Candidate Information
Pack
Job Title: Consultant Cellular Pathologist
Reference Number: 216-9664-PATH
Closing Date: as specified on NHS Jobs
Dear candidate,
Thank you for your interest in this post and for taking the time to read through our information pack and advert. If you have any remaining questions, please do get in touch with us.
This is an exciting opportunity to work in the largest hospital trust in the South West Peninsula. We are a teaching hospital in partnership with the Peninsula Medical School and are rapidly developing as a centre for innovation and research. We employ 6400 staff, have more than 900 beds, and over 48,000 people pass through the main entrance of our hospital in a week. In addition, we have an integrated Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit, which has a staff of approximately 250 military personnel.
Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City, occupies a stunning location. It’s a perfect city for ambitious people looking to build a career, and enjoy a rich and rewarding life. Please follow the link below to read through Plymouth’s Book of Wonder and find out more: http://www.visitplymouth.co.uk/
Everything we do is guided by our core values:
Put Patients First Take Ownership Respect Others Be Positive Listening, Learning, Improving
We very much look forward to receiving your application and will be in touch via NHS Jobs if you have been shortlisted for interview. If you do not hear from us within 4 weeks of the closing date then please note you have not been successful on this occasion.
If you have a disability, the Trust is committed to offering reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and employment. Please contact the Medical Workforce Team on 01752 437219 if you require any further information.
I wish you all the best with your application.
With Kind regards
Ann James Chief Executive
VALUES AND BEHAVIOURS – ‘The Plymouth Way’
All our staff are required to uphold and model the Trust values that underpin everything we do.
Values and behaviours are the life blood of our organisation and they should be visible in all aspects of our work:
Trust Values Expected Behaviours
Know how your work contributes to patient care. Consider the impact on patients when making Putting Patients decisions.
First Imagine you are the patient and always offer to help. Be brave – do what is right and what may be difficult rather than taking the easy option.
Be brave – do what is right and what may be difficult rather than taking the easy option. Taking Ownership If you see something that is wrong, do something about it or tell someone who can. Don’t lose a good idea – if you can do it – do it. If you can’t, share it with someone who can. Share good practice – learn from your own mistakes and those made by others. Don’t accept poor practice and behaviour all your colleagues Appreciate and value the contribution of.
Be fair and consistent.
Consider the impact of what you do on others.
Support and respect the people – challenge the Respecting Others process.
Listen and understand – as if you don’t know.
Be open to constructive feedback. Let others know when they are doing something well. Being Positive Share your successes. Be an ambassador for the Trust and its patients. A positive attitude is contagious and will help others.
Listening, Take every opportunity to learn from things that go wrong. Learning & Encourage the team to share good practice. Improving Try to listen more than you speak. Put the patient at the heart of every decision.
About the Trust
Who we Care for
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is the largest hospital in the south west peninsula, providing comprehensive secondary and tertiary healthcare.
Our geography gives us a secondary care catchment population of 450,000 with a wider peninsula population of almost 2,000,000 people who can access our specialist services. The population is characterised by its diversity – the rural and the urban, the wealthy and pockets of deprivation, and wide variance in health and life expectancy. The ageing population is a recognised national trend, and is further exacerbated locally by the drift of younger people out of the area and older people in. The proportion of our population aged 85 or over is growing ahead of the national average by approximately 10 years, giving Plymouth the opportunity to innovate on behalf of the nation in services for the elderly.
We work within a network of other hospitals to offer a range of specialist services:
Bone marrow transplant Kidney transplant Pancreatic cancer surgery Neurosurgery Cardiothoracic surgery Upper Gastro-intestinal surgery Hepatobiliary surgery Neonatal intensive care and high risk obstetrics Plastic surgery Liver transplant evaluation Stereotactic radiosurgery
A Specialist Teaching Hospital We provide comprehensive training and education for a wide range of healthcare professionals. The Trust works in partnership with both Plymouth University Peninsula School of Medicine and Dentistry (PUPSMD) and the University of Exeter Medical School.
We also support the Universities of Plymouth and Exeter in the delivery of courses for the Faculty of Health and Social Work. With university campuses in Plymouth, Exeter, Truro and Taunton, along with teaching facilities in Bristol, the Faculty of Health and Social Work is one of the largest providers of nursing, midwifery, social work and health professional education and training in the South West.
Our Hospitals and Centres We provide services for patients at the following main sites as well as through clinics at other local hospitals and care centres.
Derriford Hospital We offer the widest range of hospital based services in the Peninsula. What sets our Trust apart from the majority of acute hospital trusts is both the scope and scale of the services we offer on one site. The Royal Eye Infirmary is now based at Derriford Hospital.
Child Development Centre Developmental services for young children are provided at the Child Development Centre, Scott Business Park.
The Plymouth Dialysis Unit Patients needing treatment for renal failure are cared for in state-of-the-art, purpose-built facilities that they helped design. The unit is based in Eaton Business Park.
Radiology Academy The Plymouth Radiology Academy is the only purpose-built Radiology Academy in the world and provides an inspirational environment in which to train and work in radiology.
