Senior Clinical Fellow/Portfolio Pathway Fellow in Neonatology

Job overview

We are looking to appoint a motivated and enthusiastic Senior Clinical Fellow/Portfolio pathway fellow in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit starting in March 2025. This post offers a fantastic opportunity for doctors training in paediatrics/neonatology to gain a broad-based experience in neonatal critical care at a large London neonatal unit alongside a full educational programme and opportunities to enhance their quality improvement, leadership and research skills. Bespoke support is also provided to senior fellows wanting to CESR in neonatal medicine (portfolio pathway). The post holder will be expected to contribute to the tier 2 rota (Middle Grade ST4- 8, Senior Clinical Fellow). They will have need to have excellent clinical skills, evidence based knowledge and understanding to provide holistic care for premature and acutely sick new borns and their families.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will gain extensive experience in managing sick surgical infants.

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital is internationally reputable for their research excellence. C&W is home to the National Neonatal Research Database used for national and international population neonatal epidemiological studies.

Applicants must have middle-grade experience in Neonatology and be able to demonstrate competency in neonatal resuscitation, intubation and management of ventilated infants. The post would suit both UK trainees seeking out of programme experience/training to enhance their level 2/3 neonatal training and international trainees seeking a training opportunity that parallels UK grid training.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Senior Clinical Fellow/Portfolio Pathway Fellow in Neonatology, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Duties include

• Operational management of NICU under direct supervision of consultant neonatologists
• Daily consultant ward rounds and a weekly nutrition ward round with paediatric gastroenterologists
• Lead ward round and clinical decision making once a week on the registrar led ward round
• Overseeing documentation and progress of discharge summaries
• Support of SHOs in the assessment and management of acutely ill and postnatal ward neonates.
• Attendance at the weekly grand round with neonatal and paediatric surgical consultants
• Weekly liaison meeting with NICU staff and social services
• Weekly perinatal grand round with all obstetricians and neonatologists
• Liaison with neonatal surgical team and anaesthetists, paediatric cardiology and respiratory teams
• Involvement in neonatal medical and neurodevelopmental follow-up clinics
• Participate in neonatal transport (when not performed by NTS)

Provide high quality care to patients

• Maintain GMC registration and hold a licence to practice
• Develop and maintain the competencies required to carry out the duties of the post
• Ensure families are involved in decisions about care and respond to their views

Clinical Research

The department has a strong international reputation for neonatal research, focussing in neonatal nutrition and neonatal nurgery. The Neonatal Data Analysis Unit which manages the UK National Neonatal Research Database (NNRD) is based at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. The NNRD is used to support a broad range of service evaluations, audits (including the National Neonatal Audit Programme), quality improvement programmes, as well as clinical, health services and policy research. Candidates are expected to be GCP certified and get involved in the various local and multi-centre clinical trials and observational studies.

Teaching skills

Opportunities for teaching medical students, nurses and junior medical staff are ample, in both formal and informal settings. These include formal teaching sessions and bedside teaching. Candidates are expected to contribute to the on-going departmental teaching programme for junior doctors.

Teaching Sessions

Potholders would have opportunities to attend protected teaching sessions, which include a multi-session Cranial Ultrasound Imaging lectures (delivered currently by Prof Frances Cowan), journal clubs and informal teaching sessions. The resident consultants provide a regular case based bedside teaching on most of the night shifts, which care formally recorded as WBAs. In addition, there is a monthly one day simulation program that all trainees are expected to attend within their first 6 months into the post. In situ simulation sessions using high and low fidelity mannequins are undertaken, sometimes involving other departments like A&E and Paediatrics.

Each post holder will have an allocated educational supervisor and are expected to have formal appraisal meetings at regular intervals

Further training opportunities

Candidates are encouraged strongly to utilise their study leave to attend courses and conferences. They are encouraged to participate and present in network meetings are supported.

Audits & Governance

• Participate in clinical audit, incident reporting and to ensure resulting actions are implemented
• Ensure clinical guidelines and protocols are adhered to
• Keep fully informed about best practice in the specialty areas
• Role model of good practice for infection control to all members of the multidisciplinary team