Job Description

The closing date is 30th May 2025

Job summary

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Applications are invited for the post of a consultant general paediatrician with an interest in neonatology.


We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated colleague to join our established team.


Further subspecialty interests to complement those of the department would be welcomed.


There are currently 8-10 programmed activities available for this post, although applications for those wishing to work less than full time hours are welcome.


The successful candidate will join the existing paediatricians in providing neonatal cover in a service-week style rota 1:7, with on call commitment of 1:7 to the Somerset Neonatal Unit, with outpatient based general paediatric/subspecialty commitments.


We are a "local neonatal unit" (LNU, level 2), with 18 cots (4ITU / 4HDU / 10SCBU). We have strong links to the South-West regional neonatal network, with our tertiary neonatal units located in Bristol.


The acute general paediatric ward is covered by 12 other consultants on a separate rota.

Main duties, tasks & skills required

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The post-holder will provide out-patient services including general Paediatric clinics during the remaining weeks. The post-holder would also contribute to regular safeguarding clinics, providing assessments of physical safeguarding concerns. The department also provides a primary care referral triage/advice service via Choose and Book, which the appointee would be expected to contribute to. Most clinics happen on the Musgrove Park site, however there is increasing expansion to providing clinics in other settings such as GP surgeries, or peripheral hospitals.


The successful candidate must share the commitment of the department for excellence in clinical service and the policy of continuing development of innovative service delivery and high-quality training for all staff. The successful candidate will be able to work with a variety of professional people and participate fully as a member of a team working to develop and extend the Paediatric service.


The post holder will contribute to the following clinical services:


Inpatient care for babies on the neonatal unit and post-natal wards


Hospital or primary care based general Paediatric, safeguarding, and specialist interest clinics


Supervision of junior doctors


The care and support of other team members and colleagues


On call duties for all infants in the maternity unit


SPA activity and development into leadership roles in the department

About us

------------


At

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

Flexible working options

to help you balance work and life

NHS pension scheme

for long-term financial security

Generous annual leave allowance

to recharge and relax A strong focus on

career development

to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our

Blue Light Card

, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.


We are proud to foster a

diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce

, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset?

Somerset offers the perfect blend of

idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty

, and

breathtaking coastlines

, with vibrant cities like

Bristol

,

Bath

, and

Exeter

just a short drive away - and only two hours to

London

.


The region is home to excellent

educational facilities

, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all

- the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Job description

-------------------


Neonatal Services


The Somerset Neonatal Unit is classified as a Local Neonatal Unit and provides neonatal intensive care for Somerset with 4 ITU, 4 HDU and 10 special care cots. There are around 3000 deliveries per annum. High risk pregnancies 27 weeks and over deliver at Musgrove Park. In addition, there are high numbers of home deliveries (6%) and several community midwifery units. The unit is part of the South West Neonatal Network and there is a dedicated regional neonatal transport service.


The obstetric department at MPH comprises 9 consultants including two with an interest in high-risk pregnancy/feto-maternal medicine. Infants with known major fetal malformations requiring corrective surgery are managed jointly with the feto-maternal medical unit in Bristol and are electively delivered in Bristol. All other infants, including preterm infants over 27 weeks are delivered and offered intensive care in Taunton. Infants in Yeovil requiring Local Neonatal Unit level care are transferred to Taunton.


The unit is currently staffed at Consultant level by Dr Van Hensbergen, Dr. Bharmappanavara, Dr Followell, Dr Trad, Dr Kareem, Dr Patel, and this post, 2 SpRs, 5 ANNPs, a tier of SHO/Clinical fellows and 35 WTE nursing staff. Consultant cover for the unit is currently provided on a service week basis on a 1:7 rota. Elective commitments, such as outpatient clinics, are cancelled during these times. We have secured funding to develop a separate tier of ANNP staff to run a 24/7 rota to cover the unit at Tier 1 to 2 level. The unit is progressive, and practices extended role nursing very successfully with a committed and experienced team of Neonatal Nurses, and a dedicated Practice Development Nurse. The department has strong links with the obstetric unit with joint teaching and training sessions, morbidity and mortality meetings, and other regular multidisciplinary meetings such as the Maternity Forum.


General Paediatric Inpatient Services


Acute and elective, medical and surgical cases are admitted to the Paediatric wards (and on call for this service is not part of this post). Oak ward has 21 beds and cubicles. Acorn ward has 9 cubicles and a 2 bedded Paediatric high dependency unit. We have recently put a new Paediatric Assessment Unit in place through which admissions to the ward are triaged, and this is run by a separate dedicated Consultant rota. There is also a day unit where day case investigations, clinical reviews, and same-day surgery cases are seen. Consultant cover for the wards, HDU and the day case unit is currently provided on a service week basis. Elective commitments, such as outpatient clinics, are cancelled during these times.


Outpatients


The Paediatric team offers a wide range of general and specialist services to the population of West Somerset. All consultants hold some general Paediatric out-patient clinics and local teams offer specialist OPD services in a variety of specialist areas.


Tertiary consultants also come down to deliver joint clinics with local consultants in Cardiology, renal medicine, endocrine and growth, cystic fibrosis, oncology, neurology, urology, Paediatric surgery, and others.


There is a separate team that covers referrals for Community Child health.


Out-patient referrals are managed centrally, such that referrals from primary care are triaged and allocated based on specialty and urgency. Some clinics are held in peripheral hospitals for children to be seen nearer to their own home. Waiting times are generally within the 13-week target.


