Job Summary
The Lead Anaesthetist is a senior medical role responsible for overseeing all aspects of anaesthesia services within the hospital, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, and patient-cantered care. This role involves providing clinical leadership to the anaesthesia team, managing the administration of anaesthesia during surgical and diagnostic procedures, and ensuring that all practices adhere to the highest standards of care and safety.
The Lead Anaesthetist is responsible for developing and implementing protocols and guidelines for the administration of anaesthesia, including preoperative assessments, intraoperative management, and postoperative care. This involves working closely with surgeons, operating room staff, and other healthcare professionals to coordinate care and ensure that patients receive the appropriate type and level of anaesthesia for their specific needs.
In addition to clinical duties, the Lead Anaesthetist plays a key role in the education and training of junior anaesthetists and other medical staff. This includes providing mentorship, conducting training sessions, and ensuring that all members of the anaesthesia team are up to date with the latest techniques, medications, and safety protocols.
The Lead Anaesthetist is also involved in quality improvement initiatives, working to enhance patient safety, improve outcomes, and reduce the incidence of complications related to anaesthesia. This includes monitoring key performance indicators, reviewing clinical outcomes, and leading efforts to implement new technologies and practices that improve the quality of care.
As a senior member of the medical staff, the Lead Anaesthetist must also engage in strategic planning and decision-making processes within the hospital, contributing to the development of policies and practices that enhance the overall effectiveness of surgical and procedural services.
This position requires extensive clinical experience in anaesthesia, strong leadership skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team. The Lead Anaesthetist must be highly organized, able to manage multiple priorities, and committed to maintaining the highest standards of patient care in a complex and dynamic healthcare environment.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership:
• To be accountable for the delivery of key performance indicators relating to the organisation whilst striving for continuous improvement.
• To lead the Department by displaying resilience whilst maintaining a safe environment for all organization’s members
• Provide clinical leadership to the anaesthesia team, including anaesthetists, nurse anaesthetists, and support staff.
• Serve as the primary consultant for all anaesthesia-related matters, guiding clinical decisions and practices.
Strategic Development
• Develop and implement strategic initiatives to enhance anaesthesia services, including the adoption of new technologies and techniques.
• Collaborate with surgical and procedural departments to optimize patient care pathways and improve outcomes.
• Provide clear and concise leadership for the team to ensure that all facilities are outstanding environments, which are safe for the use of staff to the highest quality delivery of services to patients and external visitors.
• Responsible for delivering excellent patient focused facilities, which take into account any staff and any feedback from staff and patients.
Governance
• Ensure correct governances arrangements, which include the management of finance and regulatory activity where appropriate.
• Making sure that all facilities functions comply with the governance standards.
• Ensuring that all facilities processes follow the correct guidelines from a governance standpoint.
• Ensure that all anaesthesia practices comply with hospital policies, regulatory standards, and best practices.
• Oversee the development and adherence to clinical protocols for preoperative assessments, anaesthesia administration, and postoperative care.
Other Responsibilities
• Participate in the planning and execution of complex and high-risk procedures, providing expert anaesthesia management.
• Lead quality improvement initiatives aimed at reducing complications and enhancing patient safety in anaesthesia care.
• Offer advisory expertise to senior members/managers in relation to any issues relating to the department.
• Provide regular updates to management and the board.
• Continue to work and develop to acquire further skills appropriate to the post where necessary. This could be in the form of extra educational qualifications/accreditations.
Equity and Diversity
• Act as lead for Equity & Diversity in the department to ensure the development and effective implementation of a strategy, set of policies, procedures and monitoring and control systems are in place.
Personal and Staff Development
• Work with HR to undertake recruitment, retention, performance management and development of staff in the team.
• Work with the Recruitment Manager to establish connections with appropriate local, international and online communities to nurture a pipeline of talent to support the growth of the company.
• Responsible for development of high potential employees, providing a structured approach to mentoring and developing critical talent at all levels of management.
Communications And Working Relationships
• Collaborate with surgeons, operating room staff, and other healthcare professionals to ensure coordinated and effective care delivery.
• Communicate with patients and families, explaining anaesthesia procedures, addressing concerns, and providing postoperative care instructions.
