Airedale NHS Foundation Trust

Clinical Scientist - Clinical Biochemistry (band 8a)

The closing date is 27 July 2025

Job summary

To provide a comprehensive scientific service (analytical and advisory) to medical and other healthcare professionals within Airedale NHS Foundation Trust and primary care users of the service.

Maintaining up to date highly specialised knowledge and providing biochemical advice to users of the service, under the direction and leadership of the Consultant Clinical Scientist.

To attend the Biochemistry Clinical Group and contribute towards setting department policy on service provision and developments.

To deputise for the Consultant Clinical Scientist and Principal Clinical Scientist, where appropriate.

Main duties of the job

o To be registered as a Clinical Scientist with the Health & Care Professions Council and as an independent practitioner work within its rules and regulations, the national guidelines of the profession and UKAS.

o To work under the direction of the Consultant Clinical Scientist and be an autonomous practitioner capable of dealing professionally with clinical colleagues including medical and nursing staff.

o To provide clinical & scientific leadership, ensuring that all departmental staff and clinical users focus on quality and patient safety.

About us

We are delighted to offer a wide range of benefits to employees including:

  • Cycle to Work
  • Travel Scheme
  • Childcare Vouchers with Salary Sacrifice
  • Onsite Nursery
  • Buying and Selling Annual Leave
  • Car Leasing
  • Employee Assistance Programme
  • Employee Health and Wellbeing
  • Extensive Reward Scheme
  • Counselling Service
  • Financial packages including Vivup and Wagestream
  • Staff Networks, Enable, Rainbow, Gender, Race Equality Ecoaware & Admin Network.

Our values:

We understand that it's down to the hard work, effort and dedication of our staff that makes a difference for our patients. Our people really do make our Airedale experience - we take pride in fostering a friendly, effective and caring work environment. Our values are part of our DNA, which are:

  • Committed to Quality of Care
  • Compassion
  • Working together for patients
  • Improving Lives
  • Everyone Counts
  • Respect and Dignity

Got questions before you apply, please contact the recruiting manager to find out more.

Details

Date posted

10 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year Per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

423-7305173

Job locations

Airedale General Hospital

Skipton Road

Steeton

BD20 6TD


Job description

Job responsibilities

To be registered as a Clinical Scientist with the Health & Care Professions Council and as an independent practitioner work within its rules and regulations, the national guidelines of the profession and UKAS.

To work under the direction of the Consultant Clinical Scientist and be an autonomous practitioner capable of dealing professionally with clinical colleagues including medical and nursing staff.

To provide clinical & scientific leadership, ensuring that all departmental staff and clinical users focus on quality and patient safety.

To be able to offer advice regarding patient management based on specialist knowledge, expertise and best practice examples.

To deputise for the Consultant Clinical Scientist and Principal Clinical Scientist, as appropriate

To undertake CPD activities, maintain and demonstrate competence in all areas of practice.

To discuss with and advise medical staff, including senior clinicians, on the clinical interpretation of biochemistry investigations.

To work with a degree of autonomy and to recommend further action based on the clinical and biochemical information, such as a change in treatment or referral for additional investigations. To instigate further testing based on results already available.

To participate in the regular review of all biochemistry assay methods utilised within the department.

To contribute to the development and implementation of policies and protocol

To contribute to the selection and procurement of analytical equipment in the laboratory

To propose and implement changes to working practices including the introduction of new tests. To propose and help manage the introduction of new services.

To conduct clinical audit and contribute towards the development of best practise.

To attend and contribute to departmental meetings related to management, service development and policy development.

To ensure the repertoire of tests available is up to date, appropriate and meets the requirements of evidence-based practise.

To undertake reporting, investigation, and follow-up of adverse events

Where appropriate, to represent the department at meetings with users to discuss the biochemistry service and to plan further developments, for instance in response to new national initiative and guidelines.

Where appropriate to take delegated responsibility for ensuring the implementation of trustwide and departmental policies.

To work jointly with colleagues from other trusts where specialist investigations required that are not carried out within the trust. To advice clinical staff on the best use and limitation of these specialist tests.

To ensure that all clinical incidents and complaints are reported, investigated and used to improve practice, in line with Trust policies, procedures and national guidelines.

To use the laboratory database and associated software to locate appropriate patient & laboratory data, provide interpretation and resolve and correct erroneous information, compiling and analysing statistics and prepare clinical and scientific presentations.

Training

To provide day to day clinical and scientific leadership and training to staff in specific areas and Pathology in general.

To provide undergraduate and postgraduate medical teaching sessions to medical, nursing and laboratory staff as necessary

To supervise and provide in-service training to Biomedical Scientists towards their required professional qualifications.

To participate regularly in departmental clinical case discussions and seminars.

Management

In conjunction with the clinical lead for blood sciences plan and organise a range of activities and projects in the department. Some of these may require working over prolonged periods of time to complete, some extending into several years and requiring regular reviews of progress and adjustment of plans.

