Job summary
We welcome applications for a band 7 Senior Clinical Scientist post in the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Barts Health, East & South East London Pathology Partnership. Ideally the post holder would have completed at least 3 years as a trainee clinical scientist and gained HCPC registration. However, applications are welcomed from candidates in the final year of STP training who will be fully supported to complete.
The department is one of the largest in the UK, with specialist services including LC-MS/MS, HPLC, atomic absorption and proteins. We provide clinical and technical POCT support across the partnership trusts. We serve specialist clinical services across Barts Health, which has the largest cardiovascular centre in the UK, the second largest cancer centre in London, one of the largest children's hospitals in the UK and leading endocrinology, stroke and renal units. We also have strong links with adult and paediatric endocrine, nutrition and ICU teams. These links afford ample opportunity for collaborative research and development and clinical liaison.
We are dedicated to being an outstanding place to work and will work with you to get the best experience. We know flexible working is not a one size fits all and will mean something different to everyone. We are inclusive, so if you are interested in flexible working, please speak to the recruiting manager.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a dynamic and ambitious Clinical Scientist to join us in further developing the service. You will join an experienced team of 3 Consultants and 7 Clinical Scientists. Ideally the post holder would have completed at least 3 years as a trainee clinical scientist and gained HCPC registration. However, consideration will be given to candidates in the final year of STP training. Full support will be given to allow the successful candidate to complete their training. We have extensive experience in supporting staff to complete FRCPath examinations and projects and run a programme of educational activities to support continuing professional development.
The post holder will be involved in the development and oversight of specialist areas of the laboratory including specialist proteins, LC-MS/MS, HPLC, trace elements and point of care testing. You will be based at the Royal London hub with occasional travel to the spoke sites as required.
Key responsibilities include: Participation in the Duty Biochemist rota, providing interpretation of results and advice on investigations to medical staff and other service users; validation and implementation of new methods and assays, overseeing their introduction into routine clinical use; undertaking and publishing research; engaging in quality improvement projects
About us
The NHS East and South East London Pathology Partnership is an arms-length organisation providing pathology services to Barts Health NHS Trust, Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. The Pathology Partnership is hosted by Barts Health.The Pathology Partnership is based on well-established models for pathology networks, with the Royal London Hospital becoming the main hub laboratory for the network and Essential Service Laboratories (ESL) as a minimum at all other Hospital sites.Pathology is made up of the following services - Blood Sciences including Haematology, Blood Transfusion and Biochemistry; Infectious Diseases including Microbiology and Virology; Cellular Pathology including Histopathology, non-gynae Cytology and mortuary services; Immunology; Cytogenetics and Molecular Haematology; Immunophenotyping; Clinical Transplantation and Retinoblastoma. The 2020/21 total operating costs across the Partnership were c. £126m per annum with a workforce establishment of circa. 822 WTE. We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
For further details , please contact Krithika Subramaniam, Principal Clinical Scientist krithika.subramaniam@nhs.net or
Dr Sarah Pitkin, Principal Clinical Scientist. sarah.pitkin@nhs.net,
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
For further details , please contact Krithika Subramaniam, Principal Clinical Scientist krithika.subramaniam@nhs.net or
Dr Sarah Pitkin, Principal Clinical Scientist. sarah.pitkin@nhs.net,
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- 1st or 2nd class honours' degree in chemistry or biochemistry or assessed equivalent knowledge and expertise in clinical biochemistry. Master's degree (or completion expected within 12 months) or equivalent knowledge and expertise in clinical biochemistry.
- State registration with the Health Care Professions Council as a Clinical Scientist (Clinical Biochemistry) or expected within 12 months
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Dealing with and resolving analytical problems in clinical biochemistry
- Experience of one or more of the following areas: LC-MS/MS, HPLC, proteins, point-of-care testing, trace elements.
- Aware of scientific developments and modern technology in clinical biochemistry and their impact on the future of the service
- Understands the principles of clinical governance and their application in clinical biochemistry
Desirable
- Giving formal presentations to large groups eg lectures, seminars
- Procurement and implementation of new equipment and the introduction of new methods of service
- Training laboratory staff, including trainee clinical scientists and biomedical scientists
- A track record of research, development and audit as evidenced by presentations at national or international meetings or publications in peer-reviewed journals
- Risk management in a number of laboratory settings
- Experience of implementing and managing change
- Liaising with medical staff about service provision and data interpretation
Knowledge
Essential
- Evidence of continuous professional development
Desirable
- Evidence of management and leadership training
Skills
Essential
- Ability to write reports, abstracts for scientific meetings and papers for peer-reviewed publications.
