Locum Consultant Microbiologist

Contract Details

This is a Locum appointment on a PUBLIC ONLY CONSULTANT CONTRACT 2023 basis under the Consultants’ Contract 2023 with a commitment of 37 hours per week to the Coombe.

The Consultant’s PUBLIC ONLY CONSULTANT CONTRACT 2023 provides for a normal working week of 37 hours. The Employee’s core working hours will be scheduled by the Employer to meet service needs and having regard to the principles, including rostering principles. The normal duties for the post as outlined in the documentation and agreed by the HSE will include inter alia:

The successful candidate duties will include the following:

• Will work in the Coombe Hospital as part of a multidisciplinary team under the direction of the Master/CEO and CCOO.
• Will work as part of the Microbiology Department, within the Pathology Division of the Hospital.
• Will possess the necessary skill-mix to address current deficiencies.
• Responsibility for organisation and development of Microbiology services.
• Responsibility for education, training and involvement in audit in relation to maternal and neonatal medicine services.
• Responsibility for improving the access of women and neonates to Microbiology Services.
• Involvement in Clinical Audit Committee and Ethics Committee as required.
• Will provide clinical leadership in MDT context - hand-over, ward-rounds, clinical risk & morbidity/mortality where relevant
• Conferences, teaching, training and audit.
• Multidisciplinary Skills and drill training, Risk Management and Quality Improvement strategies.
• Provide support for primary care services.
• Continuous Professional Development
• Will conduct ward rounds and provide clinical consults where relevant to enhance efficiency, safety, and patient care
• Provision of out-patient Microbiology Services.
• Provision of in-patient Microbiology Services.
• Participation in the Microbiology on-call rota for the Coombe Hospital

Background and Purpose of the Post

A 24/7 on-call service is provided to the Coombe Hospital for maternity and neonates. The post-holder will work with Consultant colleagues to provide services as required across the different sections of the Microbiology Department, including infection prevention and control, microbiology laboratory services, clinical practice and clinical liaison, and antimicrobial stewardship. The post-holder will also actively participate in multidisciplinary skills and drills training, risk management and quality improvement strategies and liaise and provide support for primary care services and their seamless integration with hospital-based services.

Accountability[JL1]

The principal duties and responsibilities associated with this proposed consultant post are as follows:

• Standard Duties and Responsibilities for all Consultant posts are as per Section 4 and Section 10 of the POCC23
• To participate in development of and undertake all duties and functions as set out within the Clinical Directorate Service Plan and in line with policies as specified by the Employer. This will focus on Microbiology, infection prevention and control, and laboratory services, and any other specialist service depending on the subspecialist skills of the successful candidate.
• To ensure that duties and functions are undertaken in a manner that minimizes delays for patients and possible disruption of services.
• To work within the framework of the hospital service plan and/or levels of service (volume, types etc.) as determined by the Employer. Service planning for individual clinical services will be progressed through the Clinical Directorate structure or other arrangements as apply.
• To provide, as appropriate, consultation in the Consultant’s area of designated expertise in respect of patients of other Consultants at their request.
• 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.
• To supervise and be responsible for diagnosis, treatment and care and authorization of Laboratory results pertaining to patient care
• To participate in clinical audit and proactive risk management and facilitate production of all data/information required for same in accordance with regulatory, statutory and corporate policies and procedures.
• 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.
• To co-operate with the expeditious implementation of the Disciplinary Procedure

Note that the successful candidate will rotate roles of responsibility with the other consultant microbiologists following discussion, and the division of these roles may change over time as the service develops.

Standard Duties & Responsibilities

· To participate in the development and operation of the respective Clinical Directorate structures and in such management or representative structures as are in place or being developed. The Consultant shall receive training and support to enable him/her to participate fully in such structures.

· To supervise and be responsible for diagnosis, treatment and care provided by non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHDs) treating patients under the Consultant’s care.

· To support and enable the delivery of evidence-based information, care and management to patients so as to optimize their health and well-being.

· To be actively involved in the clinical governance aspects of the respective departments in The Coombe.

· To ensure that written protocols and clinical guidelines are in place in services as required and that these include and address recommended national and international guidelines and best practice;

· To utilize and support e-health options e.g. use of MN-CMS to monitor the care of women.

