Job summary
Applications are invited for an enthusiastic band 7 Clinical Biochemist to join our large team of Clinical Scientists within Blood Sciences at Liverpool Clinical Laboratories, part of Liverpool University Hospitals Trust. The successful postholder will join the team in providing a clinical service for the Biochemistry department at both Liverpool Clinical Laboratories and Warrington and Halton Hospitals Trust, an established model of collaborative service delivery within the Cheshire & Merseyside Pathology Network.
The role will enable your continued development as a Clinical Scientist, with opportunities to gain experience in the core automated and specialist laboratories within Biochemistry, including LC-MS/MS, ICP-MS, and QTOF-MS. There will also be ample opportunities to be involved in network-wide projects as we have an ambitious transformation programme to deliver, including a new LIMS and unified primary care order communications system.
Liverpool Clinical Laboratories prides itself in developing and supporting Clinical Scientists through FRCPath. We are an accredited training laboratory with 3 STPs and 3 HSSTs.
The post is suitable for registered Clinical Scientists or those who will complete their STP training by September 2025. The interview date is expected to be the week commencing 5th September.
Main duties of the job
o To provide medical staff with a clinical technical and scientific service.o To participate in the duty biochemist rota, providing clinical interpretive and advisory services on-site at LCL (Liverpool) and WHH (Warrington).o To monitor and maintain the quality of patient results produced especially in the automated section of the department, set nationally by UKAS.o To be involved in the evaluation and introduction of new tests and developments.o To be involved in and execute funded research and development projects and support clinical trials.
For an informal discussion or to arrange a visit please contact Anna Milan via email Anna.Milan@liverpoolft.nhs.uk or Sarah Curtis (Consultant Clinical Scientist) via email Sarah.Curtis@liverpoolft.nhs.uk
About us
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was created on 1 October 2019 following the merger of two adult acute Trusts, Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust.
The merger provides an opportunity to reconfigure services in a way that provides the best healthcare services to the city and improves the quality of care and health outcomes that patients experience.
The Trust runs Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital, Liverpool University Dental Hospital and the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
It serves a core population of around 630,000 people across Merseyside as well as providing a range of highly specialist services to a catchment area of more than two million people in the North West region and beyond.
To hear more about our achievements click herehttps://www.liverpoolft.nhs.uk/media/13089/1606-annual-report-booklet_final.pdf
Follow us on Social Media:
Facebook - Liverpool University Hospitals Careers
Instagram - @LUHFTcareers
Twitter - @LUHFTcareers
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical1. To provide all Consultants and junior medical staff, in this and other Trusts and General Practitioners within Liverpool, with a timely, highly specialist, clinical, technical and scientific service. This requires judgemental skills of a complex nature, to assist in the investigation, diagnosis, monitoring, treatment and understanding of disease, in individual patients. This may include recommendation for further action such as change of treatment or referral and frequently requires urgent advice regarding the management of patients.2. To participate in the duty biochemist rotas in the general clinical chemistry and endocrine sections assuming independent responsibility on such occasions for the clinical authorisation and issue of reports.3. To undertake the timely clinical authorisation and reporting of clinical biochemistry test results to clinical staff, frequently requiring urgent interpretation and advice regarding the clinical management of patients, using verbal and/or written communication.4. To offer specialist scientific and clinical advice concerning patient investigations and clinical biochemistry results, in highly complex cases when appropriate, using verbal and/or written communication.5. To present complex, sensitive or contentious clinical or scientific information to medical and nursing staff and managers within the Trust and other Trusts or primary care when appropriate, using professional knowledge and experience.6. To give appropriate help and advice to patients when required, concerning sample requirements, testing guidelines etc.7. To liaise with clinical laboratories from other Trusts, during the working day or out of hours including weekends, concerning the analysis of urgent blood tests not offered at this hospital. This involves assessment of the validity of the request and liaison with the Consultant Clinician at this hospital and the Consultant Pathologist at the referral laboratory, involving organising collection and transport of the urgent sample and effective communication and interpretation of the result obtained.
Scientific and Technical1. To have responsibilities within the automated and general chemistry sections, including the ability to perform novel and/or complex assays within the section, and specifically to implement, maintain and monitor quality assurance procedures (internal monitoring and external assessment) and take corrective action where the need is identified to ensure accurate and precise patient results.2. To be involved in the evaluation and implementation of new analytical methodology, tests and developments by means of (technical) clinical and scientific assessments of method and instrument performances, particularly in the automated section.3. To assist with the development and introduction of new analytical services (techniques) and operational procedures within the department, particularly taking a lead in the creation, review and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures controlling these activities.4. To have a shared responsibility, along with other senior clinical scientists, for the analysis, interpretation and reporting of assays involving electrophoretic techniques.5. To ensure that the standards required by UKAS for continued accreditation are met.6. To liaise with the LCL IT team in the collection and dissemination of appropriate data.7. To deal with blood, urine, faecal, CSF and other pathological specimens for analytical purposes, contained and uncontained, when necessary. This may require the use of hazardous chemicals and contact with contaminated equipment.
