Job summary
Agenda for Change Band 6 (2 WTE) Medical Information Scientist
Are you looking for a challenging and rewarding role? Would you like to take up an exciting opportunity to work for the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) Newcastle Unit? We require enthusiastic and motivated people to come and join our like-minded team.
The NPIS is seeking to appoint two Medical Information Scientists to its offices based in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne. NPIS is a national service, commissioned by UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on behalf of all UK health departments. The service is hosted by the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust forming part of the Regional Drug and Therapeutics Centre. The NPIS provides a 24 hours a day, 365 days a year service for health care professionals on the diagnosis, treatment and management of the poisoned patient. The NPIS is also affiliated with the UK Teratology Information Service (UKTIS), based within the same unit and provides advice about exposures to drugs and chemicals during pregnancy.
- Interview date: 13 December 2023
- Put in the hours of the post
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
Main duties of the job
Working as part of a team, the Medical Information Scientists appointed will participate in the delivery of a 24-hour, 7 day week service through shift working arrangements, and also undertake teaching and research as demanded by the needs of the service.
Applicants should have a degree in Pharmacology or biomedical subject combined with Pharmacological Sciences or a nursing qualification. Excellent communication and organisational skills, and the ability to work in a team and independently is essential. Experience in the delivery of information to health care or other professional staff and/or members of the public is also essential. Applicants must be able to participate in a 24hr rota, including night shifts and regular work at weekends, evenings and public holidays. A full comprehensive training package will be provided on appointment.
All applicants must ensure that they fulfil all essential requirements to this role and demonstrate so in the application.
About us
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest, largest and most successful teaching NHS foundation trusts in the country, with over 18,000 staff and an annual income of £1 billion.
We have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.
We're also proud to be the second largest provider of specialised services in the country. This means we support people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.
Our staff oversee around 1.84 million patients 'contacts' each year, delivering high standards of healthcare.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people's race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide specialist information in assisting with the treatment and management of clinically complex poisonings. To compile toxicological information and management advice for TOXBASE, a computerised database of the NPIS available to all healthcare providers.
The Medical Information Scientist (Poisons and Teratology) will:o Answer enquiries from authorised users of the National Poisons Information Service (i.e. A&E Medics / nurses and GPs), providing them with information and advice appropriate to the management of poisoning or suspected poisoningo Provide an out-of-hours telephone answering service for the UK HealthSecurity Agency (UKHSA) and refer calls to the Environmental ScientificOfficer oncall, conforming to the standard operating procedure.o Provide information or offer advice to members of the public on occasionswhen they, or someone they know, may have attempted self-harm or beintoxicated.o Plan, write and deliver educational material for Accident and emergencydepartments throughout the North of England and Greater London area,provide training for NHS Direct/NHS 111 staff by means of organised studycourses and one on one training sessions.o Research detailed toxicological literature in order to produce informationdatasheets and monographs to facilitate the development of the nationallyrecognised Poisons Information Database, TOXBASE. The Department ofHealth and Social Care (DHSC) recommends TOXBASE as the primaryreference for management advice regarding the poisoned patient.Therefore TOXBASE is available to all A&E departments, GP surgeries,drug information departments and NPIS Centres.o Specialists in Poisons Information (SPIs) may be required to provideinformation and data upon request for the UKHSA on the emergency 24hour basis and occasionally perform general research into specified areas(eg perform a literature search for health effects of potassium andmanganese in water supply and email appropriate articles to environmentalscientists in UKHSA).o Provide a tablet identification service for all health professionals (includingPolice) using a specialist drug reference database..o Follow up selected enquiries either via telephone or a written questionnairein accordance with the NPIS Clinical Governance arrangements.
o Provide a telephone answering service for the UK Teratology InformationService (UKTiS) and refer the calls deemed relevant to the on callConsultant Toxicologist as directed by the standard operating procedure.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide specialist information in assisting with the treatment and management of clinically complex poisonings. To compile toxicological information and management advice for TOXBASE, a computerised database of the NPIS available to all healthcare providers.
