Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
71826218_Consultant General and Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery
71826218_Consultant General and Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery
BelfastOn-Site
PermanentFull-Time
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Description
Advertised role location: BHSCT Tower Block
Official document: Consultant GenHPB Surgeon BT JD (pdf)
JOB DESCRIPTION
POST: Consultant Surgeon – General and Hepato-pancreato-
biliary Surgery (Full Time)
LOCATION: Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT)
DIRECTORATE: ACCTSS and Surgery
GRADE: Consultant
REPORTS TO: Clinical Director
RESPONSIBLE TO: Chair of Division/Co-director
This successful postholder will have a clinical appointment as a Consultant General
and Hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) Surgeon in the Belfast Health and Social Care
Trust, working within a trust wide clinical team to deliver general surgical services. In
addition to general surgical activities, a considerable proportion of the workload will be
delivery of HPB surgery in the regional unit. The successful postholder will provide
clinical care for acute unscheduled surgical patients within the Belfast Trust on-call
surgical rota.
The postholder is expected to provide other elective services including outpatient
clinics and elective and day-case services at day procedure units. Contribution to
delivery of care in the Surgical Ambulatory Unit will be required. The Belfast Trust
currently provides general and specialty surgical services to the Belfast population and
the regional provision of specialist services for Northern Ireland.
The successful postholder will be expected to contribute to the clinical care of patients
with hepatobiliary and pancreatic conditions. In particular, the successful appointment
is expected to be trained in HPB surgical procedures and management including liver
resection, pancreatic resection, management of complex gallstone disease and
management of severe acute pancreatitis.
Occasionally the successful postholder may be required to provide both unscheduled
and scheduled paediatric support.
Finally, the successful postholder should participate in clinical governance activities
such as audit, morbidity & mortality meetings and other duties as defined by the
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Belfast Trust including undergraduate education, postgraduate supervision, and
training.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Belfast Health Care Trust
The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust was established in April 2007 comprising the
Belfast City Hospital, Mater Hospital, Musgrave Park Hospital, Royal Hospitals and
South and East Belfast, and North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trusts.
Hospital Profiles (Royal, Belfast City and Mater Hospitals)
The Royal Hospitals is the largest hospital complex in Northern Ireland, comprising
the Royal Victoria Hospital, the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital (RJMH), the Royal
Belfast Hospital for Sick Children (RBHSC), and the School of Dentistry. In
combination with its sister hospitals, it provides all tertiary referral services in Northern
Ireland. The Royal Hospitals play a key role in clinical education, training, and
research, with most academic departments linked to the Queen’s University of Belfast
Medical School.
Belfast City Hospital (BCH) is a major teaching hospital, most of which is housed
within the Tower (opened in 1985). The regional hepatobiliary unit is in BCH in One
South. The Northern Ireland Cancer Centre opened on the campus in March 2006
providing for the development of an internationally recognised cancer centre. A
strong strategic focus on molecular medicine, cancer and renal services has enabled
the development of world leading research programmes and a leading Cancer
Clinical Trials Unit linked with the ROI and the NCI Washington DC in a tripartite
arrangement. There is a modern radiology department and substantial AHP Services
(eg Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Occupational Therapy, Speech & Language Therapy,
Nutrition & Dietetics, etc) and a comprehensive range of pathology.
The Mater Hospital (MIH) is a university teaching hospital providing services Acute &
General Medicine. This is the location of the Elective Overnight Stay Centre which
opened in December 23 with 18 beds for overnight and day case procedures
A summary of the services across the Royal, BCH and Mater hospital sites is
provided in the table below:
Site General Services Specialist Services
Royal Hospitals Emergency Department
Acute & General Medicine
Anaesthesia (including critical
care)
Pain Management
Recognised trauma centre
Paediatrics (RBHSC)
Obstetrics & Gynaecology
(Royal Jubilee Maternity Hosp)
School of Dentistry
Regional services include:
medical and surgical
cardiology,
thoracic surgery,
neurosciences, ophthalmology
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and specialised endocrinology,
ENT,
general surgery, vascular
surgery, hepatology
Belfast City Hospital Anaesthesia (including critical
care)
Pain Management
Major resectional
gastrointestinal surgery HpB
(Upper and Lower GI)
Adult Cystic Fibrosis
Breast Services (including
reconstructive surgery)
Cardiology
Cochlear Implant Service
Gynaecology & Gynaecological
Oncology
Haematology
Haemophilia Service
Medical Genetics
Medical Oncology
Nephrology (including Renal
Dialysis)
Radiotherapy
Respiratory Medicine
Transplant Surgery
Urology
Mater Hospital A&E
Acute & General Medicine
Anaesthesia (including critical
care)
Pain Management
Ophthalmology
EOSC
The Belfast HSC Trust functions through a series of Directorates. General and
hepatobiliary surgery sits within the Division of Surgery and ACCTSS and Surgery
Directorate.
HPB Surgery Volumes
Per annum, the BHSCT HPB Team completes the following:
• ~ 100 Liver Resections
• ~ 70 Pancreatic Resections
• > 200 Gallbladder Surgeries
HPB Medical Staffing
Details of the medical staffing within the Trust’s HPB Surgical Service.
Consultant Staff
Mr Gareth Kirk
Mr Stephen McCain
Ms Jane McClements
Mr Mark Taylor (on sabbatical)
Mr David Vass (Clinical Lead)
Resident Medical Staff
3 Registrars
5 Core Trainees
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JOB SUMMARY
The postholder will primarily work as part of the General Surgical and HPB team
within the Surgery and Specialist Services directorate, contributing towards the
provision of a comprehensive HPB Surgery service on behalf of the Belfast Trust;
along with emergency general surgery and the ambulatory surgical service.
The trust welcomes applications from those wishing to work part time or job share.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES/JOB PLAN
a. The successful postholder will participate in the day-to-day work of the Belfast
Trust HPB Surgical unit. The successful postholder will also participate in the
routine, ambulatory and emergency General Surgery workload of the Belfast
Trust. On call will be in association with other Consultant General Surgeons
with particular responsibility for out-of-hour cover to the HPB surgical patients
and unit. Current Rota is 1:9 which may be subject to change to a 1:5 rota.
Participation in regular multidisciplinary meetings will be required.
b. The postholder will be expected to adhere to requirements for continuing
medical education and to ensure that all skills and expertise are maintained.
The Hospital is committed to fully supporting and resourcing nationally agreed
CME requirements to facilitate this. The postholder is expected to work within
the Trust’s Clinical Governance Framework and GMC guidance on good
medical practice.
c. The postholder will participate fully in medical and multi-professional clinical
audit and may develop research interests relevant to this post.
d. The postholder will be expected to participate actively in the teaching of
undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as staff in related
disciplines and to co-operate with colleagues in developing local educational
programmes.
e. The postholder will be expected to take part in the annual appraisal programme
and job plan review. The trust has trained appraisers in place to support
revalidation
Management Responsibilities
The postholder will be expected to:
– Maintain staff relationships and morale among the staff reporting to them
– Review the organisational plan and establishment level of the service for which
they are responsible to ensure that each is consistent with achieving objectives
and recommend changes when appropriate.
– Delegate appropriate responsibility and authority to the level of staff within their
control, consistent with effective decision making, while retaining overall
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responsibility and accountability for results.
– Participate in the selection and appointment of staff in accordance with hospital
procedures.
– Take such action as may be necessary in disciplinary and grievance matters in
accordance with the procedures laid down and approved by the Trust.
– Ensure compliance with the Trust’s Health and Safety Policy.
– Identify objectives with the Clinical Director and agree an action plan ensuring
personal development.
Team working
The successful postholder will be expected to work with local managers and
professional colleagues in the efficient running of clinical services and will share with
consultant colleagues in the medical contribution to management.
Subject to the provisions of the Terms and Conditions of Service, the successful
postholder is expected to observe the Unit’s agreed policies and procedures, drawn
up in consultation with the profession on clinical matters and to follow the standing
orders and financial instructions of the Trust.
The applicant will be expected to adhere to consultant terms and conditions of service
(NI) 2004 as amended, in addition to all Trust policies and procedures.
The successful postholder will be expected to make sure that there are adequate
arrangements for hospital staff involved in the care of their patients to be able to
contact them when necessary.
