Principal Clinical Scientist for Biochemistry

East Kent Hospitals requires a principal clinical scientist to join our dynamic team of three consultants, two principal (including this post), two senior (one HSST), and three STP clinical scientists. We are looking for experienced, enthusiastic and motivated applicants for this post, to cover a period of maternity leave. You should ideally possess part 1 FRCPath, an MSc and/or PhD in Clinical Biochemistry and have registration as a clinical scientist with the HCPC. This post will provide excellent training opportunities and support in preparing for part 2 FRCPath will be given. We would consider appointing at band 7, dependent upon experience and qualifications.

Although this post is based at William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, the Trust has three acute hospital sites each with a laboratory (William Harvey Hospital at Ashford, Kent and Canterbury Hospital at Canterbury and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital at Margate). All sites have laboratories and the post holder may be required to work on the other sites. The pathology service is actively engaged in a transformation process which aims to modernise and harmonise the way pathology services are delivered across Kent and Medway in the future. A single LIMS solution will go live across the network in the next 12-18 months, and procurement for a Kent and Medway managed service contract will take place in 2025.

Main duties of the job

• The post-holder will be expected to undertake method development, clinical guideline development and clinical liaison, including working as duty biochemist.
• They will contribute to quality management, and the training of both clinical scientists and biomedical scientists.
• There are regular Kent and Medway journal club and clinical meetings which all clinical scientists attend.

Person specification

Qualifications and Training

• Good honours degree in a subject relevant to clinical biochemistry (1st or 2nd class).
• Successful completion of STP or equivalent clinical scientist training programme.
• MSc in Clinical Biochemistry.
• Registration with the HCPC.
• Part 1 FRCPath.
• Part 2 FRCPath (or working towards).
• PhD.
• Teaching certificate.
• Evidence of management training/qualification.

Skills and Experience

• A minimum of four years recent experience in a clinical biochemistry hospital laboratory.
• Experience of teaching staff.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team.
• Good negotiation and influencing skills.
• Good supervisory and management skills.
• Research and innovation skills.
• Work experience in a variety of clinical and research environments.

Knowledge

• Wide knowledge of clinical biochemistry.
• Clinical governance agenda.
• Understanding of quality management systems, accreditation and knowledge of quality standards.
• Health and safety awareness.
• Budgetary awareness.
• Document management control.

Personal / professional attributes

• Ability to manage, and adapt to, change.
• Able to identify and pursue own educational development.
• Attention to detail and computer literate with excellent IT skills i.e. MS packages: Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Planning abilities, with good organisational and time-management skills.
• Ability to decipher documents and complex information including charts, statistical data and figures.
• Ability to work independently.

Other requirements

To be aware of and adhere to the Trust’s Vision, Mission and Values.