Working Hand in Hand with the Military We have a longstanding and excellent relationship with the Ministry of Defence. The Trust has an integrated Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit which has a staff of approximately 250 military personnel who work within a variety of posts including doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, and trainee medical assistants. Our military colleagues are fully integrated within the hospital workplace, working and training alongside their NHS counterparts, treating the local community, whilst proudly wearing their service uniforms and contributing to high standard of patient care. Our military partners are vital for the skills, both clinical and non- clinical and for the capacity they help us provide.
Our Trust’s services benefit greatly from the skills of military clinicians, particularly in Trauma & Orthopaedics, Radiology and the Emergency Department. Many of them bring unique experiences and knowledge from their deployments and this, in turn, benefits Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust and our patients.
Our Values The values defining the way we do things are:
Putting patients first Taking ownership Respecting others Being positive Listening, learning and improving
Our Promises The promises to patients that every member of staff makes:
I will... care for you compassionately and respectfully I will... give you clear information and involve you in your care I will... give you the best treatment I can when you need it I will... make sure you are treated in a clean and safe environment
Building an International Reputation for Research and Development Plymouth’s clinical research continues to have an excellent reputation locally, nationally and is building internationally. We were identified as the second highest “Large Trust” recruiter to NIHR portfolio trials in the Guardian Trust research activity league tables 2013, reflecting our 591 active studies, of which 232 are currently recruiting, with 141 of these having opened in 2013/14.
In excess of 4,600 patients were recruited to clinical trials during 2013/14 and we remain the highest recruiter to interventional trials in the south west peninsula. Our delivery is supported by more than £2m funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) which is used to support research staff, facilities and training to provide the capacity to underpin and grow research.
The growth of our clinical trials and research has been significant over the past five years, with aspirations to further increase the number of patients recruited to trials by 50% over the next five years and, in future, to be able to offer all patients the opportunity to take part in a research project.
The research environment continues to change and, in line with the Department of Health’s Corporate Plan for 2013/14, there is the drive for people to live better and for longer. This mantra can only be delivered through research, with one of the key areas for improvement being the treatment and care of people with dementia.
Dementia research is a key area for growth at Plymouth Hospitals, in support of the Government remit for the UK to improve ‘treatment and care of people with dementia, to be among the best in Europe through early diagnosis, better research and better support’. Plymouth is amongst one of the few south west centres successfully delivering research projects and a growing portfolio, for patients with Alzheimer’s, supporting the area’s older stable population.
This agenda is very much in line with the South West Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) key activity areas, and Plymouth will be working with the network, to deliver an integrated care pathway for the:
Frail elderly and people suffering from dementia Long term conditions COPD Cancer Diabetes Cardio-Vascular problems Stroke Care
These will all be key areas for research over the coming year; supported by our growing collaborations with Plymouth University, Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry (PUPSMD), the AHSN, the NHS Innovation South West, Social Enterprises and the Health Care Community in general, with an agenda of delivering a research pathway from bench to bedside.
We continue, in partnership with Exeter, Truro, Torbay and North Devon hospitals, to be a Quintiles Peninsula Prime site for commercial research and are integral to delivering the Peninsula’s prime site targets for number of trials set up and patient recruitment. Plymouth’s leading practice in Research and Development pathways for the delivery of research continues to be used as an example of best practice across the peninsula.
Research and Innovation Pathway On 25th April 2014 the Trust’s new Innovation Pathway was launched. The Innovations Strategy aim is to support:
Improvements in patient care and clinical outcomes Improvements in the workplace Creating income from licensing or sale of Intellectual Property Saving resources (time and cost) Nurturing a creative culture creating a vibrant workplace and promoting further ideas
Our belief is that NHS Staff are best placed to come up with the new ideas and better solutions for existing pathways, processes or products which will result in improved patient care.
In the continuing changing environment of health care in the UK, Plymouth Hospitals is proud of, and continues to grow, its research footprint.
Leadership and Culture We have developed and embedded our culture and engagement programme the ‘Plymouth Way’. This incorporates five key aspects to help change our staff behaviour and culture; Values and Behaviours, Communication, Leadership Style, Recognition and Continuous Improvement. The full programme was launched in March 2013 and initially was aimed at our senior staff. The content of the programme has been reviewed to be more inclusive of all staff groups and we will continue to roll this out across the Trust.
As part of this, we have developed bespoke Organisational Development Interventions to support the ‘Plymouth Way ‘culture and engagement programme. This includes sessions on Valuing People, Customer Care, Effective Team Work and Coaching Support and Facilitation.
Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit (MDHU) The relationship between the Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit and Plymouth Hospitals is as strong as ever. Through contingency our military personnel at Derriford Hospital are required to ensure they are always fully prepared physically, mentally and clinically for deployment whether it be on-board ships or through land operations/exercises.
Background
Applications to Consultant Posts (replacement posts) in the Department of Cellular and Anatomical Pathology, based at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust are invited. The successful candidates will join a team of 15 Pathologists (10 Consultant Histopathologists, 3 Specialty Doctors and 2 Consultant Neuropathologists), and up to 5 Specialist Trainees, providing a varied and interesting diagnostic service. This is a general pathology post, however with great opportunities to develop areas of sub specification. There is opportunity in the Department to recognise areas of special interest and interested candidates are encouraged to contact Dr Aditya Shivane (Head of Department) to discuss the options.
