Healthcare Scientist

Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 13 April 2025

Job summary

Fixed Term: 12 months | Full time | Hybrid

Sheffield Diagnostic Genetics Service (SDGS) is a dynamic and dedicated team of over 100 professionals delivering core and specialist rare disease and oncology genomics services as part of the North East and Yorkshire Genomic Laboratory Hub (NEY GLH), in partnership with Leeds and Newcastle. From April 2024, SDGS has evolved into a focused 'dry' analysis and reporting department, receiving 'wet' lab work data/results from our partner laboratories.

We are looking for an accomplished Healthcare Scientist to join our Solid Cancer Service team. You will oversee and deliver a range of specialised techniques including karyotyping, microarrays, next-generation sequencing, and whole genome sequencing. You will also manage services within the laboratory, ensuring the highest standards of clinical and developmental delivery.

About You:

  • Honours degree in Science, or additional relevant post-graduate qualification if degree is not in a Science

  • Appropriate registration

  • Post registration experience in Genetics over a range of services

If you have the skills we're looking for, and passion for improving the lives of our children and young people, we'd love to hear from you!

Main duties of the job

Reporting into the Lead Scientist, your responsibilities will include:

  • Oversee and deliver specialised techniques for the Solid Cancer Service.

  • Manage laboratory services, including clinical and developmental aspects.

  • Collaborate with clinicians and laboratory departments locally, regionally, and nationally to develop services.

  • Take on roles such as Audit Lead or EQA Lead, contributing to departmental and wider group structures.

  • Check and countersign reports, ensuring accuracy, interpretation, and valid statistical/risk calculations.

About us

At Sheffield Children's, our purpose is clear: to provide healthier futures for children and young people. Our three strategic aims are:

  1. Outstanding Patient Care
  2. Brilliant Place to work
  3. Leaders in Children's Health

We work with local, regional, and national partners to provide physical and mental healthcare across acute and community settings. Many of our clinicians are amongst the best in their field, recognised nationally and internationally for their expertise.

As well as having enormous pride in what we do, we are a friendly, welcoming, and motivated NHS Trust who are guided by our CARE values: Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence. Our nearly 4000 colleagues live these values, ensuring kind and compassionate care that makes patients and their families feel safe and at home.

As we approach our 150th anniversary in 2026, we remain committed to enhancing our reputation in children's health leadership, improving the experiences of both patient and colleagues, and focusing on our communities and population health.

Sheffield Children's provides great benefits to support your wellbeing, with excellent annual leave and pension schemes, health programmes, and exclusive discounts--helping you succeed at work and beyond.

Date posted

28 March 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

425-25-7055373

Job locations

Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Western Bank

Sheffield

S10 2TH


Job description

Job responsibilities

For more information on the main responsibilities for this post, please refer to the job description and person specification.

Please note that Sheffield Children's uplift pay to meet the Real Living Wage, which is £12.60 per hour.

Diversity Statement

At Sheffield Childrens, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and supports everyones success. We prioritise Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in our recruitment practices, creating a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds, including ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ members.

Recognising that inclusivity is an ongoing effort, we review our processes and welcome feedback to enhance our practices. A diverse team strengthens our organisation and the quality of care we deliver. For ideas on how we can improve, please contact our Recruitment Manager at scn-tr.recruitment.team@nhs.net. Together, were building a workplace where everyone belongs.

#LI-Onsite

Job description

Job responsibilities

For more information on the main responsibilities for this post, please refer to the job description and person specification.

Please note that Sheffield Children's uplift pay to meet the Real Living Wage, which is £12.60 per hour.

Diversity Statement

At Sheffield Childrens, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and supports everyones success. We prioritise Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in our recruitment practices, creating a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds, including ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ members.

Recognising that inclusivity is an ongoing effort, we review our processes and welcome feedback to enhance our practices. A diverse team strengthens our organisation and the quality of care we deliver. For ideas on how we can improve, please contact our Recruitment Manager at scn-tr.recruitment.team@nhs.net. Together, were building a workplace where everyone belongs.

#LI-Onsite

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

  • Graduate in relevant good (2.2 or above) honours degree in science or additional postgraduate qualification if not appropriate degree
  • Registered in appropriate scheme for Healthcare Scientist

Desirable

  • Relevant post graduate or masters qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Post registration experience in Genetics over a range of services
  • Experience of service planning, development and delivery
  • Experience of management of some aspects of CPA

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Broad practical and theoretical knowledge of Human Genetics with several areas of highly specialist skills and detailed knowledge.
  • Knowledge of Health and Safety, quality management and CPA requirements in a laboratory environment.
  • Very high level of technical and analytical skill including trouble shooting with complex systems.
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Ability to train and develop staff in clinical science. Excellent organisational skills including meticulous record keeping.
  • Ability to supervise and manage services, or groups of services, and meet tight deadlines where results may influence critical, potentially life-threatening treatment.

Personal Attributes

Essential

  • Excellent team player and independent worker. Able to deal with confidential and emotionally stressful issues such as PreNatal Diagnosis and/or significant patient mortality.

Demonstrates Trust Values

Essential

  • Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence.
Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

  • Graduate in relevant good (2.2 or above) honours degree in science or additional postgraduate qualification if not appropriate degree
  • Registered in appropriate scheme for Healthcare Scientist

Desirable

  • Relevant post graduate or masters qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Post registration experience in Genetics over a range of services
  • Experience of service planning, development and delivery
  • Experience of management of some aspects of CPA

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Broad practical and theoretical knowledge of Human Genetics with several areas of highly specialist skills and detailed knowledge.
  • Knowledge of Health and Safety, quality management and CPA requirements in a laboratory environment.
  • Very high level of technical and analytical skill including trouble shooting with complex systems.
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Ability to train and develop staff in clinical science. Excellent organisational skills including meticulous record keeping.
  • Ability to supervise and manage services, or groups of services, and meet tight deadlines where results may influence critical, potentially life-threatening treatment.

Personal Attributes

Essential

  • Excellent team player and independent worker. Able to deal with confidential and emotionally stressful issues such as PreNatal Diagnosis and/or significant patient mortality.

Demonstrates Trust Values

Essential

  • Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence.

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).

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.

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Western Bank

Sheffield

S10 2TH


Employer's website

https://www.sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Western Bank

Sheffield

S10 2TH


Employer's website

https://www.sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

Lead Clinical Scientist

Mark Watson

mark.watson6@nhs.net

01142717014

Date posted

28 March 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

425-25-7055373

Job locations

Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Western Bank

Sheffield

S10 2TH


Supporting documents

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