Job Description

1. INPATIENT HOSPICE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 1.1 Delivery of medical care to specialist palliative care inpatients with consultant supervision (using a holistic approach, addressing the patients physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs). 1.2 Work as part of the multi-disciplinary, specialist palliative care team to optimise patient care. 1.3 Clerk new admissions to the hospice through history and physical examination and explore advance care planning.



1.4 Attendance at & participation in the weekly Consultant Ward Round and Multi-Disciplinary Team meeting. 1.5 Communicating with patients and their families pro-actively, providing appropriate information and support as necessary. 1.6 Chairing of family meetings when appropriate. 1.7 Use of the multi-lingual advocacy service to aid assessment of and communication with patients & families who do not speak English fluently.



1.8 Appropriate communication with health professionals outside of palliative medicine, to ensure good continuity of patient care. 1.9 Timely provision of medical letters and discharge summaries. 1.10 Participation in bereavement follow-up as required. 2.



OUT-OF-HOURS / ON-CALL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 2.1 The on call component of this role comprises a full on call rota working 1 in 6 weekdays and 1 in 4 single weekend days. There may be additional on call duties available at other times. For post 1 there will be an on call component for the full 6 months. For post 2 there will be a regular on call component for the first 4 months of the post.



For the final 2 months there may be ad hoc cover required. 2.2 Participate in the hospice first on-call rota, providing out-of-hours cover for the hospice inpatient unit and community palliative care team with consultant support throughout. On-call days at weekends and bank holidays are single-days non-resident 09:00-09:00 with estimated average work of 12 hours during each 24-hour non-resident period. 2.3 Must be available to attend the hospice within 60 minutes during all non-resident on-call periods.



On site on-call accommodation is available if required. 3. NON-CLINICAL DUTIES / EDUCATION, TRAINING & SUPPORT Educational opportunities: 3.1 Weekly doctors journal club. 3.2 Weekly doctors teaching.



3.3 Monthly Schwartz Rounds. 3.4 Courses available via hospice Education Centre as per candidates training needs. Delivery of teaching: 3.4 Teaching & supervision of medical students on placement at the hospice, both on the ward setting and in the education centre (currently mainly virtual) 3.5 Teaching on induction programme for St Josephs rotating junior doctors 3.6 Large group teaching to year 5 Barts, The Royal London and Queen Marys Hospitals Medical School students, GPs, DNs and multi-disciplinary groups. Audit: 3.7 Undertaking of clinical audit and quality improvement projects 3.8 Supervision of audit projects undertaken by other St Josephs Hospice staff.



Management 3.10 Helping organise teaching and journal club rotas. 3.11 Observation of work and teaching by St Josephs fundraising department 3.12 Observation of work of volunteers department, including teaching on recruitment and selection process for volunteers. 3.13 Working with consultants on service development projects appropriate to the post-holders experience and areas of interest. Support: 3.14 Regular group clinical supervision for all doctors 3.15 Monthly Schwartz rounds the post holder can attend and present as they wish 3.16 Facilitated debriefing sessions about individual patients arranged on request Supervision: 3.17 Regular clinical/educational supervision by named Consultant 3.18 Availability of consultant support/advice daily following patient reviews or telephone contacts with patients, carers, staff and external healthcare professionals.



4. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAL STAFF 4.1 To contact one of the consultants, other senior colleague or managers, as appropriate, if there are any clinical concerns. 4.2 To make accurate, legible and contemporaneous entries in the patients records and to ensure continuity of patient care by handover to colleagues. St Josephs Hospice uses an electronic patient records system.



4.3 To participate in audit, research or any on-going developments within the hospice. 4.4 To participate in teaching students, hospice staff and volunteers as required. 4.5 To participate in journal club and educational activities at St Josephs Hospice. 4.6 To comply with Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements as stipulated by the Royal Colleges.



4.7 To maintain own professional indemnity insurance to cover work in the hospice. 4.8 To maintain confidentiality at all times and comply with all other aspects of the General Medical Councils Code of Professional Conduct. 4.9 To keep a portfolio of evidence, to have an annual appraisal and write a personal development plan (PDP) in line with GMC revalidation policies and procedures. 5.



GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL STAFF 5.1 To perform his / her duties according to the philosophy of the Hospice, acting at all times to safeguard the interests of patients and their families, and in particular to respect and live out the Hospice Mission and Core Values. 5.2 To attend the induction program. 5.3 To comply with Occupational Health procedures. 5.4 To attend any staff meetings, where appropriate, in discussion with the Medical Lead.



5.5 To keep up to date and complete all statutory and mandatory training, e.g. fire training, lifting and handling and other health and safety issues. 5.6 To monitor, record and assist in investigations of any complaints from patients, visitors and staff, reporting these to the Medical Lead. 5.7 To recognise the importance of, and to participate in, Clinical Governance activities at St Josephs Hospice.