The Cellular and Anatomical Pathology Department is located within Derriford Hospital in close proximity to the theatre complex. There is a refurbished mortuary that is integral to the Department. The workload is diverse commensurate with Derriford Hospital’s status as Regional Cancer and Renal Transplant Centre, supporting all services except cervical cytology, paediatric pathology and bone pathology.
Derriford is the largest teaching hospital within the southwest peninsula and offers excellent onsite facilities including a modern library, teaching, meeting and video conferencing facilities. It has strong links with Plymouth University and the Peninsula school of Medicine and Dentistry (PUPSMD).
The hospital is situated within easy reach of central Plymouth, Tavistock, Ivybridge and the Cornish towns of Saltash via the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint via car ferry. Plymouth is a vibrant waterfront city, with a wealth of attractions and activities for everyone to enjoy; a city set amidst some of England’s most glorious countryside, where a rich maritime heritage meets the bustle of modern commerce, and where a popular holiday centre turns, at night, into a glittering city of entertainment and culture. The surrounding area of Dartmoor, South Devon and South East Cornwall offer an extraordinary range of natural attractions some of finest scenery in the world.
The Department
The Department of Cellular and Anatomical Pathology is the largest provider of Histological services in the Southwest Peninsula, serving a population of approximately 450,000. The annual workload of the Department is around 35,000 surgical specimens, 2000 non-gynaecological cytology specimens and 900 autopsies.
We are at the start of a strategy which will see the department develop into one of the top service providers in the country.
A partnership with an internationally renowned equipment supplier will allow us to ensure that we are at the forefront of Cellular and Anatomical Pathology development and innovation whilst still remaining within the NHS.
Opportunities such as digital pathology allowing for flexibility of work flow, and BMS advanced practitioners to support routine consultant workload will encourage our Consultant Histopathologists to have time to research and develop cutting edge techniques.
As a major tertiary referral cancer centre and renal transplant centre we offer the opportunity to sub-specialise in many areas and our plan is to become fully sub-specialised.
The posts are advertised as a full-time post with a standard 10 PA contract, with no on-call service commitment. Any candidate who is unable for personal reasons to work full-time will also be eligible to be considered for the post.
Applicants must hold the FRCPath (or equivalent qualification).
Applicants must hold Full and Specialist registration (and with a licence to practice) with the General Medical Council (GMC), or be eligible for registration within six months of interview.
Applicants that are UK trained, must also be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or be within six months of award of CCT by the date of interview
Applicants that are not UK trained will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT.
Informal enquiries from prospective candidates are welcomed. Please contact Aditya Shivane, Head of Department, by telephone: (+44) 01752 432033.
For a copy of the job description and to make a formal application go to NHS Employers Website at www.jobs.nhs.uk – supplementing your application by forwarding a copy of your CV to [email protected] by the closing date of XXXX To view the University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust profile, please visit: www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk
Introduction
These are Consultant posts with the Department of Cellular and Anatomical Pathology, situated in Derriford Hospital. Derriford Hospital serves a local population of 450,000 and provides tertiary services for a population of up to 2,000,000. For a full description of the main hospitals and services of the Trust see Annexe A.
The Work of the Department and Directorate
The Department of Cellular and Anatomical Pathology is part of the Directorate of Clinical Support Services and consists of Histology, Cytology, Neuropathology and the Mortuary.
ORGANISATION AND RELATIONSHIPS OF THE HISTOPATHOLOGY DEPARTMENT
Departmental management is the responsibility of the Head of Department (HoD) and overall budget-holder (currently Dr Aditya Shivane). All Consultant Cellular Pathologists are accountable managerially to the HoD who has responsibility for safety, quality assurance and clinical governance. The HoD is responsible to the Service Line Director for Pathology (currently Dr David Hilton) and through him to the Care Group Director (currently Ms Anna Orrock). Dr David Hilton is the nominated clinical lead of the Mortuary. Dr Ade Oriolowo is the Clinical lead of the Cytopathology Service. Management of the Neuropathology Service is the responsibility of Dr David Hilton. There is provision for the Headship of the Department to rotate by mutual agreement. Mr Mike Biscombe, the Departmental Operations Manager, is supported by a Deputy Manager and other BMS staff (structure as shown in Annex B page 19). Departmental Laboratory Management Meetings are held monthly and involve all Cellular Pathology Consultants and Senior Technical Staff. Consultants meet weekly to discuss Departmental issues.
The Pathology Service Line Directorate includes Cellular Pathology, Microbiology, and also Derriford Combined Laboratory (DCL) which comprises Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology and Immunology.