The Trust recognises the importance of mentoring in supporting consultant
development, wellbeing and retention. Newly appointed Consultants will have access
to an experienced mentor and a structured programme of support to facilitate
successful integration into the Trust, leadership development and career progression.
This commitment reflects the Trust's values of Working Together, Excellence,
Openness and Honesty, and Compassion.
Teaching and Research
The successful postholder will be expected to be involved in the teaching of
undergraduate medical students and the training of junior medical staff.
Multiprofessional Audit and Continuing Medical Education
The post holder will be required to take part in the Directorate audit programme.
They will also be required to undertake such continuing educational activities as are
necessary for them to remain accredited by their Royal College.
Governance and Appraisal
The successful postholder will be expected to work within the Belfast Trust HSC
Trust governance framework.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Registration
Registration with the GMC and License to Practice must be maintained.
Terms & Conditions
This appointment is subject to the Consultant Terms & Conditions of Service (Northern
Ireland) 2004 as amended.
Indemnity
Employees are normally covered by the HPSS and Community Health Service
Indemnity against claims for medical negligence. However, certain circumstances may
not be covered by the Indemnity, especially where a separate fee is received. The
Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety (DHSS&PS) therefore advises
that membership of a medical defense organisation is maintained.
Residence
In order to meet the on-call requirements of the post, the appointee is required to
reside within a reasonable distance to their principal place of work, as per terms and
conditions of service.
Private Practice
All private professional services and fee-paying services that are not part of the
Contract of Employment must be undertaken in accordance with Schedules 9, 10
and 11 of the Contract of Terms & Conditions of Service (NI) 2004.
Medical Examination
Appointment to this post is subject to a satisfactory pre-employment health
assessment with the Trust’s Occupational Health service.
Salary
As per current Consultant salary scale in line with the Consultant Terms &
Conditions of Service and pay circular HSC (TC8) 1/2016.
Pension
Membership of the Health Services Superannuation Scheme is voluntary. There is
reciprocity between the Northern Ireland scheme and the rest of the United Kingdom.
Date on which post is available
The appointee may take up post upon satisfactory completion of essential pre-
employment checks.
Visiting
To obtain further information regarding this post or plan for a visit you are
encouraged to informally contact Mr David Vass, Consultant HPB Surgeon (Clinical
Lead) or Ms Jane McClements, Consultant HPB Surgeons, Belfast City Hospital
(email: jane.mcClements@belfasttrust.hscni.net).
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Canvassing
Canvassing will disqualify. Any approach to a member of the Belfast HSC Trust or a
member of any Committee or Panel of the hospital by or at the request of a postholder
will be treated as canvassing.
Removal Expenses
If eligible a fixed relocation grant may be available to assist with essential removal
expenses, as outlined in the Trust’s “Re-Location and Associated Expenses Policy”.
The amount must be agreed in advance of incurring expenditure.
Ionising Radiation Regulations
The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (2000) require that any
person clinically or physically directing a procedure which involves exposure to
radiation should have appropriate training. This can be provided locally as
necessary.
General Responsibilities
Employees of the Trust are required to promote and support the mission and vision
of the service for which they are responsible and:
– At all times provide a caring service and to treat those with whom they come into
contact in a courteous and respectful manner.
– Demonstrate their commitment by their regular attendance and the efficient
completion of all tasks allocated to them.
– Comply with the Trust’s Smoke Free Policy.
– Carry out their duties and responsibilities in compliance with the Health and
Safety Policies and Statutory Regulations.
– Adhere to Equality and Good Relations duties throughout the course of their
employment.
– Ensure the ongoing confidence of the public in-service provision.
– Maintain high standards of personal accountability.
– Comply with the HPSS Code of Conduct.
Records Management
Used as part of their business within the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust,
including patient/client, corporate and administrative records whether paper based or
electronic and also including e-mails. All such records are public records and are
accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000, the Environment Regulations 2004, and Data Protection Act
1998. Employees are required to be conversant with the Belfast Health and Social
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Care Trust policy and procedure on records management and to seek advice if in
doubt.
Information Governance
All employees of Belfast Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all
records held, created, or used as part of their business within the Belfast Health and
Social Care Trust, including patient/client, corporate and administrative records
whether paper based or electronic and also including e-mails. All such records are
public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions,
under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environment Regulations 2004, the
UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), and the Data Protection Act
2018. Employees are required to be conversant and to comply with the Belfast
Health and Social Care Trust policies on Information Governance including for
example the ICT Security Policy, Data Protection Policy, and Records Management
Policy and to seek advice if in doubt.
Environmental Cleaning Strategy
The Trusts Environmental Cleaning Strategy recognises the key principle that
“Cleanliness matters is everyone’s responsibility, not just the cleaners” Whilst there
are staff employed who are responsible for cleaning services, all Trust staff have a
responsibility to ensure a clean, comfortable, safe environment for patients, clients,
residents, visitors, staff and members of the general public.
Infection Prevention and Control
The Belfast Trust is committed to reducing Healthcare associated infections (HCAIs)
and all staff have a part to play in making this happen. Staff must comply with all
policies in relation to Infection Prevention and Control and with ongoing reduction
strategies. Standard Infection Prevention and Control Precautions must be used at
all times to ensure the safety of patients and staff.
This includes: -
• Cleaning hands either with soap and water or a hand sanitiser at the
appropriate times (WHO ‘5 moments’).
• Using the correct ‘7 step’ hand hygiene technique.
• Being ‘bare below the elbows’ when in a clinical environment;
• Following Trust policies and the Regional Infection Control Manual (found
on intranet).
• Wearing the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Ensuring correct handling and disposal of waste (including sharps) and
laundry.
• Ensuring all medical devices (equipment) are decontaminated appropriately
i.e., cleaned, disinfected and/or sterilised.
• Ensuring compliance with High Impact Interventions.
Personal Public Involvement
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Staff members are expected to involve patients, clients, carers, and the wider
community who were relevant in developing, planning, and delivering our services in
a meaningful and effective way, as part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to
Personal Public Involvement (PPI).
Please use the link below to access the PPI standards leaflet for further information.
http://www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/PPI_leaflet.pdf
Values
All staff are expected to display the HSC Values at all times
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Clause: This job description is not meant to be definitive and may be
amended to meet the changing needs of the Belfast Health and
Social Care Trust.
June 2026
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JOB SPECIFICATION
POST: Consultant Surgeon – General Surgery and HPB Surgery
LOCATION: Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
Requirements Essential Criteria Desirable Criteria
Qualifications (i) Current General Medical Council
registration and License to Practice
(must have both at time of
appointment); and
(ii) Entry on the GMC Specialist
Register for General Surgery
• Certificate of Completion of
Training (CCT) (proposed CCT
date must be within 6 months of
interview) or
• Certificate of Eligibility for
Specialist Registration (CESR) or
• European Community Rights
recognised by the GMC for
specialist registration
Higher degree (MD/PhD).
Clinical
Experience
Evidence of extensive experience in
general surgery and emergency surgery
including trauma.
Evidence of wide experience and
advanced training in both liver and
pancreatic surgery, including major
resections for cancer.
Experience to include two years working
in a recognised HPB unit (including time
spent in an HPB fellowship).
Evidence of experience and
training in minimally
invasive hepatobiliary
surgery.
Evidence of service
development.
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Requirements Essential Criteria Desirable Criteria
Experience in managing complex
pancreatitis
Research
Experience
Evidence of participation in
relevant research projects.
Evidence of clinical trial
experience.
Presentations at national
and/or international
meetings.
Publications in peer
reviewed journals.
Teaching
Experience
Evidence of teaching
(diploma/higher degree)
undergraduate or post
graduate students and/or
paramedical staff.
Personal
Attributes
Evidence of teamwork and good
interpersonal and communication skills.
Proven leadership skills and track
record in time management.
Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary
environment.
All applicants to have demonstrable
skills in written and spoken English that
are adequate to enable effective
communication about medical topics
with patients and colleagues.
Must have access to a means of
transport to facilitate movement
between sites. Where disability prohibits
driving, this criteria will be waived if the
applicant is able to organise suitable
alternative arrangements
Eligibility to work in the UK as per UKBA
Immigration Regulations.
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NOTE:
Where educational/professional qualifications form part of the criteria you will be
required, if shortlisted for interview, to produce original certificates, and one
photocopy of same, issued by the appropriate authority. Only those certificates
relevant to the shortlisting criteria should be produced. If educational certificates are
not available an original letter and photocopy of same detailing examination results
from your school or college will be accepted as an alternative.
