County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust Consultant in Microbiology
The closing date is 25 June 2025
We are looking for an enthusiastic and driven candidate tobe part of our microbiology clinical team, as a consultant in Microbiology(Medical microbiology or joint infectious diseases-microbiology ). The role isoffered at 10.4 PA's out of which 1.5 PA is for supporting professionalactivities and 1.4 is for 1:4 out of hours oncall. Part time applications with prorate on callwill be considered.
CDDFT pathology is embracing change and this is anopportunity to help shape the service - new equipment and new laboratoryinformation systems are in the pipeline for delivery over the next 2 years, sowe are looking for someone with vision to fit into our team and support thisexciting period of change. There is the opportunity to take an active role inareas including OPAT or clinical leadership.
The service provides a wide range ofmicrobiology, virology and serology testing to the County Durham and Darlingtonpopulation of 600,000. You will work closely with the laboratory and withclinical staff across the Trust and primary care sector, providing diagnostic resultsand clinical advice. On call provision is an expected part of this role,supporting a 24/7 laboratory.
Main duties of the job
Be a member of Infection Control team and participate inproviding infection Prevention and control services to the Trust and otherusers of the service helping consultant colleagues and infection control nursesto deal with day to day infection control management across the Trust. Beinvolved with root cause analysis and action planning where incidents occur.This post will predominantly cover clinical service but in addition may havethe need for the appointee to attend RCA, MDT meetings where required.
The appointee, as part of the team, will be responsible forthe provision of a comprehensive, efficient and cost-effective diagnostic andclinical microbiology service (including bacteriology, virology, mycology andparasitology).
Provide appropriate advice and resultinterpretation on the tests performed within the department at Consultantlevel. This includes making interpretation and decisions on aberrant resultsand discussions with clinicians including advice on interpretation and furtherinvestigations. Ward rounds are an important part of the role.
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager
You must be able to produce
ALL
certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks
We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents
Over reliance onAI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances ofsuccess
For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.
From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two yearsof experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to considersponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria andhave a current visa expiring within 3 months)
Job responsibilities
This is a Consultant post in Microbiology (Medical microbiology or Medical Microbiologyand infectious diseases)
There is also the opportunity to take on the clinicalleadership of the department with a view to creating a centre of excellence formicrobiology.
The service is deliveredfor 2 acute sites, the University Hospital of North Durham andDarlington Memorial hospital, electivesite which is Bishop Auckland general hospital, five community hospitals andthe primary care . Based on serviceneeds and in agreement with the appointing manager and applicant, theapplicants base will be University Hospital of North Durham OR DarlingtonMemorial Hospital. The post holder will however be required to work at anylocation within the Trust.
The appointee will be expected to be involved inimplementing the Trusts Clinical Governance programme. This includes active participation inclinical audit, quality, clinical guidelines, pathways, and professionaldevelopment.
The post holder will provide, working with other colleagues,clinical advice on medical microbiology to clinical staff in hospitals and inthe community, and within the area served by the laboratory and consultants incommunicable disease control, environmental health and others. This willinclude participation in surveillance, hospital infection control and publichealth microbiology.
The appointee will be expected to work with local managersand professional colleagues in the efficient running of the services and willshare with Consultant colleagues in providing a clinical microbiology serviceto the Trust and local CCGs. This post will predominantly cover clinicalservice but in addition may have the need for the appointee to attend RCA, MDTmeetings where required.
Clinical
Provide appropriate advice and result interpretation onthe tests performed within the department under the overall supervision of theConsultant Microbiologist.
Liaison with clinicians, hospital staff and GP`sconcerning the diagnosis and management of patients and prevention of infection.
Liaison with Public Health England and Health ProtectionUnit to manage infections and notification of notifiable diseases.
Attend and contribute to multidisciplinary team meetingsas required. Current opportunities include C. difficile MDT, OPAT MDT(Outpatient antimicrobial therapy), Ortho MDT, and Endocarditis MDT
To provide medical input and oversight of policies,procedures and guidelines produced with microbiology, or those produced byother departments that impact on microbiology.
Provide advice and interpretation of test results toclinicians, either directly, or via participation in the departments dutyrota.
This post will predominantly cover clinical service but inaddition may have the need for the appointee to attend RCA, MDT meetings whererequired.
Out of Hours Responsibilities
Once the post holder is established they would be expectedto participate in the on call rota. There will be a compulsory on callcommitment as part of this post
Infection Control
The substantive post will involve working with theConsultant colleagues and infection control nurses to deal with day to dayinfection control management across the Trust.
Active involvement in investigation of infection controlincidents and in action planning and implementation to reduce hospital acquiredinfection is expected.
There will be a need to be involved in root cause analysisfollowing infection control incidents.
There will also be a need to be involved indecontamination issues.
Laboratory
To be involved in all aspects of the day-to-day operationto UKAS standards of the Clinical Microbiology laboratory with appropriatetechnical support.