The Workload of the Department
In 2016, the annual workload consisted of: -
35274 Surgical Requests - approximately 15% from GPs 2159 Non-Gynaecological cytology specimens 893 Post-mortems (Hospital consented 15)
Surgical specimens are received from all major specialties (with the exception of paediatric pathology and bone tumour pathology) and a full range of non-gynaecological cytology is submitted. Gynaecological cervical cytology is reported at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro. The presence of many tertiary referral units within Plymouth Hospital, together with the Trust being a designated Cancer and Transplant Centre, result in the Histopathology Department receiving large numbers of complex cases including those from the NHS Breast Screening Programme and the Regional Hepato-pancreatico-biliary, Regional Upper Gastro-intestinal Services and the Regional Thoracic surgery centre.
MDT and CPC Meetings:
MEETING FREQUENCY LEAD / TEAM Breast Weekly Dr Sofia Kouneli Upper GI Weekly Vacant Lower GI Weekly Dr Sari Suortamo Hepatic (medical) Weekly Dr Jemimah Denson Hepato-pancreatico-biliary Weekly Dr Jemimah Denson Urology Weekly Dr Frances McCormick, Dr Rob Hadden Renal Weekly Dr Frances McCormick Gynaecology Weekly Dr Ade Oriolowo, Dr Rob Hadden Central Nervous System Weekly Dr David Hilton, Dr Aditya Shivane Sarcoma Weekly Dr Mark Smith, Dr Katherine Syred, Dr Ade Oriolowo Lymphoma Weekly Dr Mark Smith, Dr Aditya Shivane Skin Cancer Weekly Dr Dean Harmse, Dr Philip Jayasurya Dermatology Monthly Dr Dean Harmse, Dr Philip Jayasurya Head & Neck Weekly Vacant Endocrine Fortnightly Dr Rob Hadden Thoracic Weekly Dr Katherine Syred, Dr Rob Hadden Ophthalmic - Dr Aditya Shivane
Vacant Posts
Some pathologists take part in the reporting of general pathology. There are leads for sub-specialist areas as listed above. There is flexibility to accommodate the incumbents of these replacement posts in a number of sub-specialist areas by mutual agreement, depending on the individuals’ interests and departmental needs.
Renal biopsies, lymphoma and medical liver biopsies are reported by a limited number of pathologists. There is currently sub-specialist reporting of some urological resection specimens (radical cystectomy and prostatectomy), thoracic, sarcoma resections, some head & neck specimens and hepato-pancreatico-biliary specimens.
Currently, six Consultants report non-gynaecological cytology specimens. Non-gynaecological specimens include FNAs, brush specimens, washings and effusions. There has been a marked reduction in recent years in the number of urine and sputum specimens. Also, FNAs of breast have reduced markedly in number, in favour of core biopsies. There is some sub- specialisation in the reporting of non-gynaecological cytology. Currently, three Consultants report all head and neck cytology and attend a weekly head and neck FNA clinic in rotation where fine needle aspirations are checked for cellularity and sometimes a provisional diagnosis given. The cases are then formally reported later by a second pathologist to ensure consistency of diagnosis. There is an opportunity for the incumbent(s) to take part in the one-stop clinic, though this is not essential.
The post holders will also be eligible to participate in Coroner’s post-mortems which are performed at the discretion of H.M. Coroners and outside contracted NHS hours (time-shifted) to maximise the efficient use of non-medical staff. Individuals, who for personal reasons do not wish to perform post mortem examinations, are excluded from the post mortem rota. Perinatal post-mortems are performed at Oxford.
Private histology work is performed within the Department and shared equally (pro rata) amongst Consultant Pathologists. To maximise efficient use of laboratory staff, private work is reported during working hours and time-shifted. Incumbents will be invited to take part in the reporting of private histology work.
Facilities
The Department has unconditional (full) accreditation with the CPA and is currently awaiting accreditation from UKAS. The department regularly participates in External Quality Assurance Technical Schemes.
The department offers all the facilities appropriate to a large department, including immunohistochemistry (peroxidase and immunofluorescence) as well as electron microscopy. In situ hybridisation for Epstein Barr virus as well as FISH for chromosomal losses (1p and 19q) is performed in-house. PCR analyses for a range of gene rearrangements and translocations in T and B cell lymphoid malignancies and in CNS tumours are performed by Derriford Combined Laboratory (DCL). Following the introduction of Dako immunostainers, the Department is looking to expand its range of antibodies and to repatriate molecular tests that are currently performed at other centres. Tests such as PDL-1 and mismatch-repair genes using immunohistochemistry are now being performed in-house.
The digitisation using an Ultra-fast scanner for whole slide images as our first step towards full digital reporting is currently under development. We expect to be the first NHS laboratory in the South West to use this as part of our reporting process. This will offer several advantages including improved workflow and case management and the opportunity for home working.
There is a well-equipped and recently refurbished post-mortem suite that is integral to the main Department.
The Department maintains a library with a wide range of current specialist textbooks and relevant scientific journals. In addition, Medline and Internet access are available to all Consultants and trainees within the Department.
The Department is fully computerised using iLab software. The histology database has been established for more than 20 years.
The majority of Consultants generate reports with the use of speech recognition software. It would be desirable that the successful applicant uses speech recognition for reporting. There is full training and support available delivered by an externally contracted company.
