Consultant Geriatrician

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Consultant Geriatrician

The closing date is 30 September 2026

CDDFT has developed an integrated, consultant-led frailtycare model that includes the Frailty SDEC Unit, the service, and theGeriatrician of the Day initiative. These services work together to improveoutcomes for patients living with frailty, reduce unnecessary hospitaladmissions, and support care closer to home.

The Frailty SDEC is a dedicated acute secondary care serviceoperating from 8am to 8pm. It is led by consultant geriatricians and supportedby a multidisciplinary team. Separate from the Acute Medical Unit and ED, theFSDEC provides rapid assessment and management for patients identified asfrail, either already admitted or referred from ED by the Frailty AssessmentTeam. Direct admission is also promoted to avoid ED altogether.

The service is a consultant-led virtual ward model thatdelivers acute hospital-level care in the patients own home. It operatesthrough a step-up and step-down approach

The introduction of a Geriatrician of the Day has furtherstrengthened the frailty care pathway. This role ensures that patients livingwith frailty are assessed and managed by a specialist from the outset,improving clinical outcomes and streamlining care.

Main duties of the job

Leading the assessment & management of patients livingwith frailty, including those with complex needs and frailty syndromes (e.g.falls, immobility, delirium).

Making treatment decisions and providing ongoing care forpatients, inclusive of those under

Supporting the Frailty SDEC pathway by providing timely,specialist-led input.

Acting as the Geriatrician of the Day to ensure rapid CGAand appropriate streaming of patients to the right care setting.

Facilitating early discharge planning and step-down carefrom inpatient wards to home-based services.

Participating inclinical governance activities, including maintaining up-to-date protocols,guidelines, and contributing to clinical audits.

Revising and developing evidence-based protocols for frailtycare and undertaking associated administrative duties Supporting innovation inservice delivery aligned with national strategies, including the NHS 10-YearPlan.

Maintaining continuing professional development in line withthe RCP guidance.

Acting as an educational and clinical supervisor for Residentdoctors.

Supporting the training of resident doctors andmultidisciplinary team members across inpatient and outpatients.

About us

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.

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Job responsibilities

The post holder will becommitted to the delivery and ongoing development of Elderly Care and Acute Frailtyservices. Clinical duties will be undertaken in collaboration with consultantcolleagues and other professional staff that make up the wider MDT to maintainand enhance the service, while supporting the development of specialist skillsin line with individual and service needs.

The service is transitioningto a 7-day model on a rostered basis in 1:7 on call rota

The Elderly Care team providea comprehensive range of services across 3 sites including:

Acute Frailty

Inpatient specialist care

Movement Disorders

Ortho-Geriatric support

This is delivered alongside establishedoutpatient clinic commitments.

The post holder will beexpected to participate on the Frailty SDEC service, working within a fullyintegrated MDT, with CGA being central to delivering holistic and patientcentred care. The service operates with an ethos of discharge is the rule andadmission is an exception, supported by a well-established, consultant-ledHospital at Home service model that enables delivery of acute care within the patientshome environment. The team is also committed to a geriatrician of the day rota providingdirect clinical advice to a range of professionals to support decision makingand ensure patients are managed in the most appropriate setting.

The successful candidate willbe expected to lead a board and ward round, managing patients with complexneeds and extensive comorbidities and facilitating safe and timely discharges throughthe effective use of available services. Close collaboration with Orthopaedicand Surgical colleagues ensures timely geriatric input for patients undergoingtreatment outside of Elderly Care services.

The department alsoprovides clinics in general geriatrics and Movement Disorders. The post holderwill be expected to triage referrals relating to frailty syndromes, dementia,falls and other general geriatric assessments and/or work closely with specialistMovement Disorder CNS to manage a caseloads.

Person Specification Statutory Registration

• Full registration with GMC and inclusion on specialist register (or pending in next 6 months)

Special Skills & Knowledge

• Evidence of continuous development in the specialist field of practice.

Qualifications

• Leading the assessment & management of patients living with frailty, including those with complex needs and frailty syndromes (e.g. falls, immobility, delirium).
• Making treatment decisions and providing ongoing care for patients, inclusive of those under
• Supporting the Frailty SDEC pathway by providing timely, specialist-led input.
• Acting as the Geriatrician of the Day to ensure rapid CGA and appropriate streaming of patients to the right care setting.
• Facilitating early discharge planning and step-down care from inpatient wards to home-based services.
• Participating in clinical governance activities, including maintaining up-to-date protocols, guidelines, and contributing to clinical audits.
• Revising and developing evidence-based protocols for frailty care and undertaking associated administrative duties Supporting innovation in service delivery aligned with national strategies, including the NHS 10-Year Plan.
• Maintaining continuing professional development in line with the RCP guidance.
• Acting as an educational and clinical supervisor for junior doctors.
• Supporting the training of junior doctors and multidisciplinary team members across inpatient and outpatients.
• or Teaching Qualification.
• Certificate of Medical Education or other formal training programme.
• Training in sub-specialty complementary to that of the existing Consultants.

Experience

• Good clinical skills including the management of acutely unwell medical patients and up to date knowledge in geriatric medicine.
• Experience in working within a multi- disciplinary team with good communication skills.
• Ability to liaise well with colleagues in other specialties.
• Experience of supervising training and teaching trainees.
• Able to provide evidence of career planning through appraisal process.
• Evidence of being up to date with professional development.
• Experience of close liaison with community services.
• Experience of service development.
• Evidence of research experience and clinical effectiveness work.

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

£113,565 to £150,569 a yearYC72 Pay Scale per annum pro rata