Job summary
Band 8A Clinical Scientist, Point of Care Testing
We are looking for an enthusiastic and dynamic HCPC-registered Clinical Scientist, having attained or be actively working towards attaining Part 1 FRCPath, to join our award-winning and energetic Point of Care Testing (POCT) team at Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services. BSPS is a large network of NHS laboratories serving 5 acute NHS Trusts: Ashford & St Peter's Hospitals, Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Berkshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust and Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust.
This is a new post, developed to give clinical support to the integration of Surrey and Sussex Trust POCT (SASH) into the network, to champion community POCT to maximise patient and system benefits, and to uphold and continuously improve the quality and governance of the service. The post-holder will work closely with the POCT Consultant Clinical Scientist and the 2 other clinical scientists to regularly engage with the clinical teams of the Trusts and ICSs to support clinical aspects of POCT implementations and ongoing service, to respond and evaluate requests for additional and new POCT equipment and to lead on continuous quality improvement. The post holder will be encouraged to explore, with clinical staff, the use of POCT equipment to improve patient care, support and enable pathways and empower outreach and community services.
Main duties of the job
Band 8A Clinical Scientist, Point of Care Testing
The POCT team is a clinically-led by a Consultant Clinical Scientist, and includes 3 other Clinical Scientists, a team of Biomedical Scientists with a background in multiple pathology disciplines, associate practitioners and administration support, forming a strong, supportive and flexible team ethic. The team works across the 6 acute sites, and also supports community hospitals, private hospitals and general practice surgeries, as well as an increasing focus on community diagnostics centres and virtual wards. The service covers a wide range of POCT equipment from multiple pathology disciplines; Biochemistry, Haematology, Microbiology and Virology, including an innovative, progressive and flexible POCT SARS-CoV-2 and rapid respiratory virus testing service. The service provides a UKAS-accredited POCT-dedicated External Quality Assessment scheme in Qpoint. Labkit is our solution for remote and community POCT diagnostics, fully supported in training and governance by BSPS POCT. The POCT team are active participants in research studies at multiple sites and regularly meet with the Trust research teams. We are a service of choice for manufacturers and NHSE to partner with for device evaluation, early adoption and national advice.
About us
There's never been a more exciting time to build your career at Frimley Health, one of the country's largest and most respected trusts
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (FHFT) has an outstanding reputation and a proud record of achievement. We have an ongoing commitment to improving the health and care services for the 900,000 people we serve across Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and south Buckinghamshire.
We continue to invest in our services and facilities, including a £10 million upgrade to the hospital maternity unit as well as £49m major new Emergency Assessment Centre on our Wexham Park site. The opening of a brand new £100m state of the art hospital which replaced the existing hospital facility at Heatherwood and are planning to invest further in diagnostics and inpatient capacity at Frimley Park.
We have also made significant investment in our quality improvement and digital programmes to support our vision and we will ensure that we achieve our aim of providing the highest quality healthcare to our patients. Our new EPR - Epic - went live in June and we are already beginning to reap the benefits of this ambitious investment.
Our threecore values, and the behaviours that support them, guide everything we do and set out what we expect of our staff in the way they treat patients, visitors, service users and each other.
If you have a passion for clinical excellence, patient care and your own career development, you'll feel at home at Frimley Health.
Job description
Job responsibilities
-
The post-holder would be employed by Frimley Health but would be expected to work in a cross-site manner, supporting all Trusts overarching service, with a particular focus on (SASH). There would be a requirement for visiting the main acute sites periodically but with a base at one of the sites which can be flexibly determined.
The post requires a minimum of HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist in a discipline relevant to POCT. Having attained Part 1 FRCPath is desirable but not essential. There will be the expectation that the post holder works toward full completion of the FRCPath in their discipline and full support will be given to enable this. We warmly welcome applications from all relevant disciplines as the POCT service is multidisciplinary and benefits from the combined background of specialities. Previous experience in POCT is not essential, and we look forward to discussion with interested candidates on how their career plans can be developed in this field.
- To promote and maintain the highest possible standards of scientific work appropriate for a patient-centred, comprehensive, efficient and cost effective POCT service.
- To provide clinical leadership for the integration of Surrey and Sussex NHS Trust (SASH) POCT into BSPS POCT, including POCT services not currently under the governance of the POCT team, and development of new POCT services.
- To support the development of bespoke POCT solutions for new and existing community healthcare services in Community Diagnostics Centres (CDCs) and Virtual ward services.
- To lead on, plan, perform and report agreed scientific development, including the analytical and clinical evaluation of new devices.
- To participate in research relevant to POCT services including pilot services and trials of community POCT to support virtual wards, CDCs and clinical pathways.
- To support the clinical advice, interpretation of results and other scientific support for POC testing to all customers of BSPS; including, but not limited to five acute NHS Trusts including a military unit, associated community NHS and military primary care sites within their catchment areas and clients with whom we have contracts / SLAs for provision of services.
