Job summary
We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Clinical Chemistry Nurse Specialist (CNS) to join our team.
As a Clinical Chemistry CNS, you will play a critical role in interpreting biochemical test results and applying this knowledge directly to patient care. You will work collaboratively with laboratory staff, clinicians, and patients to enhance diagnostic accuracy and support effective treatment plans. Your expertise will help improve clinical decision-making and patient outcomes across a variety of medical conditions monitored through clinical chemistry.
Main duties of the job
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Provide expert clinical assessment and specialist nursing care to patients within your area of expertise.
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Interpret diagnostic test results and integrate findings into patient management plans.
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Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams to develop and implement effective care pathways.
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Educate and support patients, families, and healthcare staff on relevant clinical conditions and treatments.
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Lead quality improvement initiatives and participate in clinical audits to enhance service delivery.
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Develop and review clinical protocols, guidelines, and policies to ensure best practice.
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Act as a liaison between clinical teams and other healthcare professionals to promote seamless patient care.
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Engage in ongoing professional development and contribute to research or service development projects.
About us
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients.
UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.
For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.
Aintree University Hospital is the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility. Broadgreen Hospital is home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation. Liverpool Women's Hospital specialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK's largest single site maternity hospital each year. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.
For roles at Liverpool Women's, visit their careers page.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Perform specialist assessment of patients nursing needs, plan, implement and evaluate care delivery using advanced clinical knowledge and clinical skills. Lead clinical care by managing a patient caseload providing expert assessment, planning and evaluation. Co-ordinate and manage nurse-led clinics (within Speciality). Contribute towards a multi-professional approach in the management of patients within the specialist area, especially in relation to ongoing care needs anddischarge arrangements. Establish and maintain effective communication with patients and carers / relatives. Support patients and their families and ensure that they receive the required information to enable them to self manage, lead or participate in their care delivery. Recognise changes in patients condition that require the intervention of others and refer on as appropriate. To support, assist and encourage the multi-disciplinary team in resolving patient problems, by the provision of new and innovative models of case management. To lead the specialist nursing contribution to the service, in the delivery of high standards of patient care. To lead the specialist nursing contribution to the service, work in partnership with lead clinicians, General Managers, Matron to ensure the delivery of high standards of patient care. Work with the Matron to promote the development of nurses undertaking the CNO Ten Key Roles as considered appropriate e.g. Nurse Prescribing.Leadership Act as a role model and expert nurse providing in depth specialist clinical knowledge to colleagues through MDT meetings, for patients and carers / relatives. Undertake clinical supervision of nursing colleagues on an individual or group basis. Act as a resource for health care professionals by being visible, available, and accessible for support and advice in relation to the management of patients in the speciality. Provide leadership to the team of nurse specialists and working with the matron, develop new roles / ways of working (High Impact Changes). Linked to directorate business plans. Ensure the effective and efficient use of physical and financial resources. Lead consultations on and develop strategies for delivering effective care within a changing environment that improves the quality of care and health outcomes in the specialist area. Responsible for monitoring health, safety and security of self, the team and others and promote best practice in the ward area. Ensure systems are in place for risk assessment and minimisation including promoting no blame cultures in order that near misses and incidents are reported. Take the lead in investigation of incidents / complaints when required, including detailed reports / letters to complainants. Act as an innovative, enthusiastic role model providing leadership, guidance and advice to staff on operational and professional issues promoting an open and honest and transparent culture. Demonstrate clinical leadership and challenge speciality and directorate boundaries to enhance and support the patients journey.
Lead a team of specialist sisters/ CNSs towards achieving directorate, and Trust objectives. To identify and develop proposals and business cases as required for future service innovation. Take the lead and develop and influence the development of practice / services in the clinical area through the business planning process / service development and in conjunction with Matron, General Manager, Lead Clinician and Assistant Chief Nurse. Ensure appropriate skill mix, cover is provided when planning rotas and delegating workload. Delegate work to match capabilities and workload of team members. Manage own and other resources effectively ensuring efficient service delivery. Undertake performance development reviews including reviewing the performance measures framework. Monitor sickness, absence and competence issues in line with Trust Policy. Lead recruitment and selection of staff in line with Trust PolicyAdvocate Ensure that high standards of nursing care are given and maintained and act when standards are not being met. Involve patients and carers in the planning and delivery of care. Act as the patients advocate and ambassador. Lead the development of a patient focussed education and information giving strategy within the speciality. Recognise, prevent and diffuse potential areas of conflict and take a key role in the management of the outcome.