Job overview

Working Full time: 10 Sessions per week

We are advertising for a Specialty Doctor based at The Countess of Chester Hospital (COCH) NHS Foundation Trust. The successful applicant will take part in the middle-grade tier of the rota alongside Higher Specialty Trainees.

The post will offer candidates a unique opportunity to train in a busy and supportive environment. The ED has an enthusiastic and dedicated consultant team with a wide range of backgrounds and specialist interests. The department has a good track record for non-career middle grades moving on into training posts.

The successful applicant will be assigned a consultant mentor for the duration of the post. Those candidates wishing to pursue a Portfolio Pathway to specialist registration will be supported in this process pending approval by their Educational Supervisor and the wider faculty. The post holder will be expected to carry out their duties to a satisfactory level, demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to gaining the necessary competencies for the Portfolio Pathway, and have attended the RCEM Portfolio Pathway Applicants Training Day. Where this is the case, annual secondments will be offered in each of Acute Medicine, Anaesthetics, Critical Care and Children’s Emergency Medicine/Acute Paediatrics.

The department allocates time for Education and Development which is expected to be carried out on site.

Visits to the Department are welcomed and encouraged.

Main duties of the job

The Specialty Doctor’s duties will cover the whole range of clinical responsibilities, working equally in both Minors and Majors, working closely with the ANP and ENP teams and providing them with senior support.

You will be expected to provide a significant personal commitment to the assessment, treatment and disposal of patients attending the Emergency Department.

You will be supporting 24/7 middle grade cover for the department. There is consultant presence from 0800hrs until midnight 7 days per week. Between the hours of midnight and 0800hrs the evening consultant provides ongoing support on an ‘on-call’ basis.

You will be accountable to the consultants in Emergency Medicine. You will be responsible for carrying out ward rounds on the Emergency Assessment Unit from time to time on a shared basis with the other middle grade and senior doctors. You will be expected to take a lead role in the management of acutely ill and trauma patients. 

The post holder will be expected to prioritise and time-manage effectively in relation to the needs and activity of the department utilising the staffing of the department and seeking senior advice where necessary. 

You will supervise more junior doctors, and medical students will and take an active role in their education, both formal and informal.  This will enable the post holder to actively develop their leadership skills.

Working for our organisation

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. Its services are provided from three locations:

•    The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 438 general and acute beds.
•    Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 56 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
•    Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Trust employs over 5916 staff (headcount) which includes temporary bank staff and provides acute emergency and elective services, primary care direct access services and obstetric services to a population of approximately 411,000. This includes 361,000 residents in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire which has a population of approximately 50,000.