JOB TITLE: Clinical Fellow in Oncology

TRANSPLANTATION AND
DIVISION:
SPECIALIST SERVICES
SPECIALTY: Oncology
NAME OF LINE MANAGER: Dr Mark PRENTICE
LOCATION: ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL

Directly: N/A
MANAGES:
Indirectly: N/A
JOB SUMMARY:
Applications are invited for Clinical Fellow in Renal Cancer to work within the Academic
Oncology Department at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. The 12 month
post combines 6 months as a Clinical Fellow (covering oncology and palliative care
inpatients), and 6 months as a Renal Fellow (also supporting oncology outpatient
clinics). It is anticipated that this role will allow the successful candidate to experience a
wide range of oncology disciplines which would greatly enhance an application for
higher medical training.

2 posts are available from August 2023, for 12months. Posts are based at the Royal
Free Hospital, Hampstead, London, on a full time basis from 1st August 2023.

Renal Fellow (6m: no on call commitment)

This established post undertakes a leading role in the Renal Cancer group, in
partnership with fellow members of the oncology, immunology and urology teams,
with responsibilities for patient care and recruitment into clinical trials.

The appointee plays a key role in building a world class clinical and academic renal
cancer service at the Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust and allows for the
development of clinical and academic skills in renal cancer oncology. The post includes
exposure to radiation therapies, including renal SABR. It is anticipated that, part of the
renal fellow role will include developing a robust renal cancer patient database which
may require working alongside the clinical fellow.

This job description outlines the current main responsibilities of the post. However
the duties of the post may change and develop over time and may therefore be
amended in consultation with the post holder.

MON TUE WED THU FRI

AM Clinical trials Renal Renal MDT Research/Project Team
support Outpatient time meeting
clinic Teaching
 PM Research/project Clinic admin MDT Research/Project Ward round/
time Renal time AOS cover
outpatient or admin
clinic

Clinical Fellow (6m: 1b on call supplement)

For 6 months of the rotation, the post holder will join the ward team comprised of 2
FY1s, 1 IMT2, 1 IMT3, an Oncology Consultant and a physician’s assistant. They will
liaise closely with the palliative care and wider multidisciplinary team regarding the
day to day care of inpatients on a dedicated oncology ward. During this period they
will liaise closely with the Teaching Fellow to coordinate ward based undergraduate
teaching for the MBBS students, and also be responsible for organising postgraduate
teaching for the ward teams.

This post also contributes to the full shift IMT1/2 level on call rota. All medical
patients who require hospital admission are admitted under the medical team and are
then transferred to the appropriate ward – for oncology patients this is based on 11E.
This medical model runs a ward based care system. After 8pm there is a Hospital at
Night medical model providing cover for inpatients, which the JCF and IMT trainees
contribute to.

The 6 month post on the wards is educationally approved and the clinical fellows are
encouraged to attend the same teaching and training opportunities as their IMT
colleagues, including formal educational supervision. They have a protected study
leave budget available to fund appropriate courses or attendance at conferences
which is equivalent to their IMT colleagues. The junior fellows are expected to
present at least one first author abstract at a national meeting during this post, and to
contribute to quality improvement projects/audits. It is anticipated that, part of the
clinical fellow role will include developing a robust renal cancer patient database which
will require working alongside the renal fellow.

Further information
Interested applicants can obtain further information and arrange informal visits by
contacting:
Dr Mark Prentice, Consultant Oncologist and Training and Education Lead for
Oncology
020 7830 2169
[email protected]
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust World Class Values
The post holder will offer World Class Care to service users, staff, colleagues, clients
and patients alike so that everyone at the Royal Free can feel:

 all of the time Confident because we are clearly

 and cared for  that they are always in safe hands

About us

The Royal Free began as a pioneering organisation and continues to play a leading
role among UK hospital trusts. Established in 1828 by William Marsden, a newly
qualified surgeon shocked that he could not find treatment for a penniless young
woman, we were the first to provide care free of charge and the only London hospital
to stay open during the 19th-century cholera epidemics.

In the 21st century, we continue to lead improvements in healthcare, from targeted

cancer therapies to new kinds of surgery. We offer an exceptionally wide range of
local and specialist services, including cancer, plastic and neurosurgery, blood
disorders and infectious diseases and are proud to have some of the best clinical
outcomes in the country.

