Job summary
- Main area
- Rheumatology
- Grade
- NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 10 sessions per week
- Job ref
- 279-MWWTGCONRHEM-460
- Employer
- 279 University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Worthing Hospital
- Town
- Worthing
- Salary
- £105,504 - £139,882 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 22/05/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Consultant Rheumatologist
NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant
About our Trust
At UHSussex we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK’s largest acute Trusts, we’re a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.
Our hard-working, talented and dedicated people work together towards a common goal – to always put our Patient First . In fact our mission is summed up by our ‘where better never stops’ motto and you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex.
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.
Job overview
We are seeking to appoint a substantive Consultant Rheumatologist. The appointee will work with Consultant colleagues to provide a comprehensive service for residents across West Sussex. The Rheumatology department is part of the MSK Directorate including Trauma and Orthopaedics and Pain Management. The post will be based predominantly at Worthing Hospital. However there will be some sessions at other Trust locations. This post is available on 10 programmed activities (PAs) basis.
The post offers an excellent opportunity for you to develop as a Consultant and also contribute to service development.
Main duties of the job
• Outpatient clinics: assessment of all new patients at their first appointment; review of follow-up patients; discussion and review of follow-up patients seen by Speciality Doctors and clinical nurse specialists (CNS); joint injections and other procedures.
• Ward referrals and other DCC duties: specialist review of inpatients referred by other medical teams with rheumatic complaints; weekly combined radiology MDT.
• Administrative duties directly related to this: out-patient clinic letter dictation and signing; blood and imaging report signing; result letter dictation; GP referral letter grading; prescription of biologic drugs, parenteral osteoporosis and DMARD medication; medical report writing.
• Telephone and email advice: giving advice on the management of rheumatic diseases to GPs, allied health professionals, other specialists.
• Clinical audit: writing local audit proposals and reports; collecting clinical audit data; presenting results; participation in regional and national clinical audits (data collection).
• Clinical and educational supervision of CNSs and clinical assistants
• Involvement with the Trust Clinical Governance programme. There will be a commitment to supporting the education of medical students from Brighton (BSMS) in their placements, and the potential to develop managerial and research interests. There are strong links to the KSS Deanery and Brighton & Sussex Medical School.
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.
Candidate Information Pack: https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/resources/candidate-information-pack/
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For further information with regards to this role please refer to the attached job description and person specification
Person specification
Experience/Qualifications
Essential criteria
- • Basic medical degree
- • Postgraduate qualification or appropriate specialist qualification
- • Full and specialist registration (with a licence to practise) with the GMC or be eligible for registration within six months of the interview. • If you trained in the UK, you must also have a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in Rheumatology or be within six months of receiving it by the interview date. • If you trained outside the UK, you must provide evidence that your qualifications are equivalent to the UK CCT. (Equivalence must be confirmed by GMC by date of AAC
Desirable criteria
- Higher Degree
Clinical Skills & Experience
Essential criteria
- • Understanding of clinical risk management
- • An ability to communicate well with patients and staff
Desirable criteria
- • Interests in Paediatric & Adolescent Rheumatology, Vasculitis &/or EIA
Knowledge
Desirable criteria
- • Breadth of experience in and outside specialty
Organisation & Planning
Essential criteria
- • Experience and ability to work in multi-professional teams
- • Understanding of: NHS / Clinical governance / Resource constraints
Desirable criteria
- • Evidence of managerial skills: Achievements / Course attended
Teaching Skills
Essential criteria
- • Evidence of an interest and commitment to teaching
Desirable criteria
- • Recognised teaching qualification
Academic & Research
Essential criteria
- • Evidence of participation in audit
Desirable criteria
- • Research experience
- • Publications
- • Prizes and honours
Career Progression and Person Attributes
Essential criteria
- • Appropriate progression of career to date
- • Evidence of:- Good communication skills both oral and written
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Madhu Rao
- Job title
- Clinical Director MSK Directorate
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01903 205111
- Additional information
Applicants are invited to visit the hospital or to phone for informal discussion by arrangement with:
Mr Madhu Rao, Clinical Director, MSK Directorate – [email protected]
Dr Alastair Hepburn, Consultant Rheumatologist – [email protected]
If you have problems applying, contact
- Address
-
- 1st Floor, 21 Farncombe Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 2BW
- St Mary’s Hall, Eastern Road, Brighton and Hove, BN2 5JJ
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