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Job summary

Main area
Clinical Scientist
Grade
Band 7
Contract
12 months (Fixed Term 12 month contract)
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
359-7055046-T1
Employer
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Tunbridge Wells Hospital
Town
Tunbridge Wells
Salary
£46,148 - £52,809 per annum pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
28/04/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust logo

Clinical Scientist

Band 7

Job overview

We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join the Clinical Biochemistry Department of Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW). We welcome part time applications and offer a range of flexible working options. You should have completed or be very near to completion of formal preregistration STP training. Ideally you will have or be very close to obtaining registration as a Clinical Scientist with the HCPC.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will become part of our dynamic clinical team of Clinical Scientists and Consultant Chemical Pathologists. A significant part of the role will include participation in the Duty Biochemist rota, input into the Clinical Biochemistry laboratories, service development, quality management, and attending Multi-Disciplinary Meetings (MDMs).

We actively participate in case discussions, relevant CPD activities and training towards obtaining FRCPath. We are part of the Kent & Medway Pathology Network (KMPN), with East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust and North Kent Pathology Services, where we benefit from clinical and professional interactions. There are regular journal clubs and weekly clinical case meetings that all Clinical Scientists attend.

Working for our organisation

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 NHS Staff Survey.

We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre.

Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day-care beds, diagnostic services (X-ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms.

Looking for flexible working?
We are a flexible working-friendly organisation. Whether it’s adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.

Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:

  • At least 27 days of annual leave plus public/bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time staff).
  • Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with a 20.6% employer contribution and life assurance benefits
  • Blue Light card eligibility
  • And more, additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We’ve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission. 

Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check at Standard Level. 

All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date has been agreed.

Working for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust/NKPS you will be part of the Kent and Medway Pathology Network (South 8 Network - Kent and Medway Pathology Network is made up of seven laboratories across three pathology services in four acute Trusts. For more information on the network please see the attached document

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Good honours degree (1st or 2nd class)
  • Registration with the HCPC as Clinical Scientist
  • MSc in clinical biochemistry or equivalent
Desirable criteria
  • PhD
  • Part one FRCPath (or working towards)
  • Evidence of management training

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Good communication skills demonstrated through oral and written evidence
  • Good time management
  • Evidence of a wide application and understanding of Clinical Biochemistry to real clinical scenarios
  • Evidence of delivering a high quality clinical service through evidence of clinical audit and/or governance
  • Attention to detail and computer literate with IT skills i.e. MS packages: Word, Excel and PowerPoint
Desirable criteria
  • Peer-reviewed publication record

Experience/Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Wide knowledge of clinical biochemistry: a thorough understanding of the basic science that underpins the speciality of Clinical Biochemistry and its application to clinical practice
  • Appreciation of other pathology disciplines.
  • 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)
  • Recent extensive experience in a clinical biochemistry hospital laboratory as an STP/grade A clinical scientist trainee at Band 6
  • To have undertaken a formal approved postgraduate training programme deemed as appropriate for HCPC registration
Desirable criteria
  • Work experience in a variety of clinical and research environments
  • To have undertaken training and gained experience in a range of clinical biochemistry specialties, for example toxicology, endocrinology, specialist proteins.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Kent and Medway Work Place Wellbeing AwardNHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardTrust IDVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDisability confident leaderDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - SilverStep into healthArmed Forces CovenantRoyal College of Anaesthetists AccreditedNHS England Bronze Award

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Dr Susan Vickery
Job title
Consultant Clinical Scientist
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01622 477548
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