Clinical Officer (Locum)

Role Overview

This locum position places a licensed Clinical Officer at the front line of patient care, where you will assess, diagnose and treat patients across routine and urgent presentations while a permanent team member is away or during periods of high demand. You will carry your own caseload from consultation through to treatment and follow-up, making independent clinical decisions within your scope of practice and escalating to senior clinicians when a case requires it. Because coverage is short-term, your ability to slot into an existing team quickly, follow established protocols and keep patient records accurate from day one is what keeps service delivery uninterrupted.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct consultations by taking complete patient histories, performing physical examinations and arriving at a working diagnosis.
• Order and interpret basic diagnostic investigations, then initiate treatment plans in line with accepted clinical guidelines and facility protocols.
• Prescribe and administer medication, monitor patient response to treatment and adjust management where clinically indicated.
• Perform minor procedures within your scope of practice, such as wound cleaning and dressing, suturing, incision and drainage, and removal of foreign bodies.
• Recognise conditions beyond your level of care and prepare timely, well-documented referrals to hospitals, specialists or higher-level facilities.
• Manage emergencies by stabilising patients, initiating first-line treatment and coordinating onward transfer when required.
• Maintain accurate clinical records in the facility's registers and electronic systems, including notes, prescriptions, procedure logs and reports.
• Deliver health education and counselling to patients and their families, and uphold infection prevention and control standards in all clinical areas.
• Work alongside nurses, laboratory staff, pharmacists and other clinicians to keep patient flow smooth during busy clinic sessions.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Education: Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Surgery from a recognised training institution.
• Experience: 2–3 years of relevant clinical practice, including hands-on patient assessment, treatment and minor procedures.
• Licensing: A valid practising licence and current professional registration with the relevant clinical officers' regulatory body.
• Communication: Strong spoken and written communication skills, with the ability to explain diagnoses and treatment plans clearly to patients from varied backgrounds.
• Interpersonal skills: A collaborative, respectful manner when working with patients, caregivers and multidisciplinary colleagues.
• Independence: Proven ability to work with minimal supervision, prioritise competing demands and remain composed in a fast-paced clinical environment.
• Availability: Willingness and availability to work on a locum basis, including covering shifts at short notice as service needs arise.