Digitisation
The group has support from the local STP to develop a business case for a digital network spanning the 5 Trusts in the South West Peninsula. In August 2017, the network submitted a capital bid to NHS England for over £3.5m. Digitisation will transform the way Histopathology is delivered both within and between organisations. Once established the South West Peninsula Digital Histopathology Network will be one of the largest in the UK. It will also support the development of more flexible family friendly working, greater home reporting and more flexible arrangements to support those retirees who want to continue to work flexibly.
Education and Teaching
The Department is strongly committed to undergraduate and post-graduate education. It is approved for the education of specialist trainees and all the Department’s Consultants participate in supervising the Histopathology junior staff. The Department has 2 ST1 posts. There are 3 further ST2-and-above positions within the Department making a total of 5 training posts. Dr Jemimah Denson (also Service Line Education Lead) and Dr Rob Hadden are the named Educational Supervisors for specialist trainees. The medical staff has weekly black box sessions to discuss interesting/unusual cases and also regular TERA (Training Education Research Audit) meetings. In addition, Consultants occasionally provide pathology teaching on an informal basis for post-graduate trainee physicians and surgeons.
The Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry (PUPSMD) is located immediately adjacent to Derriford Hospital. It offers scope for staff in the Department to become involved in various aspects of the delivery of the undergraduate curriculum. It is expected that the successful applicant will participate in undergraduate education.
Partnership Working
The Histopathology departments across the South West Peninsula have been working closely together over the past 6 months to develop plans to support the delivery of stable, sustainable, high quality services across the Peninsula. The Trusts involved are:
- Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust (PHT) - Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust (RD&E) - Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust (T&SD) - Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust - Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust
The group has also included North Bristol NHS Trust, as the principal specialist centre outside the Peninsula.
Operational Delivery Network
The 5 Trusts have also agreed in principle to work together as a managed clinical network. This will enable the Trusts to share capacity, support one another when backlogs occur, provide second opinions and establish reciprocal cover arrangements for specialist services.
Clinical Governance
Annual job plan review and appraisal are obligatory and take place via the Pathology Directorate and the Trust Revalidation Team. Revalidation is done every 5 years via the Trust revalidation team
Incident reporting is done via the Datix system
Research
The Department is keen to participate in research and there are extensive opportunities with the Medical School. Examples of current research include studies of prion protein in lympho-reticular tissue, of brain tumour biology and of cannabis receptors in multiple sclerosis (Dr David Hilton) and pathology of intravascular carcinoma (Dr Mark Smith). Departmental Consultants view research as being an important component of specialist trainee training.
Medical Staffing
The Department’s medical staffing consists of 15 Pathologist posts (10 Consultant Histopathologists, 3 Specialty Doctors & 2 Consultant Neuropathologists), and up to 5 Specialist Trainees. All Consultants participate in National EQA schemes appropriate to their subspecialisations. Current subspecialisations are as indicated below:
Name Role Consultant Histopathologist and Cytopathologist (0.88 WTE) Dr Jemimah Denson Special interests: Gastrointestinal and hepato-pancreatico-biliary pathology including medical livers.
Consultant Histopathologist and Cytopathologist (WTE) Dr Dean Harmse Special interests: Dermatopathology and head & neck pathology.
Dr David Hilton Consultant Neuropathologist (WTE)
Consultant Histopathologist (0.4 WTE) Dr Clive Holgate Special interests: None
Consultant Histopathologist (WTE) Dr Frances McCormick Special interests: Urological, renal and Hepato-pancreatico-biliary pathology.
Consultant Histopathologist and Cytopathologist (WTE) Dr Ade Oriolowo Special interests: Soft Tissues, gynaecological and endocrine pathology.
Consultant Histopathologist (0.5 WTE) Dr Mark Smith Special interests: Soft Tissue pathology and lymphoma.
Consultant Neuropathologist (WTE) Dr Aditya Shivane Special interests: Ophthalmic pathology and lymphoma.
Consultant Histopathologist and Cytopathologist (WTE) Dr Katherine Syred Special interests: Thoracic, skin, medical livers and sarcoma.
Consultant Histopathologist and Cytopathologist (WTE) Dr Rob Hadden Special interests: neuroendocrine, gynaecological, cardiac, urological and thoracic pathology.
Consultant Histopathologist (WTE) Dr Sofia Kouneli Special interests: Gynaecological and breast pathology.
Consultant Histopathologist (WTE) Dr Sari Suortamo Special interests: GI and hepato-pancreatico-biliary pathology.
Speciality Doctor (WTE) Dr Philip Jayasurya Special interests: Skin and breast pathology
Speciality Doctor (0.6 WTE) Dr Paul Malcolm Special interests: Hepato-pancreatico-biliary and GI pathology.
Locum Speciality Doctor (0.3 WTE) Rebecca Anaspure Special interests: Medical renal.
Consultant Cellular Pathologists (WTE) Vacant Posts Special interests: By mutual agreement depending on the interests of the incumbents and departmental needs.
