Principal or registered clinical scientist microbiology

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 11 October 2024

Job summary

Applications are invited for a HCPC registered Band 8a Principal Clinical Scientist in Medical Microbiology to join our team at Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust.

Alder Hey is one of the biggest and busiest children's hospitals in Europe, acting as a tertiary paediatric referral centre and our well equipped, UKAS ISO15189 accredited laboratory is situated in the new state of the art hospital building (Alder Hey in the Park). Alder Hey is a leading NIHR paediatric research centre and the laboratory plays an active role in the support of numerous clinical trials and research studies.

Full support and encouragement will be provided towards professional development and completion of the FRCPath examinations. Whilst this post is aimed at HCPC registered Clinical Scientists, STP trainees will be considered for a lower band post with automatic progression on registration.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will participate in the Duty Microbiologist rota, including reporting of specialist investigations, answering clinical queries and dealing with clinical and laboratory issues as they arise and will attend regular multidisciplinary team meetings. , They will be involved in the implementation, development and on-going evaluation of analytical methods and will liaise and provide support to the Biomedical Scientist and other laboratory staff. They will play an active role in ensuring that the department maintains UKAS ISO15189 accreditation.

About us

You will join a friendly department with a team who work closely together, with other laboratory staff and with the clinical teams. We hold regular CPD and clinical case discussions within the department and there are ample opportunities to undertake assay and service development projects and to work closely at the clinical interface, attending multidisciplinary team meetings.

Date posted

13 September 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

Depending on experience per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

411-MED-24-6580912

Job locations

Alder Hey Children's Hospital

Eaton Road

Liverpool

L12 2AP

Job description

Job responsibilities

Communication (detail below)

To review reports from other centres of a complex nature and to communicate when appropriate the findings to the clinical team.
To communicate this information by the addition of interpretive comments and the prompt telephoning of urgent results where necessary.
To discuss, advise, and if necessary, by informed persuasive negotiation present options for patient management to medical staff responsible for patient care. This may involve offering differential diagnoses, monitoring changes, suggesting investigations and monitoring response to therapy.
To attend, and contribute to, case discussion meetings with medical staff from a variety of disciplines providing a laboratory perspective when discussing patients. This undertaking will be conducted in the knowledge of Trust policy on confidentiality.
To produce and present results requiring a variety of statistical analysis, and to present research findings to other groups within and outside of the Trust.
To be able to communicate effectively with medical staff and other health care professionals. This may involve challenging opinions based on specialist knowledge and often involves discussing complex and confidential information.
To add interpretive comments to results and prompt communication of urgent results if appropriate.
To attend and contribute fully to departmental meetings.
To disseminate knowledge gained during private study and training to contribute to the knowledge of colleagues.
To present research, clinical cases and audit in the form of scientific posters or oral presentation at grand rounds, regional, national and international meetings.
To liaise with clinical scientists from other hospitals with particular expertise when arranging specialist investigations.

Analytical skills (detail below)

1.2.1 To carry out a variety of analytical techniques requiring a high level of skill and manual dexterity. This may involve performing novel or complex assays, particularly within the areas of the laboratory that require manually based techniques.

1.2.2 To be responsible for the safe use of complex and expensive analytical equipment.

1.2.3 To contribute to the development and selection of analytical methods and to maintain full awareness of their reactions, limitations and causes of interference and error. This knowledge is essential for the validation of reports, identifying errors and explaining anomalous results to clinical staff.

1.2.4 To critically evaluate analytical methods and equipment to maintain highest possible standards.

1.2.5 To be involved in the implementation, development and on-going evaluation of analytical methods as directed by the Consultants / Head of Department.

1.2.6 This involves the designing of experimental protocols and procedures to produce robust and reliable information and may require collaboration with colleagues from other disciplines and other hospitals.

1.2.7 To understand the scientific principles of methods in order to solve problems and troubleshoot.

Planning and organising skills (detail below)

To contribute to the development of policies, standard operating procedures and protocols, including clinical protocols, and ensuring that these are implemented within the work area.
To contribute to the testing and selection of new analytical equipment.
To be responsible for planning own workload on a day-to-day basis, influencing personal training and establishing appropriate timelines for long term projects.

