Job summary
Working Full time: 10 sessions per week
This role will play a key role in delivering a comprehensive, high-quality microbiology, infection prevention and control, and antimicrobial stewardship service across the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and partner organisations. Working alongside an experienced team of Consultants, a Specialist Doctor, and Clinical Scientists, the post holder will provide daily clinical microbiology advice to hospital clinicians, GPs, community teams, and infection control services. Responsibilities include participation in ward rounds, reviewing significant microbiology results, supporting infection control nurses, and contributing to the Trust's antimicrobial stewardship strategy.
The role requires strong clinical judgment, effective communication, and the ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary environment. The post includes participation in an on-call rota, offering telephone-based out-of-hours microbiology advice across several local hospitals. The successful candidate will engage in teaching, audits, clinical governance activities, and Continuing Professional Development, ensuring safe and evidence-based practice.
This full-time position comprises 10 programmed activities (8.5 DCC and 1.5 SPA) with a flexible job plan agreed upon appointment. The appointee will be integral to maintaining UKAS-accredited laboratory standards and supporting the Trust's infection prevention goals.
Main duties of the job
Provide daily clinical microbiology advice to clinicians, GPs, and community teams.
Participate in ward rounds and review clinically significant results.
Contribute to infection prevention and control activities.
Support antimicrobial stewardship initiatives.
Work collaboratively with Consultants and Clinical Scientists.
Participate in the out-of-hours on-call rota.
Engage in clinical governance, audits, teaching, and CPD.
Maintain UKAS-accredited laboratory standards and safe practice.
About us
The Trust's services are provided from three locations:
o The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.o Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.o Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire.
The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery
Job description
Job responsibilities
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- MBBS or equivalent medical qualification.
- Full registration (and with a licence to practise) with the GMC at time of appointment.
- Completed a minimum of 4 years' full time postgraduate training with a minimum of 2 years in Medical Microbiology.
Desirable
- Higher degree, e.g. FRCPath Part 1 (or evidence of equivalent qualification)
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of clinical training and experience in Medical Microbiology appropriate to an Acute Trust.
- Able to take responsibility for delivering service with minimal supervision
Skills
Essential
- Experience of conducting clinical audit
- Evidence base to practice and support decision making
- Ability to integrate within, and contribute to multidisciplinary team
- Experience /Interest teaching
- Ability to communicate effectively with clinical colleagues, colleagues in microbiology, support staff. Good knowledge of written and spoken English.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- MBBS or equivalent medical qualification.
- Full registration (and with a licence to practise) with the GMC at time of appointment.
- Completed a minimum of 4 years' full time postgraduate training with a minimum of 2 years in Medical Microbiology.
Desirable
- Higher degree, e.g. FRCPath Part 1 (or evidence of equivalent qualification)
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of clinical training and experience in Medical Microbiology appropriate to an Acute Trust.
- Able to take responsibility for delivering service with minimal supervision
Skills
Essential
- Experience of conducting clinical audit
- Evidence base to practice and support decision making
- Ability to integrate within, and contribute to multidisciplinary team
- Experience /Interest teaching
- Ability to communicate effectively with clinical colleagues, colleagues in microbiology, support staff. Good knowledge of written and spoken English.
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).
