Senior Medical Officer

Job description

There are currently two posts available:

• One permanent whole-time vacancy available in Community Medicine Department, Markievicz House Barrack Street Sligo.

• One permanent whole-time vacancy available in St. Conal's Campus, Letterkenny, Co Donegal.

Informal Enquiries

Markievicz House Barrack Street Sligo 

Cathriona Walsh, Senior Medical Officer

Phone: 071 9155122

Email: [email protected]

St. Conal's Campus, Letterkenny 

Edel Quinn, General Manager

Phone: 074 9197141

Email: [email protected]

Details of Service

The successful candidates will work as part of a multi-disciplinary teams delivering a coordinated approach to client care in the area.  The SMO will be expected to maintain competence in all areas relating to the post and keep a record of CPD.

Senior Medical Officers work closely with departments of Public Health Nursing, GPs, Paediatricians, Speech and Language Therapists, OTs, audiology services, ophthalmology services, Disability Services, Tusla, The Early Intervention Team, PCRS and the National Immunisation Office.

Community Medical Doctors are very involved in the school based immunisation programmes. Immunisation is one of the most cost-effective ways of reducing childhood morbidity and mortality. They oversee and coordinate the primary immunisation programme. They are expected to participate in educational programmes on immunisation with a view to having the knowledge to support the GP delivered immunisation programme.

Community Medical Doctors will:

• Provide neonatal BCG service directly to targeted groups when BCG vaccine is available again in Ireland. Training on the administration of intradermal vaccines will be provided to the Senior Medical Officers.

• Provide a Mantoux Screening Service as per national guidelines prior to BCG vaccination as well as on written request from GPs, Hospital Doctors and Occupational Health Physicians.

• Provide and deliver targeted immunisation services for socially excluded groups such as refugee/asylum seekers and participate at the local Traveller Group Meetings in an effort to further enhance services to this group.

• Be involved in child health screening and surveillance for the preschool and primary school child. This is in the form of 2nd tier clinics.

• Provide second tier child health clinics and provide medical assessments for early intervention and disability services.

• Provide Community Audiology clinics following PHN screening at 2nd tier Audiology Clinics.

• Support the foster Care service by attending meetings and providing medical assessments on potential foster Parents.

• Support ADOS assessments under the Disability Act in conjunction with the Early Intervention Team.

• Carry out the medical assessment of grants and allowances administered by the HSE, and Revenue Commissioners and determine clients medical eligibility for said grants and allowances. They provide an Allowances Appeals process for those deemed non-eligible. 

• Provide medical assessment for long term illness cards, discretionary medical cards, aids & appliances as well as hardship drugs.

The Senior Medical Officer will actively participate in audit and service development suitable for the needs of service users in the 21st century.

Reporting Relationship

The Senior Medical Officer will report to the Principal Medical Officer or Lead SMO until the PMO post is filled. 

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

The successful applicant will be expected to take ownership of and prioritise a selected number of duties as the service requires. The Senior Medical Officer will support the Principal Medical Officer in carrying out specific functions designated by the Principal Medical Officer as appropriate to the office. 

Company Description

The HSE is the largest employer in Ireland, with over 100,000 employees. More than 67,000 are direct employees, the remainder are employed by agencies funded by the HSE. The HSE aims to be an Employer of Choice, and offers a wide range of challenging career opportunities that enable our staff to make an important contribution to the health services, to public service and to the lives of everyone living in Ireland.