- Ability to organize and manage resources and complex activities effectively.
- Ability to manage and implement change.
- Ability to adapt to changing circumstances and learn quickly
- Ability to liaise effectively with clinical staff and other service users, particularly in advising on specialized analyses and their interpretation.
- Ability to challenge existing clinical and scientific opinion on the basis of personal knowledge and experience, reasoned argument and published information.
- Ability to work independently, consulting with colleagues where necessary
- Well developed skills in the use of word processing, database and spread sheet packages
- Good time management skills
- Good written and oral communication
- Able to present scientific information confidently
Desirable
- Ability to manage the quality of the service provided by the department and devise plans for the future of the service on the basis of knowledge of recent developments in the field.
- Ability to recognize patterns of abnormality and relate them to complex clinical situations.
Other
Essential
- Mature, organised and team oriented person
- Self-motivated and enthusiastic
- Able to work under pressure
- Able to accept and respond appropriately to constructive criticism
- Respects confidentiality
- Able to identify and pursue own educational development
- Good interpersonal skills. Able to build, motivate and lead the activities of staff of all grades and backgrounds effectively
- Able to show professional leadership to other staff in challenging circumstances
- Good teaching and training skills
- Based at the Royal London but may be expected to travel to other Pathology Partnership laboratories on occasions if professional support is required
- Sufficient to perform the duties of the post with any aids and adaptations
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- 1st or 2nd class honours' degree in chemistry or biochemistry or assessed equivalent knowledge and expertise in clinical biochemistry. Master's degree (or completion expected within 12 months) or equivalent knowledge and expertise in clinical biochemistry.
- State registration with the Health Care Professions Council as a Clinical Scientist (Clinical Biochemistry) or expected within 12 months
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Dealing with and resolving analytical problems in clinical biochemistry
- Experience of one or more of the following areas: LC-MS/MS, HPLC, proteins, point-of-care testing, trace elements.
- Aware of scientific developments and modern technology in clinical biochemistry and their impact on the future of the service
- Understands the principles of clinical governance and their application in clinical biochemistry
Desirable
- Giving formal presentations to large groups eg lectures, seminars
- Procurement and implementation of new equipment and the introduction of new methods of service
- Training laboratory staff, including trainee clinical scientists and biomedical scientists
- A track record of research, development and audit as evidenced by presentations at national or international meetings or publications in peer-reviewed journals
- Risk management in a number of laboratory settings
- Experience of implementing and managing change
- Liaising with medical staff about service provision and data interpretation
Knowledge
Essential
- Evidence of continuous professional development
Desirable
- Evidence of management and leadership training
Skills
Essential
- Ability to write reports, abstracts for scientific meetings and papers for peer-reviewed publications.
- Ability to organize and manage resources and complex activities effectively.
- Ability to manage and implement change.
- Ability to adapt to changing circumstances and learn quickly
- Ability to liaise effectively with clinical staff and other service users, particularly in advising on specialized analyses and their interpretation.
- Ability to challenge existing clinical and scientific opinion on the basis of personal knowledge and experience, reasoned argument and published information.
- Ability to work independently, consulting with colleagues where necessary
- Well developed skills in the use of word processing, database and spread sheet packages
- Good time management skills
- Good written and oral communication
- Able to present scientific information confidently
Desirable
- Ability to manage the quality of the service provided by the department and devise plans for the future of the service on the basis of knowledge of recent developments in the field.
- Ability to recognize patterns of abnormality and relate them to complex clinical situations.
Other
Essential
- Mature, organised and team oriented person
- Self-motivated and enthusiastic
- Able to work under pressure
- Able to accept and respond appropriately to constructive criticism
- Respects confidentiality
- Able to identify and pursue own educational development
- Good interpersonal skills. Able to build, motivate and lead the activities of staff of all grades and backgrounds effectively
- Able to show professional leadership to other staff in challenging circumstances
- Good teaching and training skills
- Based at the Royal London but may be expected to travel to other Pathology Partnership laboratories on occasions if professional support is required
- Sufficient to perform the duties of the post with any aids and adaptations
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).
