Job summary
The successful candidate will be part of a medical team providing 24/7 medical cover at the hospice, comprising of three part-time Consultants in Paediatric Palliative Medicine and three part-time specialty who provides autonomous clinical care for patients. In addition the team support resident doctor paediatricians in training.

The guiding philosophy of Martin House derives from the conviction that the children and families we care for, and their choices, must be placed first in all our policies and care provision. We try to listen to, respect and value each member of the family, as individuals with their own needs.

The hospice would also consider applicants working at a specialist doctor level and paygrade if they could demonstrate that they would work at the level of a senior palliative doctor within the team and were also able to take a more senior role in projects as part of the operational leadership plan and areas of education and research. This would need to be discussed at an individual level. Please note specialist doctors must have a minimum of 12 years medical work of which six years must be directly relevant.

Main duties of the job
To provide ethical and medical management of children and young adults, with a wide range of life-limiting conditions, who are under the care of Martin House.

The doctors will cover the on-call service on a 1 in 6 rota. Out of hours on call is from home with an expectation to come into the hospice in the event of a significant medical problem such as symptom management and end of life care but much advice is by telephone and video call. On call runs from 5.00pm to 9.00am on weekdays. Weekends commence from 5.00pm on a Friday and run through until Monday at 9.00am. At weekends a visit to the hospice on Saturdays is usually required to deal with any issues relating to new admission from the Friday.

When on call, to be responsible for phone calls regarding patients under the care of Martin House who are currently in the community, or patients requiring a rapid referral to the hospice, although there is not an expectation to make home visits for these community patients.

To work with patients and their families to complete advance care plans where appropriate and to parallel plan.

To provide advanced symptom management

To provide support for end of life decision making and end of life care in a CYP/family preferred place of death

To support research within the Hospice

To provide educational opportunities for the medical team and wider care team and provide supervision to the paediatricians in training at Martin House.

About us
Martin House provides free specialist palliative care to babies, children and young people with complex and life-shortening conditions. Families from across West, North and East Yorkshire have access to our care 24/7, 365 days a year, including specialist doctors. Every year we care for more than 550 families, at the hospice, in hospital and in families own homes, as well as supporting around 200 bereaved family members.

We have recently completed our transformational £21.9 million redevelopment project, creating a purpose-built hospice with enhanced facilities designed to meet the needs of children and young people with life-limiting conditions for years to come.

Our hospice now provides modern, welcoming spaces for families accessing respite, symptom management and end-of-life care. These improved facilities ensure we can continue delivering personalised, specialist care in an environment specifically designed to support children, young people and their families across Yorkshire.

Job responsibilities
Tasks and Duties:

• To provide ethical and medical management of children and young adults, with a wide range of life-limiting conditions, who are under the care of Martin House.
• The doctors will cover the on-call service on a 1 in 6 rota. Out of hours on call is from home with an expectation to come into the hospice in the event of a significant medical problem such as symptom management and end of life care but much advice is by telephone and video call. On call runs from 5.00pm to 9.00am on weekdays. Weekends commence from 5.00pm on a Friday and run through until Monday at 9.00am. At weekends a visit to the hospice on Saturdays is usually required to deal with any issues relating to new admission from the Friday.
• When on call, to be responsible for phone calls regarding patients under the care of Martin House who are currently in the community, or patients requiring a rapid referral to the hospice, although there is not an expectation to make home visits for these community patients.
• To ensure, in conjunction with the rest of the medical team, that there is always sufficient medical cover for Martin House.
• To work with patients and their families to complete advance care plans where appropriate and to parallel plan.
• To provide advanced symptom management
• To provide support for end of life decision making and end of life care in a CYP/family preferred place of death
• To provide some clinical bereavement support (ongoing support is provided by the bereavement team)
• To support research within the Hospice
• To provide educational opportunities for the medical team and wider care team and provide supervision to the paediatricians in training at Martin House.
• To participate in the multi-professional hospice clinical governance program.
• To contribute to the delivery of the hospice operational plan.
• To participate in education and to attend the monthly Doctors meeting which takes place in the evening alternating the first Tuesday and first Thursday of the month 7pm as part of the funded CPD time. This is usually over MS Teams.
• Support visiting medical students or work experience students.
• Support the Martin House Education Centre with teaching
• To be responsible for maintaining and updating own professional practice by actively participating in reflective practice, appraisal, management and practice supervision and to be a full and willing participant in opportunities for learning.
• Undertaking training to fulfil the requirements of medical professional bodies, or taking responsibility for maintaining a level of individual training and development to meet Martin Houses requirements.
• To hold each member of the team in positive regard and to foster a culture of respect and consideration between all staff.
• Any other duties as may be reasonably required.

Health & Safety

• To be aware of the safety needs of the children, siblings, parents and colleagues and adopt a preventative safety approach to all times.
• To report all accidents incidents and untoward incidents
• To be aware of your health and safety responsibilities as an employee and adhere to these.

Personal development

• To adopt a positive and reflective approach to personal and professional development.
• To participate constructively in annual appraisal.
• To undertake core competencies for clinical skills and specific training and to remain updated.
• To work in conjunction with the education co-ordinators to develop your practice and care for the children.
• To work contracted hours including unsocial hours as required weekends evenings and nights.

This job description reflects the present requirements of the post and will form the basis of performance appraisal. As duties and responsibilities change and develop the job description will be reviewed and necessary changes made with consultation.

Employees may be required to drive a Martin House pool car. These cars are insured by Martin House and it is a requirement of the insurers that we have checked that any staff who drive the cars have a current driving licence.

Martin House has a multi-professional, multi-skilled team seeking to reach out to each family in a way that most helps them. Because of this team members may be expected to accept a different or unusual task or role.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• On the GMC register with a licence to practise.
• Demonstrate appropriate leadership behaviours, qualities
• A significant level of paediatric or palliative care experience
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and lead an MDT meeting
• Understand and implement audit and quality improvement activity
• Keen to develop service provision

Desirable

• MRCPCH or MRCGP
• Participation in student teaching
• Interest in research
• Experience in both paediatric palliative care and young adult care

Experience
Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Advanced symptom management skills
• Competence in parallel planning and enhanced supportive care
• Competence in organising and supporting rapid discharges at end of life
• Evidence of writing advance care plans and symptom management plans
• Evidence of competence in management of medical emergencies.
• Evidence of competence to work without direct supervision
• Knowledge of the death and dying process and statutory regulations around the time of death

Those without developed skills in these areas but a keen interest and willingness to learn will be considered and if appointed, supported to develop.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.

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

Martin House is committed to providing care and improving services irrespective of race, ethnicity, disability, gender, religion or belief, age, marital status, or sexual orientation.

Martin House is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees to share this commitment. Recruitment checks are undertaken in accordance with safer recruitment standards and successful applicants may be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS check via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).