Job summary

There is strategic collaboration between RWT and WHT with a joint CE, Chairman of the board and some other executive roles. The joint Trust strategy for the next 5 years focuses on care, colleagues, collaboration, and communities.In line with this vision, the 1 vacant microbiology post at Walsall and the one vacant post at Wolverhampton will now be joint posts. One consultant will mostly be based at Walsall, and one will mostly be based at Wolverhampton. The 2 sites moved to a shared microbiology consultant on-call service from October 2023.

We are looking for friendly, enthusiastic infection specialists to join our team to provide infection and infection prevention advice to RWT, WHT and the wider community. The posts are full time, but applications are welcome from individuals wishing to work part time.

At both sites the microbiology service is a clinically orientated and highly visible specialty, which is very well respected throughout the organisations. Consultant colleagues are approachable and engaged in seeking appropriate and timely infection specialist advice.

We enjoy good working relationships with clinical departments by visiting clinical areas in person to discuss positive blood culture results, supporting MDTs and OPAT and regularly attend the critical care unit to advise on infection management.

Main duties of the job

The post based at Walsall will primarily support clinical and healthcare services across the whole Walsall healthcare economy as part of an integrated system. This includes support for infection control and maintaining standards in a variety of health care community facilities and settings. The current Director of Infection Prevention and Control (DIPC) is the Director of Nursing and the post holder will be expected to support the DIPC in terms of advice and strategic planning.

The post within the Microbiology team at Wolverhampton will provide an advisory and clinical service to the patient population served by RWT. The Microbiology Consultants work closely with the Infection Prevention team. The TB Team, IV Resource Team, Surgical Site Surveillance Team and a Catheter Project group are managed through the Senior Nursing IP Team

The BCPS hub laboratory is based at RWT. Microbiology consultants from all sites have allocated an area of the laboratory to lead on to assist with SOPs and addressing governance issues. However, since the RWT consultants are on the same site as the hub they have a particular responsibility for the day-to-day issues in the lab. There is a monthly laboratory governance meeting which all consultants can attend.

About us

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust is one of the largest NHS trusts in the West Midlands providing primary, acute and community services and we are incredibly proud of the diversity of both our staff and the communities we serve. We are building a workforce that can help us to fulfil our values, improve the quality of care for patients, and solve the health care problems of tomorrow. We're passionate about the value that diversity of thinking and lived experience brings in enabling us to become a learning organisation and leader in delivering compassionate care for our patients.

We are delighted that we have been rated as "Good" by CQC. We have achieved numerous awards; The Nursing Times Best Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Best UK Employer of the Year for Nursing Staff in 2020.

The Trust is a supportive working environment committed to creating flexible working arrangements that suit your needs and as such will consider all requests from applicants who wish to work flexibly.

Job description

Job responsibilities

It is anticipated that some of the activities listed below will evolve as BCPS continues to develop.

To liaise with clinicians, hospital staff and general practitioners in the diagnosis, management and prevention of infection in collaboration with the existing Consultant Microbiologists. This will include positive blood culture ward rounds including a regular critical care round to review the most unwell patients, weekly C difficile ward round, antimicrobial stewardship rounds, OPAT, neonatal unit liaison at RWT, and attendance at the regular MDTs that involve infection advice (clinical haematology MDT, cardiothoracic/cardiology MDT, spinal MDT, TB MDT, PJI MDT). Some MDTs are site specific and some MDTs such as haematology cover both sites. Together with the Clinical Lead to ensure that professional standards are maintained in the laboratory in collaboration with Senior Biomedical Scientists. Safety, quality assurance and standards required to satisfy UKAS accreditation are the duty of all staff. Authorisation and interpretation of results issued by the laboratory. In conjunction with the Clinical Lead and the clinical governance committee and in co-operation with the Service lead (BMS) to ensure that the service is cost-effective and that tests are clinically relevant. To provide, in conjunction with the Infection & Prevention Doctor, infection prevention and control advice to RWT, WHT and the wider community and to assist in the implementation of infection & prevention policies. To co-operate with the UK-HSA West Midlands Health Protection Team and Environmental Health Officers in management and prevention of communicable diseases within the community. To undertake on-call consultative microbiology in co-operation with the team of Consultant Microbiologists. This includes a commitment to undertake weeknight and weekend on-call. It is expected that the post-holder will be present in the laboratory for 6 hours on Saturday when on-call and Monday is given as time off in lieu for this. Cover for absence (study/annual leave or illness) will usually be arranged between the Consultants. To formulate and assist in implementation of policies for the use of antimicrobials in RWT and WHT. Support of antimicrobial stewardship and where appropriate attendance at antimicrobial stewardship committee and medicines management committee meetings. To participate in the planning of pathology services in co-operation with other Consultant Pathologists within BCPS. To participate in audit activities To participate in training of junior medical staff within the department. To participate in the Trusts Undergraduate Medical Training Programme for students from Birmingham University Medical School. Also, to participate in postgraduate teaching programmes for medical, laboratory and nursing staff. To develop relevant research interests. Laboratory space is restricted however projects may be accommodated within the laboratory. To participate in the Royal College of Pathologists programme for Continuing Professional Development, as outlined in College guidelines published in January 1999 to include elements of Microbiology and Virology. Both financial support and time are available for study leave by agreement with the Clinical Director for BCPS.

Person Specification

Essential

Essential

Please provide evidence of higher Level (or equivalent) training in Clinical Microbiology including infection prevention. CCT in Microbiology or a dual CCT in Microbiology & Infectious Diseases.

Essential

Essential

GMC registration

Essential

Essential

FRCPath or equivalent qualification.

Essential

Essential

Please provide evidence of your ability to work well in a multidisciplinary team and maintain good relations with contacts.

Essential

Essential

Please provide evidence of audit and the implementation of change following the audit.

Desirable

Ability to demonstrate recent evidence of research and development activity.

Essential

Essential

Please provide evidence of an understanding of and ability to demonstrate your ability to: oInfluence strategically oWork collaboratively oDrive for improvement

Essential

Essential

Knowledge of principles of antimicrobial stewardship.

Desirable

Experience of implementing change in antimicrobial prescribing.