Clinical Lead - Palliative Care

Job Title: Clinical Lead - Palliative Care

Dept: Medical Directorate

Reporting to: Deputy Medical Director, or nominee

Base: 15 Hogan Place, Dublin 2 D02 DK23/ Hybrid Working

Contract type: Fixed Term - 12 months with renewal possible depending on funding

Working hours: 2 days per week

Application closing date: 11th November 12pm

About the College

The Irish College of GPs is the professional body for general practice in Ireland. Please visit our website for more information: Irish College of GPs

The Irish College of GP’s is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to ensuring that all job applicants and employees receive equal treatment regardless of gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race, membership of the Traveller community, or any other protected characteristic under Irish equality legislation. We are committed to making reasonable accommodations to enable applicants to participate in the job application and interview process. Please email hr@icgp.ieto confidently discuss any accommodations required.

About the Palliative Care

The Office of the Chief Clinical Officer (CCO) was established as part of an overall investment by the HSE to strengthen governance and accountability for the planning and delivery of high-quality services with the aim of driving transformational change across our healthcare system through clinical leadership, design of new models of care, promotion of culture of safety and quality improvement; through patient and service user involvement.

Following a review process the agreed governance and leadership arrangements required to support the Clinical Programmes will include a new Clinical Reform Office and four new National Offices:

Led by a Clinical Lead, each of the National Clinical Programmes plays an important role in development of clinical designs [such as models of care, frameworks and pathways] and support their implementation. They will play an increasingly important and effective role in improving population health through consideration of health and wellbeing organisation objectives. They have a significant role in quality improvement and designing cross-service solutions and integrated care pathways to support safe, equitable access to care in the appropriate setting.

The work of the NCP for Palliative Care is led by the Programme Team – Clinical Lead (0.5WTE), Nurse Lead (1.0)WTE, HSCP Lead (0.5WTE), Programme Manager (1.0WTE) – all appointed and GP Lead (0.4WTE), through the Working Group of the NCPPC, in concert with the HSE Lead for Palliative Care, Access & Integration, the Older Persons’ Unit of the Department of Health, the Irish College of GPs and across the healthcare sector.

The implementation of the recommendations and activities stipulated within the 2025/’26 Implementation Plan for the 2024 National Adult Palliative Care Policy and the development of the 2027/’28 Implementation Plan are cornerstones of the NCPPC’s work.

Job Purpose

To support the National Clinical Programme for Palliative Care in delivering its strategic priorities, including implementation of the 2025/26 Implementation Plan and development of the 2027/28 Implementation Plan. The role will work collaboratively with the Programme Team, HSE, Department of Health, Irish College of GPs and wider healthcare stakeholders to support the development and implementation of high-quality, safe, equitable and integrated palliative care models, pathways and service improvements.

Key Result Areas

The responsibilities of the GP Lead in relation to the National Adult Palliative Care Policy will include to contribute and collaborate with others to support the implementation of (but not limited to) the following activities:

1. Promote the learning from models of anticipatory and advance care planning and scale successful models of implementation.

2. Develop service design considerations for those with dementia as a module within the Model of Care.

3. Develop Model of Care module on service design considerations for people with intellectual disabilities.

4. Develop Model of Care module on service design considerations for Adolescent and Young Adult palliative care services.

5. Promote synergistic working between the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council-registered practitioners, GP and primary care services, and specialist palliative care.

6. Engage with GPs to develop principles of best practice in the provision of primary palliative care.

7. As part of a team, design, test, and scale rapid/urgent response models of palliative care provision.

8. As part of a team, complete a review of international models of primary palliative care provision to inform the ongoing development of principles of best practice, and Model of Care.)

Person specification

The ideal candidate will have the following knowledge, skills, expertise and competencies:

Essential Qualifications & experience

• Be a medically qualified health professional, holding the MICGP qualification, and be a current member of the College in good standing.

• Be registered with the Irish Medical Council of Ireland on the Specialist Division for General Practice.

• Be enrolled on and in compliance with the Irish College of GPs Professional Competence Scheme.

• Have 10 years postgraduate medical experience in general practice in Ireland.

• Concurrently hold a part time clinical appointment equivalent to a minimum of four sessions of clinical general practice per week.

• GMS Contract Holder.

Essential Behavioural competencies

• Have demonstrated leadership skills and promoted change in practice either locally or in the wider health network.

• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships and advocate for the patient.

• Competent negotiator with excellent communication skills

• Ability to design and deliver GP education through a range of formats and media.

• Proven ability to evaluate and audit projects.

• Demonstrable understanding of common issues and challenges in Palliative Care