Job summary
Shape the Future of Infection Services - Consultant in Microbiology
Lead. Innovate. Protect.We're looking for an outstanding Consultant in Microbiology to join a dynamic, forward-thinking infection services team at Northampton General Hospital, part of the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire Group.
This is your opportunity to drive excellence in microbiology, virology, and infection prevention and control across two major hospital sites, while shaping services that impact thousands of patients every year.
What You Will Need
-
Full GMC registration with a licence to practise
-
CCT in Medical Microbiology, or within 6 months of achieving it
-
Strong background in clinical microbiology and infection control
-
Proven experience in delivering high-quality, safe, and efficient microbiology services
-
Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary and cross-site team
-
A forward-thinking, improvement-focused mindset
-
Excellent communication and leadership skills to engage with colleagues across clinical, laboratory, and management team
Main duties of the job
Clinical Microbiology & Infection Services
- Provide a comprehensive, efficient, and cost-effective clinical microbiology, virology, and infection control service to the Trust, Group, and service users
- Participate in results validation, laboratory supervision, and clinical liaison, including telephone advice and ward-based consultations
- Contribute to antimicrobial stewardship, infection control work, and public health responsibilities
- Attend and support multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings, handovers, and infection-related discussions
- Lead and support service development and surveillance initiatives
- Participate in the consultant on-call rota (Category A supplement, 8%) for urgent microbiology and infection control advice
Education, Training & Development
- Involvement in medical education, clinical supervision, and mentoring
- Support for appraisal, audit, research, and professional development
- Option to take on clinical lead responsibilities as a non-core SPA duty
About us
Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.
Our Excellence Values
o Compassion o Accountability o Respect o Integrity o Courage
We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities.
The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals.We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.
We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Whats On Offer
-
A 10 PA substantive consultant post with protected time for leadership and service development
-
A central role in delivering and shaping infection services across Northampton and Kettering sites
-
The chance to influence Trust-wide strategy in infection prevention, microbiology, and virology
-
Join a team that prioritises clinical excellence, quality improvement, and multidisciplinary collaboration
-
Support for continuing professional development, leadership training, and teaching opportunities
-
Be part of a Trust committed to innovation, transformation, and workforce empowerment
Job description
Job responsibilities
Whats On Offer
-
A 10 PA substantive consultant post with protected time for leadership and service development
-
A central role in delivering and shaping infection services across Northampton and Kettering sites
-
The chance to influence Trust-wide strategy in infection prevention, microbiology, and virology
-
Join a team that prioritises clinical excellence, quality improvement, and multidisciplinary collaboration
-
Support for continuing professional development, leadership training, and teaching opportunities
-
Be part of a Trust committed to innovation, transformation, and workforce empowerment
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential
- Full and specialist registration (and a licence to practise) with the General Medical Council (GMC) (or eligible for registration within six months of interview)
- Applicants that are UK trained, must ALSO be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview / oApplicants that are non-UK trained, will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT
- Primary medical qual.
- FRCPath or equivalent
- MD, PhD or higher degree
- Wide knowledge and experience of Clinical Microbiology
Desirable
- Teaching qualification or experience
- Management qualification or experience
- Membership of relevant Specialist Societies or Associations.
Experience / Clinical Skills
Essential
- Evidence of thorough and broad training and experience in clinical microbiology
- Excellent skills and experience in managing complex microbiological issues in a broad range of different patient types
- Appropriate knowledge base and ability to apply sound clinical judgment to problems; understands evidence-based practice
- Appropriate knowledge base and ability to apply sound clinical judgment to problems; understands evidence-based practice
- Demonstrates clear, logical thinking and an analytical approach
- A track record of service development; introduction of new assays and diagnostic approaches
- Experience with computer software especially databases, statistical analysis packages and bioinformatics tools
- Experience of staff supervision and training of various grades of staff
- An understanding of ISO 15189:2012 quality standards and UKAS accreditation requirements
Desirable
- Evidence of clinical or research commitment and a relevant specialty interest.
