Band 8c - Specialist Healthcare Scientist, Blood Sciences in Watford

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Band 8c - Specialist Healthcare Scientist, Blood Sciences

Band 8c

Main area Healthcare Scientists Grade Band 8c Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 360-C-11719

Department name West Herts - General Staffing Site Cross Site Town Watford Salary £81,774 - £93,879 pa inc HCA Salary period Yearly Closing 20/09/2026 23:59

Job overview

We are looking for an experienced and highly motivated Consultant Clinical Scientist (Blood Sciences & Chemical Pathology) to join our Chemical Pathology team at Band 8C. This is a senior scientific leadership role with responsibility for delivering a high-quality, comprehensive Chemical Pathology service across the Trust, including clinical advice, specialist scientific interpretation and leadership of quality and governance.

You will act as Deputy Head of Department and provide clinical leadership for Blood Sciences developments at the Croxley Green Park Laboratory. The role offers an opportunity to shape service development, quality improvement, research, education and innovation while working closely with clinicians, laboratory teams and external partners. The role participates in 24-hour clinical advisory cover; core departmental hours and rota arrangements will be discussed at interview.

Main duties of the job

You will provide expert scientific and clinical advice on the selection, performance and interpretation of complex biochemical investigations, supporting diagnosis, treatment and monitoring. You will lead the Chemical Pathology Quality Management System, including IQC, EQA, audit, incident investigation, CAPA and UKAS compliance, and act as a senior adviser on quality and governance.

As Deputy Head of Department, you will support operational and strategic planning, workforce development, recruitment, appraisal and financial management. You will lead Point of Care Testing activity and support Blood Sciences developments at Croxley Green Park Laboratory. You will also contribute to research and development, service improvement, teaching and professional education, working collaboratively with clinicians, Pathology colleagues, HSL and external stakeholders.

Working for our organisation

With a new hospital planned for Watford, work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital and plans for a neighbourhood healthcare centre in Hemel Hempstead, this is an exciting time to join us.

We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare.

Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience.

Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others.

If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form.

We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder reports to the Consultant Chemical Pathologist (Head of Department) and is accountable through the Head if Department and Clinical Director of Pathology. Key relationships include Pathology senior leadership, HSL colleagues, other Pathology disciplines, medical and nursing teams, GPs, patients and accrediting bodies. Responsibilities include providing a comprehensive Chemical Pathology service; maintaining clinical and scientific standards; leading quality management, UKAS accreditation and governance; providing specialist clinical advice; supporting Point of Care Testing; leading service development and improvement; contributing to workforce planning, recruitment, training and appraisal; supporting research, audit and innovation; and assisting with budget planning, procurement and business cases. The post holder will work across Trust sites, including Croxley Green Park Laboratory, as required, and will contribute to 24-hour clinical advisory cover.

Person specification

Education

• First Degree or assessed equivalent of knowledge and expertise.
• Masters Degree or assessed equivalent level of knowledge and expertise in speciality of Clinical Biochemistry.
• Full Membership or Fellowship of Royal College of Pathologists as required for Medical Consultant.
• Demonstration of Continuing Professional Development at agreed level of participation.
• Registration as a clinical scientist with Health Professions Council.
• PhD

Knowledge

• To have a thorough knowledge of human biochemistry and chemistry including metabolic processes, physiology, pharmacology and drug interference.
• To have a sound basic knowledge in other areas of Pathology.
• To have an extensive knowledge of routine and specialised analytical methods, quality assurance and problem solving.
• Able to perform risk assessments on a variety of laboratory situations.
• To have a thorough knowledge of metabolic medicine in adults, children and neonates including inherited disorders, endocrinology disease and toxicology.
• Fully conversant with COSHH regulations and their application to laboratories.
• Able to perform clinical risk assessments and resolve problems or investigate complaints relating to the service as part of Clinical Governance.
• To have a good knowledge of managerial processes within the Trust and NHS.
• Experience of membership of committees at directorate level or above.
• Good awareness of Trust Policies and procedures and how they relate to the staff and service of the department.
• Extensive knowledge of national professional and NHS guidelines relating to service provision and quality.
• Good knowledge of financial management, resource allocations and procurement.
• Involvement in service planning and development.
• To have expert knowledge in a highly specialised area,
• Knowledge by experience of national committees of profession of NHS or international groups.

Experience

• To have completed a minimum of 5 years in post as a Registered Clinical Scientist of which 2 years should have been at advanced practitioner level.
• To have developed an expertise in one or more specialised analytical or clinical areas to a point of acting at an expert level within the Trust.
• To have attained a good record of achievement in research, development and audit activities, through presentations at national or international conferences and publication in peer reviewed journals.
• To have attained status as a national or international expert or adviser

Skills

• Well-developed analytical (technical skills).
• Proven research and development.
• Well-developed deductive and intuitive abilities.
• Able to lead on service development and delivery at a departmental level on general service or more specific aspects.
• Able to initiate, direct and co-ordinate R&D activities.
• Able to lead and co-ordinate Audit activities and authorise corrective action
• Well-developed clinical awareness within and beyond the context of own speciality.
• Able to advise senior medical staff, nursing staff and other health professionals on investigation and interpretation of biochemical and metabolic processes in complex situations also utilising data from other specialities.
• Able to recognise patterns of abnormality and relate them to clinical situations and provide appropriate clinical advice.
• Able to analyse highly complex information from outside as well as within the service and use to evaluate differential diagnoses.
• Able to take personal responsibility for own decisions and advice for those of more junior staff.
• Able to conduct clinical audit and present reports.
• Able to advise and lead on broad service development and strategic planning.
• Able to use laboratory computer systems and standard software packages.
• Able to provide leadership within the Department, across the Trust and beyond within the context of service planning and development of quality.
• Able to provide professional direction.
• Able to organise and manage complex activities.
• Detailed awareness of current and developing NHS and healthcare issues and guidelines.
• Able to develop and take responsibility for professional guidelines and policies impacting across the Trust and Health Community.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Able to teach students, laboratory staff, nursing and medical staff.
• Able to prepare and present complex scientific and clinical information at local, national or international conferences.
• Able to challenge with confidence established scientific and clinical views using reasoned argument, personal knowledge and research findings.
• Able to maintain intense concentration despite frequent interruptions.
• Able to establish and maintain effective networks with professional, clinical and managerial colleagues within and beyond the Trust.
• Good coaching and mentoring skills.
• Able to supervise and lead the activities of staff of all grades and backgrounds.
• Able to lead on service development beyond the department.
• Able to provide national guidelines and policies
• Able to lead networks at a national level.

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust provides acute healthcare services to a core catchment population of approximately half a million people living in west Hertfordshire and the surrounding area. The Trust also provides a range of more specialist services to a wider population, serving residents of North London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and East Hertfordshire.

As an employer of nearly 6,000 people the Trust is one of the biggest employers in the area and sees nearly a million patients each year.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Name Bharat Patel Job title Consultant Clinical Scientist Email address bharat.patel11@nhs.net Telephone number 07739904545

If you have problems applying, contact

Address Watford General Hospital
Vicarage Road
Watford
Hertfordshire
WD18 0HB
Telephone 01442 365235, or 07423032842