Haematology Senior Clinical Scientist/Higher Specialist Scientist Trainee

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people. We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. Plus, we provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries. We welcome and encourage applications from anyone with protected characteristics, as well as supporting reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS. Blackpool Teaching Hospitals encourages flexible working in all our roles to support staff in maintaining a healthy home-life balance. Working patterns such as part-time working, self-rostering, compressed hours, annualised hours, term time, reverse term time and flexitime working can be explored.

We are looking to recruit a Haematology Trainee Clinical Scientist who will work alongside our Principal and Consultant Clinical Scientists within the department of Haematology at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, supporting the Haematology medical team.

Main duties of the job:

• Providing scientific advice to clinicians.
• Participating in the duty scientist rota.
• Contributing to patient management through effective communication of complex findings.
• Advising on and interpreting a range of specialist haematology and transfusion investigations.
• Supporting quality management, service development, and staff training, ensuring compliance with ISO 15189, BSH guidance, and MHRA requirements.
• Focusing on patient safety and clinical governance.
• Encouraging and supporting professional development, including advanced practice skills and application for the Higher Specialist Scientist Training (HSST) programme.
• Providing mentorship from senior/consultant clinical scientists.
• Gaining advanced clinical, leadership, and audit experience.
• Involvement in complex cases, MDT work, and service development.
• Access to research and presentation opportunities.
• Guidance with the HSST application process.
• Development time to build a portfolio.

Working for our organisation:

• Physical Effort: Restricted position for long periods; frequent light effort for several short periods; occasional moderate effort for several short periods.
• Mental Effort: Frequent requirement for concentration; occasional/frequent requirement for prolonged concentration.
• Working Conditions: Occasional/frequent exposure to unpleasant conditions; handles contained or controlled hazardous materials; contact with body fluids.
• Emotional Effort: Occasional exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities:

• Provide and receive complex information where tact and persuasive skills are required.
• Communicate test and other technical information to patients who may have sensory, physical or learning disabilities.
• Exchange specialist information with colleagues from own and other disciplines.
• Present research findings to conferences or other large groups.
• Analyse and interpret test and investigation results.
• Plan straightforward tasks and manage workload.
• Demonstrate highly developed physical skills for manipulation of fine tools and materials.

Person specification:

• Education and Qualifications: HCPC Registered as a Clinical Scientist; relevant Level 7 qualification in Haematology accepted by HEE/NSHCS for entry to HSST Haematology/Transfusion programme.
• Skills and Ability: Highly professional; must work within HCPC Code of Practice; patient-centred approach; individual and team working; respects confidentiality.
• Experience and Knowledge: Minimum of 3 years experience working as a STP in a Haematology/Blood Transfusion Laboratory; evidence of Continuing Professional Development.

Any invitation to interview will be sent to the email account stated on your application form. If the role you have applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check, we will administer this as part of your pre-employment checks. Please note, you will be required to repay the cost on appointment. This will be collected via a salary deduction. You can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months from your salary or as a one-off payment on commencement in post. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently, the charges are - Basic DBS check £25.50, Standard DBS check £25.50 and Enhanced DBS check £53.50. You are encouraged where possible, to register for the DBS update service. This is an annual registration fee of £16. By registering for the update service you will not have the additional cost of repeated disclosures. Should you withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check. DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions. By submitting an application for this vacancy you are confirming your agreement to the above in the event you are successfully appointed. The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here. Please ensure that you read the Person Specification attached below as your application will be judged against this. Please note that every effort will be made to keep the vacancy live until the published closing date, though there may be instances where such interest is generated, that for administrative reasons the post may close earlier. Please note that in line with national NHS guidelines this Trust operates a strict non-smoking policy. Members of staff are not permitted to smoke on Trust premises or grounds at any time nor take breaks during working hours for the purposes of smoking. The Trust does not offer interview expenses to shortlisted candidates unless indicated in the advert.