Job summary
This is an appointment to the Department of Trauma & Orthopaedics based in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Hospitals. The post is aimed at a surgeon who has completed their Orthopaedic training and has passed the FRCS(Orth.), who is planning a career in shoulder and elbow surgery. The post holder will work with the three shoulder surgeons in the Trust, gaining experience from working with them, and will also have the opportunity to practice independently. The fellow attends the elective and upper limb fracture clinic and operates on elective and trauma shoulder lists. They are on call on the middle grade rota, doing general Orthopaedic trauma when on call. There are parallel lists with the consultants and independent fellow lists in the new Barn-style Kent and Medway Orthopaedic Centre that opened in September 2024.

Main duties of the job
The fellow will attend elective and fracture upper limb clinics. They will enjoy supervised operating of both elective and trauma shoulder and elbow patients, as well as independent operating on parallel theatre lists and unsupervised lists. On-callcommitment is required as per the rota.

About us
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 and 2024 NHS Staff Survey.

We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff, we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre.

Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day-care beds, diagnostic services (X-ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms.

Looking for flexible working? We are a flexible working-friendly organisation. Whether it's adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.

Click here to hear what our staff say.

Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with an employer contribution of 23.7% and life assurance benefits
• Blue Light card eligibility
• And more, additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below

Job responsibilities
Weve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission.

Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children). If a role involves regulated activity and requires a DBS check with a barred list check, you cannot apply if you are on the barred list.

All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date has been agreed.

As part of your induction, you will be required to attend face-to-face training sessions and/or complete e-learning modules relevant to your role. If you have previously worked for another NHS organisation before joining Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW), we can transfer eligible mandatory training records where appropriate, helping to avoid unnecessary duplication of learning.

Qualifications
Essential

• MBBS or Equivalent
• GMC Registration
• Possession or within 6 months of CCT
• FRCS (Orth) or equivalent

Desirable

• Distinctions, scholarships, prizes
• Other degrees, e.g. BSc, MSc MD

Research/Audit
Essential

• An understanding of general principles, scientific method and interpretation of literature
• Understand the principles of audit

Desirable

• Evidence of personal research projects and their presentation
• Publications in peer-reviewed journals
• Evidence of participation in audit projects

Skills
Essential

• Evidence of leadership
• Organisational ability
• Able to take responsibility and cope with stressful situations
• Able to get on with other members of the multi disciplinary team
• Credibility and integrity
• A sympathetic approach to patients and relatives

Desirable

• Critical and enquiring approach to knowledge acquisition
• To have undertaken a postgraduate communication skills course

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.

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
Address: Tunbridge Wells Hospital, Tonbridge Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 4QJ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.mtw.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Consultant Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgeon
Mr Richard Benson
richardbenson@nhs.net
01622228221

Details
Date posted: 20 August 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Doctor - other
Salary: £76,582 a year per annum pro rata
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 359-MSD6901825-B
Job locations: Tunbridge Wells Hospital, Tonbridge Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 4QJ, United Kingdom

Supporting documents
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