Job summary
Are you a visionary Clinical Scientist ready to lead the future of microbiology? FHFT is seeking an exceptional Consultant Clinical Scientist to join our dynamic Infection Department. This autonomous post offers a rare opportunity to work alongside Consultant Clinical Microbiologists in shaping and delivering a safe, innovative, and efficient microbiology service across the Trust.
You will be at the forefront of cutting-edge diagnostics, playing a pivotal role in transforming patient pathways through advanced technologies and scientific excellence. As scientific lead for the microbiology lab, you will champion new methodologies, steer clinical strategy, and guide a skilled team of Clinical Scientists.
With strong leadership and a passion for high-quality care, you'll influence antimicrobial stewardship, infection prevention, and collaborate closely with public health partners during outbreaks. You will report managerially to the Chief of Service for Pathology and clinically to the Clinical Lead for Infection.
Join us in delivering care that reflects our core values: committed to excellence, facing the future, and working together.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will serve as an autonomous Consultant Clinical Scientist within FHFT's Infection Department, holding shared responsibility for delivering a safe, effective, and high-performing clinical microbiology service. As scientific lead, they will guide the integration and development of innovative diagnostic services, aligning with clinical needs and national priorities.
Key duties include providing expert scientific and clinical advice, supporting antimicrobial stewardship, contributing to infection prevention and control, and liaising with public health teams during outbreaks. The postholder will manage the Clinical Scientist team (2 Band 7 and 3 Band 6), shaping departmental scientific strategy and mentoring future leaders.
They will advise senior Trust and BSPS leadership on emerging microbiology innovations, contribute to policy development, and assess new technologies and pathways to improve demand management and service delivery. With strong commercial awareness and a deep understanding of laboratory and clinical risk, the postholder will champion quality, governance, and continuous improvement in microbiology services across the system.
About us
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme. We provide first class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available.
Here at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we know how important it is to have a healthy work life balance; this benefits not only individuals but the patients we care for too.
We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service and its users.
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Job description
Job responsibilities
For more information around the role please refer to the attached Job Description/Person Specification
Job description
Job responsibilities
For more information around the role please refer to the attached Job Description/Person Specification
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- First degree or assessed equivalent level of knowledge and expertise
- Masters Degree or PhD
- Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists
- Demonstration of Continuing Professional Development at agreed level of participation
- Registered as a clinical scientist with Health and Care Professions Council
Registration
Essential
- To have completed a minimum of 5 years in post as a Registered Clinical Scientist
- To have completed an HSST training programme and hold a certificate of completion of training from NSHCS
Experience
Essential
- Clinical microbiology as DGH and tertiary level including ward rounds, MDTs, delivering clinical advice to all grades
- Experience of analytical skills employed in microbiology with an understanding of underlying principles.
- Consulting with clinical staff of all grades wanting advice on any aspect of microbiology/infection and its relevance in specific situations
Desirable
- Leading a microbiology team
- Experience as training or quality officer
- First-hand experience of the challenges involved in maintaining microbiology services.
- Achievement in research, development, and audit activities, through presentations at regional or national conferences and publication in peer reviewed journals
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- First degree or assessed equivalent level of knowledge and expertise
- Masters Degree or PhD
- Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists
- Demonstration of Continuing Professional Development at agreed level of participation
- Registered as a clinical scientist with Health and Care Professions Council
Registration
Essential
- To have completed a minimum of 5 years in post as a Registered Clinical Scientist
- To have completed an HSST training programme and hold a certificate of completion of training from NSHCS
Experience
Essential
- Clinical microbiology as DGH and tertiary level including ward rounds, MDTs, delivering clinical advice to all grades
- Experience of analytical skills employed in microbiology with an understanding of underlying principles.
- Consulting with clinical staff of all grades wanting advice on any aspect of microbiology/infection and its relevance in specific situations
Desirable
- Leading a microbiology team
- Experience as training or quality officer
- First-hand experience of the challenges involved in maintaining microbiology services.
- Achievement in research, development, and audit activities, through presentations at regional or national conferences and publication in peer reviewed journals
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).