Managerial1. To act as secretary and participate in the meetings of the automated section of the department, including suggesting policy/organisational changes and improvements.2. To participate in meetings of the departmental Quality Group and Audit and Clinical Governance Group, reporting back to the clinical scientists and Quality Manager and contributing suggestions for policy/organisational changes and improvements.3. To implement contingency plans during disruption to service provision and to communicate this to users in an effective manner. This may occur during the working day, or out of hours including weekends.
Professional1. To maintain advanced theoretical and practical knowledge for a range of appropriate work procedures and practices, necessary to perform and interpret specialised biochemistry procedures in a highly specialised laboratory associated with a large teaching hospital, with a large analytical workload (>7 million tests per year) and with a tertiary referral role.2. To develop an interest and expertise, in a relevant are of Clinical Biochemistry.3. To remain professionally aware of current practice and developments in Clinical Biochemistry and to attend local and national scientific and medical meetings in pursuance of this.4. To work towards attainment of the status of Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists.5. To maintain membership of the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) for the purposes of state registration and to ensure that minimum mandatory requirements are met.6. To maintain an appropriate awareness of the relevant organisation policies and Health & Safety guidelines, for dealing with potentially infectious materials, hazardous chemicals, COSHH regulations, risk assessments and hazard data sheets.7. To ensure confidentiality of information is maintained at all times, complying with the Caldicott Regulations and Data Protection Act.8. To maintain competence in the use of the laboratory IT systems to enable the performance of routine duties, teaching and the undertaking and presentation of audit, research and development data to medical, nursing, and laboratory staff and managers.
General1. To perform other appropriate duties deemed necessary by the Clinical Director after due consultation.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical1. To provide all Consultants and junior medical staff, in this and other Trusts and General Practitioners within Liverpool, with a timely, highly specialist, clinical, technical and scientific service. This requires judgemental skills of a complex nature, to assist in the investigation, diagnosis, monitoring, treatment and understanding of disease, in individual patients. This may include recommendation for further action such as change of treatment or referral and frequently requires urgent advice regarding the management of patients.2. To participate in the duty biochemist rotas in the general clinical chemistry and endocrine sections assuming independent responsibility on such occasions for the clinical authorisation and issue of reports.3. To undertake the timely clinical authorisation and reporting of clinical biochemistry test results to clinical staff, frequently requiring urgent interpretation and advice regarding the clinical management of patients, using verbal and/or written communication.4. To offer specialist scientific and clinical advice concerning patient investigations and clinical biochemistry results, in highly complex cases when appropriate, using verbal and/or written communication.5. To present complex, sensitive or contentious clinical or scientific information to medical and nursing staff and managers within the Trust and other Trusts or primary care when appropriate, using professional knowledge and experience.6. To give appropriate help and advice to patients when required, concerning sample requirements, testing guidelines etc.7. To liaise with clinical laboratories from other Trusts, during the working day or out of hours including weekends, concerning the analysis of urgent blood tests not offered at this hospital. This involves assessment of the validity of the request and liaison with the Consultant Clinician at this hospital and the Consultant Pathologist at the referral laboratory, involving organising collection and transport of the urgent sample and effective communication and interpretation of the result obtained.
Scientific and Technical1. To have responsibilities within the automated and general chemistry sections, including the ability to perform novel and/or complex assays within the section, and specifically to implement, maintain and monitor quality assurance procedures (internal monitoring and external assessment) and take corrective action where the need is identified to ensure accurate and precise patient results.2. To be involved in the evaluation and implementation of new analytical methodology, tests and developments by means of (technical) clinical and scientific assessments of method and instrument performances, particularly in the automated section.3. To assist with the development and introduction of new analytical services (techniques) and operational procedures within the department, particularly taking a lead in the creation, review and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures controlling these activities.4. To have a shared responsibility, along with other senior clinical scientists, for the analysis, interpretation and reporting of assays involving electrophoretic techniques.5. To ensure that the standards required by UKAS for continued accreditation are met.6. To liaise with the LCL IT team in the collection and dissemination of appropriate data.7. To deal with blood, urine, faecal, CSF and other pathological specimens for analytical purposes, contained and uncontained, when necessary. This may require the use of hazardous chemicals and contact with contaminated equipment.
