Job Description

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Job Title Medical Director

Line Manager Chief Executive

Contracted Hours 30 hours

Primary Location Nightingale House Hospice

Job Summary

To provide strong leadership and senior medical support, ensuring the hospice delivers high


quality palliative care to patients and their families. To play a major role in shaping future


hospice and end of life care services across Northeast Wales.




To work as part of the Executive Management Team, to influence and have responsibility for the


organisation's strategic direction, working alongside the Chief Executive, Director of Clinical


and Patient Services and the wider team to ensure that the best interests of our patients and


their families are at the heart of our strategy. Therefore, will attend Board meetings, Committee


and Sub Committee meetings throughout the year.




To manage the hospice medical team, setting and maintaining high standards, and ensuring


that governance is embedded and continuously improved. To work closely with other members


of the multidisciplinary team, providing clinical support and guidance to colleagues, patients


and their families. You will predominantly support the Inpatient Unit but will also be responsible


for the medical input across Outpatient Services. The Medical Director will provide a visible,


accessible and authoritative approach to whom staff, patients and family members can turn to


for assistance, advice and support.




This role will involve close working with the local Health Board and be responsible for


developing new innovative partnerships to share knowledge and best practice.




The main emphasis of this role will be on sustaining services safely and develop new innovative


approaches to future services which are pioneering and forward thinking but also safe and


tailored to local needs.

Key Stakeholders /Relationships

Internal

Speciality Doctors Advance Nurse Practitioners Director of Clinical and Patient Services Clinical and Patient Services PA Pharmacist Chief Executive Officer Executive Management Team Board of Trustees Patient Flow Team Clinical Supervisor Ward Management Registered nurses and Health Care Support Workers Allied health professionals and the wider multi-disciplinary team

External

Supportive Care UK (Consultant Cover) Health Education and Improvement Wales Hospital and community clinical teams Specialist Palliative Care Team GPs and district nurses working in the community University staff and students

Key Responsibilities

Management and Leadership

Be registered with HIW as The Registered Manager for Nightingale House
Hospice alongside the Director of patient and Clinical Services (shared role).



To uphold and promote Nightingale House values, preserving the excellent
reputation of the clinical care provided by the hospice.



Lead and direct the Nightingale House Hospice medical team to provide effective medical services across Nightingale House Hospice working closely alongside


Supportive Care UK and accepting their advice, input and expertise where


appropriate.





Responsible for the management and support of the on-site Nightingale House
Pharmacist, working closely with them to develop best practice in Medicines


management and address any incidents/ near mises.



Have management responsibility for the medical team including recruitment,
development and to organise external appraisals of medical staff to ensure that


they meet the criteria for revalidation.
Oversee the workloads of medical staff, ensuring these are manageable and
that any staffing issues are managed effectively.



Ensure the co-ordination of annual leave, study leave and other absences of
medical staff, ensuring these are managed appropriately.



Ensure any performance or conduct issues within the medical team are dealt
with promptly and in line with HR policies.



Regularly review medical policies and procedures, ensuring these are updated
in line with clinical guidance and evidence-based practice.



Provide professional advice to the Chief Executive and Board of Trustees relating to general medical services and professional standards and the specialty of


palliative medicine.





In conjunction with the Director of Clinical and Patient Services, ensure any
clinical incidents or complaints are investigated appropriately and that actions


are taken to prevent recurrence.



Lead on clinical strategy development for the hospice alongside our Director of Clinical and Patient Services and working with Supportive Care UK Consultants.





Work in partnership to oversee all systems of clinical governance and participate
in clinical audit programme.



As a member of the executive team, contribute to the overall leadership and management of the hospice and contribute to the continual improvement of


services.





Contribute fully to the ongoing development of the hospice and to the delivery of the vision to provide excellent and compassionate care for everyone affected by


a life-limiting illness.





Maintain effective professional management and leadership of the hospice medical staff, motivating them to work to the highest possible standards and


continually develop their knowledge and skills in a manner that supports quality,


flexibility and innovation across the hospice's clinical, educational, audit and


research functions.





Provide professional advice to the Chief Executive on general medical professional standards and the specialty of palliative medicine





Share responsibility with the Director of Clinical and Patient Services and Chief
Executive for maintaining a culture which embeds all aspects of clinical quality,


governance, and effectiveness at the hospice.



To attend and actively contribute Board meetings, Clinical Committees and other
Committee and Sub Committee meetings throughout the year.



o Work in partnership with the Director of Clinical and Patient Services to monitor


all aspects of medicines management at the hospice.





Directly manage medical staff on contract to the hospice, ensuring that both
external clinical appraisals and internal performance reviews are carried out for


these staff annually.



Develop a medical workforce plan which is regularly reviewed to ensure clear succession planning is in place





Represent the hospice and participate in public speaking or engage in fundraising
activities to support the charitable status of the hospice.