If successful you will be required to produce documentary evidence that you are
legally entitled to live and work in the United Kingdom. This documentation can be a
P45, pay slip, National Insurance Card or a birth certificate confirming birth in the
United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland. Failure to produce evidence will result in
a non-appointment.
VALUES BASED RECRUITMENT
Values Based Recruitment is a process adopted by the Belfast Trust to attract and
select employees on the basis that their individual values and behaviors align with
those of the Trust and incorporating the Healthcare Leadership Model.
It focuses on the ‘how’ and ‘why’ people do what they do.
Candidates who are short-listed for interviews will need to demonstrate at interview
that they have the required knowledge, skills, competencies, and values to be
effective in this new role.
In answering the value-based questions you have the opportunity to share examples
of when you have demonstrated values relevant to the Belfast Trust.
The competencies required are detailed in the Healthcare Leadership Model
available at http://www.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/resources/healthcare-leadership-
model/.
Leadership Dimension
Inspiring, shared purpose
Leading with care
Evaluating information
Connecting our service
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Sharing the vision
Engaging the team
Holding to account
Developing capability
Influencing for results
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CONSULTANT JOB PLAN
NAME:
GMC NUMBER:
JOB PLAN FOR PERIOD:
SPECIALITY: General and HPB Surgery
CONTACT DETAILS:
DIRECTORATE: Surgery and Specialist Services
1. Whole-time consultant in General and HPB Surgery for Belfast Health & Social
Care Trust.
WTE: 1.0
General Provisions and Accountability Arrangements
2. You will be expected to work with management and professional colleagues in
the efficient running of clinical services and will share with consultant colleagues
in the medical contribution to management. You will be expected to make sure
that there are adequate arrangements for hospital staff involved in the care of
your patients to be able to contact you or another delegated consultant when
necessary.
3. All medical and dental staff employed by Health and Social Care Trusts are
expected to comply with the governance and assurance arrangements of the
Trust.
4. The training and supervision of medical/dental students and junior medical/dental
staff is an important aspect of most consultants’ jobs and should appropriately be
accommodated in your job plan. You may also be required to teach other
members of the multidisciplinary team.
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Job Plan Review
5 This job plan is subject to review at least once a year by you and the Clinical
Director/Chair of Division before being approved by the Service Director. For this
purpose, a copy of the current job plan (and job description if appropriate),
including an up-to-date work programme, objectives agreed at annual appraisal
and any notes provided by either side - of any new or proposed service or other
developments need to be available. In the case of a new employee a review of the
job plan will take place 3 months after commencement and annually thereafter as
above. You can request a job plan review at any time if your workload changes.
6. If it is not possible to agree to a job plan, either initially or at an annual review,
there are agreed procedures for facilitation and appeal with the final decision
normally being accepted by the Trust Board.
7. Regional guidance on job planning is available and should be used to inform the
process.
8. Job Purpose (including other NHS responsibilities as appropriate)
You will provide your surgical specialist services to the Belfast HSC Trust.
9. Objectives
Programmed activities (PAs) will be based on these objectives plus other duties,
other HPSS responsibilities and the service to be provided for which you are
responsible. An outline of activities against which PAs can be allocated, and
some general guidance is given in appendix 1 of this document. SPAs are divided
between core and common SPAs. All full-time consultants will receive 1.5 core
SPAs for specified activities as outlined in appendix 1. Additional common SPAs
will be by agreement between the consultant and their clinical manager and
based on the objectives set out below. External duties will be considered within
the job plan, either within PAs or through discretionary leave. Accepting external
duties must be with the agreement of the service group. The onus will be on the
consultant to demonstrate how the impact of an external duty, on direct clinical
care, can be minimised.
9.1 Service Developments/Objectives
To provide a comprehensive high-quality service in your specialist area
of hepatobiliary surgery for the population of Northern Ireland, meeting
regional targets for accessibility and maximum waiting times
You will work with the Trust on the further development of the general
and hepatobiliary surgical service, particularly regionally, and the
development of integrated surgical and ITC systems.
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9.2 Personal Objectives
• To maintain general surgical and hepatobiliary services including
inpatient and outpatient management of non-elective and elective
admissions.
• Participate in training of junior medical staff and medical students,
ensuring this is of the highest quality.
Direct Patient Care
Deliver 2.5 theatre sessions per week. This equates to 72 sessions per
year. You will deliver additional sessions if feasible.
Deliver one out-patient session per week, approximating to 36 per year.
Deliver one Surgical Ambulatory Clinic per week, approximating to 36
per year
You will deliver 5-6 weeks per annum as the emergency consultant in
the Emergency Surgical Unit (EmSU).
You will attend weekly multidisciplinary team meetings and provide
other consultation services as required.
You will take responsibility for the pre- and post-operative management
of patients in your care, in consultation with other members of the multi-
disciplinary team.
You will work with colleagues to ensure continuity of care for patients
and to provide emergency cover at all times.
You will provide cross cover of patients when colleagues are in the
EmSU or are on leave
You will ensure that administration associated with patient care is
conducted in a timely and effective manner.
You will work with Directorate Management to ensure optimal use of
clinical resources, especially operating time.
You are allocated 1.5 core SPAs to include time for activities that will
support re-licensing and recertification and ensure the quality and safety
of services. This time will be primarily for appraisal, job planning, audit,
personal clinical management and CPD activities. Where this allocation
not be fully utilised, it would be expected that the residual time will be
used flexibly for SPA activity that occur on an ad hoc basis. This will be
reviewed at annual appraisal.
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Core Supporting Professional Activities
You will prepare and take part in consultant appraisal once a year.
You will attend the unit audit/governance meeting each month.
You will take part in continual professional development.
9.3 Team Objectives
You will work with colleagues to ensure continuity of care for patients
and to provide emergency cover at all times.
This job plan outlines the number of DCC PAs that you would normally expect to
perform on an annual basis. In so doing, the purpose is to clarify for you the
Belfast Trusts’ expectation that you would attend these PAs. However, both
parties recognise that it may not be possible for you to do so because of factors
partly, or entirely, out with your control. In such circumstances the Trust may ask
you to be flexible in trying to maintain the level of service and take on alternative
duties/PAs. Any alternative PAs that you undertake would be by mutual
agreement and would as far as possible, not disrupt planned activities already
outlined in your job plan. The Trust also undertakes to provide reasonable notice
of such changes.
Failure to fulfill this commitment due to factors outside your control would not
result in any penalty to you; specifically it would not be grounds for preventing
pay progression.
10. Education and teaching responsibilities
All consultants in the Belfast Trust are expected to undertake informal teaching
arising in the course of clinical work. Additional teaching activities may be agreed
as part of SPAs.
11. Research
Research time will generally only be allocated within SPAs where there is an
external funding stream to cover the costs and where Trust governance
procedures have been fully complied with.
12. Resources and Support required to meet job plan
12.1 Staffing Support
• Junior surgical support including specialist trainees.
• Anaesthetic support.
• Specialist nursing staff.
• Technical staff and allied health professionals.
• Secretarial, administrative, and managerial support.
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12.2 Any other required resources
• Equitable access to outpatient and ward facilities.
• Equitable access to theatre and intensive care facilities and equipment.
• Office and IT facilities.
• Diagnostic facilities.
The Trust is committed to the principles of equity and will ensure that individual job
plans of team members, and the newly appointed consultant will be equitable, in line
with the requirement for effective and constructive team working outlined in Good
Surgical Practice (RCS England).
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Programmed Activities
13.1 The table below gives a breakdown of the total agreed PAs on average per week
and the agreed annualised PAs due to the nature of certain elements within the
job plan.
Programmed Activity Number of PAs per week Number of
PAs
annualised
Direct Clinical Care 8.75 (average)
1.0 for on call
Supporting
Professional Activities
Core SPAs 1.5 to include:
1.0 appraisal audit, job teaching and CPD
0.25 teaching
0.25 clinical management
Common SPAs 0.5 for induction
(to be reviewed after 3 months)
Total PAs (see appendix)
Note: A summary of the PA breakdown is also included in Appendix 2.
