Consultant Geriatrician

Go back County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 30 September 2026

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

The Frailty SDEC is a dedicated acute secondary care service operating from 8am to 8pm. It is led by consultant geriatricians and supported by 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 Assessment Team. Direct admission is also promoted to avoid ED altogether.

The H@H service is a consultant-led virtual ward model that delivers acute hospital-level care in the patients own home. It operates through a step-up and step-down approach

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

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 H@H.

Supporting the Frailty SDEC H@H 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 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 inservice delivery aligned with national strategies, including the NHS 10-Year Plan.

Maintaining continuing professional development in line withthe RCP guidance.

Acting as an educational and clinical supervisor for Resident doctors.

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

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

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

The service is transitioning to 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 established outpatient clinic commitments.

The post holder will be expected to participate on the Frailty SDEC service, working within a fully integrated MDT, with CGA being central to delivering holistic and patient centred care. The service operates with an ethos of discharge is the rule andadmission is an exception, supported by a well-established, consultant-led Hospital 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 providing direct 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…