Principal Biochemist

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 26 May 2025

Job summary

We are delighted to offer the opportunity for an enthusiastic and highly motivated individual to join our Clinical Biochemistry Team.

With the merger of three Hospital Trusts in 2020 (Basildon, Southend and Broomfield) into the single Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, we are working towards a single operating model with the clinical team working across sites. You will join an existing team comprising of 4 consultant; 1 principal, 1 senior and trainee clinical scientists.

The primary hospital base for this post is currently at Basildon Hospital, but the successful candidate may need to work across any of the laboratory sites. Laboratory services are provided on each of the 3 main hospital sites. There is also an offsite Hub laboratory based in Basildon.

The laboratories offer both large scale automation and support several specialist areas. There is a rapidly developing POC service supporting both primary and secondary care.

The laboratory services have achieved UKAS accreditation and are accredited training departments with the National School of Healthcare Science for the STP programme, and with the IBMS for training of Biomedical Scientists.

We are looking for an individual who is HCPC registered for 12 months or more as a Clinical Scientist and has completed the STP training or equivalent. We would consider candidates who have completed part-1 of FRCPath.

Main duties of the job

Provide a comprehensive Clinical Biochemistry service to the Trust and ICB and:

Support the Consultant Clinical Scientist team in the clinical, advisory and scientific work of the department.Responsible for ensuring that the Clinical Biochemistry service provided is of consistently high quality and in line with Trust objectives as well as national standards.Support research and development activityMay be required to work at the different hospital sites within the group. (Broomfield, Basildon and Southend)

About us

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is now one of the largest in the country, with a workforce of approximately 15,000 who serve a population of 1.2 million people.

We work together, and in conjunction with MSE Health and Care Partnership, to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and wellbeing of our patients in a compassionate way, and provide a respectful, but vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

From facilities through to consultant specialists we want to be the best, to achieve this we need to recruit not just those who are the finest in their field but also those who have the potential to be. Yes, experience is important but so is outlook - if you are dynamic, forward-thinking and enthusiastic we want you to join us.

We not only offer you a good working environment with flexible working opportunities, but also the opportunity to develop your career with access to appropriate training for your job and the support to succeed and progress

Date posted

28 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 a year Per annum ( Pro rata for part time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

390-CSS-BA-9530-A

Job locations

Basildon

Nethermayne

Basildon

SS16 5NL

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached a full job description which outlines the details of the role and responsibilities.

If you would like to have a chat about the role or organise an informal visit, please contact our Group Lead for Biochemistry and Immunology, Stephen Whiting, on 01268 524900 ext. 3025. We look forward to receiving your application.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached a full job description which outlines the details of the role and responsibilities.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

FRCPath part 1
Registered with Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Desirable

PhD or equivalent in an area of Biochemistry

Experience

Essential

Evidence of working in biochemistry diagnostic laboratory
Evidence of independantly developing research projects

Desirable

Peer reviewed publications

Knowledge

Essential

Understanding of Laboratory safety requirements
Understanding of Quality assurance proceedures
Ability to use statistical and bioinformatics software programmes

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

FRCPath part 1
Registered with Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Desirable

PhD or equivalent in an area of Biochemistry

Experience

Essential

Evidence of working in biochemistry diagnostic laboratory
Evidence of independantly developing research projects

Desirable

Peer reviewed publications

Knowledge

Essential

Understanding of Laboratory safety requirements
Understanding of Quality assurance proceedures
Ability to use statistical and bioinformatics software programmes

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).