On 1 July 2014, we became one of the largest trusts in the UK by acquiring Barnet
and Chase Farm hospitals. Our trust has around 10, 000 staff serving 1.6 million
patients. We provide care at Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital, the Royal Free
Hospital and more than 30 services in the community. This larger scale organisation
provides an unprecedented opportunity to continue our pioneering work, particularly
in finding ways to deliver even better care to our patients.

We are a campus of UCL Medical School and conduct important medical research.
We also train doctors, nurses, midwives and many other clinical and non-clinical
professionals. We helped to set up the academic health science centre,
UCLPartners.

Our mission is to be in the top 10 per cent of English hospitals for clinical quality,
customer satisfaction, staff satisfaction and financial performance. We want to give
patients the best possible care in a safe, clean and welcoming environment.

Our commitment is to offer world class care so everyone at the Royal Free can feel
welcomed all the time, respected and cared for, confident because we are
communicating clearly and reassured that patients are in safe hands.
The University College London Medical School

University College London is the largest of over 50 colleges and institutes which
make up the federal University of London and is consistently rated as one of the
U.K.’s premier academic institutions. The University College Medical School is a
general medical school in the Faculty of Medicine of the University of London, formed
on 1 August 1998 by the merger of the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine and
University College School of Medicine. A joint Department of Medicine, with around
400 staff, has existed between the two Schools since January 1994. The
Department encompasses a broad range of basic and clinical research programmes
and undertakes teaching of undergraduates and postgraduates. The post holder
would be welcome to join in undergraduate and post-graduate teaching.

Research and Development

Research and development is a major component of the Royal Free London NHS
Foundation Trust strategy and reflects the Trust’s desire to maintain its position as
one of the top ten trusts for R&D income in the UK. The research efforts of the Trust
and Medical School are closely integrated and there are extensive facilities for both
clinical and basis science research. An audit system for quality in R&D was
introduced during 1998 and reflects an individual’s commitment to this area.
Oncology Services

The Department of Oncology within the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
comprises of consultants in Medical Oncology, Clinical Oncology and Palliative Care
(see following table).

Medical Oncology
Dr Roopinder Gilmore Gastrointestinal Cancer, CUP

Prof Tim Meyer Hepatobiliary Cancers, Neuroendocrine tumours

Gastrointestinal Cancer
Phase I Trials
Dr Rob Goldstein GI
AOS
Dr Dan Krell GI and AOS (BH)

Dr Judy King Breast cancer

(Service Line Lead) AOS
Dr Jackie Newby Breast Cancer

Dr Amna Sheri Breast cancer, melanoma and AOS

Dr Ekaterini Boleti Renal and Lung cancers

Biological therapies
Professor Tom Powles Renal cancer

Dr Tanya Ahmed AOS and Lung cancer (Barnet and UCLH)

Dr Alex Pender Lung and Melanoma

Clinical Oncology
Dr Sarah Needleman Breast Cancer
(Radiotherapy Lead)
Dr Mark Prentice Urology,

Dr Arun Kar Gastrointestinal Cancer

Skin Cancer
Thyroid Cancer
Dr Hemal Ariyaratne Lung and GI

Dr Swee Wong (locum) Lung and GI

Dr Matthew Chiu (locum) Breast Cancer

Dr Amy Clifford (Locum) Urology

Palliative Care
Dr Philip Lodge
Dr Rachel Craig

There are 6 specialist registrars (3 clinical oncology/3 medical oncology). Junior

support is provided as part of a partial shift system. During standard working hours,
this comprises 2 ST2s or equivalent with the support of up to 2 FY1 doctors. Night–
time junior cover is provided by a shared haematology/oncology ST1+ equivalent
with the support of the Hospital at Night team. The SpRs do not work over-night,
having an on-call rota providing a twilight shift (to 7pm) during the week, and 9am-
7pm cover at weekends. The Consultant On-call rota supports this team with mainly
telephone advice (Category B).
In-patients are managed by the consultant of the week and the acute oncology
service led by a Consultant and a CNS. Clinical Nurse Specialists cover the majority
of tumour types. A Nurse Consultant in Palliative Care and a Radiotherapy Services
Manager further supports the division. The department is supported by a large
research team comprising research nurses, research practitioners and data
managers.
Inpatients are managed on a dedicated oncology ward (11East), which is staffed by a
Matron and supported by Senior Staff Nurses and oncology trained staff. There is a
dedicated Oncology Outpatient Department staffed by trained oncology nurses. The
Finchley Memorial hospital provides day case chemotherapy administration, practical
procedures, and complementary therapies staffed by oncology/haematology
specialist nurses and other specialist professionals. Clinical trial patients receive
systemic therapies on the oncology ward, 11East.

