Clinical Scientist

This Clinical Scientist role, based in the Biochemistry Department at Taunton Laboratories within NHS Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, involves the development and delivery of complex scientific and diagnostic procedures, providing clinical advice, and acting as a liaison between the laboratory and clinicians. The post holder will work with Consultants to provide a comprehensive service, participate in the departmental Duty Officer rota, and is expected to work towards achieving Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists. The role requires a high level of individual responsibility and self-motivation, with responsibilities extending across all SPS locations in Somerset.

Main duties of the job

The main duties of the Clinical Scientist role at NHS Somerset NHS Foundation Trust include:

• Developing and delivering complex and specialised scientific and diagnostic procedures, requiring skilled performance and the provision of clinical advice.
• Collaborating with Consultants to ensure the provision of a comprehensive service within the Department of Clinical Biochemistry.
• Participating in the departmental Duty Officer rota, serving as a key interface between the laboratory and clinicians across the Trust, primary care services, and national users.
• Undertaking a range of technical responsibilities, including the safe handling of biological and chemical materials, performing preventative maintenance on laboratory instruments, conducting complex laboratory investigations, and monitoring quality control.
• Providing appropriate scientific and clinical advice, assisting in the review and formulation of policies and protocols, and participating in the evaluation of new assays, equipment, and procedures.
• Maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of general Clinical Biochemistry to provide scientific and clinical advice, review abnormal results, and discuss urgent findings with requesting clinicians.

About us

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we\’re committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you\’ll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away – and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it\’s a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all – the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Job responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

Communication and Key Working Relationships

To effectively liaise with clinical staff and other healthcare workers to provide advice on the appropriate use of the clinical biochemistry service.

To work and communicate effectively as part of a team.

To promote and maintain close links with appropriate clinical departments and teams including if appropriate attendance at ward rounds and MDT\’s.

To develop and strengthen existing links between Clinical Biochemistry and its users by providing, receiving and acting on information that may be highly complex.

Planning and Analytics

Technical

Depending on training needs you will spend time in all areas of the SPS Laboratories pertinent to Clinical Biochemistry to allow competence to be achieved in the following:

To safely handle blood, urine, faeces, other body tissue, and hazardous chemicals.

To ensure that appropriate preventative maintenance is carried out on laboratory instruments and equipment in the specialist sections prior to them being used for patient investigations.

To ensure that reagents are prepared, stored and used according to manufacturer and laboratory procedures.

To perform complex manual, semi-automated and fully automated laboratory investigations.

To be responsible for monitoring quality control of the analytes measured in the specialist sections and ensure that appropriate action is taken where required.

To measure and monitor the accuracy and imprecision of laboratory investigations using appropriate quality control procedures.

To undertake validation of the results from laboratory investigations to ensure accuracy and precision as specified by laboratory quality procedures and protocols.

To investigate and take corrective action when quality control or assurance procedures indicate loss of performance of the laboratory instruments or methods.

In the event of a service failure to take appropriate action to safeguard patient sample integrity, to identify priority work and where necessary to seek alternative arrangements for service provision.

To troubleshoot faults in complex laboratory instrumentation.

Scientific

To provide appropriate scientific and clinical advice relating to the work of the Department

To assist in the review, amendment and formulation of policies and protocols.

To participate in the evaluation of new assays, equipment and procedures introduced into the sections.

To be able to develop and perform novel and or complex assays for routine or specialist patient investigation under the supervision of the section head and ensure that others in the section are fully trained in their use.

To assist in monitoring the quality assurance, including external assessment and internal monitoring and taking corrective action where the need is identified.

To participate in the development of the service under the supervision of the Consultants, with reference to National Guidelines, best clinical practice and research findings.

To provide clinical and scientific advice to clinicians on the appropriateness and choice of biochemical investigations and their interpretation.

Health and Safety

To be familiar and competent with procedures for dealing with the safe handling of biological and chemical materials of all types in a laboratory environment.

To be familiar and competent with procedures to deal with biological, chemical and radioactive spillages in a safe manner.

To be familiar with and to comply with the Health and Safety policies of the department and the Trust to maintain a safe working environment for all.

To observe and adhere to local and national health and safety policies e.g. COSHH.

Quality Standards

To understand and perform all work in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures.

To ensure compliance with all local and national standards of work practice e.g. UKAS ISO 15189

To comply with Trust policies pertinent to Clinical Governance and Risk Management.

Education and Training

To facilitate and contribute to the departments teaching and further educational activities at a level appropriate to the post

To review with the Consultants personal development, educational and training needs required for Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists.