Take a role in the development of specialist palliative care in the locality and
represent the Hospice at strategic meetings, networking events and working


groups.

Clinical Duties

Have overall clinical responsibility and accountability for the delivery of Hospice
medical services across all areas, working closely with the Director of Clinical


and Patient Services and other members of the multi-disciplinary team.



The clinical commitment will include regular senior support for the Inpatient Unit, Outpatient, and community services with some medical input to Day Services


(particularly when other medical colleagues are on leave).





Have daily clinical oversight with senior clinical input and provide guidance to the Hospice doctors, ANP's and nursing staff when required.





Promote and participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, Board rounds and
Ward Rounds providing medical input as required.



Confirmation and certification of death in line with Hospice protocol, liaising with
the Coroner's Office where required by law and local practice and ensuring all


required documentation is completed.



Keep appropriate records in order to comply with General Medical Council
requirements for Revalidation.



Perform additional duties in exceptional circumstances to ensure the continuity of patient care such as weekend cover in the event that cover can't be organised


within the Medical Team





Organise Admissions to the Inpatient Unit and plan their care in collaboration
with the multidisciplinary team.



Ensure any medical/clinical incidents are reported promptly in line with Hospice
policy.

Education, Research and Audit

To be responsible for supporting and supervising the junior medical staff working
at the hospice.



Organise training programme for junior doctors and specialty posts at the
Hospice in partnership with Supportive Care UK Consultants.



Named in the educational contract of junior staff as the person responsible for overseeing their training and as an initial source of advice in their developing


careers, where necessary.





Contribute to the teaching and supervision of medical students who spend time at the hospice during their training and other specialty trainees or GP registrars


who may arrange clinical attachments at the hospice.





Along with the Director of Clinical and Patient Services, CEO and hospice
Executive Management team, ensure that the Hospice complies and where


possible exceeds the HIW standards



Regularly review the medical care provision, ensuring it is in line with best
practice.



Whilst not expected to undertake research, encouragement is given to develop relevant collaborative projects approved by the Board of Trustees.





To contribute to the development of, and take part in, the hospice clinical audit,
governance, and risk programmes.



Develop medical teaching events within the hospice programme of internal and
external teaching, facilitating the participation of the senior medical staff at the


hospice in these events as appropriate.

Resources Available

Support staff: The Medical Director is supported by a wide-ranging team who will be


available to help deliver on key aspects of the post, as necessary.

Conditions of service

The post is subject to pre-employment checks such as criminal records bureau


clearance (DBS), occupational health, visa clearance (where applicable) and satisfactory


references.




The Medical Director must be registered with the General Medical Council throughout the


duration of employment and to comply with and abide by the relevant code of practice.





It will be essential that the Medical Director has appropriate personal medical indemnity


that Nightingale House will reimburse.

Continuing Professional Development

To keep up with Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in accordance with
Royal College of Physicians /Royal College of GP's criteria and maintain full


registration with the General Medical Council.



o Appropriate study and professional leave may be taken in accordance with the


prior agreement of the CEO and based on the needs of the Hospice at the time.





Participate in the annual appraisal and 5 yearly revalidation processes in line
with professional registration requirements.

General Requirements

This post is subject to the Terms and Conditions of employment of the Hospice as

specified in the staff handbook

Competence

You are responsible for limiting your actions to those that you feel


competent to undertake. If you have any doubts about your competence during the


course of your duties you should immediately speak to your line manager / supervisor.

Risk Management

It is a standard element of the role and responsibility of all staff of the Hospice that they


fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails


the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all


incidents, near misses and hazards. It is a requirement that you adhere to Nightingale


House Hospice Policies, Procedures, Protocols and guidelines at all times.

Health and Safety Requirements of the Hospice

All employees of the Hospice have a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety


and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Employees are


required to co-operate with management to enable the Hospice to meet its own legal


duties including attendance at mandatory training updates and also to report any


hazardous situations or defective equipment.

Data Protection and Confidentiality

The post holder must treat all information, whether corporate, staff or patient


information, in a discreet, secure and confidential manner in accordance with the


provisions of the current data protection legislation and organisational policy. Any


breach of such confidentiality is considered a serious disciplinary offence, which is


liable to dismissal and / or prosecution under statutory legislation and the hospice's


disciplinary policy. This duty of confidence continues after the post holder leaves the


organisation.

Records Management

As an employee of the hospice, the post holder is legally responsible for all records that


they gather, create or use as part of their work within the organisation (including patient


health, staff health or injury, financial, personal and administrative), whether paper


based or on computer. The post holder should consult the IG Lead if they have any


doubt as to the correct management of records with which they work.

Flexibility Statement

The content of this represents an outline of the post only and is


therefore not a final list of duties and responsibilities. The is therefore


intended to be flexible and is subject to review and amendment in the light of changing


circumstances, following consultation with the post holder.