St Joseph's Hospice
Clinical Fellow
The closing date is 22 November 2026

Job summary
This post is ideal for a doctor wishing to gain experience in specialist palliative medicine, whether as preparation for higher specialty training or a career in general practice, oncology, geriatrics or another related specialty. We are offering a full time, 4 months fixed term contract from March - June 2027.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will work predominantly within the inpatient unit, supported by an experienced consultant led multidisciplinary team, and will participate in the on call rota.

The role offers extensive exposure to symptom management, communication skills, advance care planning and end of life care. Opportunities for professional development, education, quality improvement and career progression will be supported in line with the post holder's experience, interests and development goals.

About us
St Josephs is a large 24-bedded hospice in Hackney, East London, with an inner-city, ethnically diverse population. There are excellent modern facilities including a busy community team, day hospice, complementary therapies centre, bereavement service, access to a multi-lingual advocacy team and a purpose-built education centre and library.

The successful applicant will join a team of 3 Consultants, 2 Specialty Doctors, 2 Palliative Medicine Specialty Registrars, 1 IMT doctor, 2 GPVTS doctors and additional Clinical Fellow posts.

Details
Date posted: 06 November 2026
Pay scheme: Other
Salary: £52,656 a year plus £14,851 pa for on call plus £2,162 pa for London Weighting
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 4 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: E0339-26-0020
Job locations: St Joseph's Hospice, Mare St, London, E8 4SA

Job description
Job responsibilities
1. INPATIENT HOSPICE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• 1.1 Delivery of medical care to specialist palliative care inpatients with consultant supervision (using a holistic approach, addressing the patients physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs).
• 1.2 Work as part of the multi-disciplinary, specialist palliative care team to optimise patient care.
• 1.3 Clerk new admissions to the hospice through history and physical examination and explore advance care planning.
• 1.4 Attendance at and participation in the weekly Consultant Ward Round and Multi-Disciplinary Team meeting.
• 1.5 Communicating with patients and their families pro-actively, providing appropriate information and support as necessary.
• 1.6 Chairing of family meetings when appropriate.
• 1.7 Use of the multi-lingual advocacy service to aid assessment of and communication with patients and families who do not speak English fluently.
• 1.8 Appropriate communication with health professionals outside of palliative medicine, to ensure good continuity of patient care.
• 1.9 Timely provision of medical letters and discharge summaries.
• 1.10 Participation in bereavement follow-up as required.

2. OUT-OF-HOURS / ON-CALL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• 2.1 The on call component of this role comprises a full on call rota working 1 in 5 weekdays and 1 in 4 single weekend days. There may be additional on call duties available at other times.
• 2.2 Participate in the hospice first on-call rota, providing out-of-hours cover for the hospice inpatient unit and community palliative care team with consultant support throughout. On-call days at weekends and bank holidays are single-days non-resident 09:00-09:00 with estimated average work of 12 hours during each 24-hour non-resident period. In practice the doctor will usually be on site from 9am to 5pm with scope for a longer day and/or overnight work as dictated by the clinical need.
• 2.3 Must be available to attend the hospice within 60 minutes during all non-resident on-call periods. On site on-call accommodation is available if required.

3. NON-CLINICAL DUTIES / EDUCATION, TRAINING & SUPPORT
Educational opportunities:

• 3.1 Weekly doctors journal club.
• 3.2 Weekly doctors teaching.
• 3.3 Monthly Schwartz Rounds.
• 3.4 Courses available via hospice Education Centre as per candidates training needs.

Delivery of teaching:

• 3.4 Teaching and supervision of medical students on placement at the hospice, both on the ward setting and in the education centre.
• 3.5 Teaching on induction programme for St Josephs rotating junior doctors.
• 3.6 Large group teaching to year 5 Barts, The Royal London and Queen Marys Hospitals Medical School students, GPs, District Nurses and multi-disciplinary groups.

Audit:

• 3.7 Undertaking of clinical audit and quality improvement projects.

Management

• 3.8 Working with consultants on service development projects appropriate to the post-holders experience and areas of interest.

