Locum Consultant Geriatrician

Job summary

We are recruiting a Locum Consultant Geriatrician with an interest in Oncology. This post is full time (10 Programmed Activities (PAs) per week), but flexibility will be considered for those who are unable to work full-time. This post will work within both the Senior Adult Oncology (SAO) and the Acute Oncology teams at The Christie.

The multidisciplinary outpatient SAO team supports the growing number of complex older patients undergoing cancer treatments. The applicant will provide senior clinical care delivering Comprehensive Geriatric Assessments to these patients with frailty and other geriatric syndromes who are being considered or undergoing anti-cancer treatments. The aim is to aid guiding cancer treatment decisions and supporting selected patients through their cancer treatments. This is a key senior clinical and leadership role within the Senior Adult Oncology service. The applicant will also deliver inpatient work supporting the management of complex older patients with cancer. The Christie has a selective admission process, where the reason for admission is primarily related to the patient's underlying cancer or its treatment. Patients are admitted via the AAU where they may spend 24-72 hrs, before discharge or transfer to a ward. Senior care for these inpatients is provided jointly between the patient's Oncology Team, supplemented by the Hospitalist Team.

Main duties of the job

- Consultant-led outpatient SAO clinics and MDT meetings to provide and coordinate care for complex older patients with cancer and frailty planned to start or undergoing anti-cancer treatments, with a particular focus on multimorbidity and polypharmacy.- Consultant ward rounds and supporting the management of referred complex older patients with non-surgical admissions to the inpatient wards, with contributions from the multi-disciplinary team and direct reviews as required and within the time available. - Work within multidisciplinary teams to deliver Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment for selected cancer patients with frailty.- Supervision and education of junior doctors and Advanced Clinical Practitioners.- Liaising with the patient's Oncology Team as required regarding the care plan for complex senior adults with frailty.- The successful applicant is not expected to take oncology treatment decisions which will remain the responsibility of the patient's Oncology team who will support the appointee with input at registrar and consultant level as required.

About us

The Christie is one of Europe's leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country. We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Role Purpose

The applicant will deliver inpatient work for complex older patients with cancer admitted to The Christie Hospital. The Trust provides an inpatient service for selected non-elective admissions where the reason for admission is primarily related to the patients underlying malignant diagnosis or its treatment. All admissions are already in receipt of oncology care at the Trust. The normal route of admission is via our 24hr hotline which triages patients and either admits them onto the Acute Assessment Unit (AAU) or diverts them to their local Acute Trust A&E if appropriate (, chest pain and acute abdominal pain). This is, therefore, a selected intake at The Christie. Those who are admitted to our AAU usually spend the first 24 72 hours there. Senior care for these inpatients is provided jointly between the patients Oncology Team (Consultant and Specialist Registrar), supplemented by the Hospitalist Team. The Hospitalist team is a group of colleagues with general medical, acute medicine and oncology backgrounds providing senior input to the non-surgical oncology patients admitted to the Trust as above, in liaison with the patients Oncology Team. Patients will be discharged directly from the AAU or are then transferred to one of the base oncology wards if their admission requires a longer stay. The applicant will become part of the hospitalist team, reviewing inpatients with frailty and or geriatric medical needs.

The applicant will deliver outpatient work for complex older patients with cancer within the Senior Adult Oncology team (SAO). The Christie has launched this multidisciplinary team to support the growing number of older patients with complex frailty undergoing cancer treatments. This teams consists of Consultant Oncologist, Consultant Geriatrician, GP with a special interest, Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Occupational Therapist, Pharmacist, Dietitian, and Physiotherapist. The applicant will provide senior clinical care to complex older cancer patients with frailty and other geriatric syndromes who are being considered or undergoing anti-cancer treatments. This will comprise of outpatient clinics and MDT working. Patients under the care of the patients Oncology Team will be referred to the SAO team for Comprehensive Geriatric Assessments to aid guiding cancer treatment decisions and/or supporting selected patients through their cancer treatments as required. This will be done in parallel and in close collaboration with the patients Oncology team. The SAO team is further supported by other teams, in particular the supportive care team, bone health team, and the psycho-oncology team. This is a key senior clinical and leadership role within the Senior Adult Oncology service.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESThe role will provide senior input and be responsible for:

Consultant ward rounds and supporting the management of referred complex older patients with non-surgical admissions to the inpatient wards, with contributions from the multi-disciplinary team and direct reviews as required and within the time available. Leadership, supervision and education of junior doctors and Advanced Clinical Practitioners on the inpatient wards. Liaise with the patients Oncology Team as required to ensure the referred patients are appropriately managed regarding their in-patient episode, progressed without delay and appropriately prepared for discharge.

Consultant-led outpatient SAO clinics to provide and coordinate care for complex older patients with cancer and frailty planned to start or undergoing anti-cancer treatments, with a particular focus on multimorbidity and polypharmacy. Work within the SAO team, providing multidisciplinary Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment to selected cancer patients with frailty. Supervision and education of junior doctors and Advanced Clinical Practitioners on SAO team. Liaise with the patients Oncology Team as required regarding the care plan for complex senior adults with frailty. Lead a regular SAO multidisciplinary team meeting.

Act as an expert resource on the medical care of older adults with frailty undergoing cancer treatments. Collaborate with the different supportive oncology teams and specialized oncology teams at The Christie. Liaise between specialist and local community health and social care teams, as required, to ensure necessary levels of collaboration and efficient transfer of across organizational boundaries. Contribute to the service evaluation, regular auditing process and quality improvement, as a member of The Christie Medical Staff Committee. Participate in all aspects of clinical governance, including the development of SOPs, protocols, policies and standards to ensure they remain in line with evidence based practice. Contributing to the undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programs. Contribute to research projects and establish new opportunities to expand and develop research within the team. Maintaining a level of continuing professional development consistent the recommendations of the Royal College and Physicians.

The successful applicant is not expected to take oncology treatment decisions which will remain the responsibility of the patients Oncology team who will support the appointee with input at registrar and consultant level as required.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Doctor of consultant grade MRCP (UK) or equivalent qualification (non-UK) GMC registration with a license to practice (or be eligible for registration within 3 months of the interview date) Clinical training and experience equivalent to that required for gaining UK CCT in Geriatric Medicine

Desirable

An appropriate higher degree ( MD, PhD or equivalent) Entry to the GMC specialist register (or expected within 12 months) via CCT or portfolio routes.

Research / Publications

Essential

Participation in relevant research in the field of oncology and/or geriatrics

Desirable

Publication in peer-reviewed journals

Experience

Essential

Training in the care of complex older patients Wide experience in the care of complex older patients with ability to offer expert clinical opinion in the field of Geriatric medicine Experience working in acute setting Expertise in frailty, comprehensive geriatric assessment and discharge planning

Desirable

Training in the care of cancer patients Oncology experience Experience of Rehabilitation

Teaching

Essential

Evidence of contributing to teaching and clinical supervision

Management / Audit

Essential

Experience of clinical audit and quality improvement Evidence of clinical leadership skills

Desirable

Experience in team management Proven ability to lead a team

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