Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This six-month fixed-term post will support the delivery of Paediatric Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) within the Children’s Emergency Department at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust (UHCW).

The post holder will provide middle-grade clinical care, working with consultant support and the wider multidisciplinary team to deliver timely assessment, investigation, treatment and discharge for children and young people.

The primary focus of the post is Paediatric SDEC. However, the post holder may also be required to undertake clinical duties within the wider Children’s Emergency Department in response to clinical demand, staffing pressures and service requirements. Duties will be appropriate to the post holder’s competence and experience, with senior support available.

Clinical responsibilities

• Undertake assessment and management of children and young people presenting with acute illness or injury, using a structured, evidence-based approach.
• Identify patients suitable for same-day emergency care and regularly review their progress to determine whether discharge, further observation or admission is required.
• Arrange and interpret appropriate investigations, ensuring results are reviewed, acted upon and communicated, with clear responsibility for any outstanding results.
• Initiate treatment and undertake clinical procedures within the scope of individual competence and local guidance.
• Recognise clinical deterioration, initiate appropriate immediate management and seek timely consultant or specialist support.
• Make safe discharge decisions with appropriate senior input, providing clear safety-netting advice and arranging follow-up where required.
• Work with paediatric inpatient teams, other specialties and community services to ensure continuity of care.
• Recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns, following local procedures and seeking advice from senior clinicians and safeguarding colleagues.
• Maintain clear, accurate and timely clinical documentation, including assessment findings, management plans and discussions with families.
• Ensure effective handover of patients and outstanding clinical tasks.

Communication and multidisciplinary working

• Communicate sensitively and effectively with children, young people, parents and carers, involving them in decisions about care.
• Adapt communication to developmental stage, language, disability and individual needs, using interpreting services where appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with medical, nursing, administrative and allied health professional colleagues across Paediatric SDEC and the Children’s Emergency Department.
• Support patient flow by identifying and escalating delays in assessment, investigation, treatment or discharge.
• Contribute to departmental huddles and clinical discussions, highlighting patient safety concerns and operational pressures.

Teaching and supervision

• Provide day-to-day clinical support and supervision to junior doctors and other colleagues, appropriate to experience.
• Contribute to departmental teaching, case discussions and workplace learning.
• Promote an environment in which colleagues feel able to seek advice, raise concerns and receive constructive feedback.

Clinical governance and service improvement

• Participate in clinical governance activities, including incident reporting, case review and learning from patient and family feedback.
• Contribute to the development and review of Paediatric SDEC pathways, supporting safe same-day care and avoiding unnecessary admission.
• Undertake or contribute to a focused clinical audit or quality improvement project with objectives achievable within the six-month appointment.
• Follow Trust policies and procedures relating to patient safety, infection prevention and control, prescribing, confidentiality and information governance.

Professional development and conduct

• Agree learning and development objectives with the supervising consultant at the start of the appointment.
• Maintain a portfolio of relevant clinical experience, learning and reflective practice.
• Complete required induction and mandatory training and participate in appraisal as appropriate.
• Maintain professional registration and practise in accordance with General Medical Council standards.
• Recognise the limits of personal competence and seek support when required.
• Demonstrate respect, compassion and professionalism, contributing to an inclusive and supportive working environment.