Job Specification and Terms and Conditions s1

Job Specification and Terms and Conditions

Job Title and Grade Temporary Consultant Physician with a special interest in Medicine for the Elderly Naas General Hospital (34 hours per week) Tallaght Hospital (3 hours per week)

For a minimum of 6 months or pending the employment of a permanent Consultant Physician with a special interest in Medicine for the Elderly or whichever arises first

Competition Reference NGH 01/2013

Closing Date 5pm Monday 4th February 2013

Proposed Interview ASAP Date(s) Taking Up Appointment Immediately

Location of Post This is an appointment on a Type B basis under the Consultants’ Contract 2008 by the Health Service Executive to be based at Naas General Hospital, Naas, Co Kildare (34 hours per week) and Tallaght Hospital, Dublin (3 hours per week). Details of Service There are currently seven Physicians at Naas General Hospital working with high consultant:patient ratios. Special interest areas for the other posts are Gastroenterology, Cardiology, Endocrinology and Respiratory. Naas General Hospital is the primary acute hospital facility for the population of County Kildare and West Wicklow (180,000). Organisational Area HSE – Dublin Mid Leinster Reporting Relationship The Consultant’s reporting relationship and accountability for the discharge of his/her contract is:

To the Chief Executive Officer/General Manager of the hospitals through his/her Clinical Director (where such is in place). The Regional Director of Operations or Integrated Services Manager may require the Consultant to report to him/her from time to time. Purpose of the Post To act as Temporary Consultant Physician with a special interest in Medicine for the Elderly at Naas General Hospital and Tallaght Hospital This post is essential to maintain and develop both the current general medicine service and the specialty of geriatric medicine. From a geriatric medicine prospective, the post is required to ensure that the current service levels delivered by the consultant and associated team is not only maintained but continues to develop. The postholder will have a clear focus on supporting patients in the home, minimising the need for admissions and reducing the average length of stay.

The consultant will provide a clear leadership role in developing the service to the highest quality, with an emphasis on early diagnosis and management.

Day Hospital is envisaged to be the hub of the geriatric services in an acute hospital but currently it is poorly supported due to other commitments and inadequately trained NCHD staff. It needs to be a properly consultant provided service to increase throughput, be responsive to the needs of the GPs, ED, MAU and wards in supporting discharge and rationalising the service, increasing new attendances and decreasing returns. It is currently impossible with the current consultant staffing to provide a same day consult service which may help bed usage. Out patient clinics are extremely busy. There is no falls service within hospital at present.

The Consultant will accept referrals from GPs, ED, MAU and the wards providing a more acute responsive service. The post will provide a daily consult service, a falls service, a clinic in GIM/Geriatrics and will participate in the on call rota in GIM and Stroke.

1 Principal Duties and The person chosen will: Responsibilities Maintain throughout the Hospitals an awareness of the privacy of the patient in relation to all Hospital activities. Demonstrate behaviour consistent with the values of the Hospitals. Be patient centered in all encounters, and deliver a safe service to patients attending the Hospitals. Actively participate in and promote continuing education and research activities consistent with the position. Promote open communications throughout the Hospitals.

