Job summary
Applications are invited for a consultant Ophthalmologists with a specialist interest in Cornea to join the Ophthalmology department at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.
The main services are based at Maidstone hospital with a smaller unit at Tunbridge wells hospital and services at Medway Maritime Hospital.
The post holder will be joining the cornea Team which will consist of 2 full time Consultants, one part time consultant, a clinical fellow and a nurse specialist and supported by an optometry department. We offer specialist clinics including keratoconus diagnosis, nurse led clinics, triage clinics, complex biometry and soon to have a Crosslinking service. Currently we have operating sessions throughout the week at Maidstone in our dedicated theatres.
This is a new post, creating an exciting opportunity to further develop the corneal service in one of the largest ophthalmic departments in the South East that provides care for a population of 1.2 million people living in Mid and West Kent. The successful applicants will be expected to work predominantly at the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells sites with out-patients sessions provided at Medway Maritime Hospital. These posts are whole-time appointments comprising of 10 PA's which includes an on-call commitment.
Main duties of the job
The Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is responsible for the provision of ophthalmology services for the people of Mid and West Kent. General and sub-speciality ophthalmology services are provided at the Eye, Ear, and Mouth Unit (EEMU), a modern, purpose- built facility attached to Maidstone Hospital, with further outpatient facilities provided at the Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury and Medway Maritime Hospital in a "hub and spoke" model. The post-holder will have a timetable with sessions at Maidstone and other sites.
EEMU has a busy Rapid Access department, optometric and orthoptic departments. There are two dedicated ophthalmic operating theatres at Maidstone and one dedicated theatre at the Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury. With a stable management team, we are able to continually improve services and add to the already high levels of equipment provision in our department. Friday afternoon departmental teaching for all staff is consultant- led. Research interests are supported by active links with The University of Kent at Canterbury.
Residence requirements for this post are compatible with living in the outskirts of London, or in many attractive, rural parts of Kent. Kent has selective state schooling with a number of excellent state grammar schools in the vicinity of Maidstone.
About us
In this year's NHS staff survey, our employees voted MTW in the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and second in the South East of Trusts to work for.
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is a large acute hospital Trust in the county of Kent.
The Trust provides a full range of general hospital services and some areas of specialist complex care to around 760,000 people living in the south part of West Kent and the north part of East Sussex.
The Trust's core catchment areas are Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells and their surrounding boroughs. We work from two main clinical sites: Maidstone Hospital and Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury. Tunbridge Wells Hospital opened in 2011 and provides single rooms with en-suites for all in-patients - the first of its kind in the country.
We employ more than 7,000 full and part-time staff in a huge range of clinical and non-clinical roles across both of our hospital sites.
Would you like to work flexibly? In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide a high standard of care to any patient for whom you have clinical responsibility. This will include any patients cared for by you personally.
To participate in clinical and other service activities and developments with the aim of ensuring a high standard of patient care.
To take equal share in providing subspecialty cover and covering for colleagues during period of absence. This will include electronic triage of referrals.
To take part in the support and training of junior Ophthalmologists and the development and training of medical students and ancillary allied professionals, including the development of the oculoplastic nurse specialist role.
To participate fully in the clinical governance activities of the specialty. To attend clinical governance half-days as in the job plan. To undertake annual appraisal leading to revalidation. To participate actively in departmental audits which may be included in the work you undertake.
To work in close co-operation with other medical, professional and managerial colleagues, both within and outside the specialty, to provide high quality health care to the Trusts patients, and to make a contribution to future thinking about the Trusts strategic direction.
To ensure at all times that you comply with the General Medical Councils published guide Good Medical Practice including the Duties of a Doctor.
To take personal responsibility for risk management in your work and undertake to review practices and learn from mistakes. To be an active member of the risk management processes of the clinical team and care group.
To ensure that you respond promptly and efficiently to all complaints related to any patient care you have been involved with, assisting the Trusts corporate responsibility to reply to complaints within a specified time frame.
To ensure that you develop and maintain effective working relationships with those agencies concerned with the provision of health and social care services and those representing the interests of patients.
You are required to take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and others who may be affected by what you do while at work. You must adhere to Trust IRMER Regulations.
The post holders will be required to also perform duties in occasional emergencies and unforeseen circumstances at the request of the Clinical Director or General Manager for Ophthalmology.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Clinical training and experience equivalent to that required for gaining UK CCT in ophthalmology
- Recognised Sub-specialty training in Cornea
- Ability to take full and independent responsibility for clinics and theatre lists
- Demonstrable experience in Clinical Audit and Research
Desirable
- Experience of risk management
- Experience in setting up multi-disciplinary clinics
- Virtual Clinics
- Laser surgery
SKills
Essential
- Ability to lead efficient, well run clinics or theatre lists, under pressure
- Ability to teach junior doctors and other clinical staff
- Ability to organize and manage clinical as well as administrative workload.
Desirable
- Staff management: delegating, appraisal of performance, dealing with poor performance, motivating staff.
Personal
Essential
- Good interpersonal skills
- Ability to work in a team
Desirable
- Adaptable and willing to initiate and develop new ways of running clinical services.
Education
Essential
- Full GMC Registration
- FRCS / FRCOphth
- Entered on CCT Register or within 6 months of obtaining CCT
Desirable
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.
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 .
UK Registration
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
Maidstone Hospital
Hermitage Lane
Maidstone
ME16 9QQ