Educational Programme

The education programme within the department includes the following regular
meetings:

Day MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

0830 0800 0845 0800
Anal MDM Hepatobiliary Oncology Urology
(weekly) MDM Teaching MDM
(Path Sem Seminar (weekly)
Room, (Onc Sem
weekly) Room,
weekly)
0845 0845 0830 0930 1300
Upper GI Radiotherapy Lower GI Dermatology Junior
MDT Planning MDM MDM (Path doctor
(weekly) Teaching (Onc Sem Sem Room, teaching
(Basement, Room, weekly)
weekly) weekly)
0900
CUP MDM
(Onc Sem
Room,
weekly)
0930
Renal MDM
(Onc Sem
Room,
weekly)
 1530 1300
Lung MDM Thyroid MDM
(Path Sem (Path Sem
Room, Room, weeks
weekly 2 and 4)

Main duties and responsibilities

 Professional / Clinical responsibilities

- The focus of this post will be on supporting the clinical and preclinical renal
cancer research teams. The post will consist of both clinical and laboratory
based commitments, which will be based on the Royal Free Campus. The
post may include a proportion of time managing other urology cancers, where
deemed relevant.
- The post holder is expected to recruit patients into clinical and translational
studies. They will participate in the management of patients within these
clinical trials as well as other patients with urinary tract cancer within the trust.
The post holder is expected to lead and/or participate in collaborative
decision-making within the multidisciplinary oncology team and the research
team.
- Associated clinical responsibilities include dealing with both routine and
emergency patient review in outpatient clinics and on inpatient wards,
organizing and managing administration duties related to outpatient clinics,
planning and prescribing of chemotherapy and other protocol-specific
treatments, accurate record-keeping in medical case notes and clinical trial
documentation, and enabling inter-disciplinary management.
- The post holder must at all times ensure that GCP guidelines are maintained
and that Research Governance Standards are adhered to. This includes
monitoring the quality of own work and the work of others within the research
team.
- The post holder is expected to educate patients, relatives and staff as
necessary, for example ensuring patients and their families receive accurate
information regarding potential complications of trial-related treatments i.e.
cytotoxic chemotherapy, targeted therapy and radiotherapy.
- The post holder will be expected to participate in the translational oncology
group led by Professor Powles at the UCL laboratories bases at the Royal
Free Hospital Campus.

 Management and Leadership

- The post holder is expected to supervise staff involved in the research
programmes and participate in the clinical and laboratory based research
teams.

 Education & Professional Development

- Demonstrates specialist skills, knowledge and expertise in general medicine,
medical oncology and research clinical practice.
- Skills, experience and knowledge in general medicine and interest in medical
oncology and research
- Exercises professional accountability and responsibility in changing
environments across professional boundaries.
- Acts as a role model to others.
 - Proactive in ongoing training and development by identifying personal and
education needs which are essential for fulfilling the role to maximum effect.
- You will allocated an appropriate educational supervisor for this post to
facilitate the maintenance of a suitable portfolio to support ongoing appraisal
and revalidation.

 Risk & Governance Management

- The post holder is required to familiarise him/herself with and comply with the
Trust’s policies and procedures
- The post holder must at all times respect patient confidentiality and in
particular the confidentiality of electronically stored personal data in line with
the requirements of the Data Protection Act (1998)
- The post holder must be aware of individual responsibilities under the Health
& Safety at Work Act and identify and report as necessary any untoward
accident, incident or potentially hazardous environment
- The post holder is expected to monitor work areas and practices and ensures
that they are safe and free from hazards, conform to health safety and
security legislation, policies, procedures and IATA guidelines

 Service Development
- Acts as a clinical resource in research activities to clinical areas including the
inpatient wards, outpatient oncology clinics, day units and Radiotherapy
Department.
- Ensures compliance with clinical trial protocols..
- Work with the basic science group as a translational focus.

The job description is not intended to be exhaustive and it is likely that duties may be
altered from time to time in the light of changing circumstances and after consultation
with the potholder.

The post holder might be required to work across the Trust at any time throughout
the duration of his/her contract, which may entail travel and working at different
hospital.