Programmed Activity Number of PAs
per week
Number of
PAs
annualised
Direct Clinical Care 8.75
Supporting Professional Activities 2.0
Total PAs 10.75
13.2 External duties/other NHS responsibilities
Please insert duties/responsibilities as agreed with your clinical director/associate
medical director.
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14. The following indicates all your regular weekly commitments as agreed. It does
not include activities that occur on an ad hoc basis. Ad hoc ward attendance to
ensure continuity of care of patients and clinical administration time is included in
your Direct Patient Care PAs. The timetable does not include external duties unless
timetabled in SPAs.
Emergency Surgical Unit Week
Day Time Location Hrs
No of
consultants
Total
hrs
PAs
In hours
Monday 0800-1800 RVH 10 2 20
Tuesday 0800-1800 RVH 10 2 20
Wednesday 0800-1800 RVH 10 2 20
Thursday 0800-1800 RVH 10 2 20
Friday 0800-1800 RVH 10 2 20
Total hours 50 100 25
Out of hours
Saturday 0800-1800 RVH 10 2 20
Sunday 0800-1800 RVH 10 2 20
Total hours 20 40 13.33
Total PAs for EmSU for 2 consultants 38.33
Average PAs for EmSU per consultant 19.17
Two consultants will work in the EmSU Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm and on
Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 6pm. They will undertake assessments, ward
rounds, operating lists, and associated administration.
No SPAs are envisaged to be included in this week – instead, the totality of the SPAs
currently accommodated across 41 weeks of the year will be accommodated across
the “elective” weeks.
The EmSU will require cover for 52 weeks of the year.
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Elective Week
Day Time Work Activity
Locatio
n
PAs
DCC
PAs
SPA
Comments
Mon 0830-1230 (SAU) RVH 1
1230-1330 Patient admin 0.25
Tue 0800-0900 Pre Op BCH 0.25
0900-1300 BCH theatre BCH 1
1300-1700 BCH Theatre BCH 1
1700-1800 Post -Op BCH 0.25
Wed 0900-1300 Core SPA 1
Thu
Xray, Grand
Ward round
HPB
Scheduling
0.75
Fri
0830-0900 Ward round BCH 0.125
0900-1300 Clinic BCH 1
1300-1530 HPB MDM RVH 0.625
Includes travel time
1600-1700
Ward
work/patient
admin
BCH 0.25
Flexible Triage 0.125
Flexible
Weekend ward
round
0.5
Flexible Core SPA 0.5
Flexible Patient admin 0.625
Total 7.75 1.5 9.25
Note: SPA time will be worked flexibly, with additional time to be accommodated in
elective week to compensate for EmSU week.
Weekend ward rounds
You will provide weekend ward rounds for the BCH site on a rotational basis with
colleagues, Saturday (9am to 12noon) and Sunday (9am to 12noon). This
represents:
6 hours in premium time = 2 PAs per week across a team of 5 consultants
With prospective cover = 0.5 PAs per consultant
The above timetable is an illustration of the type of work which will be required
and is subject to change to meet service needs. It is also expected that the
weekly timetable would be worked flexibly to meet the demands of the service.
23
24
15. Emergency Work
This section includes all of your prospective emergency on-call work and the
agreed availability for on-call.
Type Day/Time Location PAs
Predictable
emergency on-call
work
As per rostered
duties in EmSU
Unpredictable
emergency on-call
work
On-call period On-site, at home
on telephone and
traveling to and
from site
1.0
Agreed on-call rota 1 in 5(to be confirmed)
Agreed category A
On-call supplement 8%
Statement of availability
Category A: You are typically required to return immediately to the Trust when called
or to undertake interventions with a similar level of complexity to those that would
normally be carried out on site, such as telemedicine or complex telephone
consultations.
16. Private Practice and Fee-Paying Services
(delete as appropriate)
You are not currently undertaking regular private practice, however if this
changes during the year you have agreed to inform the clinical director before
any changes are made to your work pattern.
OR
You are currently undertaking regular private practice as outlined in your job
plan and have agreed to undertake / are undertaking an additional PA (if
offered), up to a maximum of 11 PAs per week, as detailed in the terms and
conditions of service.
OR
You are currently undertaking ad hoc private practice within the Trust, and it is
agreed that this practice may continue, provided it does not affect the efficiency
of multidisciplinary team working. You have agreed to ensure that if any of your
agreed NHS activity is displaced due to private practice you will carry out the
NHS activity at an agreed later stage.
25
17. Programmed Activities
The above timetable represents a job plan totaling 10.0 PAs per week.
18. Agreement
(to be completed and forwarded to Medical Director’s Office)
Signed: …………………………… Signed:
…………………………
Consultant: ……………………………. Clinical Director/
Associate Medical
Director:
………………………….
Date: …………………………….. Date:
………………………….
Signed: …………………………… Signed:
…………………………
Medical
Director or
Deputy:
……………………………. Head of School:
………………………….
Date: …………………………….. Date:
………………………….
(for joint appointments)
26
APPENDIX 1
Annex 2 Programmed Activities
Programmed activities (PAs) are linked in the job plan to each consultant’s service,
personal and where appropriate, team objectives. They are categorised as direct
clinical care (DCC) and supporting professional activities (SPAs). For the purposes of
job planning within the Belfast Trust the following guiding principles will be applied to
ensure consistency across our service groups and sites.
DIRECT CLINICAL CARE (DCC)
DCC covers: -
• Emergency attendance
• Outpatient or other clinic
• Operating session (including anaesthetics)
• Ward round
• Other patient treatment or relative consultation
• Telephone advice to hospital
• Multidisciplinary meetings about direct clinical care
• Investigative, diagnostic or laboratory work
• Public health duties
• Travelling time between sites, not to usual place of work
• Patient administration
• Service Linked teaching (e.g., during ward rounds)
• Clinics and operating sessions
• Clinical supervision
SUPPORTING PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES (SPA)
SPA - Consultants will be allocated SPAs for activities that will support re-licensing
and recertification and ensure the quality and safety of services. These activities
include:
• Appraisal
• Job Planning
• Audit (attendance at general audit activity out with time already allotted for
DCC)
• CPD
• Local Clinical Governance activities
Training requirements to include the objectives contained within a job plan and those
identified through Annual Appraisal should be considered and appropriate SPA time
discussed and agreed as part of the job planning meeting.
27
Additional SPAs
To be agreed on basis of both Trust and consultant’s requirements.
to include: -
• Clinical management (not directly affecting patient care)
• Service maintenance and development
• Teaching responsibilities or specified roles
• Undertaking specific audit projects and / or audit responsibilities or lead
roles/activities associated with clinical and social care governance.
• Other Trust duties
• Postgraduate training and supervisory responsibilities
• Research
Research time will only be allocated with additional SPAs where there is an external
funding stream to cover the costs and where Trust governance procedures have been
fully complied with.
The Trust will expect that joint appointments meet their undergraduate teaching
responsibilities from within their university time.
Discretionary leave will be considered for external duties and must be agreed in
advance with the clinical manager.
The consultant and the Trust should be flexible in order to minimise the impact of any
external duty on DCC if possible. There is an obligation on all parties to ensure that
the time required to undertake external duties is fairly allocated between consultants.
ADDITIONAL HSC RESPONSIBILITIES
Duties not included in any of the foregoing definitions and not included within the
definition of Fee-Paying Services or Private Professional Services but undertaken as
part of the Job Plan by agreement between the consultant and employing
organisation. These might include undertaking inspections for the Commission for
Health Improvement (or its equivalent or successor body in Northern Ireland), acting
as an external member of an Advisory Appointments Committee, or undertaking
assessments for the National Clinical Assessment Authority.