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Perform specialist assessment of patients nursing needs, plan, implement and evaluate care delivery using advanced clinical knowledge and clinical skills. Lead clinical care by managing a patient caseload providing expert assessment, planning and evaluation. Co-ordinate and manage nurse-led clinics (within Speciality). Contribute towards a multi-professional approach in the management of patients within the specialist area, especially in relation to ongoing care needs anddischarge arrangements. Establish and maintain effective communication with patients and carers / relatives. Support patients and their families and ensure that they receive the required information to enable them to self manage, lead or participate in their care delivery. Recognise changes in patients condition that require the intervention of others and refer on as appropriate. To support, assist and encourage the multi-disciplinary team in resolving patient problems, by the provision of new and innovative models of case management. To lead the specialist nursing contribution to the service, in the delivery of high standards of patient care. To lead the specialist nursing contribution to the service, work in partnership with lead clinicians, General Managers, Matron to ensure the delivery of high standards of patient care. Work with the Matron to promote the development of nurses undertaking the CNO Ten Key Roles as considered appropriate e.g. Nurse Prescribing.Leadership Act as a role model and expert nurse providing in depth specialist clinical knowledge to colleagues through MDT meetings, for patients and carers / relatives. Undertake clinical supervision of nursing colleagues on an individual or group basis. Act as a resource for health care professionals by being visible, available, and accessible for support and advice in relation to the management of patients in the speciality. Provide leadership to the team of nurse specialists and working with the matron, develop new roles / ways of working (High Impact Changes). Linked to directorate business plans. Ensure the effective and efficient use of physical and financial resources. Lead consultations on and develop strategies for delivering effective care within a changing environment that improves the quality of care and health outcomes in the specialist area. Responsible for monitoring health, safety and security of self, the team and others and promote best practice in the ward area. Ensure systems are in place for risk assessment and minimisation including promoting no blame cultures in order that near misses and incidents are reported. Take the lead in investigation of incidents / complaints when required, including detailed reports / letters to complainants. Act as an innovative, enthusiastic role model providing leadership, guidance and advice to staff on operational and professional issues promoting an open and honest and transparent culture. Demonstrate clinical leadership and challenge speciality and directorate boundaries to enhance and support the patients journey.
Lead a team of specialist sisters/ CNSs towards achieving directorate, and Trust objectives. To identify and develop proposals and business cases as required for future service innovation. Take the lead and develop and influence the development of practice / services in the clinical area through the business planning process / service development and in conjunction with Matron, General Manager, Lead Clinician and Assistant Chief Nurse. Ensure appropriate skill mix, cover is provided when planning rotas and delegating workload. Delegate work to match capabilities and workload of team members. Manage own and other resources effectively ensuring efficient service delivery. Undertake performance development reviews including reviewing the performance measures framework. Monitor sickness, absence and competence issues in line with Trust Policy. Lead recruitment and selection of staff in line with Trust PolicyAdvocate Ensure that high standards of nursing care are given and maintained and act when standards are not being met. Involve patients and carers in the planning and delivery of care. Act as the patients advocate and ambassador. Lead the development of a patient focussed education and information giving strategy within the speciality. Recognise, prevent and diffuse potential areas of conflict and take a key role in the management of the outcome.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Clinician NMC/HCPC
- Post-basic specialist Qualification relevant to speciality
- Recognised Teaching Qualification
- First Degree
Desirable
- Research qualification
- Recordable specialist qualification
- Masters
- Independent Prescriber
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable Post-Reg. experience
- Evidence of undertaking the relevant speciality successfully at Band 6
- Extensive clinical experience
- Evidence of the application of management / leadership skills and managing staff
- Involvement in audit
Desirable
- Experience as Specialist Sister
- Participation in research
- Management qualification
Knowledge
Essential
- In depth specialist knowledge
Skills
Essential
- Teaching / assessment skills
- Organisation and negotiation skills
- Effective communicator
- Leadership & motivation skills
- Evidence of audit and change management ability
- Computer literate
- Ability to motivate self and others
- Root Cause Analysis
Desirable
- Evidence of leading and facilitating change
- ECDL
Other
Essential
- Evidence of continued professional development
- Diplomatic
- Assertive and confident
- Personal and professional maturity
- Recognition of own limitations
- Demonstrates enthusiasm
- Ability to work both on own initiative and within a team
- Flexibility
- Able to travel between sites
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Clinician NMC/HCPC
- Post-basic specialist Qualification relevant to speciality
- Recognised Teaching Qualification
- First Degree
Desirable
- Research qualification
- Recordable specialist qualification
- Masters
- Independent Prescriber
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable Post-Reg. experience
- Evidence of undertaking the relevant speciality successfully at Band 6
- Extensive clinical experience
- Evidence of the application of management / leadership skills and managing staff
- Involvement in audit
Desirable
- Experience as Specialist Sister
- Participation in research
- Management qualification
Knowledge
Essential
- In depth specialist knowledge
Skills
Essential
- Teaching / assessment skills
- Organisation and negotiation skills
- Effective communicator
- Leadership & motivation skills
- Evidence of audit and change management ability
- Computer literate
- Ability to motivate self and others
- Root Cause Analysis
Desirable
- Evidence of leading and facilitating change
- ECDL
Other
Essential
- Evidence of continued professional development
- Diplomatic
- Assertive and confident
- Personal and professional maturity
- Recognition of own limitations
- Demonstrates enthusiasm
- Ability to work both on own initiative and within a team
- Flexibility
- Able to travel between sites
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.
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.
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).