Support:

• 3.9 Monthly group clinical supervision for all doctors.
• 3.10 Monthly Schwartz rounds the post holder can attend and present as they wish.
• 3.11 Facilitated debriefing sessions about individual patients arranged on request.

Supervision:

• 3.12 Regular clinical/educational supervision by named Consultant.
• 3.13 Availability of consultant support/advice daily following patient reviews or telephone contacts with patients, carers, staff and external healthcare professionals.

4. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAL STAFF

• 4.1 To contact one of the consultants, other senior colleague or managers, as appropriate, if there are any clinical concerns.
• 4.2 To make accurate, legible and contemporaneous entries in the patients records and to ensure continuity of patient care by handover to colleagues. St Josephs Hospice uses an electronic patient records system.
• 4.3 To participate in audit, research or any on-going developments within the hospice.
• 4.4 To participate in teaching students, hospice staff and volunteers as required.
• 4.5 To participate in journal club and educational activities at St Josephs Hospice.
• 4.6 To comply with Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements as stipulated by the Royal Colleges.
• 4.7 To maintain own professional indemnity insurance to cover work in the hospice.
• 4.8 To maintain confidentiality at all times and comply with all other aspects of the General Medical Councils Code of Professional Conduct.
• 4.9 To keep a portfolio of evidence, to have an annual appraisal and write a personal development plan (PDP) in line with GMC revalidation policies and procedures.

5. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL STAFF

• 5.1 To perform their duties according to the philosophy of the Hospice, acting at all times to safeguard the interests of patients and their families, and in particular to respect and live out the Hospice Mission and Core Values.
• 5.2 To attend the induction program.
• 5.3 To comply with Occupational Health procedures.
• 5.4 To attend any staff meetings, where appropriate, in discussion with the Medical Lead.
• 5.5 To keep up to date and complete all statutory and mandatory training, e.g. fire training, lifting and handling and other health and safety issues.
• 5.6 To monitor, record and assist in investigations of any complaints from patients, visitors and staff, reporting these to the Medical Lead.
• 5.7 To recognise the importance of, and to participate in, Clinical Governance activities at St Josephs Hospice.

6. SAMPLE WEEKLY TIMETABLE OF CLINICAL MEETINGS / TEACHING / SUPPORT ACTIVITIES
Please see the attached JD alongside this post to view the sample timetable.

7. MAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• 7.1 Educational supervision will be provided by one of the medical consultants.
• 7.2 The post holder will be appraised via an arrangement between the hospice and Homerton University Hospital.
• 7.3 The Responsible Officer for this post, in relation to revalidation, is the Medical Director of the Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
• 7.4 St Josephs Hospice supports requirements for continuous professional development as laid down by the Royal College of Physicians and is committed to providing time and financial support for these activities. There is a study leave budget for the medical staff. Study leave will need to be approved by the medical director or other member of the consultant team.
• 7.5 Job planning will be undertaken and reviewed on a yearly basis with the Medical Lead.
• 7.6 NHS superannuation can be continued subject to no significant gaps in service.
• 7.7 There is an office for the medical team at the Hospice. There is secretarial support, internet access and email facilities.
• 7.8 Three months notice of termination of contract must be given by the postholder and employer.

8. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
St Joseph's Hospice supports annual appraisal and ongoing professional development for all medical staff. Doctors undergoing revalidation will be supported in line with RCP guidance.
The post holder should:

• 8.1 Identify own learning and development needs in order to meet the key requirements of the post and to work best within the medical and wider multi-disciplinary team.
• 8.2 Take responsibility for linking own development needs with the Hospice appraisal and objective setting process.
• 8.3 Take responsibility for own continuing development by undertaking specific areas of work/projects to develop new skills.
• 8.4 Take responsibility for own professional development, including keeping up to date with relevant best practice in palliative medicine.
• 8.5 Engage in supervision to support personal and professional development.

Person Specification
General Requirements
Essential: Please refer to job description above
Desirable: Please refer to job description above

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: St Joseph's Hospice
Address: St Joseph's Hospice, Mare St, London, E8 4SA, United Kingdom
Employer contact details: Recruitment Team, Recruitment@stjh.org.uk, 02085256000

Supporting documents
Privacy notice: St Joseph's Hospice's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)