Consultant Neonatologist

Purpose of role:

The National Model of Care for Neonatal Services (HSE, 2015) envisaged the opening of an 18-bed NICU in the new children’s hospital staffed by Neonatologists.

This post will be committed to the development of a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at CHI as the service ramps up to the new National Children’s Hospital and expands its medical workforce. This appointment is a key step in building a team to deliver neonatal intensive care. The new children’s hospital forms part of National Model of Care for Paediatric Healthcare Services in Ireland (HSE, 2016), in support of the delivery of safe and appropriate care to paediatric patients from birth.

These posts are in support of delivering on the National Model of Care for Neonatal Services (HSE, 2015), which noted an increasing workload in both tertiary neonatal centres and in the paediatric hospitals. The model affirmed that increased staffing is essential to ensure sustainability in neonatal services in Ireland, while improving safety and quality, improving access, and improving cost-effectiveness.

Essential Criteria: Professional Qualifications and Experience

Mandatory:

• Registration as a specialist in the Specialist Division of the Register of Medical Practitioners maintained by the Medical Council in Ireland in the specialty of Neonatology.

OR

• (i) Registration as a specialist in the Specialist Division of the Register of Medical Practitioners maintained by the Medical Council in Ireland in the specialty of Paediatrics

AND

• (ii) Two years certified postgraduate training in neonatology.

The successful interviewee must be registered as a specialist in the relevant specialty on the Specialist Division of the Register of Medical Practitioners maintained by the Medical Council of Ireland, within 180 days of the day of interview and before taking up appointment. In exceptional circumstances, proleptic appointments may be considered for candidates engaged in relevant training programmes.

The Consultant must, at all times while continuing to hold office, continue to be registered with the Medical Council of Ireland. Documentary evidence of Medical Council Registration is required and must be produced annually to the Medical Administration Department within the Children’s Health Ireland.

Should the successful candidate not be registered as a Specialist at that time, the post may be offered to the next suitable candidate. Should no suitable candidate exist, a further recruitment process may be initiated.

Essential Criteria: Skills / Competencies / Knowledge

• Experience in the delivery of all levels of neonatal care to infants presenting with common neonatal problems as well as those requiring treatment of neonatal surgical conditions, congenital abnormalities and those presenting with complex needs.
• Supervision of junior colleagues in training, sharing administrative duties and contributing to a hospital educational programme.
• Experience of developing, applying and reviewing an evidence-based approach to decision making.
• Experience in day-to-day organisation of neonatal services in a busy teaching hospital.
• Ability to organise and manage the work of a neonatal unit, including outpatients
• Understanding of the principles of clinical governance
• Excellent inter-personal skills, including experience and familiarity with public, professional, media and political communications and stakeholder relations.
• Demonstrate a commitment to fostering partnerships, multi-professional and multi-disciplinary relationships.
• Demonstrate a knowledge and undertaking of the current governance structures and anticipated changes with the establishment of the new children’s hospital.
• Leadership and team management skills including the ability to manage his/her staff and service and work with multi-disciplinary team members.
• Experience of operating in complex and challenging environments.
• Knowledge of the Irish health sector, national health programmes and health reform agendas.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
• Effective change management skills.
• Risk and issue management skills.
• Ability to recognise and respect the expertise of others and the contribution of team members and harness good teamwork and open contributions to enable the achievement of programme aims.
• Demonstrate evidence of effective planning and organising skills including awareness of resource management.
• Have excellent computer skills, competencies, and knowledge of hospital data/ information systems.
• Demonstrate the ability to provide a level of clinical care required by this post according to the standards set by statutory bodies such as the Irish Medical Council, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and the Consultants Appointments Unit.
• Demonstrate a high level of verbal and non-verbal communication skills to effectively communicate with Patients/Parents, colleagues, hospital management, other hospital staff and stakeholders from other institutions.
• Thorough understanding of principles of medical audit; experience in audit projects.
• Significant experience in clinical practice in delivery of acute unscheduled care at both local and national levels.
• Experienced clinician with credibility and the ability to command the respect of all clinical and non-clinical professionals.
• Demonstrate commitment to fostering partnerships, multi-professional and multi-disciplinary relationships.
• Evidence of recruitment in to trials and understanding of research methodology.

How to Apply & Informal Enquires:

The criteria for short listing are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and/or the essential & desirable knowledge, skills and competencies section of this job specification.

*Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process*

To apply for this position, please send a CV and letter of application.

The closing date for submissions of CVs and letter of application is 11:45pm onWednesday January 15th 2025 must be completed through the advertised post on CHI.jobs by clicking ‘Apply for Job’.

Applications will not be accepted through direct email or any other method.

Informal Enquiries can be obtained from:

Dr Ann Hickey, Clinical Specialty Lead for Neonatology at CHI

(ann.hickey1@childrenshealthireland.ie)

For other queries relating to this recruitment process, please contact:

Recruitment; recruitment@childrenshealthireland.ie