The person chosen will be required to: - (1) To act as Consultant Physician with a special interest in Medicine for the Elderly in Naas General Hospital and the Adelaide & Meath Hospital, Dublin Incorporating the National Children’s Hospital (Tallaght). (2) Provide Consultant provision with special interest in Medicine for the Elderly service to in-patients/out-patients primarily at Naas General Hospital, and at Tallaght Hospital. (3) Participate in the provision and administration of medical services and Medicine for the Elderly service at Naas General Hospital. (4) Participate in the Medical Consultant on-call rota, and provide cross cover as appropriate. Participate in the Stroke on-call rota. (5) To ensure that duties and functions are undertaken in a manner that minimises delays for patients and possible disruption of services (6)To arrange for the discharge from hospital and from the service of all patients in his/her clinical charge for whom consultant care and treatment in his/her opinion is no longer required. (7) Be responsible for the recruitment, supervision and training of an assigned team of non-consultant hospital doctors, in conjunction with Consultant colleagues. Ensure all non-consultant hospital doctors assigned to his/her team attend Hospital Orientation and, where appropriate, departmental orientation. Supervise and be responsible for clinical work and record keeping of all non-consultant hospital doctors and auxiliary staff attached to the department. (8)To be responsible for the proper performance of the duties by the medical, nursing and other clinical staff assigned to the departments and services under his/her control and to instruct them in the proper performance of the duties by practical instruction and lectures. (9) Liaise with specialist personnel at a local, regional and national level. (10) To be responsible for the management of appropriate liaison arrangements between his/her Department in the Hospital and the patient’s normal medical practitioner. (11) Support and maintain responsibility for clinical audit programmes within Medicine in conjunction with consultant colleagues and in accordance with the Hospital’s clinical governance structure as it evolves. (12) Together with colleague(s) who also have a similar appointment in Medicine, have a supportive role in shaping the policy in the Hospital with regard to the management of medical services, best practice and accreditation. (13)Together with colleague(s) who also have a similar appointment in Medicine for the Elderly, have a leadership role in shaping the policy in the Hospital with regard to the management of Medicine for the Elderly services, best practice and accreditation. (14) To co-operate with the expeditious implementation of the Disciplinary Procedure (15) Work within the Hospital’s Clinical Directorate structure which is currently being developed. (16) Attend and participate in meetings relevant to the post, e.g. appropriate division. (17) Maintain a programme of continuing medical education applicable to the responsibilities of the post. (18) Participate in teaching, including undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and conference commitments of the department and of the Hospital for medical, nursing and other staff. (19) To provide, as appropriate, consultation in the Consultant’s area of designated expertise in respect of patients of other Consultants at their request

2 (20) To ensure in consultation with the Clinical Director that appropriate medical cover is available at all times having due regard to the implementation of the European Working Time Directive as it relates to doctors in training (21) Support clinical, laboratory or other research as appropriate to the speciality on a local, regional and national basis. (22) To keep such records as may be required by the Health Service Executive from time to time (23) To participate in and facilitate production of all data/information required to validate delivery of duties and functions and inform planning and management of service delivery. (24) To report to the Clinical Director on the determination of service outputs in line with clinical need and within resources as agreed with the employer. (25) To oversee the departmental performance in HIPE, Casemix and ESRI returns. (26) To oversee departmental results in attendance at mandatory training of i.e. Fire Safety, Infection Control, Handling and Moving. (27) To ensure that adequate supplies of such drugs, medical and surgical appliances as may be necessary for use in his/her department in the hospital are at all times available in the hospital. To ensure that satisfactory arrangements exist for the custody of and administration of the dangerous drugs in his/her department. (28) To assist in the preparation of annual estimates/budgets of expenditure for which he/she is responsible. (29) The person appointed will hold office under the terms and conditions of the revised consultants’ contract which will determine that he/she will participate actively in the management of the hospital, take cognisance of resource constraints and retain clinical autonomy while practicing. (30) To provide services to a Medical Assessment Unit, as appropriate to the role. (31) Support the provision of rehabilitation services in the area. (32) To manage locum cover and NCHDs in line with approved whole time equivalent (WTE) complement. (33) To monitor and control absenteeism and sick leave of staff assigned to his/her control and to have specific responsibility for ensuring that all Human Resource Policies and Procedures are adhered to in their entirety. (34)To furnish on request to a Registered medical Practitioner authorized by the Health Service Executive or by the minister the clinical details regarding any person who is or had been under his/her care in the Hospital or Clinic on production of the written consent of the person(or written consent of the person’s representative or next of kin). Whenever the Minister is of the opinion, however, that it would not be in the interests of the common good to seek such consent and he/she certifies accordingly, the Officer shall furnish the required information to a Registered medical Practitioner authorized by the minister. Where, however the Officer is of the opinion that the nature of the case is such that he/she should inform the patient of the requirement of the Minister he/she shall be at liberty to do so. It is not intended that this requirement will operate in a manner which would detract from the patient’s character or reputation. (35) To examine any person referred to him/her by the Health Service Executive for examination and report and to furnish to the Health Service Executive a full report of his/her findings on such examination unless the person referred informs the Officer that he/she objects to the examination or to the submission of such reports, in which event the Officer shall notify the Board concerned. (36) To issue, or arrange for the issue of, to or in respect of any patient under his/her care in a Hospital, or referred to him/her at a Clinic, and without charge any certificates which might reasonably be required by such patient in regard to the state of his/her health in connection with his/her normal employment of his/her entitlement to benefit under any scheme of social insurance or assistance. (37) To reside within such distance convenient to Naas General Hospital or at such place as may be approved by the Clinical Director/General Manager. (38) Liaise with the General Manager, Management Team, Clinical Director, Chief Executive Officer, Medical Director, relevant senior Medical and Nursing staff in all matters pertaining to the general efficiency of the Hospitals. The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to