Managerial1. To act as secretary and participate in the meetings of the automated section of the department, including suggesting policy/organisational changes and improvements.2. To participate in meetings of the departmental Quality Group and Audit and Clinical Governance Group, reporting back to the clinical scientists and Quality Manager and contributing suggestions for policy/organisational changes and improvements.3. To implement contingency plans during disruption to service provision and to communicate this to users in an effective manner. This may occur during the working day, or out of hours including weekends.
Professional1. To maintain advanced theoretical and practical knowledge for a range of appropriate work procedures and practices, necessary to perform and interpret specialised biochemistry procedures in a highly specialised laboratory associated with a large teaching hospital, with a large analytical workload (>7 million tests per year) and with a tertiary referral role.2. To develop an interest and expertise, in a relevant are of Clinical Biochemistry.3. To remain professionally aware of current practice and developments in Clinical Biochemistry and to attend local and national scientific and medical meetings in pursuance of this.4. To work towards attainment of the status of Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists.5. To maintain membership of the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) for the purposes of state registration and to ensure that minimum mandatory requirements are met.6. To maintain an appropriate awareness of the relevant organisation policies and Health & Safety guidelines, for dealing with potentially infectious materials, hazardous chemicals, COSHH regulations, risk assessments and hazard data sheets.7. To ensure confidentiality of information is maintained at all times, complying with the Caldicott Regulations and Data Protection Act.8. To maintain competence in the use of the laboratory IT systems to enable the performance of routine duties, teaching and the undertaking and presentation of audit, research and development data to medical, nursing, and laboratory staff and managers.
General1. To perform other appropriate duties deemed necessary by the Clinical Director after due consultation.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Masters Degree in Clinical Biochemistry or equivalent within speciality of clinical biochemistry
- Registration as a clinical scientist with Health Professions Council (HCPC) or working towards registration under appropriate supervision
- To have completed a formal post graduate training programme approved as appropriate for registration,
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable supervised in-service experience. or to have undertaken alternative training and supervised in-service substantial experience, as appropriate for registration.
Desirable
- To have undertaken training and gained experience in a specific sub- speciality.
Knowledge
Essential
- Scientific: To have a good knowledge of human biochemistry and chemistry, including metabolic processes, physiology and pharmacology.
- To have a good knowledge of analytical methods, quality assurance and problem solving.
- Fully conversant with COSHH regulations and their application to laboratories.
- Medical : To have a good basic knowledge of metabolic medicine including inherited disorders, endocrinology and disease states.
- Managerial: To have a basic knowledge of managerial procedures in general.
Desirable
- To have detailed knowledge of a specific speciality within medicine.
Skills
Essential
- To have developed analytical (technical) skills in general areas.
- Able to conduct research and development activities.
- Able to advise medical and nursing staff on investigations and interpretations of biochemical and metabolic processes (where necessary with back up from more senior staff)
- Able to recognise patterns of abnormality and relate them to clinical situations and assess differential diagnoses.
- Able to use and manipulate lab computer system and standard software packages.
Desirable
- Able to initiate and co-ordinate R & D activities.
- Able to conduct Audit of services.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Masters Degree in Clinical Biochemistry or equivalent within speciality of clinical biochemistry
- Registration as a clinical scientist with Health Professions Council (HCPC) or working towards registration under appropriate supervision
- To have completed a formal post graduate training programme approved as appropriate for registration,
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable supervised in-service experience. or to have undertaken alternative training and supervised in-service substantial experience, as appropriate for registration.
Desirable
- To have undertaken training and gained experience in a specific sub- speciality.
Knowledge
Essential
- Scientific: To have a good knowledge of human biochemistry and chemistry, including metabolic processes, physiology and pharmacology.
- To have a good knowledge of analytical methods, quality assurance and problem solving.
- Fully conversant with COSHH regulations and their application to laboratories.
- Medical : To have a good basic knowledge of metabolic medicine including inherited disorders, endocrinology and disease states.
- Managerial: To have a basic knowledge of managerial procedures in general.
Desirable
- To have detailed knowledge of a specific speciality within medicine.
Skills
Essential
- To have developed analytical (technical) skills in general areas.
- Able to conduct research and development activities.
- Able to advise medical and nursing staff on investigations and interpretations of biochemical and metabolic processes (where necessary with back up from more senior staff)
- Able to recognise patterns of abnormality and relate them to clinical situations and assess differential diagnoses.
- Able to use and manipulate lab computer system and standard software packages.
Desirable
- Able to initiate and co-ordinate R & D activities.
- Able to conduct Audit of services.
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).