Specialist Trainees Positions: up to x5
The Job Itself
Title: Consultant Posts in Cellular Pathology
Relationships
The successful applicant(s) will interact with consultant pathologist colleagues, medical and surgical staff, and laboratory, secretarial, clerical and mortuary staff. The successful applicant(s) will be managerially responsible to the Head of Department and, through them, to the Service Line Director. The successful applicant(s) will be professionally responsible to the Medical Director.
Currently, the employer is the University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (however, the hospital is working towards gaining Foundation Trust Status).
The posts are based on full time appointments. The proposed job plans will include 10 PAs (8.5 DCC PAs and 1.5 SPAs).
Duties of the Posts:
These are general pathology posts with opportunities to subspecialise. For rota purposes the successful applicant(s) will join the general reporting and cut-up rota and with the other Consultants in the Department; providing the general histopathology, post-mortem and cytology service. Each pathologist becomes a member of the relevant sub-specialist team if they decide to subspecialise in particular areas. If for personal reasons the appointee(s) does not wish to perform autopsies, the post holder may elect to not be included in the autopsy rota.
There may be an opportunity for a mutually agreed re-organisation amongst the present pathologists’ current areas of specialist interest to allow the incumbent to become lead pathologist in an area of interest. Participation in the reporting of upper GI pathology, Head and Neck pathology, thoracic pathology, uropathology, and medical liver and/or renal biopsies would be welcomed by the Department but is not an essential requirement.
The appointee will be provided with their own room, which will include a modern ergonomic microscope, with attached teaching ‘double header’ and a networked personal computer with internet access. There will be access to camera facilities for macro- and micro-photography. Appropriate Consultant secretarial support is already in place. A software licence and training in the use of voice recognition reporting will be provided.
The Department works on a weekly rota with a daily post-mortem rota. It is anticipated that the successful candidate(s) will perform post-mortems for the equivalent of one in seven or one in eight days, if they elect to join the autopsy rota. The precise balance between non-gynaecological cytology and histology will reflect the requirements of the Department and the interests of the candidate. The rota is reviewed regularly. The diagnostic workload includes individual pathologist cut-up specimens and surgical biopsies. A ‘pull system’ is followed where the consultants have control of workload to some extent. The consultants’ now have a protected SPA time and an opportunity to work from home (for not more than one day in a week) is also being looked at. Specialist trainees rotate within the department on a monthly basis and supervision and teaching of the junior staff is considered part of the post. Responsibilities given to the junior staff are dependent on their levels of experience.
It is the Department’s policy to audit individual workload regularly to ensure an equitable distribution. The consultants are keen to adopt the forthcoming new RCPath point-based system to assess individual workload. The configuration of responsibilities will be reviewed from time to time and the appointee will be expected to work with consultant colleagues to provide a reliable and expeditious service.
There is no formal on-call rota.
The Head of Department should be informed of planned leave, at least 8 weeks in advance, in accordance with Trust and Departmental policies.
For the purposes of annual, study and special leave all cover is by mutual arrangement between colleagues. The post holder will be entitled to 10 days of study leave per annum with up to £750 funded by the Trust per study leave. Annual leave entitlements are as per national terms and conditions. Professional leave are granted by the Trust External Duty Panel on an individual basis.
The post holder(s) will be expected to play a full part in the teaching and administrative activities of the Department. A track record of, and continuing interest in, research would be welcome.
Timetable, Job Plan and Appraisal
An annual review of duties will take place with the Clinical Director as part of the job planning process. If the job plan cannot be agreed with the Clinical Director, there is a job plan appeal process in place. The Trust’s annual appraisal system is in accordance with the National Agreement. All Consultant Cellular Pathologists are expected to participate in clinical audit, appropriate external quality assurance schemes and proficiency testing, and in the professional development programme of the Royal College of Pathologists.
Further Information
The Trust welcomes informal enquiries; the relevant people to speak to are as follows:
TITLE NAME ADDRESS Chief Executive Ms Ann James (after Chief Executive Office, Level 7, short listing only) Tel: 01752 792762 Medical Director Dr Philip Hughes (usually Medical Director’s Office, Level 7 after short listing only) Tel: 01752 792997 Head of Department Dr Aditya Shivane Department of Cellular & Anatomical Pathology, Level 4 Tel: 01752 432033
Person Specification
Essential Desirable 1. Education, qualifications & FRCPath or equivalent Other postgraduate qualification or special training Full and specialist registration (and a degree (e.g. MD) licence to practise) with the GMC (or M/FRCP or equivalent eligible for registration within 6 months of interview. Applicants that are UK trained must ALSO be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CTT), or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview. Applicants that are not UK trained will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT.
2. Clinical skills and experience Thorough knowledge and extensive Interest in upper GI pathology experience of general diagnostic Interest in Head and Neck Histopathology pathology Interest in Lympho-reticular pathology Interest in Thoracic pathology Interest in Uropathology 3. Management Exposure to laboratory management Evidence of ability and substantial Working knowledge and experience of experience in laboratory the NHS and its organisation management Formal management training 4. Teaching Ability and commitment in teaching Enthusiasm for and experience of pathology to STs and to other teaching medical students. professional groups. 5. Research & clinical audit An understanding of the importance of Evidence of continuing research audit in clinical practice. with publications in peer-reviewed journals. Substantial experience in clinical audit. 6. Interpersonal skills A proven track record to work as part of Good leadership qualities. a multi-disciplinary team and to establish good working relationships with colleagues. An ability to communicate effectively in written and spoken English.
