Northampton General Hospital

Clinical Scientist Microbiology

The closing date is 09 October 2025

Job summary

We are looking for applicants who are HCPC registered Clinical Scientists (NHS band 7 equivalent or above) and have previous experience of working within Microbiology, ideally with a Microbiology and Virology background. This role would suit a newly qualified Clinical Scientist.

The post holder will join the team of Consultant Microbiologists and Biomedical Scientists to provide of a comprehensive Clinical Microbiology service for Northampton General Hospital Trust and GP practices to aid effective diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of infections.

Main duties of the job

Assist the Consultant Microbiologists to provide a routine clinical laboratory service to nationally accepted UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) standards.

Use professional judgement in advising clinicians on the appropriate investigations, this can be done either independently or in consultation with the Microbiology Consultants, depending on the clinical scenario.

Contribute to the clinical advisory service under the supervision of the Consultant Microbiologists or Specialty Doctor. The Clinical Scientist is not expected to manage clinical infection cases/scenarios independently.

About us

Please submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close adverts once we have received sufficient applications

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust is on an exciting journey with all of our divisions committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN). As part of this collaborative approach, there may be a requirement for you to work across both the Kettering and Northampton hospital sites, depending on the needs of the service.

Our Excellence Values

  • Compassion
  • Accountability
  • Respect
  • Integrity
  • Courage

We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across UHN and help to unleash everyone's full potential.

UHN encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups. 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 recognise the valuable contribution that the Armed Forces community make to our organisation. We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and achieved Silver Award under the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme.

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 UHN.

Details

Date posted

23 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year pro rata / per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

265-7440949

Job locations

Northampton General Hospital Trust

Billing Road

Northampton

NN1 5BD


Job description

Job responsibilities

Monitor and follow up urgent / significant microbiology results provided by the laboratory. Advise clinicians about interpretation of the results and after discussion with a Microbiology Consultant / Specialty Doctor support clinical decision making and antibiotic treatment choices.

Identify complex clinical cases and scenarios and discuss all these cases with the consultant Microbiologist.

Have knowledge and understanding of clinical scenarios which require immediate attention and escalation to the Consultant Microbiologist and or/communication to the relevant medical or nursing team for the patient.

Advise on the validation of complex laboratory results.

Participate in authorisation of serology results.

Investigate any erroneous or unusual patient test results.

Participate in core clinical work independently, as directed by the Consultant Microbiologist during the working day. This would include lab liaison, clinical liaison, ward rounds, patient reviews and MDT attendances, documentation, updating notes and collecting relevant patient history.

Work independently with the antimicrobial Pharmacists and contribute to the antimicrobial stewardship agenda in the Trust under the supervision of the Consultant.

Works independently demonstrating expertise within the defined protocols of clinical microbiology and virology, exercising initiative in day-to-day responsibilities.

Liaise with the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) nurses regarding new results of IPC significance.

Work closely with the Infection Prevention and Control Team to promote good practice in Infection Prevention within the Trust.

Work alongside the laboratory leads in Microbiology ensuring relevant policies and procedures are produced and upheld in a manner befitting of accreditation status.

Leads the implementation and review of policies within the microbiology service, identifying and proposing changes to enhance service quality and impact beyond their immediate area. Develops and maintains specialist Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for equipment, tests and techniques, ensuring alignment with best practice and consideration of their impact on wider laboratory services.

Demonstrates leadership within microbiology, contributing to service development and supporting the wider objectives of the Pathology department, Division, and Trust.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Monitor and follow up urgent / significant microbiology results provided by the laboratory. Advise clinicians about interpretation of the results and after discussion with a Microbiology Consultant / Specialty Doctor support clinical decision making and antibiotic treatment choices.

Identify complex clinical cases and scenarios and discuss all these cases with the consultant Microbiologist.

Have knowledge and understanding of clinical scenarios which require immediate attention and escalation to the Consultant Microbiologist and or/communication to the relevant medical or nursing team for the patient.

Advise on the validation of complex laboratory results.

Participate in authorisation of serology results.

Investigate any erroneous or unusual patient test results.

Participate in core clinical work independently, as directed by the Consultant Microbiologist during the working day. This would include lab liaison, clinical liaison, ward rounds, patient reviews and MDT attendances, documentation, updating notes and collecting relevant patient history.

Work independently with the antimicrobial Pharmacists and contribute to the antimicrobial stewardship agenda in the Trust under the supervision of the Consultant.

Works independently demonstrating expertise within the defined protocols of clinical microbiology and virology, exercising initiative in day-to-day responsibilities.

Liaise with the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) nurses regarding new results of IPC significance.

Work closely with the Infection Prevention and Control Team to promote good practice in Infection Prevention within the Trust.

Work alongside the laboratory leads in Microbiology ensuring relevant policies and procedures are produced and upheld in a manner befitting of accreditation status.

Leads the implementation and review of policies within the microbiology service, identifying and proposing changes to enhance service quality and impact beyond their immediate area. Develops and maintains specialist Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for equipment, tests and techniques, ensuring alignment with best practice and consideration of their impact on wider laboratory services.

Demonstrates leadership within microbiology, contributing to service development and supporting the wider objectives of the Pathology department, Division, and Trust.

Person Specification

Educations, Training and Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to Masters level Clinical Scientist.
  • Completed the Scientist training programme in microbiology/equivalent
  • HCPC Registration

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Experience in quality management and audit NHS Experience
  • Significant laboratory experience
  • Experience of working in clinical microbiology, thorough knowledge of microorganisms/ infections/ antimicrobials

Skills

Essential

  • Good communication skills
  • Able to prepare and present scientific and clinical information at meetings or as part of a teaching commitment.
  • Written and verbal communication skills
Person Specification

Educations, Training and Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to Masters level Clinical Scientist.
  • Completed the Scientist training programme in microbiology/equivalent
  • HCPC Registration

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Experience in quality management and audit NHS Experience
  • Significant laboratory experience
  • Experience of working in clinical microbiology, thorough knowledge of microorganisms/ infections/ antimicrobials

Skills

Essential

  • Good communication skills
  • Able to prepare and present scientific and clinical information at meetings or as part of a teaching commitment.
  • Written and verbal communication skills

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).

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.

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

Northampton General Hospital

Address

Northampton General Hospital Trust

Billing Road

Northampton

NN1 5BD


Employer's website

https://www.northamptongeneral.nhs.uk/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Northampton General Hospital

Address

Northampton General Hospital Trust

Billing Road

Northampton

NN1 5BD


Employer's website

https://www.northamptongeneral.nhs.uk/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Operational Manager

Andrea O'Connell

andreaoconnell@nhs.net

01604545967

Details

Date posted

23 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year pro rata / per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

265-7440949

Job locations

Northampton General Hospital Trust

Billing Road

Northampton

NN1 5BD


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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