APPENDIX 2
Acute week PAs Non-acute Week PAs
Total
DCC
PAs
per
annum
Average
weekly
PAs
On
Call
Revised
total
weekly
DCC
PAs
Core
SPA
Common
SPA
(variable)
Total
SPA
Total
job
plan
PAs
Acute
week
No of
weeks
Sub-
total
PAs
per
annum
OPs
36.5
Theatre
BCH
Theatre
Mater
Ward
work/
Patient
admin
HPB
MDT
Grand
Round
ward
round Triage
Sub-
total
DCC
No of
weeks
Sub-
total
PAs
per
annum
19.17 5.20 99.68 1.00 2.50 1.00 1.125 0.625 0.750 0.625 0.125 11.25 35.80 402.75 502.43 7.5 1.00 8.5 1.5 0 1.50 10.0
Official document: Consultant GenHPB Surgeon BT JD (pdf)
JOB DESCRIPTION
POST: Consultant Surgeon – General and Hepato-pancreato-
biliary Surgery (Full Time)
LOCATION: Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT)
DIRECTORATE: ACCTSS and Surgery
GRADE: Consultant
REPORTS TO: Clinical Director
RESPONSIBLE TO: Chair of Division/Co-director
This successful postholder will have a clinical appointment as a Consultant General
and Hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) Surgeon in the Belfast Health and Social Care
Trust, working within a trust wide clinical team to deliver general surgical services. In
addition to general surgical activities, a considerable proportion of the workload will be
delivery of HPB surgery in the regional unit. The successful postholder will provide
clinical care for acute unscheduled surgical patients within the Belfast Trust on-call
surgical rota.
The postholder is expected to provide other elective services including outpatient
clinics and elective and day-case services at day procedure units. Contribution to
delivery of care in the Surgical Ambulatory Unit will be required. The Belfast Trust
currently provides general and specialty surgical services to the Belfast population and
the regional provision of specialist services for Northern Ireland.
The successful postholder will be expected to contribute to the clinical care of patients
with hepatobiliary and pancreatic conditions. In particular, the successful appointment
is expected to be trained in HPB surgical procedures and management including liver
resection, pancreatic resection, management of complex gallstone disease and
management of severe acute pancreatitis.
Occasionally the successful postholder may be required to provide both unscheduled
and scheduled paediatric support.
Finally, the successful postholder should participate in clinical governance activities
such as audit, morbidity & mortality meetings and other duties as defined by the
2
Belfast Trust including undergraduate education, postgraduate supervision, and
training.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Belfast Health Care Trust
The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust was established in April 2007 comprising the
Belfast City Hospital, Mater Hospital, Musgrave Park Hospital, Royal Hospitals and
South and East Belfast, and North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trusts.
Hospital Profiles (Royal, Belfast City and Mater Hospitals)
The Royal Hospitals is the largest hospital complex in Northern Ireland, comprising
the Royal Victoria Hospital, the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital (RJMH), the Royal
Belfast Hospital for Sick Children (RBHSC), and the School of Dentistry. In
combination with its sister hospitals, it provides all tertiary referral services in Northern
Ireland. The Royal Hospitals play a key role in clinical education, training, and
research, with most academic departments linked to the Queen’s University of Belfast
Medical School.
Belfast City Hospital (BCH) is a major teaching hospital, most of which is housed
within the Tower (opened in 1985). The regional hepatobiliary unit is in BCH in One
South. The Northern Ireland Cancer Centre opened on the campus in March 2006
providing for the development of an internationally recognised cancer centre. A
strong strategic focus on molecular medicine, cancer and renal services has enabled
the development of world leading research programmes and a leading Cancer
Clinical Trials Unit linked with the ROI and the NCI Washington DC in a tripartite
arrangement. There is a modern radiology department and substantial AHP Services
(eg Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Occupational Therapy, Speech & Language Therapy,
Nutrition & Dietetics, etc) and a comprehensive range of pathology.
The Mater Hospital (MIH) is a university teaching hospital providing services Acute &
General Medicine. This is the location of the Elective Overnight Stay Centre which
opened in December 23 with 18 beds for overnight and day case procedures
A summary of the services across the Royal, BCH and Mater hospital sites is
provided in the table below:
Site General Services Specialist Services
Royal Hospitals Emergency Department
Acute & General Medicine
Anaesthesia (including critical
care)
Pain Management
Recognised trauma centre
Paediatrics (RBHSC)
Obstetrics & Gynaecology
(Royal Jubilee Maternity Hosp)
School of Dentistry
Regional services include:
medical and surgical
cardiology,
thoracic surgery,
neurosciences, ophthalmology
3
and specialised endocrinology,
ENT,
general surgery, vascular
surgery, hepatology
Belfast City Hospital Anaesthesia (including critical
care)
Pain Management
Major resectional
gastrointestinal surgery HpB
(Upper and Lower GI)
Adult Cystic Fibrosis
Breast Services (including
reconstructive surgery)
Cardiology
Cochlear Implant Service
Gynaecology & Gynaecological
Oncology
Haematology
Haemophilia Service
Medical Genetics
Medical Oncology
Nephrology (including Renal
Dialysis)
Radiotherapy
Respiratory Medicine
Transplant Surgery
Urology
Mater Hospital A&E
Acute & General Medicine
Anaesthesia (including critical
care)
Pain Management
Ophthalmology
EOSC
The Belfast HSC Trust functions through a series of Directorates. General and
hepatobiliary surgery sits within the Division of Surgery and ACCTSS and Surgery
Directorate.
HPB Surgery Volumes
Per annum, the BHSCT HPB Team completes the following:
• ~ 100 Liver Resections
• ~ 70 Pancreatic Resections
• > 200 Gallbladder Surgeries
HPB Medical Staffing
Details of the medical staffing within the Trust’s HPB Surgical Service.
Consultant Staff
Mr Gareth Kirk
Mr Stephen McCain
Ms Jane McClements
Mr Mark Taylor (on sabbatical)
Mr David Vass (Clinical Lead)
Resident Medical Staff
3 Registrars
5 Core Trainees
4
JOB SUMMARY
The postholder will primarily work as part of the General Surgical and HPB team
within the Surgery and Specialist Services directorate, contributing towards the
provision of a comprehensive HPB Surgery service on behalf of the Belfast Trust;
along with emergency general surgery and the ambulatory surgical service.
The trust welcomes applications from those wishing to work part time or job share.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES/JOB PLAN
a. The successful postholder will participate in the day-to-day work of the Belfast
Trust HPB Surgical unit. The successful postholder will also participate in the
routine, ambulatory and emergency General Surgery workload of the Belfast
Trust. On call will be in association with other Consultant General Surgeons
with particular responsibility for out-of-hour cover to the HPB surgical patients
and unit. Current Rota is 1:9 which may be subject to change to a 1:5 rota.
Participation in regular multidisciplinary meetings will be required.
b. The postholder will be expected to adhere to requirements for continuing
medical education and to ensure that all skills and expertise are maintained.
The Hospital is committed to fully supporting and resourcing nationally agreed
CME requirements to facilitate this. The postholder is expected to work within
the Trust’s Clinical Governance Framework and GMC guidance on good
medical practice.
c. The postholder will participate fully in medical and multi-professional clinical
audit and may develop research interests relevant to this post.
d. The postholder will be expected to participate actively in the teaching of
undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as staff in related
disciplines and to co-operate with colleagues in developing local educational
programmes.
e. The postholder will be expected to take part in the annual appraisal programme
and job plan review. The trust has trained appraisers in place to support
revalidation
Management Responsibilities
The postholder will be expected to:
– Maintain staff relationships and morale among the staff reporting to them
– Review the organisational plan and establishment level of the service for which
they are responsible to ensure that each is consistent with achieving objectives
and recommend changes when appropriate.
– Delegate appropriate responsibility and authority to the level of staff within their
control, consistent with effective decision making, while retaining overall
5
responsibility and accountability for results.
– Participate in the selection and appointment of staff in accordance with hospital
procedures.
– Take such action as may be necessary in disciplinary and grievance matters in
accordance with the procedures laid down and approved by the Trust.
– Ensure compliance with the Trust’s Health and Safety Policy.
– Identify objectives with the Clinical Director and agree an action plan ensuring
personal development.
Team working
The successful postholder will be expected to work with local managers and
professional colleagues in the efficient running of clinical services and will share with
consultant colleagues in the medical contribution to management.
Subject to the provisions of the Terms and Conditions of Service, the successful
postholder is expected to observe the Unit’s agreed policies and procedures, drawn
up in consultation with the profession on clinical matters and to follow the standing
orders and financial instructions of the Trust.
The applicant will be expected to adhere to consultant terms and conditions of service
(NI) 2004 as amended, in addition to all Trust policies and procedures.
The successful postholder will be expected to make sure that there are adequate
arrangements for hospital staff involved in the care of their patients to be able to
contact them when necessary.
The Trust recognises the importance of mentoring in supporting consultant
development, wellbeing and retention. Newly appointed Consultants will have access
to an experienced mentor and a structured programme of support to facilitate
successful integration into the Trust, leadership development and career progression.