- To participate in the teaching activities of the POCT department and associated departments within BSPS, and partner trusts and organisations. To communicate the work of the POCT department outside of BSPS and regional and national meetings and conferences.
- To fulfil additional responsibilities as may be defined from time to time for areas of service, strategic development and clinical governance within the department and the directorate.
- To undertake other professional responsibilities as and when required.
- To maintain awareness of professional standards and national policies pertaining to the delivery of POCT services.
- To have a good theoretical and practical knowledge & experience of a relevant Pathology discipline. To maintain professional registration with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Job description
Job responsibilities
-
The post-holder would be employed by Frimley Health but would be expected to work in a cross-site manner, supporting all Trusts overarching service, with a particular focus on (SASH). There would be a requirement for visiting the main acute sites periodically but with a base at one of the sites which can be flexibly determined.
The post requires a minimum of HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist in a discipline relevant to POCT. Having attained Part 1 FRCPath is desirable but not essential. There will be the expectation that the post holder works toward full completion of the FRCPath in their discipline and full support will be given to enable this. We warmly welcome applications from all relevant disciplines as the POCT service is multidisciplinary and benefits from the combined background of specialities. Previous experience in POCT is not essential, and we look forward to discussion with interested candidates on how their career plans can be developed in this field.
- To promote and maintain the highest possible standards of scientific work appropriate for a patient-centred, comprehensive, efficient and cost effective POCT service.
- To provide clinical leadership for the integration of Surrey and Sussex NHS Trust (SASH) POCT into BSPS POCT, including POCT services not currently under the governance of the POCT team, and development of new POCT services.
- To support the development of bespoke POCT solutions for new and existing community healthcare services in Community Diagnostics Centres (CDCs) and Virtual ward services.
- To lead on, plan, perform and report agreed scientific development, including the analytical and clinical evaluation of new devices.
- To participate in research relevant to POCT services including pilot services and trials of community POCT to support virtual wards, CDCs and clinical pathways.
- To support the clinical advice, interpretation of results and other scientific support for POC testing to all customers of BSPS; including, but not limited to five acute NHS Trusts including a military unit, associated community NHS and military primary care sites within their catchment areas and clients with whom we have contracts / SLAs for provision of services.
- To participate in the teaching activities of the POCT department and associated departments within BSPS, and partner trusts and organisations. To communicate the work of the POCT department outside of BSPS and regional and national meetings and conferences.
- To fulfil additional responsibilities as may be defined from time to time for areas of service, strategic development and clinical governance within the department and the directorate.
- To undertake other professional responsibilities as and when required.
- To maintain awareness of professional standards and national policies pertaining to the delivery of POCT services.
- To have a good theoretical and practical knowledge & experience of a relevant Pathology discipline. To maintain professional registration with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Person Specification
Qualification
Essential
- Relevant BSc / Completion of STP in relevant Masters degree / HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist
Desirable
- Part 1 FRCPath / Relevant PhD / Min 1y post-reg experience as a clinical scientist / Experience of POCT
Skills
Essential
- Thorough knowledge of pathology specialty / Critically evaluate new methods / Clinical knowledge and differential diagnoses / Data handling skills and statistics / Lab IT skills
Desirable
- Wider clinical awareness beyond speciality / Can present data and teach - good communication skills / Leadership: evidence of leading projects and QI
Experience
Essential
- R&D and audit experience / Able to offer clinical advice to medics and nurses / Experience of ISO requirements for med labs
Desirable
- Experience of ISO for POCT / Understanding of challenges of POCT esp governance and patient safety
Communication
Essential
- Demonstrates good written communication skills in application and any other correspondance. Can evidence use of this skill to improve patient care Can explain complex technical concepts to clinical staff.
Desirable
- "Has been instrumental to sevice improvements which have benefitted patient care, particularly in POCT. "
Person Specification
Qualification
Essential
- Relevant BSc / Completion of STP in relevant Masters degree / HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist
Desirable
- Part 1 FRCPath / Relevant PhD / Min 1y post-reg experience as a clinical scientist / Experience of POCT
Skills
Essential
- Thorough knowledge of pathology specialty / Critically evaluate new methods / Clinical knowledge and differential diagnoses / Data handling skills and statistics / Lab IT skills
Desirable
- Wider clinical awareness beyond speciality / Can present data and teach - good communication skills / Leadership: evidence of leading projects and QI
Experience
Essential
- R&D and audit experience / Able to offer clinical advice to medics and nurses / Experience of ISO requirements for med labs
Desirable
- Experience of ISO for POCT / Understanding of challenges of POCT esp governance and patient safety
Communication
Essential
- Demonstrates good written communication skills in application and any other correspondance. Can evidence use of this skill to improve patient care Can explain complex technical concepts to clinical staff.
Desirable
- "Has been instrumental to sevice improvements which have benefitted patient care, particularly in POCT. "
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
