Job summary
- Main area
- Biochemistry
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a
- Contract
- 12 months (12 months fixed term contract)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 252-6481783
- Employer
- Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Darent Valley Hospital
- Town
- Dartford
- Salary
- £52,963 - £59,360 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 30/07/2024 23:59
Employer heading
Principle Clinical Scientist Biochemistry
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Job overview
The post holder must be registered as a Clinical Scientist with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and practice as an independent practitioner within the remit of the Job Description and under the HCPC rules and regulations, the national guidelines of the profession and UKAS and/or other relevant accreditation bodies.
The post holder will be responsible for providing, as part of a clinical and scientific team, a comprehensive Biochemistry service to the stakeholders of North Kent Pathology Service. The post holder will be required to deliver a broad range of complex, specialised and non-routine scientific work; including HPLC and protein electrophoresis. The role requires the post holder to undertake the requirements of the role to skilled performance, with a high level of individual responsibility applied to a variety of situations, this is anticipated as required with or without scientific and/or technical support.
Main duties of the job
The post-holder will take the lead in complex data analytics within Biochemistry and produce reports to support the department’s and the Pathology Service requirements. Data analysis and key performance indicators, such as Pathology performance metrics for acute and community key tests, together with the implementation of actions to support improvement to KPIs and pathology quality metrics. The post holder will be expected to lead specific improvement projects and support innovation within the service.
The post holder will be expected to support and work at all sites covered by North Kent Pathology Service and anticipate across the Network for specific programmes of improvement. This post will be primarily based at Darent Valley Hospital.
Working for our organisation
We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer. We strive to employ people who reflect the communities we serve, and aim to create an inclusive culture where everyone can reach their full potential. Whatever your race, ethnicity, belief, generation, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability or experience, you’ll appreciate the opportunities we give you to work in an inclusive atmosphere. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to build on the progress we’ve achieved to make our Trust diverse and the best place to work. We celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that help us overcome challenges and embrace new possibilities.
If you are considering applying for a role, please be aware that as an NHS Employee you may have contact with vulnerable service users. Due to the government regulations for mandatory vaccinations for COVID-19 for NHS employees, it has been necessary to take significant steps to protect the health and safety of our staff and our patients. In order to comply with our duty of care, we require all of our staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Your vaccination status will be a condition of your employment and evidence of vaccination will be obtained during the recruitment process, unless you are medically exempt.
Your commitment will help us to put the safety and care of our patients first, as well as helping us to protect you and your colleagues.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities
Show evidence of participating in continuing education (e.g. RCPath, CME or equivalent) as appropriate, self-development and appraisal and in addition, will participate in the departmental arrangements for training/education of laboratory-based staff.
Assist in the provision of a high quality 24/7 analytical and Clinical Biochemistry service that satisfies all standards for attainment and retention of accreditation by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) and is appropriate to the needs of users and patients.
Deliver training and continuing education of medical, nursing and other staff in the hospital and community. He/she may be expected to deliver lectures /case presentations to other biochemists at Clinical Biochemistry CPD meetings
As Duty Biochemist be responsible for clinically authorising results and adding interpretative comments, both proactively (using rules based practice and ad hoc comments at computerised authorisation of individual results) and reactively (in response to verbal or written requests for advice).
Provide advice on the selection and interpretation of clinical biochemistry investigations to hospital clinicians, nursing staff, General Practitioners and other Healthcare Professionals and also vet requests for referral tests and authorise these results when received.
Initiate, plan, supervise and/or personally conduct audit projects and to act on the outcomes. To advise other clinical colleagues and teams in the Trust(s) on the Clinical Biochemistry aspects of their own audit activities
Person specification
Education and Training
Essential criteria
- First or second class honours degree in relevant subject.
- Successful completion of recognised training program in Clinical Biochemistry.
- Master’s Degree or assessed equivalent level of knowledge and expertise in speciality of Clinical Biochemistry
- Registration as a Clinical Scientist in Biochemistry with the Health and care Professions Council (HCPC).
- Part 1 Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath) by examination or equivalent or actively working towards it
- Demonstration of Continuing Professional Development at agreed level of participation
Desirable criteria
- PHD in Clinical Biochemistry or a related subject.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
- A thorough knowledge of human biochemistry and chemistry including metabolic processes, physiology, pharmacology and drug interference.
- A sound basic knowledge in other areas of Pathology.
- Extensive knowledge of routine and specialised analytical methods, quality assurance and problem solving.
- Ability to perform risk assessments on a variety of laboratory situations.
- Well-developed clinical awareness within and beyond the context of own speciality.
- Ability to advise senior medical staff, nursing staff and other health professionals on investigation and interpretation of biochemical and metabolic processes in complex situations also utilising data from other specialities.
- Ability to recognise patterns of abnormality and relate them to clinical situations and provide appropriate clinical advice.
- Ability to analyse highly complex information from outside as well as within the service and use to evaluate differential diagnoses
- Knowledge of metabolic medicine in adults, children and neonates including inherited disorders, endocrinology disease and toxicology.
- Ability to perform risk assessments and resolve problems or investigate complaints relating to the service as part of Clinical Governance
- Knowledge of managerial processes within the Trust and NHS. Good awareness of Trust Policies and procedures and how they relate to the staff and service of the department.
- Extensive knowledge of national professional and NHS guidelines relating to service provision and quality.
- Good interpersonal skills.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Completed a significant period in post as a Registered Clinical Scientist/ Biomedical scientist
- Ability to perform staff training and ensure compliance with professional standards
- Validation of clinical results
- Experience of assay validation, verification and troubleshooting
- Interpretation and troubleshooting of IQC and EQA
Desirable criteria
- Experience of teaching
- Management/leadership experience
- Audit and research
Personal Attributes
Essential criteria
- Can maintain self-control in difficult and challenging situations and to take control of situations when more junior staff are in difficulty
- Organised and team oriented
- Self-motivated and enthusiastic
- Shows professional leadership in challenging circumstances.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Natalie Walsham
- Job title
- Consultant Clinical Scientist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01322 428497
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