In conjunction with the clinical lead for Consultant Clinical Scientist and General Manager/Cross-site Service Lead, to provide leadership and guidance in the development and selection of analytical methods employed.

To liaise with other departments, within and outside pathology, and commercial companies, to achieve success in the planning process.

Where complaints arise from patients, clinicians and other users of the service, to deal in conjunction with the clinical lead for blood sciences with the immediate problems, resolving conflict where possible and to suggest possible actions that are required to the Head of Department.

Monitor laboratory performance in external quality assessment schemes. Work with the national organisers of these when there are problems identified with laboratory performance.

Communication

To communicate with patients where necessary to discuss tests and test results, some of which are highly specialised.

To communicate with clinical colleagues on a range of patient related issues, often involving the discussion of specialist tests.

To disseminate knowledge derived from research or private study. This may be achieved by presentation at local, regional or national meetings; or by publication in peer reviewed journals.

To participate regularly in departmental meetings

To give presentations to laboratory staff including consultants, and biomedical staff.

To ensure that all staff within the department are aware of any changes to practice or procedures that fall within their sphere of responsibility.

To communicate with colleagues within the department on a range of scientific and clinical subjects.

To co-operate and consult with medical, scientific, and clerical staff throughout Pathology to ensure adequate lines of communication, to resolve problems and help determine strategies for development of the service. To organise and participate in meetings to this end as appropriate.

Research & Development / Audit

To carry out testing and evaluation of new equipment as required

To plan, organise and participate in research and development projects and where appropriate involve clinical colleagues from other disciplines.

To advise clinical colleagues on their research when it involves biochemistry, and to contribute to these projects when appropriate.

To undertake Clinical Audit of service effectiveness with colleagues within pathology at local, regional, and national level and contribute to discussions on clinical audit in other medical specialities.

To prepare project plans and negotiate funding from external/ internal sources to ensure project completion.

To use evidence-based practice, clinical audits, and published research to improve the service.

To originate, plan, undertake and report on audit topics including both clinical and laboratory audits that are appropriate for the department.

To work jointly with clinicians and other staff outside clinical biochemistry who are undertaking audit which involve aspects of the biochemistry service.

General Duties

The jobholder will undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as agreed with senior management. The duties and responsibilities of the job will be reviewed as part of staff appraisal. This job description is an outline of the current position and may be amended in detail or emphasis in the light of the future requirements of the service.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To be registered as a Clinical Scientist with the Health & Care Professions Council and as an independent practitioner work within its rules and regulations, the national guidelines of the profession and UKAS.

To work under the direction of the Consultant Clinical Scientist and be an autonomous practitioner capable of dealing professionally with clinical colleagues including medical and nursing staff.

To provide clinical & scientific leadership, ensuring that all departmental staff and clinical users focus on quality and patient safety.

To be able to offer advice regarding patient management based on specialist knowledge, expertise and best practice examples.

To deputise for the Consultant Clinical Scientist and Principal Clinical Scientist, as appropriate

To undertake CPD activities, maintain and demonstrate competence in all areas of practice.

To discuss with and advise medical staff, including senior clinicians, on the clinical interpretation of biochemistry investigations.

To work with a degree of autonomy and to recommend further action based on the clinical and biochemical information, such as a change in treatment or referral for additional investigations. To instigate further testing based on results already available.

To participate in the regular review of all biochemistry assay methods utilised within the department.

To contribute to the development and implementation of policies and protocol

To contribute to the selection and procurement of analytical equipment in the laboratory

To propose and implement changes to working practices including the introduction of new tests. To propose and help manage the introduction of new services.

To conduct clinical audit and contribute towards the development of best practise.

To attend and contribute to departmental meetings related to management, service development and policy development.

To ensure the repertoire of tests available is up to date, appropriate and meets the requirements of evidence-based practise.

To undertake reporting, investigation, and follow-up of adverse events

Where appropriate, to represent the department at meetings with users to discuss the biochemistry service and to plan further developments, for instance in response to new national initiative and guidelines.

Where appropriate to take delegated responsibility for ensuring the implementation of trustwide and departmental policies.

To work jointly with colleagues from other trusts where specialist investigations required that are not carried out within the trust. To advice clinical staff on the best use and limitation of these specialist tests.

To ensure that all clinical incidents and complaints are reported, investigated and used to improve practice, in line with Trust policies, procedures and national guidelines.

To use the laboratory database and associated software to locate appropriate patient & laboratory data, provide interpretation and resolve and correct erroneous information, compiling and analysing statistics and prepare clinical and scientific presentations.

Training

To provide day to day clinical and scientific leadership and training to staff in specific areas and Pathology in general.

To provide undergraduate and postgraduate medical teaching sessions to medical, nursing and laboratory staff as necessary

To supervise and provide in-service training to Biomedical Scientists towards their required professional qualifications.

To participate regularly in departmental clinical case discussions and seminars.

Management

In conjunction with the clinical lead for blood sciences plan and organise a range of activities and projects in the department. Some of these may require working over prolonged periods of time to complete, some extending into several years and requiring regular reviews of progress and adjustment of plans.

In conjunction with the clinical lead for Consultant Clinical Scientist and General Manager/Cross-site Service Lead, to provide leadership and guidance in the development and selection of analytical methods employed.

To liaise with other departments, within and outside pathology, and commercial companies, to achieve success in the planning process.

Where complaints arise from patients, clinicians and other users of the service, to deal in conjunction with the clinical lead for blood sciences with the immediate problems, resolving conflict where possible and to suggest possible actions that are required to the Head of Department.

Monitor laboratory performance in external quality assessment schemes. Work with the national organisers of these when there are problems identified with laboratory performance.

Communication

To communicate with patients where necessary to discuss tests and test results, some of which are highly specialised.

To communicate with clinical colleagues on a range of patient related issues, often involving the discussion of specialist tests.

To disseminate knowledge derived from research or private study. This may be achieved by presentation at local, regional or national meetings; or by publication in peer reviewed journals.

To participate regularly in departmental meetings

To give presentations to laboratory staff including consultants, and biomedical staff.

To ensure that all staff within the department are aware of any changes to practice or procedures that fall within their sphere of responsibility.

To communicate with colleagues within the department on a range of scientific and clinical subjects.

To co-operate and consult with medical, scientific, and clerical staff throughout Pathology to ensure adequate lines of communication, to resolve problems and help determine strategies for development of the service. To organise and participate in meetings to this end as appropriate.

Research & Development / Audit

To carry out testing and evaluation of new equipment as required

To plan, organise and participate in research and development projects and where appropriate involve clinical colleagues from other disciplines.

To advise clinical colleagues on their research when it involves biochemistry, and to contribute to these projects when appropriate.

To undertake Clinical Audit of service effectiveness with colleagues within pathology at local, regional, and national level and contribute to discussions on clinical audit in other medical specialities.

To prepare project plans and negotiate funding from external/ internal sources to ensure project completion.

To use evidence-based practice, clinical audits, and published research to improve the service.

To originate, plan, undertake and report on audit topics including both clinical and laboratory audits that are appropriate for the department.

To work jointly with clinicians and other staff outside clinical biochemistry who are undertaking audit which involve aspects of the biochemistry service.

General Duties

The jobholder will undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as agreed with senior management. The duties and responsibilities of the job will be reviewed as part of staff appraisal. This job description is an outline of the current position and may be amended in detail or emphasis in the light of the future requirements of the service.

Person Specification

Skills

Essential

  • Able to provide leadership to small teams within the department and provide professional leadership on a wider scale.

Qualifications

Essential

  • MSc in Clinical Biochemistry or equivalent knowledge and experience
  • Part 1 examination for Fellowship of RCPath and actively working towards FRCPath part 2
  • HCPC registration as Clinical Scientist
  • Evidence of CPD (Continuous Professional Development) and participation in audits

Desirable

  • Part 2 examination of Fellowship of RCPath
  • PhD in relevant subjec

Knowledge

Essential

  • Advanced professional knowledge of Clinical Biochemistry
  • Knowledge of human biochemistry and chemistry including metabolic processes, physiology, pharmacology and drug interference.
  • Able to perform clinical risk assessments and resolve issues or investigate complaints relating to the service as part of Clinical Governance.

Experience

Essential

  • 3-4 yrs experience as a registered Clinical Scientist
  • Expertise in one or more specialised analytical or clinical areas
  • Experience in R&D and audit activities
Person Specification

Skills

Essential

  • Able to provide leadership to small teams within the department and provide professional leadership on a wider scale.

Qualifications

Essential

  • MSc in Clinical Biochemistry or equivalent knowledge and experience
  • Part 1 examination for Fellowship of RCPath and actively working towards FRCPath part 2
  • HCPC registration as Clinical Scientist
  • Evidence of CPD (Continuous Professional Development) and participation in audits

Desirable

  • Part 2 examination of Fellowship of RCPath
  • PhD in relevant subjec

Knowledge

Essential

  • Advanced professional knowledge of Clinical Biochemistry
  • Knowledge of human biochemistry and chemistry including metabolic processes, physiology, pharmacology and drug interference.
  • Able to perform clinical risk assessments and resolve issues or investigate complaints relating to the service as part of Clinical Governance.

Experience

Essential

  • 3-4 yrs experience as a registered Clinical Scientist
  • Expertise in one or more specialised analytical or clinical areas
  • Experience in R&D and audit activities

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

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Airedale General Hospital

Skipton Road

Steeton

BD20 6TD


Employer's website

https://www.airedale-trust.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Airedale General Hospital

Skipton Road

Steeton

BD20 6TD


Employer's website

https://www.airedale-trust.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant Clinical Scientist

Dr Ashley Garner

ashley.garner1@nhs.net

01535293452

Details

Date posted

10 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year Per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

423-7305173

Job locations

Airedale General Hospital

Skipton Road

Steeton

BD20 6TD


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)