Physical skills

1.4.1 Excellent hand eye co-ordination to ensure high precision when manipulating specimens and reagents.

Responsibility for patient/client care

To participate in the duty rota answering clinical queries and dealing with clinical and laboratory problems at they arise.
To interpret results, looking at patterns, abnormalities and clinical details to formulate differential diagnoses.
To provide advice to service users on all aspects of the provision of laboratory services.
To maintain a broad understanding of the wider clinical situation and other medical disciplines relevant to the patients in order to be able to offer a diagnostic / therapeutic opinion.
To undertake clinical audits of service effectiveness and contribute to clinical audits in other medical specialities.
To ensure that clinical incidents and complaints are investigated and reported and are used to improve practices in line with Trust and departmental clinical governance guidelines.

Responsibility for policy/service development

To develop a broad understanding of managerial processes within the Trust and NHS, becoming involved where appropriate.
To comply with Trust and Departmental Health and Safety policies for the well being of all staff within the laboratory.
To adopt the Trust philosophy and policies relating to Clinical Governance and Risk Management leading to best practice.
To undertake audits of service provision.
To provide leadership and guidance to laboratory staff on matters of quality assurance related to laboratory analysis and to take appropriate action where errors are identified.
To apply knowledge to problems that may arise in the routine provision of the service.
To develop specialist experience and knowledge within a particular area.
To contribute to ensuring the department works within nationally accepted standards e.g., UKAS ISO15189.
To ensure hazardous chemicals and reagents are handled appropriately and according to COSHH regulations.

Responsibility for human resources (detail below)

To contribute to postgraduate teaching sessions and training seminars for medical, nursing and laboratory staff.
To supervise and provide in-service training to trainee Clinical Scientists.
To provide clinical and scientific leadership to staff in specific areas.

Responsibility for information resources (detail below)

1.8.1 Use of laboratory and hospital computer systems to identify patients, report results, resolve and correct errors, and compile information.

To carry out literature searches/internet searches to gather information and be able to critically evaluate this information.
To be involved in monitoring quality within the laboratory through internal and external quality control assessments. This involves the computerised manipulation of externally received data, in order to undertake trend analysis which may require follow up, with close liaison with other laboratory staff members.

Responsibility for research and development

1.9.1 To produce and present results requiring a variety of statistical analysis, and to present research findings to other groups within and outside of the Trust.

1.9.3 To maintain up to date knowledge of recent developments and research relating to the discipline and be able to critically evaluate information in the form of e.g., scientific papers.

Education and knowledge

1.10.1 To maintain a high level of knowledge in medical microbiology and a general knowledge of other medical disciplines. This is essential for the interpretation of results.

1.10.2 To participate fully in local and national professional training.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Communication (detail below)

To review reports from other centres of a complex nature and to communicate when appropriate the findings to the clinical team.
To communicate this information by the addition of interpretive comments and the prompt telephoning of urgent results where necessary.
To discuss, advise, and if necessary, by informed persuasive negotiation present options for patient management to medical staff responsible for patient care. This may involve offering differential diagnoses, monitoring changes, suggesting investigations and monitoring response to therapy.
To attend, and contribute to, case discussion meetings with medical staff from a variety of disciplines providing a laboratory perspective when discussing patients. This undertaking will be conducted in the knowledge of Trust policy on confidentiality.
To produce and present results requiring a variety of statistical analysis, and to present research findings to other groups within and outside of the Trust.
To be able to communicate effectively with medical staff and other health care professionals. This may involve challenging opinions based on specialist knowledge and often involves discussing complex and confidential information.
To add interpretive comments to results and prompt communication of urgent results if appropriate.
To attend and contribute fully to departmental meetings.
To disseminate knowledge gained during private study and training to contribute to the knowledge of colleagues.
To present research, clinical cases and audit in the form of scientific posters or oral presentation at grand rounds, regional, national and international meetings.
To liaise with clinical scientists from other hospitals with particular expertise when arranging specialist investigations.

