Job Summary
We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic, self‑motivated Principal Clinical Scientist with good interpersonal skills. You will be state registered as a HCPC registered Clinical Scientist with FRCPath part 1 or be sitting the exam within the next 6 months. The postholder will support users from all partner Trusts, Primary Care in the Black Country and West Birmingham and other NHS and non‑NHS users from within and beyond the region. The postholder will be expected to develop generalist clinical expertise across the range of clinical domains/pathways. They will be encouraged to develop an interest and acquire clinical and scientific expertise in one or more clinical domains/pathways, subject to the service needs and personal preferences. The postholder will be expected and supported to obtain full FRCPath qualification in Clinical Biochemistry. There may be a requirement to work across sites.
Main Duties of the Job
* Work as a member of the BCPS clinical team.
* Provide clinical advice and interpretation of results and participate in the general clinical support rota.
* Acquire experience in contributing to clinical discussions and patient management decisions.
* Support or undertake method development which may require dexterity and use of complex laboratory equipment.
* Provide professional support for one or more projects.
* Contribute to the management of the Service and BCPS through active involvement in committees and working groups.
Proactively
* Keep up to date with developments in Clinical Biochemistry.
* Support compliance with the nationally accepted standards (UKAS: ISO 15189 or equivalent).
* Engage in the professional training of Clinical Scientists and Biomedical Scientists and contribute to postgraduate and undergraduate teaching and training.
* Contribute to the BCPS research and development programme.
* Work with the BCPS IT and Clinical Informatics Team to implement technology and develop laboratory informatics.
The Postholder Is Expected To:
* Undergo training leading to satisfactory attainment of Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists.
* Maintain registration with the Healthcare Professions Council.
* Participate in the CPD programme.
About Us
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust is one of the largest NHS trusts in the West Midlands providing primary, acute and community services and we are incredibly proud of the diversity of both our staff and the communities we serve. We are building a workforce that can help us to fulfil our values, improve the quality of care for patients, and solve the health care problems of tomorrow. We're passionate about the value that diversity of thinking and lived experience brings in enabling us to become a learning organisation and leader in delivering compassionate care for our patients.
We are delighted that we have been rated as ‘Good’ by CQC. We have achieved numerous awards; The Nursing Times Best Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Best UK Employer of the Year for Nursing Staff in 2020.
The Trust is a supportive working environment committed to creating flexible working arrangements that suit your needs and as such will consider all requests from applicants who wish to work flexibly.
Details
Date posted: 30 December 2025
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: Depending on experience, dependent on applicant current spine point position
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full‑time
Reference number: 225‑BCPS‑7651554
Job locations: Sandwell General Hospital, Lyndon, West Bromwich, B71 4HJ
Key Responsibilities
Provide Principal Clinical Scientist‑level Clinical Biochemistry advisory service to the hospital and primary care clinicians, nursing staff, other health professionals and referral laboratories (national and international). This includes general guidance on selecting tests, interpreting routine and complex results, and selecting further tests or diagnostic procedures/consultations to aid the patient diagnosis and treatment. They will be expected to guide treatment when appropriate. For complex decision making, they will have access to Consultant Clinical Biochemist/Chemical Pathologist support as needed.
After suitable training and competency assessment, undertake clinical validation and authorisation of a range of complex reports and take responsibility for accuracy, interpretation and timely reporting of test results. Direct scientific staff to undertake further investigations to solve complex diagnostic cases. Add clinical interpretative comments to reports and identify potentially erroneous results.
Provide clinical advice and interpretation of results and participate in the general clinical support (‘duty biochemist’) rota. This includes multidisciplinary collaboration with other BCPS colleagues or service users. Implement national clinical guidance (e.g., NICE technology appraisals) at the regional level, communicating changes effectively.
Support or undertake method development requiring dexterity and use of complex laboratory equipment. Keep recognised best practice in equipment, technologies and methods current and share knowledge. Assist in evaluating, replacing and commissioning specialised laboratory equipment and instrumentation. Manage performance quality of specialised investigations.
Manage a section or sections under overall direction of the Clinical Lead or Consultant Scientists. Contribute to guideline/protocol development, departmental committees, and improvement of service portfolio. Propose and evaluate potential new services. Ensure compliance with health and safety legislation and Trust policies.
Promote and support the research and development culture. Engage in research and development according to service needs and support the BCPS research strategy. Build relationships with other research-active groups.
Maintain knowledge of laboratory information systems (LIMS, PAS, QPulse, ICE, Electronic Patient Record) and manage operation and training requirements of specialised equipment. Provide complex clinical/scientific reports and opinions to local, national and international users.
Interpret complex results and provide advisory service for screening, diagnostic and prognostic tests. Prioritise workload and acquire data analytics skills for service data analysis.
Develop advanced communication skills, safeguarding positive reputation, and communicating effectively with staff, suppliers, agencies, and the public. Provide training support and manage staff training difficulties.
Assist in quality processes, EQA participation, SOP production and implementation. Record audits, incidents and complaints, ensuring corrective actions. Report incidents via Datix and QPulse.
Maintain advanced working competency in laboratory software and provide support and training for other staff.
Education, Training, Experience and Development
Provide education and training to postgraduate standards for departmental staff, medical, nursing, and other staff and students. Gain and maintain the skills required to perform the role of an HCPC Registered Clinical Scientist. Apply for Higher Specialist Scientific Training (HSST) through the national programme if appropriate. Work towards obtaining Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists by examination at the first reasonable opportunity. Disseminate research findings within and outside BCPS and partner Trusts. Maintain expertise to facilitate training of other staff.
Person Specification
Essential Qualifications
* MSc in Clinical Biochemistry or equivalent.
* State registered (HCPC) as a Clinical Scientist.
* Completion of Part 1 FRCPath (or very close to sitting examination – please provide detailed information).
Desirable Qualifications
* Other relevant postgraduate qualification.
Experience / Skills
* Participation on duty biochemist rota.
* High level of IT literacy including LIMS.
* Experience with automated biochemistry platforms.
* Knowledge of specialist biochemistry instruments and results.
* HPLC / Mass spectrometry experience.
Desirable Experience / Skills
* Specialist training on analytical platform (HPLC/Capillary electrophoresis/Mass spectrometry/ICPMS/Automated chemistry and immunoassay platforms).
* Experience of validating and implementing a new service.
Management, Supervision and Coordination
Essential
* Evidence of managing processes.
Desirable
* Experience of HR processes (e.g., appraisal, recruitment, and selection).
Written Skills
Essential
* Evidence of scientific publications.
Communication
Essential
* Evidence of leadership experience.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.
Employer Details
Employer Name: The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
Address: Sandwell General Hospital, Lyndon, West Bromwich, B71 4HJ
Website: https://www.royalwolverhampton.nhs.uk/
#J-18808-Ljbffr