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.