• Establish credibility throughout the organisation and set an example as a proactive senior leader and change agent who earns respect by demonstrating a sound understanding of the departments’ objectives and goals.
• Collaborate with the COO and divisional Heads to determine short- and long-term needs of the Department.
• Develop and present updates to the Board of Directors.
Line Management
• Supervise the anaesthesia team, including conducting performance evaluations, overseeing professional development, and managing schedules.
• Provide mentorship and training to junior anaesthetists, fostering a culture of continuous learning and excellence.
• Develop and maintain the department with the appropriate mix of business knowledge and technical skills required to achieve strategic objectives and ensure the core functions of the department are reliable, stable and efficient.
• Provide strong leadership to develop, coach and ensure a high performing team.
• Establish the department goals, objectives and operating procedures.
Organizational Responsibilities
• Report to the Clinical Director of Cardiovascular Services, contributing to the hospital’s overall strategic planning and clinical governance.
• Participate in hospital committees focused on surgical services, patient safety, and clinical outcomes, representing the anesthesia department.
• Work with the senior management team to look for new related improvements.
• Provide solutions and services to the business that retain and increase a competitive advantage within the sector.
• Evaluate, select, and implement modern technology/ systems needed to support the organization in reaching its strategic objectives.
Confidentiality
The post holder must be aware that Confidential Information and data to which the post holder will have knowledge and access to in the course of their employment with the AMCE is to be kept confidential, and this confidentiality is a condition of employment. The duty to maintain confidentiality continues even when the post holder is no longer employed.
This information is not to be shared with anyone outside of the AMCE under any circumstances, except to the extent necessary to fulfil any duties and responsibilities required within the role. Furthermore, upon termination with the AMCE Abuja, the post holder will return to the AMCE all confidential information held.
General
The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety, and well-being and that of work colleagues, visitors, and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
To observe the rules, policies, procedures, and standards of AMCE together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients, staff and visitors.
To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.
All employees must hold an AMCE email account, which will be the AMCE's formal route for email communication. You are therefore required to check this regularly and to deal with such communication promptly.
Infection Control Statement
The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to make to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene requirements of this role. These requirements are set out in the AMCE Code of Practice on Infection Control and in local policies and procedures, which will be made clear during your induction and subsequent refresher training. These standards must be complied with at all times.
ATTRIBUTES
ESSENTIAL
DESIRABLE
Qualifications Graduate from a recognised medical school
Fellowship or equivalent in anaesthesia.
Full registration with license to practice in home medical council.
Meeting all requirement to register with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. Experience in quality improvement, research, training and education
Experience as the head of department or in healthcare leadership position
Experience At least 7 years' experience as a full-time consultant anaesthetist in a busy hospital
Experience managing issues and identifying any potential risk to strategy
Evidence of successfully implementing strategy with allocated budget/resources
Management and Leadership Inspirational and visible leader, with first class communication skills, capable of engaging audiences at all levels
Ability to think and act strategically, developing practical, innovative and creative solutions to the management of issues and complex problems related to the department
Ability to identify opportunities to improve business outcomes through partnership at all levels
Well-developed management skills, with the ability to build and lead large teams
Highly effective influencing and negotiating skills, with the ability to develop partnerships and alliances across a diverse range of stakeholders
Politically astute and resilient, with the ability to manage conflict and ambiguity
Outcome focused, with the capability and tenacity to drive the agenda forward
Financially literate and commercially astute, with a sophisticated understanding of commercially orientated performance and financial management including contract management
Shares the AMCE’s vision and values
Commitment to clinical governance / improving quality of patient care
Personal attributes Professional attitude towards work
Shares the AMCE’s vision
Proactive and organised
Commitment to clinical governance / improving quality of patient care
Has personal and professional credibility and commands the respect of colleagues' peers
Is supportive and approachable and capable of inspiring confidence in staff members
Commitment to caring for others
Ability to adapt to living in a new country and new culture accordingly
High levels of honesty and integrity
Languages All applicants to have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English that are adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues Skills in languages other than English
AMCE Values Able to demonstrate an understanding of the AMCE’s values
Commitment to uphold the AMCE’s values