Consultant in Paediatric Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Overview

The Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust invites applications for a substantive Consultant Paediatric Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation position. The successful candidate will provide direct clinical care of children admitted to the centre before, during and after transplant, and manage long-term follow-up clinics for children discharged post-HSCT. This post offers opportunities in teaching, education, research and audit. The closing date is 17 November 2025.

Please read attached Job Description and Person Specification.

Main duties of the job

Following the retirement of a senior colleague, this substantive Consultant post has been configured to develop our clinical service to meet and exceed quality standards of JACIE (Joint Accreditation Committee of the ISCT/EHSCT). It offers an opportunity to be part of a dynamic and innovative team with internationally recognised clinical and academic strengths. Research is a strategic priority at The Great North Children's Hospital (GNCH) with scope to develop clinical studies within Paediatric HSCT, Immunology and Infectious Diseases. Newcastle is dedicated to flexible working; discussions about flexible arrangements are welcomed to benefit the service and the patient care.

To arrange an informal discussion with Dr Stephen Owens - Head of Department, Paediatric Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases and/or Prof Mary Slatter - Director of the Children's HSCT Unit, or to obtain further information, please email Miss Gale Roberts - Departmental Secretary, .

About us

Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a large teaching NHS foundation trust with around 16,000 staff and an annual income of £1 billion. We provide high quality care, clinical excellence and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally. We are the second largest provider of specialised services in the country, supporting people with a range of rare and complex conditions. Our staff oversee around 1.84 million patient contacts each year. We are committed to equality and diversity and to recruiting a workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

We welcome applications irrespective of race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, and in particular those from under-represented groups.

Job responsibilities

Clinical:

• Act as the Consultant responsible for the day-to-day working of the HSCT Unit, supervising resident doctors undergoing specialist training and nurse specialists, and participating in examining and assessing the children daily.
• Organise routine and specialised investigations; liaise with microbiology, haematology, blood transfusion, pathology, radiology, genetics, cytogenetics and immunology.
• Lead in recognition and treatment of HSCT complications; lead the multidisciplinary team to create and develop systems of care for HSCT in children; coordinate donor work-ups with national and international bone marrow registries.
• Coordinate the writing and implementation of HSCT protocols according to European guidelines; manage HSCT follow-up programmes and clinics; update care protocols for HSCT.
• Work with consultant colleagues to ensure excellence and continuity of consultant-led care; contribute to a 1:5 out-of-hours on-call rota, including weekends.

Administrative:

• Undertake administrative duties related to patient care and to running the Department of Paediatric Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, in cooperation with the Head of Department, Directorate Manager and Clinical Director.
• Engage in financial management of the Department to ensure high quality care while using resources efficiently.

Research:

• Take a lead role in developing clinical research in HSCT for Primary Immunodeficiency; present at national and international meetings and publish findings.
• Work within the Newcastle University Translational and Clinical Research Institute; collaborate with the Research Unit and the Medical School; pursue opportunities for honorary university status as appropriate.
• Support participation in national and international studies in Paediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases and pursue opportunities to spearhead cross-cutting research and secure funding.

Teaching:

• Supervise Specialist Registrars and Specialist Doctors; contribute to teaching HSCT to paediatric trainees and visiting doctors; participate in supervision of postgraduate trainees and other health professionals; contribute to national training and keep up-to-date with teaching requirements.

Managerial:

• Participate in Clinical Governance and multidisciplinary audits; contribute to JCIE accreditation preparation and the unit's inspections; work with Data Managers to collate and submit data for national and international registries; lead development of HSCT strategy and change management.

Clinical Governance:

• Lead preparation for JACIE inspections; engage in CME, annual appraisal and job plan review; minimise infection risk and adhere to Trust infection prevention policies; participate in governance, audits and risk management; support NHSLA assessments; contribute to the organisation of Children's Services within the Trust.

Person Specification Education, Qualifications and Specialist Skills

• MRCPCH or international equivalent
• Full GMC registration
• Entry onto the GMC Specialist Register (within 6 months from the date of the AAC)
• Special skills and training in paediatric HSCT
• Higher Degree
• Accreditation on the GMC Specialist Register in Paediatrics (with training in immunology and/or infectious diseases, or in haematology/oncology)

Clinical Experience

• Substantial experience in the management of children undergoing HSCT (minimum of 6 months in an attending role, as resident or consultant) at a tertiary centre
• Previously held a senior post on a large and active HSCT Unit
• Experience in caring for children undergoing HSCT for IEI
• Experience in developing and applying HSCT innovations (e.g., ECP, TCR alpha/beta-depleted haploidentical transplantation, or other novel cellular or gene therapies)
• Extensive experience in donor selection, medical and HTA assessment and ability to perform bone marrow harvests

Management and Administration Experience

• Team player; committed to economical use of resources
• Flexible approach to service delivery and development; understands Clinical Governance
• Ability to author and review clinical guidelines; proven management and administration ability
• Evidence of leadership, project management and implementing change
• Experience in developing HSCT strategy and leading preparation for JACIE accreditation
• Understanding of JACIE protocols and documentation

Teaching

• Experience supervising junior medical staff; participation in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching
• Ability to teach clinical/technical/practical skills; courses to develop teaching skills; postgraduate qualification in medical education

Research

• Experience in research methodology and publication; honorary University status as a researcher
• Evidence of leading HSCT studies published and practice-changing; publications in the last 2 years as first or last author
• Experience presenting at national/international meetings

Audit

• Participation in audit; evidence of changing practice based on audit; evidence of re-auditing to assess improvement

Personal Attributes

• Alignment with the Trust's values; flexible and development-focused
• Willingness to participate in on-call rota and flexible working when required
• Strong leadership, organizational and communication skills; ability to work under pressure and within a multidisciplinary team
• Commitment to personal and unit CPD; willingness to reside within 30 minutes of the hospital for on-call duties; physically able to fulfil duties

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and will require a DBS disclosure check.

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust