About the Role
The Head Clinical Department at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital plays a pivotal role in shaping the healthcare landscape of KwaZulu-Natal, particularly in the surgical field. This esteemed position requires a leader who is passionate about enhancing clinical services across the region, including major centres like Durban, Pietermaritzburg, and Empangeni. The incumbent will be instrumental in promoting surgical excellence and coordinated patient care, ensuring that the community receives high-quality services that align with the National Development Plan.
In this role, you will not only manage clinical services but also lead research initiatives aimed at improving service delivery for surgical and gastroenterological diseases. Your contributions will have a lasting impact on the health outcomes of patients in Region 1 and beyond, making this a highly rewarding opportunity to serve your community through public service.
About the Department
The Department of Health is dedicated to providing comprehensive healthcare services to all South Africans. It is committed to improving the health and well-being of the population through effective service delivery, community outreach, and education. Working within this department means being part of a mission that prioritizes health equity, quality care, and innovative solutions to public health challenges. The work is meaningful and vital to the community, as it directly affects the lives of countless individuals and families.
What You’ll Do
- Oversee clinical services across multiple hospitals in Region 1, ensuring alignment with teaching platforms.
- Develop and implement research initiatives to enhance surgical service delivery.
- Coordinate specialist services and collaborate with the University of KwaZulu-Natal to improve education and training in surgery.
- Ensure adherence to health and safety regulations while promoting staff welfare.
- Engage in the administration of the School of Medicine and contribute to policy development and clinical protocols.
- Monitor adverse clinical events and implement strategies to enhance patient care.
- Develop outreach programs to regional hospitals in accordance with the KZN Department of Health’s initiatives.
What You’ll Need
- Registration as a Specialist Surgeon with the Health Professional Council of South Africa.
- A minimum of seven years of experience in clinical management as a Specialist Surgeon, including gastroenterological surgery.
- Proven research experience with at least five publications in peer-reviewed journals.
- A PhD or equivalent qualification is highly desirable.
- Strong leadership, administrative, and management skills.
- Excellent communication and networking capabilities.
- Ability to navigate the Public Finance Management Act and its implications for budgeting.
- Valid driver’s license and computer literacy.
How to Apply
All applications must be addressed to the Human Resources Manager and should be placed in the application box situated at Security at the entrance to the Management Building at IALCH or to [email protected].
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Requirements
Registration with the Health Professional Council of South Africa as a Specialist Surgeon / MMed, and/or FCS (SA) or equivalent, and registration in the Sub- specialist category of Gastroenterological Surgery (Cert Gastroenterology (SA) 127 Surg and a demonstrated record of research experience (5 or more publications in peer reviewed journals) and /or evidence of supervision of registrars /fellows (3 or more candidates)A minimum of seven (7) years’ experience after registration with the HPCSA as a Specialist Surgeon and Sub- specialist GI Surgery must include experience in clinical management as a clinical head of unit or equivalent.Additional Qualification: A PhD or equivalent.
Evidence of quality teaching and learning practice.
Evidence of management and administrative skills.
Computer literacy AND A valid driver' s licence.
Knowledge.
Skills.
Training and Competence Required: Clinical, procedural and training skills.
Counselling and conflict resolution skills.
Leadership, administration, management skills, programme planning, strategic planning supported by evidence of experience in these areas.
Assessment of patients within his/her field of expertise.
Ability to communicate at a higher level.
Ability to network with management at all levels within the Provincial structures.
Knowledge and an understanding of the Public Finance Management Act and its implications for departmental budgeting.
Knowledge and an understanding of the Postgraduate Education regulations and requirements as determined by the Health Professions Council of South Africa, the College of Surgeons of South Africa and the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
A high level of knowledge of the field of hepatic, colorectal or pancreatic surgery.
Job Duties
On the clinical side, incumbents will manage clinical services in an extended area of the province, which promotes the provision of clinical services for Region 1 and beyond the major metropolitan centres.The incumbent would be expected to apportion their time and energy appropriately between the major centres to develop the teaching/service platform (Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Empangeni, Stanger and Port Shepstone) for surgery.
The incumbent will also develop research initiatives, which focus on the enhancement of service delivery in the context of the burden of surgical and related gastroenterological disease.
The incumbent should also ensure that clinical services in Region 1 are co-ordinated and these are in line with the teaching platform of the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Through this, we will increase equity of service delivery, and enhance the development of our decentralised training platform in line with the needs arising from the National Development Plan.
Involvement in relevant administration structures of the School of Medicine, UKZN in coordination with the HoD Surgery and the Dean.
Contribute to the co- ordination of specialist services ensuring the development and the implementation of policies and clinical protocols that will impact positively on the clinical outcomes, access to services and devolving services to distant ; the monitoring and evaluation of adverse events and ensuring the implementation of plans to address these events; mortality and morbidity reviews are conducted within the institution and other hospitals in the catchment areas; cost effective approaches to clinical care.
Undertake postgraduate and relevant undergraduate training, teaching and examinations in the field of Specialised Surgery.
Coordinate services and teaching with the Heads of units at the Regional hospitals in Region 1.
Ensure that the environment complies with the Health and Safety Act, that staff adhere to the safety precautions and that staff welfare is maintained to attain optimal performance.
Develop outreach programmes to the relevant regional hospitals in Region 1 in line with the KZN Department of Health's Outreach Programme.
Develop audit tool to assess the Outreach Programme of the department and report these to Academic Head of Department of Surgery and the CEO’s office.
