Job overview
Biochemistry Senior Clinical Scientist
We welcome applications for a band 8A Principal Clinical Scientist post in the Department of Clinical Biochemistry within the East & South East London Pathology Partnership. You will join an experienced team of four Consultants and eight Clinical Scientists. We are advertising a fixed-term, full-time position for one year providing maternity leave cover. We are happy to discuss part-time working. We encourage applicants to contact us prior to application to discuss the post.
The department is one of the largest in the UK, with specialist services including LC-MS/MS, HPLC, atomic absorption and proteins. We provide clinical and technical POCT support across the partnership trusts. We serve specialist clinical services across Barts Health, which has the largest cardiovascular centre in the UK, the second largest cancer centre in London, one of the largest children’s hospitals in the UK and leading endocrinology, stroke and renal units. We also have strong links with adult and paediatric endocrine, nutrition and ICU teams. These links afford ample opportunity for collaborative research and development and clinical liaison.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a dynamic and ambitious Clinical Scientist to join us in further developing the service. The post holder will be involved in the development and oversight of all areas within the laboratory and will be expected to develop an interest in and take day-to-day responsibility for a specific area. The post holder will liaise with clinical staff and represent the department at meetings, particularly those related to their specialist laboratory area. You will be based at the Royal London hub with occasional travel to the spoke sites as required.
Key responsibilities include:
• participation in the Duty Biochemist rota, providing interpretation of results and advice on investigations to medical staff and other service users
• validation and implementation of new methods and assays, overseeing their introduction into routine clinical use
• undertaking and publishing research
• engaging in quality improvement projects
• supervising STP trainees
You must be state registered with the Health Care Professions Council as a Clinical Scientist (Clinical Biochemistry) and hold part 1 of the FRCPath by examination, or equivalent. Consideration will be given to appoint under AfC annex 21 for candidates who are HCPC registered as a Clinical Scientist but who have yet to attain the part 1 FRCPath examination but are actively working towards it. Full support will be given to allow the successful candidate to continue their training.
Working for our organisation
The NHS East and South East London Pathology Partnership is an arms-length organisation providing pathology services to Barts Health NHS Trust, Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. The Pathology Partnership is hosted by Barts Health.
The Pathology Partnership was formed in May 2021. Between 2021 and 2024 the Partnership undertook a complex transformation programme to establish a single network of laboratories, underpinned by a single Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and single Quality Management System (QMS).
The Partnership has a main hub laboratory at the Royal London Hospital and Essential Service Laboratories (ESL) as a minimum at the six other hospital sites served by the Partnership.
The Partnership has three operational divisions:
• Blood Sciences including Haematology, Blood Transfusion and Biochemistry
• Microbiology and Virology
• Cellular Pathology and Cancer Diagnostics
The 2024/25 total operating costs across the Partnership were c. £121m per annum with a workforce establishment of circa. 860 WTE.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are underrepresented within the Pathology Partnership and Barts Health at this band
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Although this position is a 12 months fixed-term contract, the actual contract duration will be adjusted to account for the time taken to advertise the post, complete the hiring process, and finalise pre-employment checks. This means the contract will begin when the candidate starts the role and may be slightly shorter than 12 months.
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
The post is based on the Royal London Hospital site, directly opposite Whitechapel Station, which is served by the District, Hammersmith & City, Overground and Elizabeth lines. Whitechapel is a vibrant, multicultural district in the East End. Aldgate, Shoreditch, Brick Lane and East London theatres are all within a 7-15 minute walk.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. State registration with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Clinical Scientist (Clinical Biochemistry)
2. Part 1 Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath) by examination, or equivalent.
3. Consideration will be given to appoint under AfC annex 21 for candidates who are HCPC registered as a Clinical Scientist but who have yet to attain the FRCPath part 1 examination but are actively working towards it.
**Visa Sponsorship Information**
Recent changes to UK immigration policy on the Health and Care Visa and Skilled Worker Visa could mean that this role is not eligible for sponsorship or that you may not meet the eligibility criteria.
Sponsorship can only be offered if this post and any individual offered employment meet all the Home Office’s requirements under the UK Skilled Worker visa scheme.
If you are applying from outside the UK or will require sponsorship, please mention this clearly in your application.
To be eligible for sponsorship, the following conditions must be met:
4. Eligible role: The position must be on the UK Skilled Worker visa list. You can check your eligibility here: -.
5. Salary threshold: The role must meet the minimum salary set by the Home Office. Please note that for roles employed under Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions, the High-Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) is not included when calculating the basic salary for the purposes of sponsorship.
6. Skill level: The role must meet the minimum skill requirement of RQF Level 6 or above (graduate level).
7. English language: Applicants must demonstrate English proficiency at CEFR level B1 or higher.
8. Other criteria: Applicants must meet all other criteria as set out by the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)