3 perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Eligibility Criteria Each candidate must have the following on the latest date for receiving forms:

Registration as a specialist in the Specialist Division of the Register of Medical Qualifications, experience Practitioners maintained by the Medical Council in Ireland in the specialties of and knowledge geriatric medicine and general (internal) medicine.

Health A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Character Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character

Age Age restriction shall only apply to a candidate where he/she is not classified as a new entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004). A candidate who is not classified as a new entrant must be under 65 years of age on the first day of the month in which the latest date for receiving completed application forms in the office occurs.

Section 62 Post (if applicable).

Skills, competencies  Display evidence of professional knowledge and attainment in all aspects and/or knowledge of Medicine required to fulfil the roll and duties of Consultant Physician

 Display evidence based clinical knowledge in making decisions regarding client care

 Demonstrate evidence of effective planning and organising skills including awareness of resource management and importance of value for money

 Demonstrate ability to manage deadlines and effectively handle multiple tasks

 Demonstrate effective communication skills including: the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner; the ability to facilitate and manage groups through the learning process; the ability to give constructive feedback to encourage learning

 Demonstrate awareness and appreciation of the service user

 Demonstrate leadership and team management skills including the ability to work with multi disciplinary team members. Display the ability to build teams and to devolve responsibility appropriately and the talent to develop, manage and work in partnership with his/her team

 Demonstrate evidence of ability to empathise with and treat patients, relatives and colleagues with dignity and respect

Competition Specific Shortlisting may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your Selection process application form. The criteria for short listing are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the “eligibility criteria” and “skills, competencies and/or

4 knowledge” section of the job specification. Therefore it is very important that you think about your experience in light of those requirements. Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process.

Protection of Persons As this post is one of those designated under the Protection of Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998, appointment to this post appoints one as a 1998 designated officer in accordance with Section 2 of the Act. You will remain a designated officer for the duration of your appointment to your current post or for the duration of your appointment to such other post as is included in the categories specified in the Ministerial Direction. You will receive full information on your responsibilities under the Act on appointment.

5 Terms and Conditions of Employment Temporary Consultant Physician with a special interest in Medicine for the Elderly, Naas General Hospital (34 hours per week), Tallaght Hospital (3 hours per week)

Type B Contract

Tenure The appointment is whole-time, temporary and pensionable. Appointment as an employee of the Health Service Executive is governed by the Health Act 2004 and the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointment) Act 2004.

The annual salary as per the revised salary Department of Health October 2012 for Remuneration Consultants (Clinicans) (Type B) as follows: (Salary Scale at 01/10/12) €109,381,€110,837,€110,880,€110,880.

Working Week The standard working week applying to the post is 37 hours per week. Type B Consultant Contract.

Annual Leave The annual leave associated with the post is: 31 working days per annum and as determined by the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997.

All pensionable staff become members of the pension scheme. Superannuation Applicants for posts in the Mental Health service are advised that Section 65 of the Mental Treatment Act, 1945, does not apply to new entrants to the Mental Health Services as defined by the Public Service Superannuation(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004 (Section 12 of that Act) New entrants Every appointment of a person who is not already a permanent officer of the Health Probation Service Executive or of a Local Authority shall be subject to a probationary period of 12 months as stipulated in the Department of Health Circular No.10/71.

