Job summaryWorking Full time: 40 hours per weekAn exciting opportunity has arisen for highly motivated team players to join our Plastic Surgery Department at the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. We are currently welcoming applications for 2 x Locum Trust Doctors ST3+ level to join the team.
These posts will be based at the Countess of Chester Hospital where operative work will be undertaken. Clinics will be held at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
The appointee will be under the instruction of the Consultants in this Consultant-led Unit, acting at middle grade level. They will be required to assist in and will participate in in-patient, day case and out-patient plastic surgical procedures and attend weekly out-patient clinics. Occasionally, they will be required to attend out-patient clinics held in peripheral sites.
This is a Trust post and not recognised for training purposes, however the successful candidate will be expected to fully participate in regular teaching sessions & other relevant educational opportunities.
LTFT applicants will be considered (this will include on-call.)
Main duties of the jobClinical ResponsibilitiesThe post holder will be responsible for the daily routine running of the ward rounds, patient care and management, including the guiding of Trust ST1/2s & Specialty Trainees. They will be directly answerable to their consultant. In addition, they are expected to be a team player, assist in theatres when appropriate and perform operations at their level of training.
The successful candidate would also have dedicated LA operating sessions. The post holder is expected to attend clinics.
Cover Arrangements for LeaveAll leave is covered internally by colleagues and it is the responsibility of each doctor to ensure that arrangements have been made to cover duties including on-call. All annual leave must be approved by leave coordinator a minimum of 6 weeks prior.
Continuing Professional EducationTo take responsibility for your own continuing professional education in accordance with guidelines set out by the appropriate college\faculty\professional body.
Research opportunities are available depending on individual interests.
EducationA well-equipped post-graduate centre and library is sited adjacent to the General Wing on the Countess of Chester Hospital site. There is an active programme of lectures and meetings, including those of the Chester and North Wales Medical Society.
About usThe Trust's services are provided from three locations: o The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds. o Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility. o Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population. The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery
DetailsDate posted: 16 September 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Specialty registrar
Salary: £67,325 to £76,582 a year pa
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 6 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 210-2026-351
Job locations: Countess of Chester Hospital, Liverpool Road, Chester, CH2 1UL, United Kingdom
Job responsibilitiesSee Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.
If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies which is payable to the DBS Service.Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.
The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.Good luck with your application.
Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential- MBBS or equivalent
- MRCS or equivalent
- Full registration with the GMC and hold a current licence to practise
DesirableKnowledge & ExperienceEssential- Experience working at middle grade/registrar level within Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery in the NHS
- Maintaining Good Medical Practice
- Good relationships and communication with patients
- Professional behaviour and probity
- Delivery of good acute clinical care
Desirable- Experience equivalent to a competence level at ST4/5 within Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
- Experience working within the NHS
- Attendance at relevant courses, e.g. ATLS, Basic Surgical Skills or equivalent
Skills & AbilitiesEssential- Validated logbook of relevant operative experience/good clinical care
- Computer skills
- Capacity to apply sound clinical knowledge & judgement & prioritise clinical need
- Demonstrates appropriate technical competence & evidence of development of excellent diagnostic skills & judgement
Desirable- Shows aptitude for practical skills, e.g. hand eye co-ordination, dexterity, visuo-spatial awareness
Teaching & Training ExperienceEssential- Demonstrates understanding of the basic principles of audit, clinical risk management & evidence-based practice
- Evidence of contributing to teaching & learning of others
Desirable- Evidence of relevant academic & research achievements, e.g. degrees, prizes, awards, distinctions, publications, presentations, other achievements
- Evidence of active participation in audit
Communication and Interpersonal SkillsEssential- Applicants must have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English, adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues, as assessed by the General Medical Council
Personal AttributesEssential- Capacity to operate effectively under pressure & remain objective in highly emotive/pressurised situations
- Awareness of own limitations and when to ask for help
- Capacity to communicate effectively & sensitively with others, able to discuss treatment options with patients in a way they can understand
- Demonstrate effective judgement and decision making skills
- Capacity to work effectively in a multi disciplinary team & demonstrate leadership when appropriate
- Capacity to establish good working relations with others
Desirable- An understanding of the Trust values and Educational ethos (see appendices)
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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.
Certificate of SponsorshipApplications 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).
UK RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer detailsEmployer name: Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Countess of Chester Hospital, Liverpool Road, Chester, CH2 1UL, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.coch.nhs.uk/working-with-us.aspx (Opens in a new tab)
Employer contact detailsFor questions about the job, contact:Clincial Lead, Plastic Surgery
Mr Rishi Sharma
rishi.sharma1@nhs.net
01244366265
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. 
