care via an Inpatient Unit, OutpatientService (including daily hot clinic) and Outreach Service offering a varietyof therapies and bereavement support.

We have a strong and supportivemultidisciplinary team in the Inpatient Unit and work closely with the team of doctorsand Clinical Nurse Specialists in the Community. Whilst this role is primarilyto support the Inpatient Unit, there may be opportunities to see patients inthe community alongside the Community Specialist Palliative Care Team andconduct outpatient reviews.

The Hospice trains undergraduate medicalstudents and nurses and has Specialist Registrars and GP Registrars onattachment. The post holder will contribute to teaching, training, audit, andresearch projects.

The successful candidate should have 4years postgraduate experience, 2 of which should be in palliative care or a relatedspecialty e.g. General Practice.

Visits to the Hospice are encouraged.

Main duties of the job

Workas a valuable member of the multi-professional team providing medical servicesto patients across all clinical service areas. The role is primarily for theinpatient unit, but all doctors work flexibly and may be required to assess orreview patients in the community, outpatient clinics or Outreach Service underthe supervision of a senior doctor.

To provide clinical leadership within the multi-disciplinary team under thesupervision of the consultant

Toensure senior medical staff are kept closely informed to ensure continuity ofcare and good communication

To participate in the delivery of education to primary care, undergraduates, post-graduates, nursing staff and other healthcare professionals

To participate in the out-of-hours on-call rota which includes weekday evenings, weekends,and Bank Holidays

About us

WillowbrookHospice is an independent charitable organisation providing specialistpalliative care for the population of St Helens and Knowsley. It providescomplex symptom control, psychological, social, and spiritual support forpatients and their families/carers.

WillowbrookHospice co-ordinates a 24-Hour Specialist Palliative Care Telephone Advice Linefor health care professionals working in Halton, St Helens and Knowsley.

TheSpecialist Palliative Care Service for St Helens and Knowsley comprises of theHospice, Community and Hospital teams. The teams work together through anintegrated MDT which meets via daily information sharing Huddles. TheCommunity and Hospital teams provide a 9-5, 7day per week service.

Theservice participates in training for junior doctors and has one SpecialtyRegistrar in Palliative Medicine and 2 WTE GP registrars. Medical students fromthe University of Liverpool attend placements at the Hospice throughout theyear.

Secretarialsupport is provided by the Medical Administrative Team located in the Hospice.

Job responsibilities

Working alongsideclinical colleagues (in the in-patient unit or community) and under thesupervision of a senior medic, contribute to the clinical management ofpatients including initial assessment and review.

Work closely with andrespect roles and skills of all members of the multi professional team.

Attend the dailymulti-disciplinary team meetings or cross setting clinical huddle meeting ifrequired.

Liaise with otherhealth care professionals e.g. GPs where appropriate in providing andplanning for care of the patient.

Maintain accurate, comprehensive,and contemporaneous medical and multi professional records within theappropriate electronic patient record.

Meet with familiesand carers as required

Contributeto the clinical supervision and training of junior medical staff

Beresident on site during day sessions and within 30 minutes response timeduring out of hours on call.

Conducta daily ward round when on call at the weekend and accept admissions wherethat is appropriate as agreed with senior on call.

Working alongside clinical colleagues (in the inpatient unit or community) and under the supervision of a senior medic contribute to the clinical management of patients including initial assessment and review.

Work closely with and respect roles and skills of all members of the multi professional team.

Attend the daily multi-disciplinary team meetings or cross setting clinical huddle meeting if required.

Provideclinical advice by telephone to other healthcare professionals via the24-Hour Specialist Palliative Care Telephone Advice Line.

Participatein the first on call rota for Willowbrook Hospice for this role it isanticipated that this would be 1:4 to 1:8 depending upon the requirements ofthe service and number of clinicians contributing.

To take an activepart in the Integrated Specialist Palliative Care Service Education Programme.

To maintain anddevelop skills in Palliative Medicine by participating in CME and maintainingan appropriate portfolio of evidence.

To maintain CPD.

Share skills andknowledge with others to assist in their professional development.

Contribute to theteaching of undergraduate medical students and junior doctors.

Undertake annualappraisal with a designated appraiser and meet requirements for 5-yearlyrevalidation with the GMC.

Attendand complete Hospice mandatory training and job specific compulsory trainingon an annual basis.

Take an active partin hospice audit.

Encourage and supportapproved research projects.

Act as a core memberof the Integrated Specialist Palliative Care MDT for St Helens andKnowsley.

Co-operate with staffand management in contributing to the responsible and efficient running ofservices.

Assisting in ensuringthat clinical administration is kept up to date.

Participating in hospice and community meetings where appropriate.

Covering of medical colleagues where possible during periods of absence.

Adhere to clinical and management governance policies and procedures.

Follow all applicable rules and procedures relating to health and safety and universal precautions.

Be aware of obligations and statutory rights with regard to disciplinary and grievance procedures.

Undertake other duties which are clinically appropriate and agreed in advance.

Complete mandatory training where it is appropriate to the role in both settings.

Maintain full registration with General Medical Council

Maintain fully subscribed membership of a recognised medical defence organisation.

Maintain business car insurance.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Full GMC registration with a licence to practice
• MBBS or equivalent
• At least 4 years training / experience of managing medical patients in primary or secondary care at postgraduate level
• Diploma or MSC Palliative Care
• MRCP / MRCGP or equivalent
• Teaching qualification
• Advanced Communication Skills Training

Experience

• Experience of working in a hospice or palliative care in another setting
• Experience of working in community-based services
• Experience in oncology
• Evidence of team working
• Experience of teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level

Skills and Knowledge

• Communication skills, clear, fluent and articulate in communication in English (verbal and written)
• Evidence of understanding of importance of research and critical appraisal of evidence
• Evidence of effective and sustained contribution to clinical governance, clinical risk management and clinical audit activities
• Capacity to be alert to dangers or problems
• Demonstrates awareness of good decision making
• Track record of engaging in clinical governance, reporting errors, learning from errors
• Proven ability to communicate in written form (publications, reports etc.)
• Track record of ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team
• Peer reviewed publications

Personal Attributes

• Ability to recognise stress in oneself and a team member
• The ability to communicate with clarity & intelligibility in written & spoken English
• Interpersonal skills so that he/she can see patients as people, empathise, work co-operatively with others, open and non-defensive, sense of humour
• Uses a non-judgemental approach to patients and colleagues (regardless of their sexuality, ethnicity, disability, religious beliefs or financial status)
• Ability to cope constructively with stress and conflict in the workplace
• Teaching experience
• Probity: (displays honesty, integrity, aware of ethical dilemmas)
• Meets professional health requirements
• Car driver with current UK license

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.

Depending on experienceDependent on experience and aligns to Willowbrook Hospice banding