Jobs

Job Background:   

The Medical Adviser will work as part of a large multidisciplinary team of professionals to provide advice to the Chief Constable, police officers and police staff on occupational health and well-being issues.

The role is also suitable for those wishing to pursue a clinical service post and not interested in specialist training.  Postgraduate courses and qualifications in Occupational Medicine will be fully supported and there is scope for engagement in activities to support portfolio pathway (previously CESR) applicants.

The successful applicant can be supported with supervision from the Senior Medical Adviser and the option to undertake a distance learning course towards the Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Medicine (DOccMED) and further Continuous Professional Development and training is available.

Hours of Work:  Monday - Friday 37 working hours per week (42 hours gross).

Salary: £65,409 - £71,353 plus environmental allowance of £580 (under review).

Main Activities 

The main duties and responsibilities associated with the role include the following:

• Assess fitness for work of police officers and police staff whilst providing advice on rehabilitation measures to enable management to facilitate a return to work.
• Conduct pre-employment medical certification of fitness for role after screening undertaken by the Occupational Health Nursing Advisers.
• Conduct medical examinations for specialist roles to ascertain medical fitness for the role requirements.
• Assess the medical fitness of police officers/ police staff members for access to firearms and to provide information and recommendations to management and the GP.
• Support the attendance management policy through case management, in conjunction with other members of the multi-disciplinary team.
• Advise on short and long-term duty adjustments for injured police officers and police staff, or those suffering from reduced health.
• Provide advice under the ‘Injury on Duty’ Regulations and provide firm recommendations/rationale on decision making, while maintaining medical confidentiality.
• Provide assessments on ill health retirement for police staff and assessment/case preparation for police officers who are then assessed through the Northern Ireland Policing Board by Selected Medical Practitioners.
• Provide advice to assist managers to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act and advise on reasonable adjustments where appropriate.
• Work in conjunction with health and safety professionals to provide medical advice in relation to occupational hazards that may impact on an individual’s health at work, operating within the context of up-to-date legislation, for example, Noise at Work, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health and other health and safety legislation. This includes working in a Covid-19 endemic environment.
• Provide medical advice to specialist working groups as and when required, for example, Uniform and Protective Measures Committee and other relevant working groups.
• Provide advice with respect to the risks to police officers and police staff in relation to blood borne viruses or environmental chemicals (fire scenes with asbestos containing materials) and infectious agents (TB or Brucellosis).
• Prescribe vaccinations and provide travel medicine advice for police officers and police staff travelling overseas for work purposes.
• Attend pre-hearing consultations and court to provide medical information to counsel, crown solicitors and employment tribunals in respect to legal action against the Police Service of Northern Ireland. 
• Ensure that all medical practices are up to date and in line with GMC guidelines on good medical practice, consent, confidentiality etc.
• Liaise with appropriate stakeholder organisations and individuals as required in certain circumstances.
• Complete any other duties deemed relevant and delegated by the Senior Medical Adviser. This may include duties such as the research, undertaking of examinations, workplace visits and the assistance of clinical leadership, management and service delivery.

The main duties and responsibilities reflect the main elements of those associated with this position. It is not intended to be exclusive or exhaustive.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications

A medical degree MB BCH (or equivalent) 

Essential Experience

Applicants will be required to demonstrate the following:

• Full registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) as a Medical Practitioner, a current licence to Practice in the UK, and the ability to work within GMC Good Medical Practice guidelines.
• Evidence of achievement of foundation 1 & 2 competences from a UK Foundation Programme Office (UKFPO) affiliated foundation programme, or equivalent, by time of application in line with GMC standards/Good Medical Practice.
• Evidence of achievement of a further 2 years of Core or speciality training or equivalent as a minimum.

Essential Clinical Skills, Clinical Knowledge and Expertise

Applicants will required to demonstrate their appropriate technical and diagnostic competence in the following areas:

• Ability to apply sound clinical knowledge and judgement.
• Competence at core or GP completion level in the management of medical emergencies, in patients and out patients as required by the relevant curriculum.
• Ability to work without direct supervision where appropriate.
• Ability to prioritise clinical need.
• Ability to maximise safety and minimise risk.
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, and provide relevant input into case management when required.
• Familiarity and compliance with good medical practice whilst keeping medical and pharmacological knowledge up to date.
• Ability to communicate well with a wide variety of audiences and to provide detailed medical reports when required.
• Ability to analyse detailed medical information and organisational risks in order to draw appropriate conclusions.
• Demonstrate integrity and respect for the confidentiality of all patients, regardless of their circumstances.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles of AUDIT, clinical risk management, evidenced-based practice, patient safety and clinical quality improvement initiatives. 
• Demonstrates an understanding of NHS management and resources.

Essential Other

• IT literate specifically in the use of the Microsoft Office suite (including MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel and MS Outlook).
• The successful candidate must have access to a form of transport which will enable them to fulfil the responsibilities of the job in full.

Successful applicants will be retained on a merit list for future opportunities arising.  

We would encourage you to check the spam within your email system for any relevant correspondence.

Selection Methodology

PSNI uses the Competency and Values Framework (CVF) which sets out nationally recognised behaviours and values to support all policing professionals.  You will be assessed against the values and at the competencies level as indicated below.  This will include both past and future focused questions.  Further guidance and information about the Competency and Values Framework (CVF) (2016 version) is available here on our website Competency and Values Framework (2016) .

Applicants meeting the eligibility criteria, essential qualifications, experience and clinical skills, knowledge and expertise will be required to demonstrate their experience for the following criteria:

Competency and Values Based Interview

Values

• Integrity
• Transparency
• Public Service 

Competencies – Level 3

• We take ownership
• We analyse critically
• We are collaborative