The post holder(s) will be appointed on to the new Consultant contract. The attached job plan is for illustrative purposes only and is for a Consultant undertaking a total of 10 programmed activities (PAs) comprising 8.5 DCC PAs and 1.5 SPAs.
Private practice pathology work is reported outside of timetabled PA time, presently in the Department under a Section 58 agreement (1977 NHS Act) with the Trust.
Work for HM Coroner is performed outside of timetabled PA time but usually during normal working hours, to allow participation of NHS staff such as MTOs.
Example Job Plan – (for illustration purposes only)
1. Job content – Weekly Rota
Day Start End Location Work Categorisation No of Frequency Annualised PA’s PA Include start and Record Describe work Direct Care, PA value Weekly, No of PA finish time using 24 where work e.g. theatre, Supporting, for Monthly, annualised hour clock to nearest is to be clinic, ward Additional activity Bi-Weekly. rounded up to 30 minute on the carried out. round. Responsibility, Yearly etc. 2 decimal hour or half hour. External Duty, places PMS, Private expressed as Practice, etc. PA per week as appropriate. 08.00am 10.00am Department Admin/ SPA 0.50 Weekly 0.50 Appraisal/ Job Plan Monday Department Reporting DCC 1.50 Weekly 1.50
08.00am 09.00am Department EQA SPA 0.25 Weekly 0.25 Department Reporting DCC 1.00 Weekly 1.00 Tuesday 14.00pm 17.00pm Department Cut-Up DCC 0.75 Weekly 0.75
08.00am 09.00am X-ray MDT MDT meeting DCC 0.25 Weekly 0.25 room 09.00am 10.00am Department Trust Lead for SPA 0.25 Weekly 0.25 Sub-Specialist Wednesday area 13.00pm 14.00pm Department Departmental SPA 0.25 Weekly 0.25 meeting Department Reporting DCC 1.25 Weekly 1.25 Department Reporting DCC 2.00 Weekly 2.00
Thursday
09.00am 10.00am X-ray MDT MDT meeting DCC 0.25 Weekly 0.25 room Department Reporting DCC 1.50 Weekly 1.50 Friday 13.00pm 14.00pm Department Sub-Specialist SPA 0.25 Weekly 0.25 Tutorials to Trainees
Saturday
Sunday
Consultant Rota: Example
Week commencing: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
New post(s) 1/7 (or 1/8 daily rota) (+/- Post Mortems junior staff supervision)
New post(s) Frozens 1/11 (or 1/12) weekly rota
New post Cut-up AM (Breast and 1/6 daily rota(+/- junior staff General) supervision)
New post Cut-up PM (GI and General) 1/6 daily rota(+/- junior staff supervision)
BMS Cut-up
Neuro-surgical cases/muscle N/A and nerve
Neuro – PMs/referred N/A brains
Leave: Annual, study or external duty leave recorded
FNA Clinic: Potentially 1/4 weekly rota BMS Cut-up: N/A
Department of Cellular and Anatomical Pathology (organisational structure)
Pathology Service
Line Director
Pathology Service Line Manager
Laboratory Director
Consultant Neuro Consultant H/O Mortuary Histopathologist Operations Manager
Services Lead Services Lead Neuro Histology
Notes: 1. Senior managers are responsible to Pathology service line manager for service line and Trust-wide management issues relating to their service. 2. Section managers are responsible to clinical heads for all aspects of planning and delivery of the clinical service. 3. Histopathology services manager is lead biomedical scientist with responsibility to the Head of Department for Department-wide issues including health and safety, quality reporting, aspects of strategic planning, professional development and education, in addition to the histopathology service. 4. Section managers are responsible to lead biomedical scientist for Department-wide issues (via health and safety officer for health and safety and via quality manager for quality reporting).
Annex A – Main Terms & Conditions of Service
Rehabilitation of Offenders & Protection of Children – disclosure of criminal background of those with access to children
This post is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 by virtue of the Exceptions Order 1975 as amended. The person appointed to this post may have substantial access to children under the provisions of Joint Circular No HC (88)9 HOC8/88. Shortlisted candidates therefore, are asked to complete a form disclosing any convictions, bind-over orders or cautions and to give permission in writing for an enhanced disclosure by the Disclosure and Barring Service. Refusal to do so could prevent further consideration of the application. Attention is drawn to the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, as amended by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1986, which allow convictions that are spent to be disclosed for this purpose by the Police and to be taken into account in deciding whether to engage an applicant. Disclosure and Barring Service checks To include a statement on application or otherwise of DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service, formally CRB) checks. https://www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check/overview https://www.gov.uk/guidance/dbs-check-requests-guidance-for-employers
Post holders have a responsibility to:
Ensure the welfare and safety of children within their care. This includes staff who come into contact with children and families in the course of their work as well as those staff who have a specific role with children and families. Ensure they attend Child Protection training at the appropriate level within the specified time frame.