This commitment reflects the Trust's values of Working Together, Excellence,
Openness and Honesty, and Compassion.
Teaching and Research
The successful postholder will be expected to be involved in the teaching of
undergraduate medical students and the training of junior medical staff.
Multiprofessional Audit and Continuing Medical Education
The post holder will be required to take part in the Directorate audit programme.
They will also be required to undertake such continuing educational activities as are
necessary for them to remain accredited by their Royal College.
Governance and Appraisal
The successful postholder will be expected to work within the Belfast Trust HSC
Trust governance framework.
6
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Registration
Registration with the GMC and License to Practice must be maintained.
Terms & Conditions
This appointment is subject to the Consultant Terms & Conditions of Service (Northern
Ireland) 2004 as amended.
Indemnity
Employees are normally covered by the HPSS and Community Health Service
Indemnity against claims for medical negligence. However, certain circumstances may
not be covered by the Indemnity, especially where a separate fee is received. The
Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety (DHSS&PS) therefore advises
that membership of a medical defense organisation is maintained.
Residence
In order to meet the on-call requirements of the post, the appointee is required to
reside within a reasonable distance to their principal place of work, as per terms and
conditions of service.
Private Practice
All private professional services and fee-paying services that are not part of the
Contract of Employment must be undertaken in accordance with Schedules 9, 10
and 11 of the Contract of Terms & Conditions of Service (NI) 2004.
Medical Examination
Appointment to this post is subject to a satisfactory pre-employment health
assessment with the Trust’s Occupational Health service.
Salary
As per current Consultant salary scale in line with the Consultant Terms &
Conditions of Service and pay circular HSC (TC8) 1/2016.
Pension
Membership of the Health Services Superannuation Scheme is voluntary. There is
reciprocity between the Northern Ireland scheme and the rest of the United Kingdom.
Date on which post is available
The appointee may take up post upon satisfactory completion of essential pre-
employment checks.
Visiting
To obtain further information regarding this post or plan for a visit you are
encouraged to informally contact Mr David Vass, Consultant HPB Surgeon (Clinical
Lead) or Ms Jane McClements, Consultant HPB Surgeons, Belfast City Hospital
(email: jane.mcClements@belfasttrust.hscni.net).
7
Canvassing
Canvassing will disqualify. Any approach to a member of the Belfast HSC Trust or a
member of any Committee or Panel of the hospital by or at the request of a postholder
will be treated as canvassing.
Removal Expenses
If eligible a fixed relocation grant may be available to assist with essential removal
expenses, as outlined in the Trust’s “Re-Location and Associated Expenses Policy”.
The amount must be agreed in advance of incurring expenditure.
Ionising Radiation Regulations
The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (2000) require that any
person clinically or physically directing a procedure which involves exposure to
radiation should have appropriate training. This can be provided locally as
necessary.
General Responsibilities
Employees of the Trust are required to promote and support the mission and vision
of the service for which they are responsible and:
– At all times provide a caring service and to treat those with whom they come into
contact in a courteous and respectful manner.
– Demonstrate their commitment by their regular attendance and the efficient
completion of all tasks allocated to them.
– Comply with the Trust’s Smoke Free Policy.
– Carry out their duties and responsibilities in compliance with the Health and
Safety Policies and Statutory Regulations.
– Adhere to Equality and Good Relations duties throughout the course of their
employment.
– Ensure the ongoing confidence of the public in-service provision.
– Maintain high standards of personal accountability.
– Comply with the HPSS Code of Conduct.
Records Management
Used as part of their business within the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust,
including patient/client, corporate and administrative records whether paper based or
electronic and also including e-mails. All such records are public records and are
accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000, the Environment Regulations 2004, and Data Protection Act
1998. Employees are required to be conversant with the Belfast Health and Social
8
Care Trust policy and procedure on records management and to seek advice if in
doubt.
Information Governance
All employees of Belfast Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all
records held, created, or used as part of their business within the Belfast Health and
Social Care Trust, including patient/client, corporate and administrative records
whether paper based or electronic and also including e-mails. All such records are
public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions,
under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environment Regulations 2004, the
UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), and the Data Protection Act
2018. Employees are required to be conversant and to comply with the Belfast
Health and Social Care Trust policies on Information Governance including for
example the ICT Security Policy, Data Protection Policy, and Records Management
Policy and to seek advice if in doubt.
Environmental Cleaning Strategy
The Trusts Environmental Cleaning Strategy recognises the key principle that
“Cleanliness matters is everyone’s responsibility, not just the cleaners” Whilst there
are staff employed who are responsible for cleaning services, all Trust staff have a
responsibility to ensure a clean, comfortable, safe environment for patients, clients,
residents, visitors, staff and members of the general public.
Infection Prevention and Control
The Belfast Trust is committed to reducing Healthcare associated infections (HCAIs)
and all staff have a part to play in making this happen. Staff must comply with all
policies in relation to Infection Prevention and Control and with ongoing reduction
strategies. Standard Infection Prevention and Control Precautions must be used at
all times to ensure the safety of patients and staff.
This includes: -
• Cleaning hands either with soap and water or a hand sanitiser at the
appropriate times (WHO ‘5 moments’).
• Using the correct ‘7 step’ hand hygiene technique.
• Being ‘bare below the elbows’ when in a clinical environment;
• Following Trust policies and the Regional Infection Control Manual (found
on intranet).
• Wearing the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Ensuring correct handling and disposal of waste (including sharps) and
laundry.
• Ensuring all medical devices (equipment) are decontaminated appropriately
i.e., cleaned, disinfected and/or sterilised.
• Ensuring compliance with High Impact Interventions.
Personal Public Involvement
9
Staff members are expected to involve patients, clients, carers, and the wider
community who were relevant in developing, planning, and delivering our services in
a meaningful and effective way, as part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to
Personal Public Involvement (PPI).
Please use the link below to access the PPI standards leaflet for further information.
http://www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/PPI_leaflet.pdf
Values
All staff are expected to display the HSC Values at all times
10
Clause: This job description is not meant to be definitive and may be
amended to meet the changing needs of the Belfast Health and
Social Care Trust.
June 2026
11
JOB SPECIFICATION
POST: Consultant Surgeon – General Surgery and HPB Surgery
LOCATION: Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
Requirements Essential Criteria Desirable Criteria
Qualifications (i) Current General Medical Council
registration and License to Practice
(must have both at time of
appointment); and
(ii) Entry on the GMC Specialist
Register for General Surgery
• Certificate of Completion of
Training (CCT) (proposed CCT
date must be within 6 months of
interview) or
• Certificate of Eligibility for
Specialist Registration (CESR) or
• European Community Rights
recognised by the GMC for
specialist registration
Higher degree (MD/PhD).
Clinical
Experience
Evidence of extensive experience in
general surgery and emergency surgery
including trauma.
Evidence of wide experience and
advanced training in both liver and
pancreatic surgery, including major
resections for cancer.
Experience to include two years working
in a recognised HPB unit (including time
spent in an HPB fellowship).
Evidence of experience and
training in minimally
invasive hepatobiliary
surgery.
Evidence of service
development.
12
Requirements Essential Criteria Desirable Criteria
Experience in managing complex
pancreatitis
Research
Experience
Evidence of participation in
relevant research projects.
Evidence of clinical trial
experience.
Presentations at national
and/or international
meetings.
Publications in peer
reviewed journals.
Teaching
Experience
Evidence of teaching
(diploma/higher degree)
undergraduate or post
graduate students and/or
paramedical staff.
Personal
Attributes
Evidence of teamwork and good
interpersonal and communication skills.
Proven leadership skills and track
record in time management.
Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary
environment.
All applicants to have demonstrable
skills in written and spoken English that
are adequate to enable effective
communication about medical topics
with patients and colleagues.
Must have access to a means of
transport to facilitate movement
between sites. Where disability prohibits
driving, this criteria will be waived if the
applicant is able to organise suitable
alternative arrangements
Eligibility to work in the UK as per UKBA
Immigration Regulations.
13
NOTE:
Where educational/professional qualifications form part of the criteria you will be
required, if shortlisted for interview, to produce original certificates, and one
photocopy of same, issued by the appropriate authority. Only those certificates
relevant to the shortlisting criteria should be produced. If educational certificates are
not available an original letter and photocopy of same detailing examination results
from your school or college will be accepted as an alternative.
