Specialty Doctor in Infection
Company: Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Job ID: C9193-26-0763

This is an exciting opportunity to join the newly established Department of Infection Medicine at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust as a Specialty Doctor in Infection Medicine. Working alongside consultants and SAS doctors, the post holder will help deliver and share in the clinical leadership of a consultant-led Clinical Infection Service providing frontline infection expertise across the Trust. This is a full-time, 10 programmed activity post based at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will provide timely specialist infection advice to primary and secondary care teams, manage infection queries and ID e-referrals, and support the daily antimicrobial stewardship infection round. Duties will include reviewing blood cultures, validating laboratory reports, communicating critical results, supporting ICU ward rounds and participating in specialist infection multidisciplinary team meetings. The role will also contribute to infection prevention and control, antimicrobial stewardship, clinical governance, audit, quality improvement, teaching and the continuing development of the Clinical Infection Service.

Job responsibilities
The post holder will work alongside the departments consultants and SAS doctors to deliver the Clinical Infection Service and share in its clinical leadership. They will provide timely infection advice to clinical teams in primary and secondary care, respond to infection query calls, and review ID e-referrals relating to patients with acute and complex infections.

Clinical responsibilities will include supporting the daily multidisciplinary AMS Infection Round across the Acute Medical Unit, Higher Monitoring Unit, Emergency Department and Same Day Emergency Care. The post holder will contribute to antimicrobial review at the point of admission, including supporting appropriate treatment decisions, intravenous-to-oral switch and access to suitable inpatient, ambulatory or virtual care pathways.

The role will undertake blood culture review, laboratory report validation and the communication of critical results. The post holder will support daily ICU ward rounds and attend relevant specialist infection multidisciplinary team meetings, which may include infective endocarditis, renal, haematology, trauma and orthopaedic infection, complex bone and joint infection, tuberculosis, diabetic foot infection, C. difficile, spinal and invasive device-related infection, and Complex Outpatient Antimicrobial Therapy.

The post holder will participate in Infection Prevention and Control activities and meetings and contribute to antimicrobial stewardship work across the Trust. They will also attend the weekly Trust Clinical Grand Round, AMS Committee meetings, laboratory meetings and other departmental, network and Trust meetings as required. Public health responsibilities will include liaison with the UK Health Security Agency when reporting outbreaks, clusters of cases and other serious incidents to the appropriate authorities.

The post holder will contribute to the teaching of doctors, physician assistants and other allied health staff. They will participate in educational activities, medical audit, departmental clinical governance, quality improvement, and regional and national infection medicine audit activity. They will also take part in annual appraisal, revalidation and continuing professional development.

The post holder will maintain appropriate records, respect confidentiality and comply with the Data Protection Act 2018, UK GDPR, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and relevant Trust policies. They will be expected to maintain satisfactory patient notes in accordance with GMC Good Medical Practice and participate fully in the Trusts clinical governance, risk management, infection control, health and safety, and safeguarding requirements.

Person Specification
Essential

• Primary medical qualification and Full registration with the GMC
• Minimum of 4 years postgraduate training, with at least 2 in Medical Microbiology. Equivalent years' experience in medical microbiology if from overseas.
• Experience in dealing with infection queries, E-referrals and E -consults, working in multidisciplinary setting. Knowledge of CoPAT and OPAT and experience of infection prevention and control.
• Evidence of work in the NHS within a department of infection
• Previous responsibility for clinical governance and GMC Good Medical Practice
• Good IT skills, use of patient and hospital database
• Ability to work within clinical governance guidelines
• Undertake audits and present data as required
• Ability to work in partnership to deliver a patient centred service
• Ability to communicate with clarity and intelligence in both written and spoken English
• Work collaboratively with multi-disciplinary team, understanding each other's unique role
• Contributes to improving patients experience
• See patients as individuals and involve them in decisions about their care
• Demonstrate an understanding and willingness to embrace user involvement
• Able to abide by the Trust CARE Values; Compassionate, Aspirational, Respectful and Excellence
• Willingness to take responsibility, and exert appropriate authority
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Evidence or providing good teaching and supervision to trainees

Desirable

• Membership of the Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom- MRCP UK or equivalent
• Higher degree e.g. PhD/ MD submitted/awarded
• Candidates with longer experience in Microbiology and Infection medicine are desirable as the post requires considerable independent decision making
• Evidence of clinical leadership role demonstrating accountability for quality of care, financial controls and efficient management of workforce
• Track record of publications in peer reviewed journals
• Educational qualification

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).

Employer details
Employer name: Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Royal Berkshire Hospital, Craven Road, Reading, RG1 5LE, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/

Contact for questions about the job
Consultant Microbiologist and Clinical Lead RBH, Dr Shabnam Iyer, Shabnam.Iyer@royalberkshire.nhs.uk, 07950952328

Diversity makes us interesting... Inclusion is what will make us outstanding. We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where possible. All applicants who have a disability and meet the minimum criteria for the post can opt for a guaranteed interview.

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