- Experience of working in the UK and NHS
Management
Essential
- Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and supervise juniors
- Experience of leading teams and awareness of leadership styles
- Willingness to work as a member of the team and to share administrative responsibilities
- Ability to effectively organise, prioritise and manage clinical workload
- Understanding of wider health agenda and modern NHS
- Ability to work to overcome barriers to change (negotiating, influencing and persuasion skills)
- Knowledge and understanding of clinical governance issues
- Awareness of Service Development issues
Desirable
- Evidence of management and administration experience
- Management training on an accredited course
- Experience of resource and budget management
Audit & Research
Essential
- Effective participation in and a commitment to clinical audit
- Experience of quality improvement work and audit
- Ability to appraise research critically
- Ability to supervise juniors undertaking research projects
- Ability to initiate and co-ordinate research within the department
Desirable
- Ability to secure sufficient funding for appropriate research activity
- Evidence of recent research and development activity
- Publications in nationally and internationally recognised peer-reviewed journals on subjects relevant to the specialty
Teaching
Essential
- Experience of and a commitment to teaching undergraduate and postgraduates students and other health professionals
- Enthusiastic and ability to inspire and lead others
Desirable
- Willingness to develop new approaches to teaching
- Post Graduate qualification in teaching and training
- Evidence of supervision and training of Clinical Scientists through national training schemes
- Experience of supervision, appraisal and development of junior staff
Personal
Essential
- Able to demonstrate a commitment and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs.
- Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's Values and Behaviours
Communication Skills
Essential
- Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English that are adequate to enable effective communication with patients and colleagues
- Ability to present highly complex issues in a professional manner to a wide range of health professionals and to the general public
- To be empathic and sensitive; capacity to take others perspectives and treat others with understanding
Desirable
- Highly developed emotional intelligence
- High standard of presentation both written and verbal
- Demonstrable track record of successful change management
- Proven ability to maintain focus in a demanding environment
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential
- Full and specialist registration (and a licence to practise) with the General Medical Council (GMC) (or eligible for registration within six months of interview)
- Applicants that are UK trained, must ALSO be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview / oApplicants that are non-UK trained, will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT
- Primary medical qual.
- FRCPath or equivalent
- MD, PhD or higher degree
- Wide knowledge and experience of Clinical Microbiology
Desirable
- Teaching qualification or experience
- Management qualification or experience
- Membership of relevant Specialist Societies or Associations.
Experience / Clinical Skills
Essential
- Evidence of thorough and broad training and experience in clinical microbiology
- Excellent skills and experience in managing complex microbiological issues in a broad range of different patient types
- Appropriate knowledge base and ability to apply sound clinical judgment to problems; understands evidence-based practice
- Appropriate knowledge base and ability to apply sound clinical judgment to problems; understands evidence-based practice
- Demonstrates clear, logical thinking and an analytical approach
- A track record of service development; introduction of new assays and diagnostic approaches
- Experience with computer software especially databases, statistical analysis packages and bioinformatics tools
- Experience of staff supervision and training of various grades of staff
- An understanding of ISO 15189:2012 quality standards and UKAS accreditation requirements
Desirable
- Evidence of clinical or research commitment and a relevant specialty interest.
- Experience of working in the UK and NHS
Management
Essential
- Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and supervise juniors
- Experience of leading teams and awareness of leadership styles
- Willingness to work as a member of the team and to share administrative responsibilities
- Ability to effectively organise, prioritise and manage clinical workload
- Understanding of wider health agenda and modern NHS
- Ability to work to overcome barriers to change (negotiating, influencing and persuasion skills)
- Knowledge and understanding of clinical governance issues
- Awareness of Service Development issues
Desirable
- Evidence of management and administration experience
- Management training on an accredited course
- Experience of resource and budget management
Audit & Research
Essential
- Effective participation in and a commitment to clinical audit
- Experience of quality improvement work and audit
- Ability to appraise research critically
- Ability to supervise juniors undertaking research projects
- Ability to initiate and co-ordinate research within the department
Desirable
- Ability to secure sufficient funding for appropriate research activity
- Evidence of recent research and development activity
- Publications in nationally and internationally recognised peer-reviewed journals on subjects relevant to the specialty
Teaching
Essential
- Experience of and a commitment to teaching undergraduate and postgraduates students and other health professionals
- Enthusiastic and ability to inspire and lead others
Desirable
- Willingness to develop new approaches to teaching
- Post Graduate qualification in teaching and training
- Evidence of supervision and training of Clinical Scientists through national training schemes
- Experience of supervision, appraisal and development of junior staff
Personal
Essential
- Able to demonstrate a commitment and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs.
- Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's Values and Behaviours
Communication Skills
Essential
- Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English that are adequate to enable effective communication with patients and colleagues
- Ability to present highly complex issues in a professional manner to a wide range of health professionals and to the general public
- To be empathic and sensitive; capacity to take others perspectives and treat others with understanding
Desirable
- Highly developed emotional intelligence
- High standard of presentation both written and verbal
- Demonstrable track record of successful change management
- Proven ability to maintain focus in a demanding environment
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).
