Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Principal Clinical Biochemist
The closing date is 11 May 2026.
This fixed‑term post will provide the successful applicant with extensive opportunities to gain new skills and experience. The role offers significant developmental opportunities through supporting the established team across several key projects, including:
* IQC/EQA leadership
* Clinical verification of new automated assay platforms
* Contributing to the CMPM Biochemistry harmonisation project
Main duties of the job
Provide a high‑quality analytical, interpretative, and consultative Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology service across N4‑South Hub hospitals. Act as deputy to the Consultant Clinical Scientist/Consultant Chemical Pathologist and support service development. Offer expert clinical and scientific advice on test selection, interpretation, and complex biochemical investigations. Validate and authorise biochemical reports, including issuing interpretative comments and communicating urgent, clinically significant results. Participate in the duty biochemist / clinical liaison rota, providing timely advice to clinicians, nursing staff, and other healthcare professionals. Lead and contribute to clinical audits, service evaluations, and incident investigations, ensuring compliance with Trust policies. Deliver training, mentorship, and competency assessment for HCPC/GMC‑registered staff, trainees, and colleagues. Contribute to research, development, and innovation projects, including clinical trials, audits, and quality improvement initiatives. Provide management input, including attending senior management meetings, contributing to budget oversight, and participating in recruitment. Collaborate with service users to ensure efficient, cost‑effective delivery of the biochemistry service and produce clinical guidelines when required.
About us
* The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.
* Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
* Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.
The Trust employs 5,964 staff to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire, including Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System and also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales.
Qualifications
* Honours degree in a relevant science (Biochemistry, Chemistry or a closely related science)
* Completed the Scientist Training Programme (or equivalent) in Clinical Biochemistry
* MSc in Clinical Biochemistry
* Registration as a Clinical Scientist with the HCPC
* Full FRCPath
* PhD in a relevant specialty
Knowledge and experience
* Significant experience of working in an NHS Clinical Biochemistry department
* Specialist knowledge of clinical biochemistry and laboratory medicine
* Substantial experience in quality management and audit
* Evidence of CPD
* Experience of change management
* Experience of research and development
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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website.
If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies, payable to the DBS Service; costs will be deducted from salary over the first three months of employment.
The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules.
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
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