Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post-holder will be based at GNCH and assume the duties of a Tertiary Paediatric Neurodisability Consultant. This includes assessments regarding the diagnosis and management of children previously seen by colleagues throughout the Northeast and Cumbria, and making recommendations or undertaking treatment/intervention. The post-holder will undertake occasional outreach work with clinicians and families.

The post-holder will share responsibility with colleagues for the Neurodevelopmental, Vision and Motor clinics. The appointee will be expected to liaise with the wider multi-disciplinary team individually and on a collective basis at formal MDT meetings. The post holder will share responsibility for the care of tertiary neurodisability in-patients. 
The post-holder will also be expected to take a full and active role in departmental and directorate level initiatives on student and post-graduate (trainee) education, supervision, audit and quality improvement, as well as administrative tasks to support the department. Appropriate secretarial support will be provided. Personal office and computer facilities will be provided in the Paediatric Neurology and Neurodisability department.

On-call duties
There are no on-call duties with this post. The proposed timetable for the successful applicant would include the following duties:

Managerial:

•    Participate in all aspects of Clinical Governance, making a significant contribution to multidisciplinary quality improvement, audit and risk management activities in the care of children and their families.  The aims of audit will include:
o    Ensuring compliance with national guidelines relating to the care of children.
o    Helping to create an environment of continuously seeking to improve the quality of that care.
•    These activities will all be carried out in close partnership with the successful candidates’ consultant colleagues, allied healthcare staff and care providers from related specialties.
•    Assist the Directorate Manager and Clinical Director in the timely investigation of complaints – working to provide reports within the timeframe set out by Trust policy.
•    Contribute to the general organisation and running of paediatric services within the Trust, working in collaboration with colleagues.

Administrative:

•    Undertake administrative duties in relation to the care of his/her patients and in relation to the running of the Children’s Services Directorate in co-operation with the Heads of Department, Directorate Manager and Clinical Director.  The appointee is entitled to become a member of the Medical Staff Committee of the hospital.
•    To undertake general administrative duties within a context of compliance with Directorate and Trust aims and objectives.
•    Become involved with the financial management of the paediatric departmental budget - at all times looking to ensure the delivery of high-quality care to agreed standards, but at the same time reviewing working practices to provide the most efficient use of resources.

Research:

•    Research has a high priority within GNCH. The Trust welcomes and encourages research as a high profile activity that compliments the service provided.  The emphasis being on studies that fall within the National Institute of Health Research Portfolio. The appointee’s help and involvement in current research within paediatric neurodisability will be welcomed, and the development and extension of his / her own research fields will be encouraged. 

Teaching:

•    The appointee will be expected to contribute to focused paediatric neurodisability post-graduate teaching and to the higher specialist training of specialist registrars in paediatric neurodisability and neurology. 
•    Participate in the teaching of undergraduate medical students from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in stage 3 and 5 attachments in Child Health.
•    Participate in the teaching and training of any other health care professionals within the Directorate.
•    Consider the option to develop teaching skills and join the trusts outstanding teaching and training leadership group.
•    Participate in the teaching of undergraduate medical students from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in all parts of the course but specifically in stage 3 and 5 during the attachments in Child Health.  
•    Active involvement in the clinical supervision of all postgraduate trainees in the department with specific responsibility for a small number of individuals as educational supervisor under the direction of the college tutor.
•    The incumbent will be expected to contribute to the teaching of all levels of paediatric postgraduate trainees.
•    Participate in the teaching and training of any other health care professionals within the Directorate – an on-going and active contribution to the education of nurse practitioners on the admissions wards is an essential component of this job.