As University Hospitals Dorset, we are a three-site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.
We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £250m estates programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.
In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches, you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth, and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.
We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming, and productive place to work. We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.
At UHD, our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.
As a Trust, we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.
Job overview
An exciting opportunity is available to lead the Rheumatology Practitioner team at University Hospitals Dorset. This is a Dorset-wide service with teams currently based at Christchurch, Poole, and Dorchester.
The successful applicant will join and lead this team as they move into a new service at the end of 2025 with hubs in Christchurch and Dorchester and satellite clinics across the county.
Strong leadership skills as well as clinical experience in Rheumatology are required for this post. You will be part of a fantastic team of nurses and AHPs who work alongside 12 consultants who support patients with long-term rheumatological conditions across the county.
The role will be supported by a matron and Rheumatology Operation and Performance Manager.
This role requires UK professional registration.
Base Location: Christchurch Hospital and Dorchester
Interview Date: TBC
Main duties of the job
Please see the job description and personal spec for details around the duties of this job and any further information.
Working for our organisation
Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued teammates and colleagues.
UHD is investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme. This means that some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or long term. Recruiting Managers interviewing for this role will be happy to answer any specific questions that you have about this at interview.
There is a planned move for this service anticipated during Autumn 2025, when this role and base of work will primarily be Christchurch and Dorchester.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the job description and personal spec for details around the duties of this job and any further information.
Person specification
Qualifications
* Professional registration with the relevant professional body.
* Masters level Advanced Clinical Practice/Equivalent Masters.
Experience
* Demonstrable experience of working independently at a Band 7 Clinical role for medical specialty.
* Experience of leading & developing people.
* Experience of service and practice development and managing change.
* Working in partnership with all levels of staff.
* Publication/conference experience.
Knowledge
* Advanced clinical skills, such as assessing patient’s physical status requiring precision, accuracy, and dexterity.
* Clinical reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making skills at an advanced level.
* Demonstrable theoretical and practical knowledge of common rheumatology presentations.
* Ability to analyze and interpret complex information from patient assessment and interventions, and freedom to act in managing patients’ care.
Please note:
Staff recruited are expected to be available to work flexibly across all our Trust locations to meet service demands.
This advert may be closed early if sufficient applications are received.
COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst this vaccination is not a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated.
Internal Candidates: staff employed prior to the merger who voluntarily change jobs will be appointed to UHD terms and conditions.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Name: Neelake Gunatillake
Job title: Operation and Performance Manager for Rheumatology
Email address: neelake.gunatillake@uhd.nhs.uk
Telephone number: 03000195237
Additional information:
Nicki Walsh - Deputy General Manager Networked Medicine
Email: nicki.walsh@uhd.nhs.uk
Jody Bryant - Senior Matron Networked Medicine
Email: jody.bryant@uhd.nhs.uk
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