All Consultant Microbiologists will contribute to the following:

· Clinical

o Liaise with clinicians and relevant staff in a timely manner regarding diagnosis and management of patients, including provision of advice via phone

o Documentation of clinical advice as appropriate

o Participate in MDTs where relevant

· Infection prevention and control

o Respond to IPC concerns, including outbreak management

o Risk assessments

o Participate in relevant project teams as an IPC member, such as construction works for refurbishments/renovations

· Management

o The development of PPGs and documentation

o Attend relevant meetings, in agreement with consultant colleagues, including quality and lab management, IPC meeting, and additional meetings where relevant

· Laboratory

o The day-to-day supervision of diagnostic methods and examinations of specimens in the laboratory

o Quality assurance within the microbiology laboratory including accreditation

o Interpretation of microbiology results where required

o Authorisation of laboratory results where required

· Antimicrobial stewardship

o Follow best practice principles for AMS

o Contribute to AMS where relevant, including antimicrobial guidelines and implementing evidence-based practices

General Accountability

Working with Others

· Develops networks and works in partnership with patients/service users, carers and colleagues within and across systems to deliver and improve services.

· Builds and maintains relationships, listening, supporting others, gaining trust and showing understanding.

· Encourages contribution creating an environment where others have the opportunity to contribute.

· Works within teams to deliver and improve services.

Managing Services

· Contributes to the development of business and service plans to achieve service goals.

· Manages resources to ensure the delivery of safe and efficient services.

· Manages people by providing direction, reviewing performance, motivating others and promoting equality and diversity.

· Manages performance, holding themselves and others accountable for service outcomes.

Setting Direction

· Identify the contexts for change, demonstrating awareness of the political, social, technical, economic, organisational and professional environment.

· Applies knowledge and evidence, gathering information to produce an evidence-based challenge to systems and processes in order to identify opportunities for service improvement.

· Makes sound evidence-based decisions consistent with the values and priorities of the organisation and profession.

· Measures and evaluates outcomes taking corrective action where necessary and being accountable for decisions.

Improving Services

· Ensures patient safety by assessing and managing the risk to patients associated with service

· Developments, balancing economic considerations with the need for patient safety.

· Critically evaluates services to identify where services can be improved, working individually or as part of a team.

· Encourages improvement and innovation, creating a climate of continuous service improvement.

· Facilitates transformation, actively contributing to change processes that lead to improved healthcare.

Demonstrating Personal Qualities

· Is aware of own values, principles and assumptions and is able to learn from experience.

· Organises and manages self while taking account of the needs and priorities of others.

· Learns through participating in continuing professional development and from experience and feedback. Acts with integrity, behaving in an open, honest and ethical manner.

Management & Administration

· To work within the framework of the hospital's service plan and/or levels of service (volume, types etc.) as determined by the Employer. Service planning for individual clinical services will be progressed through the Clinical Directorate/ TCH structure or other arrangements as apply.

· To participate in the development and operation of the Clinical Directorate/TCH structure and in such management or representative structures as are in place or being developed. The Consultant shall receive training and support to enable him/her to participate fully in such structures.

· To formally review the execution of the Clinical Directorate Service Plan with the Clinical Director / Employer periodically. The Clinical Directorate Service Plan shall be reviewed periodically at the request of the Consultant or Clinical Director / Employer. The Consultant may initially seek internal review of the determinations of the Clinical Director regarding the Service Plan.

· 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.

· To be responsible for the maintenance of appropriate liaison arrangements between his/her department in the hospitals and the patients’ normal medical attendants.

Human Resources

• To co-operate with the expeditious implementation of the Disciplinary Procedure as per Consultants Public Only Contract 2023.
• To ensure in consultation with the Master/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.

· To participate as a right and obligation in selection processes for non-Consultant Hospital Doctors and other staff as appropriate. The Employer will provide training as required. The Employer shall ensure that a Consultant representative of the relevant specialty / sub-specialty is involved in the selection process.

Risk Management

• To participate in clinical audit and proactive risk management and facilitate production of all data/information required for same in accordance with regulatory, statutory and corporate policies and procedures.

Financial

• To assist in the preparation of annual estimates/budgets of expenditure for revenues for which he/she is responsible.

General

• To reside convenient to TCH or such other place as may be approved by the TCH.
• To perform such other duties appropriate to the office as may be assigned by him/her by the TCH or other authorised officer.
• The person appointed will hold office under the terms and conditions of the Public Only Contract 2023 for consultants employed in the public service which will determine that he/she will participate actively in the management of the hospitals, take cognisance of resource constraints and retain clinical autonomy while practising.

Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned to the appointed consultant by the Master/CEO and CCOO of TCH Hospital and the General Manager MRHP. The duties of the successful applicant may change in

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 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.

[JL1]Deleted duplicated points in all the sections below