Consultant Clinical Scientist - Clinical Lead
As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.
We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £250m estates programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.
In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train.The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.
We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.
We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.
At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.
As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.
Job overview
It is an exciting time to join the University Hospitals Dorset as there are several new developments including the creation of a new state-of-the-art clinical laboratory – the One Dorset Pathology (ODP) hub and future alignment with laboratories within the Southern Counties Pathology Network.The transformation of the hospitals in the region has already seen a new LIMS installation across the networked sites in Dorset and standardised equipment procurement. With this will come the need for reconfiguration of pathology services to which you will have to opportunity to contribute.
The candidate will be joining a One Dorset Pathology (ODP) Clinical Biochemistry team comprising of one medical consultant, one consultant clinical scientist, two principal clinical scientists and one senior clinical scientist.
Base Location: Royal Bournemouth Hospital
Main duties of the job
As head of department you will work with the Clinical Scientists in providing and developing a quality Clinical Biochemistry Service. A specialist interest will be encouraged, in keeping with the needs and resources of the department and those of other scientists.There are opportunities for research both within the department and collaboratively with Clinical Colleagues.
Working for our organisation
Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued teammates and colleagues.
UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme.
This means that some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or long term. Recruiting Managers interviewing for this role will be happy to answer any specific questions that you have about this at interview.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
There are opportunities to develop expertise in Point-of-Care testing (POCT), general laboratory service provision, quality assurance management, protein electrophoresis and to contribute to the endocrine and diabetes service. The new incumbent will be fully supported to develop specialist interests.There are plans in development to form a Medical School, an accredited BSc and MSc Biomedical Science courses at the University of Bournemouth, which the candidate may wish to contribute to.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- First or second class degree in Science or related degree AND completed clinical scientist training
- Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath) [PhD equivalent]
- Registration as a Clinical Scientist in Biochemistry with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- Additional appropriate postgraduate qualification eg PhD, MSc, MRSC, CChem
- Use of MS Office products, ECDL
Experience
Essential criteria- A minimum of ten years in a recognised Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory
- Experience of managing staff in a clinical laboratory environment
- Evidence of good leadership, organisational and management skills
- Experience of supervising junior scientific and medical staff
- Experience in developing and implementing new technologies
- Experience of participation in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching
- Leadership and training experience
- Experience between different Hospital laboratories
- Experience of budgetary control
Technical Skills Competencies
Essential criteria- Expertise or experience in a number of analytical techniques
- Ability to apply theoretical knowledge to clinical situations
- Able to advise medical and nursing staff on investigations and interpretations of biochemical and metabolic processes (where necessary with support from more senior staff)
- Able to recognise patterns of abnormality and relate them to clinical situations and assess differential diagnoses
- An area of high-level special expertise within clinical biochemistry
- Undertaken or participated in research and/or audit projects
- Publication of peer-reviewed papers
Knowledge
Essential criteria- A broad knowledge of human biochemistry and chemistry, including metabolic processes, physiology and pharmacology and the ability to apply theoretical knowledge to clinical situations
- A good knowledge of analytical methods, quality assurance and problem-solving
- A working knowledge of methodology and equipment used in the laboratory
- A strong working knowledge of computers and software
- An understanding of Clinical Governance
- To have a good knowledge of managerial processes within the NHS
Other requirements specific to the role
Essential criteria- Able to work as a team
- Good oral and written communication skills in English
- Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, patients, relatives, GPs, nurses and other agencies
- Able to prepare and present scientific information at meetings or as part of a teaching session
- Evidence of involvement in and understanding of research methodology and publication of findings
- Research/critical review of literature
- Understands the purpose and relevance of research and audit
- Evidence of an enquiring mind
- Able to conduct Research and Development activities
- Presentations at national and international conferences
Personal Attributes
Essential criteria- Prepared to rotate as specified between laboratories, and to participate in the out of hours rota
- Self-motivation: able to identify and pursue own educational development
- Enthusiasm and ability to work under pressure
- Ability to form constructive and effective professional relationships with patients and staff
- Ability to respond to urgent clinical problems
- Ready to troubleshoot and not accept defeat
- Honest, reliable and Trustworthy
- Supportive, tolerant and able to work within a multidisciplinary team
- Caring attitude to patients
- Evidence of satisfactory CPD and a commitment to personal / unit CPD
Language requirement
Essential criteria- Able to speak English as necessary to undertake the role
Please note:
Staff recruited are expected to be available to work flexibly across all our Trust locations to meet service demands.
This advert may be closed early if sufficient applications are received.
COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst this vaccination is not a condition of employment we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated.
Internal Candidates: staff employed prior to merger who voluntarily change jobs will be appointed to UHD terms and conditions.