Regular daily liaison with the laboratory technical staff
Reporting of laboratory results, authorizing and providingmedical interpretation as appropriate
The appointee will be a responsible for the provision of acomprehensive, efficient and cost-effective diagnostic and clinicalmicrobiology service (including bacteriology, virology, mycology and parasitology).
To provide clinical input to the laboratory manager toenable effective management of the automated Clinical Microbiology activitiesin the Trust including: Advising the section senior on the clinicalimplications of quality issues (EQA and IQC) that can be used to help informtheir action plan.
Participate in the introduction of new methods andpreparations of business case plan. The service is embracing new ideas toenable us to support expanding and ever changing demands on microbiology.
Share responsibility for quality assurance performancewithin the department including taking part in all relevant NEQAS programmes.
Works with operational members of laboratory staff toimplement the departmental policies.Where possible ensures guidelines issued by the MHRA and NICE arecompiled with. Assesses the budgetary,clinical and logistical implications of new guidance, whether National,Regional or local and liaise with other departments in order to provide therequired level of service.
Provide clinical input whilst the department is evaluatingnew methods or equipment and producing reports including statistical analysisand graphical representations of data.
Monitor and advice on budgets and resources in the serviceas required.
Provide clinical leadership and training of staff.
Managerial Roles
There is the opportunity to take an active role indeveloping one of the key roles supported by the microbiology clinical team.These include developing and leading:
The OPAT service.
Antimicrobial Stewardship team
Infection Prevention and Control, this may include beingdeputy DIPC
Orthopaedic Infection
Diabetic foot Infection service
Education and training: CDDFT has been approved as an HSSTtraining site
There is also the opportunity for a suitably experiencedcandidate to include the Microbiology Clinical Leadership role as part of thispost.
Additional activities would be considered through jobplanning and allocation of funding (PA) once in post where appropriate. Theseroles are managed on rotation and the candidate will be required to deliver oneor more of these roles.
The appointee will be expected to cover colleagues in theirabsence, and will be expected to deputise in the absence of colleagues in casesof annual leave, study leave and sickness as far as is practicable and ensurecontinuous patient care
Liaison with other Consultant Microbiologists
Liaison with other consultants includes attending meetingsof the Microbiology Speciality Group and the Northern Region ConsultantMicrobiology Group (NERMG).
MDT- Participation in MDTs is expected. Currently there areMDTs for C. difficile (which is trust wide), Arthroplasty infection andEndocarditis
Other roles
Teaching The Consultants will be expected to participatein teaching of other junior medical staff, medical students and other staff asappropriate.
Research Research activities are considered an inherentpart of normal clinical duties and would therefore be encouraged. Researchfunding may be available for successful applications to the regional researchcommittee.
Audit and Clinical Governance The Trust has establishedClinical Audit and Governance Departments. Within Pathology there is an activecombined research & audit group with representatives from each speciality.It is expected that the appointees will actively participate withindepartmental audit and support cross-specialty audits.
Person Specification
Qualifications
MBBS or equivalent medical qualification
Full registration with the General Medical Council
Inclusion of the GMC Specialist Register or within 6 months of expected date of CCT or CSST in Medical Microbiology or Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.
AND
Evidence of significant experience in a senior clinical role.
MB ChB or equivalent
FRCPath part 1 and 2 or evidence of equivalent.
Eligibility to work in the UK.
Progression through further training with achievement of professional qualifications.
Training expertise
Virology expertise
Experience
Evidence of of significant experience in a senior clinical role e.g. Experience of independent working at Specialist Registrar or Consultant level.
Experience of a wide range of general diagnostic work in Microbiology and Virology; including expert clinical management of infection and advising on Infection Prevention.
Relevant specialty clinical knowledge:
Capacity to apply sound clinical knowledge relevant to the job, specialty knowledge exam.
Clinical judgement: experience in making clinical decisions and managing risk. Knows when to seek help able to prioritise clinical need.
Practical skills: shows aptitude for practical skills, required for the job.
Proven ability to work effectively in different clinical settings required in the job.
Working as a Consultant now.
Experience of Infectious Diseases.
Experience of advising infection control for estates projects
Proven publication record in an area of clinical microbiology.
Demonstrate an interest in general microbiology and another specialty area
Experience of team working and improving the effectiveness of the team.
Special Skills & Knowledge
Previous experience in a Clinical Microbiology laboratory at Consultant level or equivalent, or working towards this.
Up to date knowledge of Microbiology including Infection Prevention at consulant level. Full understanding of relevant guidance on the management of patients and outbreaks.
Practical ability, with developed technical skills, in the laboratory using a wide range of techniques.
Ability to perform research, development and audit activities.
Able to use basic computer programmes such as Work, Excel and Powerpoint.
Able to manage clinical authorisation and clinical decision making.
Excellent knowledge of resistance mechanisms and management of complex infections.
Good understanding and knowledge of modern Laboratory techniques including molecular methods and automation.
Expertise in management of Infection Prevention problems.
Statutory Registration
GMC Specialist Register or within 6 months of expected date of CCT or CSST in Medical Microbiology or Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.
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.
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
£105,504 to £139,882 a yearYC72 Pay Scale per annum pro rata
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