To maintain State Registration with the Healthcare and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

To develop and improve scientific expertise, which may be via CPD within an appraisal programme.

To maintain a portfolio of CPD activities as required by the Health Professional Council.

To participate in appropriate training activities outside the department by arrangement with Consultants.

To be involved in the planning, organization and delivery of teaching for medical and scientific staff

To assist in the training of more junior (STP) Clinical Biochemists

Organisation

To ensure that records are kept up to date and stored safely to ensure compliance with good work practices required for the standards of UKAS ISO 15189

To comply with all appropriate departmental Standard Operational Procedures.

To ensure that all results are reported within the agreed turnaround time, and to take appropriate action, for example communicating any problems to colleagues and managers.

To deal with all personal and telephone enquiries to the department in an appropriate manner.

Clinical Duties

To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of general Clinical Biochemistry, in order to give scientific and clinical advice to other scientists and clinicians from within and outside the Trust.

To review abnormal results from both general and specialist areas and where appropriate to append clinically relevant interpretive and advisory comments to the computer record and to request or suggest further investigations. When necessary to immediate patient management, to discuss results with the requesting clinician.

To participate in the departmental Duty Officer rota, including the authorisation of abnormal biochemistry tests and the requesting or suggesting of further investigations or referral as appropriate.

To discuss urgent, markedly abnormal or unexpected results with the requesting clinician or other appropriate person in a timely manner.

To verify any unexpected results and to ensure that the correct pre-analytical procedures were performed and to request repeat collections where appropriate.

Policy, Service, Research & Development Responsibility

Research & Development

To participate in research and development appropriate to the service and appropriate to training needs, under the direction of the Consultant team.

To assist in the development of new technologies and methods within the specialist section and Clinical Biochemistry department as required.

Strategic

To participate in the implementation of agreed planning policies pertinent to the department and to the provision of specialist services throughout the organisation.

To contribute to, and be a part of, the relevant departmental and Trust wide and SPS management structure as appropriate to the post.

Risk Management and Quality Improvement

Respond to complaints against the department

Report on and to close clinical incidents. There may be a requirement to present incidents at the SPS/Trust Incident review groups

Participate in and also lead laboratory audits in line with the Quality Management System.

Undertake clinical audit and Quality improvement projects. To present such audits at local Pathology audit meetings and to implement recommendations.

Assist in ensuring that the Quality Management system is maintained with direct responsibility for a number of clinical documents.

Review laboratory EQA reports and follow up on poor performance where appropriate.

Responsibility for Finance, Equipment & Other Resources

To assist in recording, monitoring and reporting on all statistical information required by the department, Trust, Department of Health and other bodies as directed.

Responsibility for Supervision, Leadership & Management

To deputise for a more senior colleagues for short periods if appropriate.

Information Resources & Administrative Duties

To be familiar with and proficient in the use of appropriate information technology systems within the department.

To use the Laboratory Information System according to the authorised protocols.

To keep up to date with any changes in the operation of the Laboratory Information System.

To contribute to the development of systems and processes for recording and storing laboratory information. Including the deployment and operation of remote monitoring and maintenance systems for analytical devices.

To analyse and interpret highly complex data under the supervision of the Consultants

To be competent in word processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation software to an advanced level.

To comply with local and national policies for the safe, secure and confidential processing and storage of patient and other laboratory information.

Any Other Specific Tasks Required

Effort, Skills and Working

Physical Skills A combination of sitting, standing and walking with good technical ability and manual dexterity

Physical Effort Able to concentrate on complex work/meetings for long periods with frequent interruptions and including the use of information technology

Mental Effort There is a frequent requirement for intense concentration

Emotional Effort Occasional exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances

Working Conditions Occasional exposure to unpleasant working conditions

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Good Honours degree in Biochemistry orResearch qualification / Higher degree such asMSc in Clinical Biochemistry.Successful completion of an approved training scheme in Clinical Biochemistry.
• Completion of part 1 FRCPath

Experience

• Experience of working in a clinical biochemistry laboratory.Experienced at problem solving and trouble shootingPrevious involvement and experience in the conduct of multi-disciplinary audit

Additional Criteria

• A demonstrable all-round knowledge of clinical biochemistry in its routine service setting.Knowledge of Clinical Governance, Audit and Risk Management procedures.Conversant with the required standards of UKAS ISO15189 accreditation.An understanding of diagnostic pathology at an appropriate level.
• Competence in the assessment of QA data and in the application of QC results to routine work

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.