Job summary
- Main area
- Paediatrics
- Grade
- NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant
- Contract
- Fixed term: 12 months (6 PAs)
- Hours
- Part time - 6 sessions per week (DCC sessions will be delivered in daytime, evenings and weekends.)
- Job ref
- 179-8214562-MSC
- Employer
- West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
- Town
- Bury St Edmunds
- Salary
- £113,565 - £150,569 pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 03/09/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Consultant in Paediatric Emergency Medicine
NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant
Job overview
This is a bespoke 6 PA part-time fixed term consultant post created to provide dedicated senior medical cover within the Paediatric Emergency Department (PED) at West Suffolk Hospital. An ideal candidate will be ATLS/ETC trained and be able to lead the emergency department trauma team if required.
This is a one year fixed term post to pilot the impact of having a dedicated PED consultant, if there is potential for the role to become substantive (following the substantive Consultant AAC process).
Main duties of the job
The post is intended for a clinician holding RCPCH subspecialty accreditation in Paediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM), or equivalent, who will provide consultant-level clinical leadership, supervision and teaching for the assessment and treatment of children attending the department. The appointee will strengthen the existing paediatric presence in the ED, support the clinical education of junior and middle-grade staff, and contribute to the quality and safety of paediatric emergency care across the Trust.
It is distinct from the general Emergency Medicine consultant post: the appointee will work exclusively within the paediatric area of the Emergency Department and will not carry adult ED clinical responsibilities or the adult ED consultant on-call commitment.
Working for our organisation
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
• The clinical assessment, resuscitation and timely onward referral, admission or discharge of children and young people attending the Paediatric Emergency Department, taking ongoing responsibility for patients under their care.
• To provide professional and effective leadership and to be immediately available to give a consultant opinion, guidance and advice on any child seen in the PED when on clinical duty.
• To lead and supervise junior and middle-grade medical staff, ENPs, ACPs, PAs and medical students working in the paediatric area, ensuring timely and clinically appropriate investigation and effective management of children.
• To supervise clear handovers of clinical care within the paediatric area and at the interface with the wider ED, paediatric inpatient team and other specialties.
• To work collaboratively with the existing paediatric consultant sessions in ED, the paediatric nursing team and the substantive EM consultant body to ensure safe, integrated paediatric emergency care.
• To teach and train intermediate and junior medical staff, nursing staff, medical students and paramedical staff in paediatric emergency care.
• To contribute to the production, update and maintenance of departmental paediatric guidelines, protocols and procedures in line with evidence-based best practice and RCPCH/RCEM standards.
• To develop and maintain collaborative relationships with colleagues in paediatrics, anaesthesia, regional PICU, retrieval services and other specialties, and to participate in relevant clinical meetings and postgraduate activities.
• To identify and appropriately refer children with evidence of actual, suspected or potential non-accidental injury, and to discharge safeguarding responsibilities in accordance with Trust policy.
• To actively participate in departmental and Trust matters concerning Clinical Governance and quality improvement (QI) relating to paediatric emergency care.
• To take responsibility for, and actively participate in, continuing professional development (CPD) relevant to PEM.
Person specification
Education and qualifications
Essential criteria
- MBChB / MBBS or equivalent
- RCPCH subspecialty accreditation in Paediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM), or equivalent recognised PEM subspecialty training
- APLS / EPALS or equivalent certification
- ALS or equivalent certification
- ATLS or ETC certification
Desirable criteria
- FRCEM, MRCPCH or equivalent higher specialty qualification
- Instructor status on a relevant life support course (e.g. APLS/EPALS)
- Postgraduate qualification relevant to PEM or paediatrics
Experience and knowledge
Essential criteria
- Evidence of thorough training and competence in Paediatric Emergency Medicine
- Able to offer expert clinical opinion across the breadth of paediatric emergency presentations and to take full, independent responsibility for delivering paediatric emergency care without direct supervision
- Experience of leading and supervising junior and middle-grade staff in a paediatric clinical setting
- Experience of working in a paediatric intensive care and/or retrieval service of six months or more• Experience of working in a paediatric intensive care and/or retrieval service of six months or more
- Thorough knowledge and understanding of GMC “Good Medical Practice” and ability to meet its requirements
- Sound knowledge of safeguarding children principles and statutory responsibilities
Desirable criteria
- Substantive consultant or senior experience in UK paediatric emergency care
- Experience working at the EM/paediatrics interface and with paediatric retrieval or transfer services
- Clinical training and experience equivalent to that required for UK CCT in a relevant specialty with PEM subspecialty accreditation
- Knowledge of current developments and standards in PEM (RCPCH / RCEM)
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Dr Oliver Meller-Herbert
- Job title
- Clinical Lead for Emergency and Paediatric Emergency Medicine
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01284 71300
- Additional information
Dr William Dean - Clinical Director for Emergency Medicine
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