Effort, skills and working conditions

Physical The post holder will require the physical skills and capabilities to
skills perform the duties and responsibilities outlined for the role.
Physical The post holder will regularly undertake clinical and office based
effort activities assigned to the role and will potentially also undertake
laboratory work
Mental effort Mental effort attributed to the role may increase to meet deadlines
from trial sponsors or during times of Audit or Inspection
Emotional Care of patients with cancer and their families can place an
effort emotional toll on staff. The post holder will require sufficient abilities
to cope with the emotional demands of the role.
Working The post holder will work in both clinical and office environments.
conditions Clinical environments will include administering chemotherapy to
patients. The post holder might also undertake laboratory work.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Infection Control
Infection control is everyone’s responsibility. All staff, both clinical and non clinical,
are required to adhere to the Trust’s Infection Prevention and Control policies and
procedures and the Health Act (2006) Code of Practice for the prevention and control
healthcare associated infections and make every effort to maintain high standards of
infection control at all times thereby reducing the risk of Healthcare Associated
infections.

It is the duty of every member of staff to take personal responsibility for the
prevention and control of infection, as laid down in the Trust’s polices and procedures
which reflect the statutory requirements of the Hygiene Code.
 To work in close collaboration with the Infection Control Team.
 To ensure that monitoring of clinical practice is undertaken at the agreed
frequency.
 To ensure that the ward environments are cleaned and maintained to the
highest standards; ensuring that shortfalls are rectified, or escalate as
necessary.
 To ensure that all relevant monitoring data and issues are provided to the
Directorate’s Governance structures.
 To ensure that all staff are released to attend infection control-related
educational sessions and staff with specialist roles, e.g. link practitioners, are
released to undertake their duties.

Health and Safety at Work

The post holder is required to:
 Take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself/herself and other
persons who may be affected by their actions or omissions at work.
 Co-operate with the employer in ensuring that all statutory and other
requirements are complied with.

Confidentiality & Data Protection

The post holder has a responsibility to comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 and
maintain confidentiality of staff, patients and Trust business.
If you are required to process information, you should do so in a fair and lawful way,
ensuring accuracy is maintained. You should hold information only for the specific
registered purpose and not use or disclose it in any way incompatible with such a
purpose.

You should disclose information only to authorized persons or organizations as

instructed. Breaches of confidentiality in relation to information will result in
disciplinary action, which may include dismissal. Employees are expected to comply
with all Trust policies and procedures and to work in accordance of the Data
Protection Act 1998. For those posts where there is management or supervision of
other staff it is the responsibility of that employee to ensure that their staff receives
appropriate training (e.g. HISS induction, organizing refresher sessions for staff when
necessary.)

Conflict of Interest
The Trust is responsible for ensuring that the services for patients in its care meet the
highest standards. Equally, it is responsible for ensuring that staff do not abuse their
official position, to gain or benefit themselves, their family or friends.

Equality and Diversity

The Trust values equality and diversity in employment and in the services we
provide. It is committed to promoting equality and diversity in employment and will
keep under review our policies and procedures to ensure that the job related needs
of all staff working in the Trust are recognized. The Trust aims to ensure that all job
applicants, employees or clients are treated fairly and valued equally regardless of
sex, marital status, domestic circumstances, age, race, colour, disablement, ethnic or
national origin, social background or employment status, sexual orientation, religion,
beliefs, HIV status, gender reassignment, political affiliation or trade union
membership. Selection for training and development and promotion will be on the
basis of the individual’s ability to meet the requirements for the job.

All staff are responsible for ensuring that the Trust’s policies, procedures and
obligation in respect of promoting equality and diversity are adhered to in relation to
both staff and services.

Vulnerable Groups
 To carry out responsibilities in such a away as to minimize risk of harm to
children, young people and vulnerable adults and to promote their welfare in
accordance with the Children Act 2004, Working Together to Safeguard Children
(2006) and No Secrets guidance (DH 2000).
 To demonstrate an understanding of and adhere to the trust’s child protection
policies.

No Smoking
The Trust implemented a No Smoking Policy, which applies to all staff. Staff
contravening this policy will be subject to disciplinary procedures.

Standards of dress
All staff are expected to abide by the Trust’s guidance on standards of dress.

Further information
Interested applicants can obtain further information and arrange informal visits by
contacting:
Dr Mark Prentice – Training and Education Lead, Dept of Oncology
020 7830 2169
[email protected]