Analytical skills (detail below)

1.2.2 To be responsible for the safe use of complex and expensive analytical equipment.

1.2.4 To critically evaluate analytical methods and equipment to maintain highest possible standards.

1.2.5 To be involved in the implementation, development and on-going evaluation of analytical methods as directed by the Consultants / Head of Department.

1.2.7 To understand the scientific principles of methods in order to solve problems and troubleshoot.

Planning and organising skills (detail below)

To contribute to the development of policies, standard operating procedures and protocols, including clinical protocols, and ensuring that these are implemented within the work area.
To contribute to the testing and selection of new analytical equipment.
To be responsible for planning own workload on a day-to-day basis, influencing personal training and establishing appropriate timelines for long term projects.

Physical skills

1.4.1 Excellent hand eye co-ordination to ensure high precision when manipulating specimens and reagents.

Responsibility for patient/client care

To participate in the duty rota answering clinical queries and dealing with clinical and laboratory problems at they arise.
To interpret results, looking at patterns, abnormalities and clinical details to formulate differential diagnoses.
To provide advice to service users on all aspects of the provision of laboratory services.
To maintain a broad understanding of the wider clinical situation and other medical disciplines relevant to the patients in order to be able to offer a diagnostic / therapeutic opinion.
To undertake clinical audits of service effectiveness and contribute to clinical audits in other medical specialities.
To ensure that clinical incidents and complaints are investigated and reported and are used to improve practices in line with Trust and departmental clinical governance guidelines.

Responsibility for policy/service development

To develop a broad understanding of managerial processes within the Trust and NHS, becoming involved where appropriate.
To comply with Trust and Departmental Health and Safety policies for the well being of all staff within the laboratory.
To adopt the Trust philosophy and policies relating to Clinical Governance and Risk Management leading to best practice.
To undertake audits of service provision.
To provide leadership and guidance to laboratory staff on matters of quality assurance related to laboratory analysis and to take appropriate action where errors are identified.
To apply knowledge to problems that may arise in the routine provision of the service.
To develop specialist experience and knowledge within a particular area.
To contribute to ensuring the department works within nationally accepted standards e.g., UKAS ISO15189.
To ensure hazardous chemicals and reagents are handled appropriately and according to COSHH regulations.

Responsibility for human resources (detail below)

To contribute to postgraduate teaching sessions and training seminars for medical, nursing and laboratory staff.
To supervise and provide in-service training to trainee Clinical Scientists.
To provide clinical and scientific leadership to staff in specific areas.

Responsibility for information resources (detail below)

1.8.1 Use of laboratory and hospital computer systems to identify patients, report results, resolve and correct errors, and compile information.

To carry out literature searches/internet searches to gather information and be able to critically evaluate this information.
To be involved in monitoring quality within the laboratory through internal and external quality control assessments. This involves the computerised manipulation of externally received data, in order to undertake trend analysis which may require follow up, with close liaison with other laboratory staff members.

Responsibility for research and development

1.9.1 To produce and present results requiring a variety of statistical analysis, and to present research findings to other groups within and outside of the Trust.

1.9.3 To maintain up to date knowledge of recent developments and research relating to the discipline and be able to critically evaluate information in the form of e.g., scientific papers.

Education and knowledge

1.10.1 To maintain a high level of knowledge in medical microbiology and a general knowledge of other medical disciplines. This is essential for the interpretation of results.

1.10.2 To participate fully in local and national professional training.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

To have completed a formal postgraduate training programme approved as appropriate for HCPC registration together with supervised in-service experience totaling a minimum of 2 years

Desirable

Experience in a paediatric microbiology department

Qualifications

Essential

First degree in Microbiology or a related subject
Registration as a Clinical Scientist in medical microbiology with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Desirable

Experience in research (PhD)
Experience in a paediatric Microbiology department
FRCPath part 1

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

To have completed a formal postgraduate training programme approved as appropriate for HCPC registration together with supervised in-service experience totaling a minimum of 2 years

Desirable

Experience in a paediatric microbiology department

Qualifications

Essential

First degree in Microbiology or a related subject
Registration as a Clinical Scientist in medical microbiology with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Desirable

Experience in research (PhD)
Experience in a paediatric Microbiology department
FRCPath part 1

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).