If successful you will be required to produce documentary evidence that you are
legally entitled to live and work in the United Kingdom. This documentation can be a
P45, pay slip, National Insurance Card or a birth certificate confirming birth in the
United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland. Failure to produce evidence will result in
a non-appointment.
VALUES BASED RECRUITMENT
Values Based Recruitment is a process adopted by the Belfast Trust to attract and
select employees on the basis that their individual values and behaviors align with
those of the Trust and incorporating the Healthcare Leadership Model.
It focuses on the ‘how’ and ‘why’ people do what they do.
Candidates who are short-listed for interviews will need to demonstrate at interview
that they have the required knowledge, skills, competencies, and values to be
effective in this new role.
In answering the value-based questions you have the opportunity to share examples
of when you have demonstrated values relevant to the Belfast Trust.
The competencies required are detailed in the Healthcare Leadership Model
available at http://www.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/resources/healthcare-leadership-
model/.
Leadership Dimension
Inspiring, shared purpose
Leading with care
Evaluating information
Connecting our service
14
Sharing the vision
Engaging the team
Holding to account
Developing capability
Influencing for results
15
CONSULTANT JOB PLAN
NAME:
GMC NUMBER:
JOB PLAN FOR PERIOD:
SPECIALITY: General and HPB Surgery
CONTACT DETAILS:
DIRECTORATE: Surgery and Specialist Services
1. Whole-time consultant in General and HPB Surgery for Belfast Health & Social
Care Trust.
WTE: 1.0
General Provisions and Accountability Arrangements
2. You will be expected to work with management and professional colleagues in
the efficient running of clinical services and will share with consultant colleagues
in the medical contribution to management. You will be expected to make sure
that there are adequate arrangements for hospital staff involved in the care of
your patients to be able to contact you or another delegated consultant when
necessary.
3. All medical and dental staff employed by Health and Social Care Trusts are
expected to comply with the governance and assurance arrangements of the
Trust.
4. The training and supervision of medical/dental students and junior medical/dental
staff is an important aspect of most consultants’ jobs and should appropriately be
accommodated in your job plan. You may also be required to teach other
members of the multidisciplinary team.
16
Job Plan Review
5 This job plan is subject to review at least once a year by you and the Clinical
Director/Chair of Division before being approved by the Service Director. For this
purpose, a copy of the current job plan (and job description if appropriate),
including an up-to-date work programme, objectives agreed at annual appraisal
and any notes provided by either side - of any new or proposed service or other
developments need to be available. In the case of a new employee a review of the
job plan will take place 3 months after commencement and annually thereafter as
above. You can request a job plan review at any time if your workload changes.
6. If it is not possible to agree to a job plan, either initially or at an annual review,
there are agreed procedures for facilitation and appeal with the final decision
normally being accepted by the Trust Board.
7. Regional guidance on job planning is available and should be used to inform the
process.
8. Job Purpose (including other NHS responsibilities as appropriate)
You will provide your surgical specialist services to the Belfast HSC Trust.
9. Objectives
Programmed activities (PAs) will be based on these objectives plus other duties,
other HPSS responsibilities and the service to be provided for which you are
responsible. An outline of activities against which PAs can be allocated, and
some general guidance is given in appendix 1 of this document. SPAs are divided
between core and common SPAs. All full-time consultants will receive 1.5 core
SPAs for specified activities as outlined in appendix 1. Additional common SPAs
will be by agreement between the consultant and their clinical manager and
based on the objectives set out below. External duties will be considered within
the job plan, either within PAs or through discretionary leave. Accepting external
duties must be with the agreement of the service group. The onus will be on the
consultant to demonstrate how the impact of an external duty, on direct clinical
care, can be minimised.
9.1 Service Developments/Objectives
To provide a comprehensive high-quality service in your specialist area
of hepatobiliary surgery for the population of Northern Ireland, meeting
regional targets for accessibility and maximum waiting times
You will work with the Trust on the further development of the general
and hepatobiliary surgical service, particularly regionally, and the
development of integrated surgical and ITC systems.
17
9.2 Personal Objectives
• To maintain general surgical and hepatobiliary services including
inpatient and outpatient management of non-elective and elective
admissions.
• Participate in training of junior medical staff and medical students,
ensuring this is of the highest quality.
Direct Patient Care
Deliver 2.5 theatre sessions per week. This equates to 72 sessions per
year. You will deliver additional sessions if feasible.
Deliver one out-patient session per week, approximating to 36 per year.
Deliver one Surgical Ambulatory Clinic per week, approximating to 36
per year
You will deliver 5-6 weeks per annum as the emergency consultant in
the Emergency Surgical Unit (EmSU).
You will attend weekly multidisciplinary team meetings and provide
other consultation services as required.
You will take responsibility for the pre- and post-operative management
of patients in your care, in consultation with other members of the multi-
disciplinary team.
You will work with colleagues to ensure continuity of care for patients
and to provide emergency cover at all times.
You will provide cross cover of patients when colleagues are in the
EmSU or are on leave
You will ensure that administration associated with patient care is
conducted in a timely and effective manner.
You will work with Directorate Management to ensure optimal use of
clinical resources, especially operating time.
You are allocated 1.5 core SPAs to include time for activities that will
support re-licensing and recertification and ensure the quality and safety
of services. This time will be primarily for appraisal, job planning, audit,
personal clinical management and CPD activities. Where this allocation
not be fully utilised, it would be expected that the residual time will be
used flexibly for SPA activity that occur on an ad hoc basis. This will be
reviewed at annual appraisal.
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Core Supporting Professional Activities
You will prepare and take part in consultant appraisal once a year.
You will attend the unit audit/governance meeting each month.
You will take part in continual professional development.
9.3 Team Objectives
You will work with colleagues to ensure continuity of care for patients
and to provide emergency cover at all times.
This job plan outlines the number of DCC PAs that you would normally expect to
perform on an annual basis. In so doing, the purpose is to clarify for you the
Belfast Trusts’ expectation that you would attend these PAs. However, both
parties recognise that it may not be possible for you to do so because of factors
partly, or entirely, out with your control. In such circumstances the Trust may ask
you to be flexible in trying to maintain the level of service and take on alternative
duties/PAs. Any alternative PAs that you undertake would be by mutual
agreement and would as far as possible, not disrupt planned activities already
outlined in your job plan. The Trust also undertakes to provide reasonable notice
of such changes.
Failure to fulfill this commitment due to factors outside your control would not
result in any penalty to you; specifically it would not be grounds for preventing
pay progression.
10. Education and teaching responsibilities
All consultants in the Belfast Trust are expected to undertake informal teaching
arising in the course of clinical work. Additional teaching activities may be agreed
as part of SPAs.
11. Research
Research time will generally only be allocated within SPAs where there is an
external funding stream to cover the costs and where Trust governance
procedures have been fully complied with.
12. Resources and Support required to meet job plan
12.1 Staffing Support
• Junior surgical support including specialist trainees.
• Anaesthetic support.
• Specialist nursing staff.
• Technical staff and allied health professionals.
• Secretarial, administrative, and managerial support.
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12.2 Any other required resources
• Equitable access to outpatient and ward facilities.
• Equitable access to theatre and intensive care facilities and equipment.
• Office and IT facilities.
• Diagnostic facilities.
The Trust is committed to the principles of equity and will ensure that individual job
plans of team members, and the newly appointed consultant will be equitable, in line
with the requirement for effective and constructive team working outlined in Good
Surgical Practice (RCS England).
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Programmed Activities
13.1 The table below gives a breakdown of the total agreed PAs on average per week
and the agreed annualised PAs due to the nature of certain elements within the
job plan.
Programmed Activity Number of PAs per week Number of
PAs
annualised
Direct Clinical Care 8.75 (average)
1.0 for on call
Supporting
Professional Activities
Core SPAs 1.5 to include:
1.0 appraisal audit, job teaching and CPD
0.25 teaching
0.25 clinical management
Common SPAs 0.5 for induction
(to be reviewed after 3 months)
Total PAs (see appendix)
Note: A summary of the PA breakdown is also included in Appendix 2.
Programmed Activity Number of PAs
per week
Number of
PAs
annualised
Direct Clinical Care 8.75
Supporting Professional Activities 2.0
Total PAs 10.75
13.2 External duties/other NHS responsibilities
Please insert duties/responsibilities as agreed with your clinical director/associate
medical director.
