Detailed job description and main responsibilities

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS POST

The postholder will be expected to develop and lead an area of specialist interest to support countywide services. Excellence of care will be expected and the postholder will take full part in the risk management and clinical governance process for the department.

Clinical

• To provide expertise in the assessment and investigation of young children presenting with a range of developmental/neurological/genetic problems; to provide continuity for those children who require ongoing clinical care due to their developmental condition. (for example children with neurodegenerative conditions, cerebral palsy, metabolic conditions, neuro-cutaneous and other syndromes).
• To provide expert assessment of children presenting with social communication /neurodevelopmental disorders and provide medical management of ADHD (as part of CAAAS MDT service).
• To provide clinical continuity and contribute to care when their patients require hospital attendance or admission to the ward.
• To facilitate transition of clinical care to adult services.
• Participation in a child protection on call rota, covering normal working hours Monday-Friday. To attend strategy discussions to provide a paediatric opinion on children presenting with safeguarding concerns. Carry out child protection medical assessments where appropriate. Participation in strategy discussions for CSA (CSA examinations currently carried out by Bristol SARC).
• To contribute to a countywide consultant led service, and promote an increase in service provision and capacity within the available resources.
• To share responsibility for the delivery of high-quality care to the patients presenting to the paediatric service.
• To support the clinical decision making of junior medical and nursing staff.

 Teaching/Training (as agreed with Specialty Director)

• To provide conditions for improved training opportunities in line with national and local recommendations arising out of Modernising Medical Careers and related requirements.
• To take a full role in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, including clinical meetings and tutorials. Medical students are currently taken from several universities, but the Clinical Academy based on the University of Bristol is expected to provide the majority of undergraduates in future. #Where agreed, to act as Educational Supervisor to junior and middle grade medical staff, being responsible for their appraisal and personal development planning.
• The Trust subscribes to a wide range of journals and there are good medical libraries at both Gloucester and Cheltenham with full literature search facilities. The department is part of a Trust wide intranet system and is well served for literature search and other internet functions.

Quality Improvement, Audit and Clinical Governance (as agreed with Specialty Director)

• To actively participate in clinical governance and risk management processes.
• To promote evidence-based practice; to respond appropriately to NICE guidance; to change own and others’ clinical practice in response to new clinical developments.
• To undertake and supervise relevant clinical audit topics.
• To remain up to date and engaged in continuing professional development (CPD) as per Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and General Medical Council guidelines.
• To respond appropriately to complaints and critical incidents.
• To undertake all work in accordance with Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust procedures and operating policies.
• To attend accredited conferences and meetings to update personal level of clinical practice, teaching and management skills in line with Continuing Medical Education requirements.
• To participate in an annual Job Planning Review process.
• To participate in the Trust’s annual Appraisal process.
• To adhere to the Trust’s Adverse Clinical Incident Policy.