Senior Clinical Scientist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Provide a Senior Clinical Scientist-level clinical biochemistry advisory service to the hospital and primary care clinicians, nursing staff, other health professionals and referral laboratories (national and international). This will include general guidance on selecting tests, interpreting results, and selecting further tests or diagnostic procedures/consultations to aid the patient's diagnosis and treatment. The postholder will be expected to guide treatment when appropriate. For making complex clinical decisions, they will have access to Principal and Consultant Clinical Biochemist/Chemical Pathologist support as and when required.

Following suitable training and competency assessment, undertake clinical validation and authorisation of a range of reports and take responsibility for the accuracy, interpretation and timely reporting of test results, and direct scientific staff to undertake further investigations to solve complex diagnostic cases. This will include adding clinical interpretative comments to reports and identifying potentially erroneous results. The postholder will have knowledge and understanding of any clinically dangerous test results and ensure that these are communicated urgently to appropriate medical or nursing staff. Although the postholder will have access to Principal and Consultant-level support as and when required, following suitable training and competency assessment, they will be expected to develop and exercise professional autonomy for their clinical work and maintain the generalist-level clinical biochemistry knowledge and competence required for this role.

Following suitable training and competency assessment, provide clinical advice and interpretation of results and participate in the general clinical support ('duty biochemist') rota.

As part of the Clinical Biochemistry team, work on implementation of national clinical guidance (e.g., NICE technology appraisals).

Acquire experience in contributing to clinical discussions and patient management decisions by participating in relevant multidisciplinary clinical meetings, ward rounds or clinics.

With Principal and Consultant-level guidance, support or undertake method development which may require dexterity and use of complex laboratory equipment.

Work closely with other clinical Biochemistry and BCPS team members, clinicians, and other stakeholders to provide a patient-centred, safe, clinically, operationally, and financially effective, equitable, resilient and future-proof Clinical Biochemistry service to all users.

Under Principal and Consultant-level direction and with support, write and develop standard operating procedures and clinical guidelines/protocols for testing strategies to be used both within the Trust and in primary care.

Contribute to the development of policies and practices within the department by participating in departmental committees or working groups.

Under Principal and Consultant guidance, support development and improve the existing service portfolio by continual review of the quality, productivity, and efficiency.

Comply with health and safety legislation, the Trusts policies, and procedures, standing orders and financial instructions.

Ensure that any health and safety issues are raised through the departmental management structure.

Guided by Academic Lead, Principals and Consultants, be responsible for promoting and supporting the research and development culture of the BCPS by proactive support for the BCPS research strategy. This includes:

Supporting and participating in research and development according to the needs of the service and in support of research programmes.

Developing a research interest taking into account service needs and the BCPS research focus.

Acquire and maintain a comprehensive and relevant knowledge of equipment, technologies and methods used within clinical biochemistry and proactively share it with colleagues.

Take responsibility for the operation, training requirements and performance quality of specialised laboratory investigations and instrumentation, including the effective use of quality control systems.

Develop a knowledge of the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) as well as working knowledge of other computer systems (e.g., PAS, QPulse, ICE, Electronic Patient Record) to provide an effective service to the patients and users, taking responsibility for the entry and storage of sensitive data.

Under supervision of Principals and Consultants, interpret complex results and provide an advisory service for screening, diagnostic and prognostic tests.

Know when to seek advice and support when needing to exercise professional judgment. Be approachable and available when colleagues seek advice and support to exercise their professional judgement.

Effectively prioritise workload.

Acquire data analytics skills required to undertake service data analysis and produce appropriate complex reports independently.

Safeguard the positive reputation of BCPS, partner Trusts, BCWB ICS and the NHS in all communications.

Constructively and effectively communicate with staff of all professional groups and grades within and outside BCPS to positively reinforce the BCPS vision, values and culture and support a safe and effective clinical Service. This includes promoting and upholding professional, respectful and emotionally intelligent communication, and liaison between the scientific, operational, and clinical staff.

Develop skills to provide clinical/scientific reports, advice, reviews, and opinions for a range of Clinical Biochemistry topics to regional service users, stakeholders and the public.

Support staff with training difficulties, working with the other senior staff to manage the process according to departmental and Trust policies and procedures.

Assist in the implementation of quality processes within the department, ensuring that the quality management system functions correctly.

Participate in EQA schemes as required.

Undertake the production, maintenance and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures using the Q Pulse Quality Management System.

Ensure that all audits, critical incidents, and complaints are recorded, and that corrective and preventive actions are made.

When incidents occur, take immediate appropriate action, and ensure incidents are reported as appropriate (Datix and Q Pulse).

Assist in the rectification of non-conformance from Audits etc.

Maintain an advanced working competency in the use of the laboratory information system, the analyser interface system, any software used in the running of analytical equipment, the document management system together with any standard package available on laboratory PCs such as word, Excel, or Power Point.

Provide support and training for other staff members in relation to the above.

Provide education and training to departmental and other staff and students as appropriate. This will include assisting in the training of scientists employed on the Modernising Scientific Careers (MSC) Scientist Training Programme (STP) and the teaching of biomedical scientists.

To gain, and maintain, the skills and critical ability required to perform the role of a HCPC Registered Clinical Scientist.

To work towards obtaining Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists by examination at the first reasonable opportunity. This will include attendance at national training courses.

Ensure that research findings are appropriately disseminated both within and outside BCPS and partner Trust, enabling research outcomes to inform the broader health service agenda and positively impact the BCPS brand.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• MSc in clinical biochemistry or equivalent o State Registered (HCPC) as a Clinical Scientist.

Desirable

• Other relevant post graduate qualification

Experience/Skills

Essential

• Participation on duty biochemist rota. oHigh level of IT literacy including LIMS.

Desirable

• Knowledge of a range of clinical biochemistry techniques

Management/Supervision/Co-ordination

Essential

• Evidence managing processes

Desirable

• Experience of HR processes e.g. appraisal, recruitment, and selection

Written skills

Essential

• Evidence of scientific publications

Communication

Essential

• Evidence of leadership experience

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

Address

Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

Wolverhampton Road

Wolverhampton

WV10 0QP

Employer's website

https://www.royalwolverhampton.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)