Positions remunerated Positions remunerated at or above the minimum point of the Grade VIII salary scale at or above the (€ 64,812 as at 01.01.2010) are designated positions under Section 18 of the Ethics minimum point of the in Public Office Act 1995. Any person appointed to a designated position must Grade VIII salary scale comply with the requirements of the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001 as (€64,812 as at 01.01.10) outlined below;

In accordance with Section 18 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995, a person holding such a post is required to prepare and furnish an annual statement of any interests which could materially influence the performance of the official functions of the post. This annual statement of interest should be submitted to the Chief Executive Officer not later than 31st January in the following year.

In addition to the annual statement, a person holding such a post is required, whenever they are performing a function as an employee of the HSE and have actual knowledge, or a connected person, has a material interest in a matter to which the function relates, provide at the time a statement of the facts of that interest. A person holding such a post should provide such statement to the Chief Executive Officer. The function in question cannot be performed unless there are compelling reasons to do so and, if this is the case, those compelling reasons must be stated in writing and must be provided to the Chief Executive Officer.

A person holding such a post is required under the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001 to act in accordance with any guidelines or advice published or given by

6 the Standards in Public Office Commission. Guidelines for public servants on compliance with the provisions of the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001 are available on the Standards Commission’s website http://www.sipo.gov.ie/

Under the Standards in Public Office Act 2001, the post holder must within nine months of the date of appointment provide the following documents to the Standards in Public Office Commission at 18 Lower Lesson Street, Dublin 2:

1. A Statutory Declaration, which has been made by the post holder not more than one month before or after the date of the appointment, attesting to compliance with the tax obligations set out in section 25(1) of the Standards in Public Office Act and declaring that nothing in section 25(2) prevents the issue to the post holder of a tax clearance certificate

2. and either

(a) a Tax Clearance Certificate issued by the Collector-General not more than 9 months before or after the date of the appointment

(b) an Application Statement issued by the Collector-General not more than 9 months before or after the date of the appointment.

A person holding such a post is required under the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001 to act in accordance with any guidelines or advice published or given by the Standards in Public Office Commission. Guidelines for public servants on compliance with the provisions of the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001 are available on the Standards Commission’s website http://www.sipo.gov.ie/

7 REVIEW PROCEDURES AND CANDIDATES OBLIGATIONS

GENERAL INFORMATION

Naas General Hospital will consider requests for review in accordance with the provisions of the codes of practice published by the CPSA. A candidate can seek a review by a person in the recruiting body (initial reviewer). Where a candidate remains dissatisfied following this initial review, he/she may seek to have the conduct of the initial review examined by a “decision arbitrator”.

As an alternative to the above, it is open to a candidate to seek to have the matter resolved on an informal basis, as set out below. If a candidate remains dissatisfied following any such discussion it is open to him/her to seek a formal review.

The Codes of Practice are available on the website of the Commission for Public Service Appointments, www.cpsa-online.ie.

INFORMAL PROCESS

 The candidate can avail of the Informal Review within 5 working days of notification of the initial decision, and should normally take place between the candidate and the person who communicated the decision (or relevant person).

 Where the decision being conveyed relates to an interim stage of a selection process, the request for informal review must be received within 2 working days of the date of receipt of the decision.

 Where a candidate remains dissatisfied following any such informal discussion, he/she may adopt the formal procedures set out below.

 If the candidate wishes the matter to be dealt with by way of a formal review, he/she must do so within 2 working days of the notification of the outcome of the informal review.

FORMAL PROCESS: INITIAL REVIEW

 The candidate must address his/her concerns in relation to the process in writing to the General Manager, setting out those aspects of the action or decision in relation to his/her candidature that he/she wishes to have reviewed.

 A request for review must be made within 10 working days of the notification of the initial decision. Where the decision relates to an interim stage of a selection process, the request for review must be received within 4 working days.

 Any extension of these time limits will only be granted in the most exceptional of circumstances and will be at the sole discretion of the General Manager.

 The outcome must generally be notified to the candidate within 20 working days of receipt of the complaint or request for review. The candidate will receive the outcome of the review by means of a written report.

 Should a candidate be dissatisfied with the outcome of the initial review, he/she may request a review by a decision arbitrator of the conduct of the initial review.