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14. The following indicates all your regular weekly commitments as agreed. It does
not include activities that occur on an ad hoc basis. Ad hoc ward attendance to
ensure continuity of care of patients and clinical administration time is included in
your Direct Patient Care PAs. The timetable does not include external duties unless
timetabled in SPAs.
Emergency Surgical Unit Week
Day Time Location Hrs
No of
consultants
Total
hrs
PAs
In hours
Monday 0800-1800 RVH 10 2 20
Tuesday 0800-1800 RVH 10 2 20
Wednesday 0800-1800 RVH 10 2 20
Thursday 0800-1800 RVH 10 2 20
Friday 0800-1800 RVH 10 2 20
Total hours 50 100 25
Out of hours
Saturday 0800-1800 RVH 10 2 20
Sunday 0800-1800 RVH 10 2 20
Total hours 20 40 13.33
Total PAs for EmSU for 2 consultants 38.33
Average PAs for EmSU per consultant 19.17
Two consultants will work in the EmSU Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm and on
Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 6pm. They will undertake assessments, ward
rounds, operating lists, and associated administration.
No SPAs are envisaged to be included in this week – instead, the totality of the SPAs
currently accommodated across 41 weeks of the year will be accommodated across
the “elective” weeks.
The EmSU will require cover for 52 weeks of the year.
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Elective Week
Day Time Work Activity
Locatio
n
PAs
DCC
PAs
SPA
Comments
Mon 0830-1230 (SAU) RVH 1
1230-1330 Patient admin 0.25
Tue 0800-0900 Pre Op BCH 0.25
0900-1300 BCH theatre BCH 1
1300-1700 BCH Theatre BCH 1
1700-1800 Post -Op BCH 0.25
Wed 0900-1300 Core SPA 1
Thu
Xray, Grand
Ward round
HPB
Scheduling
0.75
Fri
0830-0900 Ward round BCH 0.125
0900-1300 Clinic BCH 1
1300-1530 HPB MDM RVH 0.625
Includes travel time
1600-1700
Ward
work/patient
admin
BCH 0.25
Flexible Triage 0.125
Flexible
Weekend ward
round
0.5
Flexible Core SPA 0.5
Flexible Patient admin 0.625
Total 7.75 1.5 9.25
Note: SPA time will be worked flexibly, with additional time to be accommodated in
elective week to compensate for EmSU week.
Weekend ward rounds
You will provide weekend ward rounds for the BCH site on a rotational basis with
colleagues, Saturday (9am to 12noon) and Sunday (9am to 12noon). This
represents:
6 hours in premium time = 2 PAs per week across a team of 5 consultants
With prospective cover = 0.5 PAs per consultant
The above timetable is an illustration of the type of work which will be required
and is subject to change to meet service needs. It is also expected that the
weekly timetable would be worked flexibly to meet the demands of the service.
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15. Emergency Work
This section includes all of your prospective emergency on-call work and the
agreed availability for on-call.
Type Day/Time Location PAs
Predictable
emergency on-call
work
As per rostered
duties in EmSU
Unpredictable
emergency on-call
work
On-call period On-site, at home
on telephone and
traveling to and
from site
1.0
Agreed on-call rota 1 in 5(to be confirmed)
Agreed category A
On-call supplement 8%
Statement of availability
Category A: You are typically required to return immediately to the Trust when called
or to undertake interventions with a similar level of complexity to those that would
normally be carried out on site, such as telemedicine or complex telephone
consultations.
16. Private Practice and Fee-Paying Services
(delete as appropriate)
You are not currently undertaking regular private practice, however if this
changes during the year you have agreed to inform the clinical director before
any changes are made to your work pattern.
OR
You are currently undertaking regular private practice as outlined in your job
plan and have agreed to undertake / are undertaking an additional PA (if
offered), up to a maximum of 11 PAs per week, as detailed in the terms and
conditions of service.
OR
You are currently undertaking ad hoc private practice within the Trust, and it is
agreed that this practice may continue, provided it does not affect the efficiency
of multidisciplinary team working. You have agreed to ensure that if any of your
agreed NHS activity is displaced due to private practice you will carry out the
NHS activity at an agreed later stage.
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17. Programmed Activities
The above timetable represents a job plan totaling 10.0 PAs per week.
18. Agreement
(to be completed and forwarded to Medical Director’s Office)
Signed: …………………………… Signed:
…………………………
Consultant: ……………………………. Clinical Director/
Associate Medical
Director:
………………………….
Date: …………………………….. Date:
………………………….
Signed: …………………………… Signed:
…………………………
Medical
Director or
Deputy:
……………………………. Head of School:
………………………….
Date: …………………………….. Date:
………………………….
(for joint appointments)
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APPENDIX 1
Annex 2 Programmed Activities
Programmed activities (PAs) are linked in the job plan to each consultant’s service,
personal and where appropriate, team objectives. They are categorised as direct
clinical care (DCC) and supporting professional activities (SPAs). For the purposes of
job planning within the Belfast Trust the following guiding principles will be applied to
ensure consistency across our service groups and sites.
DIRECT CLINICAL CARE (DCC)
DCC covers: -
• Emergency attendance
• Outpatient or other clinic
• Operating session (including anaesthetics)
• Ward round
• Other patient treatment or relative consultation
• Telephone advice to hospital
• Multidisciplinary meetings about direct clinical care
• Investigative, diagnostic or laboratory work
• Public health duties
• Travelling time between sites, not to usual place of work
• Patient administration
• Service Linked teaching (e.g., during ward rounds)
• Clinics and operating sessions
• Clinical supervision
SUPPORTING PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES (SPA)
SPA - Consultants will be allocated SPAs for activities that will support re-licensing
and recertification and ensure the quality and safety of services. These activities
include:
• Appraisal
• Job Planning
• Audit (attendance at general audit activity out with time already allotted for
DCC)
• CPD
• Local Clinical Governance activities
Training requirements to include the objectives contained within a job plan and those
identified through Annual Appraisal should be considered and appropriate SPA time
discussed and agreed as part of the job planning meeting.
27
Additional SPAs
To be agreed on basis of both Trust and consultant’s requirements.
to include: -
• Clinical management (not directly affecting patient care)
• Service maintenance and development
• Teaching responsibilities or specified roles
• Undertaking specific audit projects and / or audit responsibilities or lead
roles/activities associated with clinical and social care governance.
• Other Trust duties
• Postgraduate training and supervisory responsibilities
• Research
Research time will only be allocated with additional SPAs where there is an external
funding stream to cover the costs and where Trust governance procedures have been
fully complied with.
The Trust will expect that joint appointments meet their undergraduate teaching
responsibilities from within their university time.
Discretionary leave will be considered for external duties and must be agreed in
advance with the clinical manager.
The consultant and the Trust should be flexible in order to minimise the impact of any
external duty on DCC if possible. There is an obligation on all parties to ensure that
the time required to undertake external duties is fairly allocated between consultants.
ADDITIONAL HSC RESPONSIBILITIES
Duties not included in any of the foregoing definitions and not included within the
definition of Fee-Paying Services or Private Professional Services but undertaken as
part of the Job Plan by agreement between the consultant and employing
organisation. These might include undertaking inspections for the Commission for
Health Improvement (or its equivalent or successor body in Northern Ireland), acting
as an external member of an Advisory Appointments Committee, or undertaking
assessments for the National Clinical Assessment Authority.
APPENDIX 2
Acute week PAs Non-acute Week PAs
Total
DCC
PAs
per
annum
Average
weekly
PAs
On
Call
Revised
total
weekly
DCC
PAs
Core
SPA
Common
SPA
(variable)
Total
SPA
Total
job
plan
PAs
Acute
week
No of
weeks
Sub-
total
PAs
per
annum
OPs
36.5
Theatre
BCH
Theatre
Mater
Ward
work/
Patient
admin
HPB
MDT
Grand
Round
ward
round Triage
Sub-
total
DCC
No of
weeks
Sub-
total
PAs
per
annum
19.17 5.20 99.68 1.00 2.50 1.00 1.125 0.625 0.750 0.625 0.125 11.25 35.80 402.75 502.43 7.5 1.00 8.5 1.5 0 1.50 10.0