Occupational Health
The Trust has an occupational health centre on site which provides a full range of services, including counselling, to Junior Doctors and all other staff on site. In addition to the services offered by the occupational health centre the Trust offers junior doctors access to the one to one support service provided by the Deanery. You must be Occupational Health cleared prior to commencement of employment.
NHS Hospital & Community Indemnity Scheme
The post holder will normally be covered by the NHS Hospital and Community Indemnity Scheme. In some circumstances (especially in services for which a separate fee is received) the indemnity may not apply. The Department of Health therefore advises that membership of your medical defence organisation is maintained.
Induction
The main medical staff induction day takes place on the first Wednesday in August at the Postgraduate Medical Centre. Those joining outside of the main August intake will be given date/time and venue of their induction. (A programme will be provided with your joining instructions for the day).
Security
All doctors will be provided with a photographic ID card which must be worn at all times, in addition the Trust has a security advisor and security centre on the grounds, the centre houses Trust Security staff and provides a base for local community police officers.
Accommodation
Accommodation is available as studio flats (opened August 2007). Each unit has fitted wardrobes, desk, settee, dining table and chairs. Phone, broadband access and digital TV channels are also included. There is a separate kitchen, fully fitted; including a washer/dryer, microwave incorporating an oven, kettle, toaster and a fridge freezer. The self-contained toilet and shower has a range of fitted cupboards, mirror lights and heated towel rail. The floors throughout are easy clean, wood laminate in the bedroom/lounge and vinyl in the kitchen and bathroom. There is a video entry phone system and each of the 3 blocks has a separate swipe card entry system, which also controls the car park barrier. Lockable cycle sheds
are also provided. The external grounds and landscaped gardens are monitored by CCTV cameras linked to the hospital control room and the external lighting is linked to motion detectors. The fire alarm system is state of the art and incorporates the latest digital technology and is automatically linked to the Trust switchboard. There is a separate 8 person lift in block. A residences office is located on the ground floor of Block 3, this will be open from 8.30 am till 5.00 Monday to Friday. Out of hours there is an emergency call number. All public areas will be cleaned on a regular basis.
Access to Meals etc.
The Trust provides access to hot and cold meals in a restaurant and separate café area, the restaurant provides hot and cold food till 2.30am.
Library Facilities
The Discovery Library opened at Derriford in 2007 and houses brand new facilities in a contemporary space.
Salary
Will be determined in accordance with the current Terms & Conditions of Service for Hospital Medical and Dental Staff and current Pay Circulars.
Annual Leave
Leave (in accordance with current Terms & Conditions of Service for Hospital Medical & Dental Staff): You will be entitled to 32 working days per year and public bank holidays. When reaching the 7th threshold of the consultant salary scale, you will be entitled to 34 working days per year and public bank holidays. Your leave year commences from 1 April each year.
Study Leave
Study leave is administered through the Post Graduate Medical Centre.
Data Protection Act 1998
Candidates are informed that the information given by them in application for the post will be used only for the recruitment and selection process. For successful candidates this will then form part of their personal file, and for unsuccessful candidates the information will be destroyed. The information is stored both in hard copy form and minimally on a database. This information is held and administered in line with the Data Protection Act and the Trust’s confidentiality procedure.
Post Holders are required to
Adhere to Trust policies and procedures, e.g. Health and Safety at Work, Equal Opportunities etc. Work to the Trust values - Put patients first, Take ownership, Respect others, Be positive. Maintain personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job, participate in appropriate training activities and encourage and support staff development and training. Attend statutory, essential and mandatory training. Respect the confidentiality of all matters relating to their employment and other members of staff. All members of staff are required to comply with the requirements of the data protection act 1998. Comply with the corporate governance structure in keeping with the principles and standards set out by the Trust. Comply with the codes of professional conduct set out by the professional body of which registration is required for the post. Ensure that they are familiar with the Risk Management Framework, follow policies, procedures and safe systems of work, make known any hazards or risks that they identify and take all necessary actions to reduce risk. All staff must ensure that they attend appropriate statutory and essential training.
All managers have a responsibility to assess risks and implement the necessary actions to minimise these risks within their sphere of responsibility. They must also enable staff to attend the relevant statutory and essential training.
All heads of department have a responsibility to ensure that all necessary risk assessments are carried out within their division, directorate or department in liaison with relevant sources of specialist support and expertise within the Trust. They must also ensure that the risk management process is completed appropriately.
Note:
This job description is neither definitive nor exhaustive and is not intended to be totally comprehensive. It may be reviewed in the light of changing circumstances following consultation with the post holder. This job description is to be read in conjunction with all current PHNT policies & guidelines.
Under the Public Records Act all NHS employees are responsible for any records that they create or use in the course of their duties. Thus any records created by an employee of the NHS are public records and may be subject to both legal and professional obligations. All staff have a responsibility for the prevention and control of infection and the post holder must comply fully with all current Trust Infection Control policies and procedures.