8 REVIEW BY THE DECISION ARBITRATOR

The decision arbitrator is appointed by the General Manager. The decision arbitrator is unconnected with the selection process and he/she will adjudicate on requests for review in cases where a candidate is not satisfied with the outcome of the initial review. The decision of the decision arbitrator in relation to such matters is final.

 A request made to the decision arbitrator must be received within 7 working days of the notification of the outcome of the initial review.

 The outcome of the investigation must be notified to the candidate in the form of a written report within 10 working days.

CANDIDATES' OBLIGATIONS

Candidates should note that canvassing will disqualify and will result in their exclusion from the process. Candidates must not:

 knowingly or recklessly provide false information  canvass any person with or without inducements  interfere with or compromise the process in any way.

A third party must not personate a candidate at any stage of the process.

Any person who contravenes the above provisions or who assists another person in contravening the above provisions is guilty of an offence. A person who is found guilty of an offence is liable to a fine/or imprisonment. In addition, where a person found guilty of an offence was or is a candidate at a recruitment process, then:

 where he/she has not been appointed to a post, he/she will be disqualified as a candidate; and  where he/she has been appointed subsequently to the recruitment process in question, he/she shall forfeit that appointment.

DEEMING OF CANDIDATURE TO BE WITHDRAWN

Candidates who do not attend for interview or other test when and where required by the Naas General Hospital, or who do not, when requested, furnish such evidence, as Naas General Hospital require in regard to any matter relevant to their candidature, will have no further claim to consideration.

QUALITY CUSTOMER SERVICE

We aim to provide an excellent quality service to all our customers. If, for whatever reason, you are unhappy with any aspect of the service you receive from us, we urge you to bring this to the attention of the unit or staff member concerned. This is important as it ensures that we are aware of the problem and can take the appropriate steps to resolve it.

DATA PROTECTION ACTS 1988 & 2003

When your application form is received, a record is created in your name, which contains much of the personal information you have supplied. This personal record is used solely in processing your candidature. Such information held is subject to the rights and obligations set out in the Data Protection Acts, 1988 & 2003. To make a request under the Data Protection Acts 1988 & 2003, please submit your request in writing to: The Data Protection Co-Ordinator, Public Appointments Service, Chapter House, 26-30 Abbey Street Upper, Dublin 1, ensuring that you describe the records you seek in the greatest possible detail to enable us to identify the relevant record.. A fee of €6.35 should accompany your request. Certain items of information, not specific to any individual, maybe extracted from records for general statistical purposes.

9 EXPOSURE PRONE PROCEDURE POSTS:

The Department of Health and Children have announced new guidance on the pre- employment medical screening of health care workers for blood borne diseases, who perform Exposure Prone Procedures (EPP’s) as part of their work. These are contained in the Department of Health and Children Document ‘Prevention of Blood Borne Diseases in the Health-Care Setting’. This document can be obtained at www.dhc.ie or by contacting the Department of Health and Children (00353-1-6354000)

The successful candidate must provide satisfactory documentary evidence that he/she is not an infectious carrier of the Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C virus. Such documentation would include an original laboratory report or a certified copy (photocopies, faxes, e-mails not acceptable) showing

 Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag),  Hepatitis B anti-core antibody (anti- HBc)  Anti- Hepatitis B surface antibody (Anti HBs).  Antibodies to Hepatitis C virus and if positive for Hepatitis C virus RNA.

Testing must be done in the designated occupational health department of a current Public Training Hospital or the Civil Service Occupational Health Department (CSOHD), and applicants will have to produce proof of identity (passport). Applicants will have to attend at their own expense for this testing. Additional visit(s) may be required depending on the test results.

Candidates who are successful at interview may not be made a job offer if they are found to be at risk of potentially transmitting infection to patients, or alternatively they may be appointed subject to certain conditions.

While the guidance does not currently recommend HIV testing at present, it re-iterates Irish Medical Council Ethical Guidelines that any healthcare worker who suspects that s/he may have been exposed to blood borne viruses through work or other risk behaviours must seek professional advice and diagnostic testing. Your attention is drawn to this.