Locum Consultant in Neonatology

Job summary
Our consultant team expanded in autumn 2023 with funding from London Operational Delivery Network to expand our team and ensure tier 3 compliance with BAPM recommendations. With adjustments to work undertaken by team members taking on external roles and research grants, we are in the position of needing to appoint a locum to ensure we continue this compliance.

The post is 7 PA, with 6 direct clinical care and 1 supporting professional activities.

The incumbent will contribute to out of hours work. The work pattern reflects the intensity of out of hours work with the expectation of remaining on site with accommodation provided.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a first-class team in an active and progressive central London teaching hospital environment.

Main duties of the job
There is a close working relationship with Paediatric subspecialties including the departments of Fetal and Paediatric Cardiology, Paediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, Paediatric General Surgery, Paediatric Anaesthesia, Paediatric Neurology, Paediatric Nephrology & Urology, Paediatric Metabolic Medicine, Airway & ENT, Plastic Surgery (including the Regional Cleft Lip & Palate Service), Orthopaedic Surgery and Genetics.

The clinical PAs will be providing clinical care on the Evelina London Neonatal Unit. It will involve providing clinical leadership, hands on care and training in neonatal intensive (IC), high dependency (HD) and special care (SC) on the tertiary neonatal unit of ELCH. There will also be commitments to antenatal consultations for women expecting babies with neonatal problems, oversight of care Transitional Care and on the Postnatal Ward and neonatal outpatient follow-up commitments. The service weeks entail blocks on either IC, HD or SC areas, with additional clinical commitments in the job plan for some non-attending weeks.

About us
Evelina London Children's Hospital consists of 5 directorates - Medicine & Neonatology; Surgery; Cardiology, Respiratory and Critical Care (CRIC); Women's; Community.

The Neonatal Unit lies within the Medicine and Neonatology Directorate. It is based in the North Wing of the St Thomas's Site, adjacent to maternity services. Facilities on the Neonatal Unit were purpose built, alongside the maternity unit in 2002 and have undergone refurbishment and expansion over recent years.

The Unit is one of the largest in the United Kingdom, with 900-1000 admissions per year providing around 9,000 intensive and high dependency care days per year. There are currently 46 cots, of which 20 are Intensive Care, 12 High Dependency and 14 Special Care, although generally only 8 special care cots are in use. There are 8 transitional care cots within the postnatal ward and a 7-day neonatal outreach service supporting early discharge from both the neonatal unit and transitional care.

During 2026, 6 special care cots will be repurposed as high dependency cots and a 4 cot cardiac high dependency area developed, reflecting the increased number of babies delivered with congenital heart disease after the merger with the Royal Brompton.

The Unit is staffed currently by 16 clinical consultants, an associate specialist and 1 academic consultant (with one currently vacant academic consultant post).

Job responsibilities
See attached job description for a detailed outline of this role's main responsibilities.

General enquiries, about the job or for an informal discussion about this post should be directed to Dr Karen Turnock or Dr Hammad Khan, Joints Head of Service for Neonatology. Email [email protected] and [email protected].

Interviews will be held on 6th or 7th October. Final date TBC

Person Specification
Professional Qualifications
Essential

• MRCPCH by examination or equivalent
• Full GMC Registration
• On GMC Specialist Register for Neonatal Medicine or within six months of attaining CCT in Neonatal Medicine.

Desirable

• Higher degree eg MSc, MD, PhD in paediatrics

Other
Essential

• Ability to fulfil all of the duties of the post including out-of-hours commitment
• Satisfactory enhanced DBS and required immigration status

Personal Skills
Essential

• Communication; Ability to communicate with clarity and intelligently in written and spoken English; ability to build rapport, listen, persuade/ negotiate.
• Interpersonal Skills; Empathy, understanding, listening skills, patience and ability to work co-operatively with others.
• Able to change and adapt, respond to changing circumstances and to cope with setbacks or pressure.
• Ability to work as part of a team

Desirable

• Able to relate needs of neonatal service to wider team members

Academic
Essential

• Experience and knowledge of critical appraisal
• Participation in clinical research with completion of Good Clinical Practice training
• Involvement in audit and quality improvement
• Experience of teaching and training postgraduates and junior medical staff.

Desirable

• Track record of research and publications
• Experience in multidisciplinary education, including simulation.
• Educational supervision training

Management and IT
Essential

• Track record of clinical governance and risk management
• Ability to take responsibility, lead, make decisions and exert appropriate authority.
• Knowledge of finance and budgets. Current financial arrangements of NHS delivered service
• Strong IT skills
• Experience with electronic patient records

Desirable

• Able to demonstrate experience in leading a large clinical team, with multiple competing demands
• Understanding of current financial constraints.
• Recognition of importance of financial accountability for the service

Knowledge and Skills
Essential

• Ability to coordinate complex clinical care within multidisciplinary team
• Good communication skills
• Able to manage time effectively
• Meet the requirements of the GMCs 'Good Medical Practice'

Desirable

• Knowledge of job planning and appraisal

Clinical Experience
Essential

• Experience in complex and tertiary neonatal care at senior registrar or consultant level.
• Experience with neonatal care for babies with subspecialist conditions.
• High level of clinical skills and knowledge appropriate for busy tertiary neonatal care.
• Valid NLS
• Valid level 3 Safeguarding Training
• Valid BLS training

Desirable

• Previous consultant or locum consultant experience in tertiary neonatal unit
• Experience with neonatal surgical and cardiac management.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).