An advice and guidance service is offered to GPs which can help avoid the need for an appointment or point towards the most appropriate clinic.


Community Child Health Services


There are 5 Community Child Health consultants, working exclusively in CCH, and 1 consultant who also offers acute service. They offer a specialist service for the Trust area of responsibility covering over 600 square miles and accounting for 64% of Somerset's children. They support children with additional needs in a "geographical patch" manner of working. The Community Child Health service offers diagnostic services in social communication disorders and follow-up most of the children with long term neuro-disability.


Community Nursing Service


There is a Community Children's Nurse Specialist service. This includes those with sub-specialist expertise in ADHD, autism, allergy and respiratory disease, continence, and catheterisation. This service forms part of the integrated Paediatric service. This team supports children at home requiring (for example) oxygen therapy, NG feeding or with multiple additional needs. This also includes a community team with a specialist interest in Palliative care.


There is a separate Paediatric Diabetic Nurse team who supports all the diabetic patients in the community and hospital.


In addition, there is a separate Children's Home Care Team which provides nursing support for children at home needing respiratory assistance


Child Safeguarding Service


Effective working relationships are maintained with the various agencies involved in Safeguarding. Consultant Paediatricians and trainees provide medical advice on individual cases arising either through NICU or clinic work, and consultants provide a daily safeguarding clinic to see children away from the acute ward. The post holder will have the opportunity to join this rota if they wish. This might involve attendance at Case Conferences, provision of Witness Statements, and attendance at Court. Historical and acute child sexual abuse assessments are performed at the regional Sexual Abuse Referral Centre in Bristol.


Paediatric Surgery


Within the hospital there is a specialist team of Paediatric anaesthetists and 2 general surgeons with a Paediatric interest. All surgery, except in emergencies, is carried out with a Paediatric anaesthetist. In addition, there are local Orthopaedic, ENT, and Ophthalmology teams who will also see and treat children locally. Close links exist between the surgical, anaesthetic, and Paediatric teams through joint teaching seminars and the Paediatric Surgical Group. When advice or more specialist expertise is necessary, children are transferred to Bristol Children's Hospital where there is a full complement of Specialist Paediatric Surgical Specialties.


Medical Education/Training


The appointee is expected to keep up to date with continuing professional development through RCPCH scheme and participate in the academic life of the Department and the Trust. The Trust provides 30 days of study/professional leave over 3 years, with an allowance of 1000 per year. With the recent expansion of medical student numbers, Somerset Foundation NHS Trust has developed a Somerset Academy for medical students, and this is resulting in a significant increase in the number of students in the department. There is currently expansion in the training of medical students to include both those from Bristol and Peninsula Universities. All members of the team should expect to participate in supporting this training with some consultant members developing specific sessions dedicated to undergraduate teaching.


The appointee is also expected to:


Participate in the academic life of the Department and the Trust.


Participate in the teaching of junior medical staff. The department attracts a high standard of junior and middle grade staff due to its reputation for excellent teaching and training.


Act as educational supervisor/mentor to junior medical staff when required


Support medical students from Bristol and Plymouth university on placement


Be involved in teaching General Practitioners and Division staff.


To promote research.


Other Clinical Services Working Closely with the Department


Psychiatry Consultant Child Psychiatrists provide acute Paediatric psychiatry inpatient and outpatient services, with workers from CAMHS permanently based on site


Clinical genetics The Clinical Genetic Service operates from adjacent facilities to the Children's Centre, the team including two visiting consultants from Bristol, a Nurse Consultant post and Genetic Counsellors.


Combined Clinics are held with visiting Regional Specialists including Cardiology, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Neurology, Oncology, Cystic Fibrosis, Rheumatology, Surgery and Urology.


Laboratory Services. There are comprehensive biochemical, haematological, microbiology and histopathology services onsite.


Clinical Laboratory and Radiological Services


The hospital has full clinical laboratory and radiological services available including CT scanning and MRI. MRI scans under General Anaesthetic for children are available with 2 lists a month.

Person specification

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Qualifications

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Essential

Medical Degree


Full GMC Registration with a licence to practice with Specialist Registration


To have achieved a CCT


OR


Can provide evidence that he/she is within 6 months of the CCT date at the time of interview, and is expected to achieve CCT


MRCPCH or equivalent


APLS


NLS




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Desirable

Neonatal SPIN qualification


NLS instructor


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Experience

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Essential

Completed Foundation Year One and Two Training or equivalent


Completed ST1/2 Training or equivalent


Completed ST3+ Higher Training or Equivalent


Expertise in Neonatology


12 months experience of neonatology in a tertiary training post


Expertise in General Paediatric outpatient work and neonatal follow-up.


Expertise/training in managing child safeguarding


Evidence of teaching


Well experienced in post graduate, particularly multidisciplinary, teaching and training




####

Desirable

6 months experience in a sub-specialty to complement those of the department.


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Additional Criteria

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Essential

Please see the job description for full details of essential person specifications required to undertake this post


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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.


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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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.


From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had 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 dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.


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UK Professional Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.


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For help with your application, contact:

Piet Van Hensbergen


pieter.van-hensbergen@somersetft.nhs.uk




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Pay scheme

Hospital Medical and Dental


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Band

Consultant


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Salary

105504.00 to 139882.00 Yearly
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Contract

Permanent


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Working pattern

Part-Time, Full-Time


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Reference number

184-OL-MED-FAM-2460


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Job locations

Musgrove Park Hospital

Musgrove Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 5DA