The Medical Information Scientist (Poisons and Teratology) will:o Answer enquiries from authorised users of the National Poisons Information Service (i.e. A&E Medics / nurses and GPs), providing them with information and advice appropriate to the management of poisoning or suspected poisoningo Provide an out-of-hours telephone answering service for the UK HealthSecurity Agency (UKHSA) and refer calls to the Environmental ScientificOfficer oncall, conforming to the standard operating procedure.o Provide information or offer advice to members of the public on occasionswhen they, or someone they know, may have attempted self-harm or beintoxicated.o Plan, write and deliver educational material for Accident and emergencydepartments throughout the North of England and Greater London area,provide training for NHS Direct/NHS 111 staff by means of organised studycourses and one on one training sessions.o Research detailed toxicological literature in order to produce informationdatasheets and monographs to facilitate the development of the nationallyrecognised Poisons Information Database, TOXBASE. The Department ofHealth and Social Care (DHSC) recommends TOXBASE as the primaryreference for management advice regarding the poisoned patient.Therefore TOXBASE is available to all A&E departments, GP surgeries,drug information departments and NPIS Centres.o Specialists in Poisons Information (SPIs) may be required to provideinformation and data upon request for the UKHSA on the emergency 24hour basis and occasionally perform general research into specified areas(eg perform a literature search for health effects of potassium andmanganese in water supply and email appropriate articles to environmentalscientists in UKHSA).o Provide a tablet identification service for all health professionals (includingPolice) using a specialist drug reference database..o Follow up selected enquiries either via telephone or a written questionnairein accordance with the NPIS Clinical Governance arrangements.
o Provide a telephone answering service for the UK Teratology InformationService (UKTiS) and refer the calls deemed relevant to the on callConsultant Toxicologist as directed by the standard operating procedure.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- Degree in Pharmacology or biomedical subject combined with Pharmacological Sciences, or a nursing qualification
Desirable
- Post-graduate qualification such as a certificate, diploma or masters in Medical Toxicology.
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Evidence of continuing professional development, such as postgraduate study or regular attendance at educational meetings.
- Experience in a work environment of delivering information to health care or other professional staff and/or members of the public.
Desirable
- An understanding of the wider NHS (e.g. NICE etc.).
- Report writing
- Experience of audit.
- Experience in medical writing
- Experience in critical appraisal of medical literature, particularly in the areas of therapeutics and/or clinical toxicology.
- Experience of teaching (such as training individuals and/or groups).
- Working experience in a health information/clinical advisory role, within the NHS or commercial sector
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Highly developed verbal and written communication skills.
- Numeracy. Ability in basic mathematical skills and a sound understanding of basic statistical principles
- Computer/IT. Competent in use of appropriate Microsoft Office applications
- Evidence of skills in medical literature searching.
- Personal time management skills.
- Patient centred decision-making skills.
Desirable
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- Degree in Pharmacology or biomedical subject combined with Pharmacological Sciences, or a nursing qualification
Desirable
- Post-graduate qualification such as a certificate, diploma or masters in Medical Toxicology.
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Evidence of continuing professional development, such as postgraduate study or regular attendance at educational meetings.
- Experience in a work environment of delivering information to health care or other professional staff and/or members of the public.
Desirable
- An understanding of the wider NHS (e.g. NICE etc.).
- Report writing
- Experience of audit.
- Experience in medical writing
- Experience in critical appraisal of medical literature, particularly in the areas of therapeutics and/or clinical toxicology.
- Experience of teaching (such as training individuals and/or groups).
- Working experience in a health information/clinical advisory role, within the NHS or commercial sector
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Highly developed verbal and written communication skills.
- Numeracy. Ability in basic mathematical skills and a sound understanding of basic statistical principles
- Computer/IT. Competent in use of appropriate Microsoft Office applications
- Evidence of skills in medical literature searching.
- Personal time management skills.
- Patient centred decision-making skills.
Desirable
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).
Additional information
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).
