Job summary
Applications are invited for a full time consultant clinical scientist post, one of two new senior roles created to support the regional clinical virology service and contribute to the mission and strategic goals of UKHSA. This is an exciting opportunity to join our team of clinical virologists in a dynamic, innovative service, based at UKHSA South West Regional Laboratory, Bristol. Our Specialist Virology Centre is part of Severn Infection Sciences, situated in a modern multidisciplinary pathology environment. We provide comprehensive clinical advice and diagnostics to three local trusts, and regional specialist and public health virology, as well as national STI services.
The Infection Sciences Department at North Bristol NHS Trust is formed from a collaboration between the UK Health Security Agency and North Bristol NHS Trust (Severn Pathology). This is a busy and forward-looking laboratory that receives in excess of million specimens a year from a large number of clinical specialities located within Bristol and Bath hospital trusts and beyond, which contribute to an interesting and varied workload. The laboratory located within North Bristol NHS Trust and is a new, modern and fully automated laboratory incorporating state of the art equipment. We have close links with our host Trusts as well as both Universities in Bristol and the proximity of the motorway network makes an ideal base for travel to London, the Midlands, Wales and the coastal resorts of the Southwest.
Main duties of the job
1. To deputise for the Clinical Lead as required
2. To provide strategic and clinical leadership of the Virology Service within the context of patient centred care as identified by national priorities, established standards of practice and the needs of UKHSA and the T local service
3. To contribute to the strategic planning of the Department of Clinical Virology and the Division of Laboratory Medicine and lead on the development and initiation of novel diagnostic techniques (within the Virology section)
4. To work as a consultant clinical scientist within the UKHSA clinical virology service SW regional laboratory and associated structure of national UKHSA and local Severn Infection Sciences
5. The main duties and responsibilities are commensurate with being a clinical service consultant clinical scientist within UKHSA. Complementary to clinical activities, is assisting UKHSA to deliver its mission, including close liaison with health protection services and field epidemiology, support to national public health initiatives, and participation in the public health first responder function
6. To provide clinical and scientific leadership and training in the Virology laboratory. To participate in the supervision of medical and scientific staff and other healthcare professionals, liaising with other Medical Consultant, Clinical Scientist and Biomedical Scientist colleagues as appropriate
About us
We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.
UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The UKHSA/NBT collaboration employs approximately 200 staff performing a range of diagnostic, public health and research activities, including high containment level work. The Virology Department has recently established a partnership with Colindale to re-establish a national STI reference laboratory.
You would work closely with the Quality Management Team to deliver policy and procedural documentation in Virology required for the laboratory to achieve and maintain full UKAS accreditation status.
The post holder would assist in the appointment and selection of staff.
To offer clinical guidance and scientific advice and assistance to clinicians on the selection, performance and interpretation of clinically relevant tests in order to facilitate the diagnosis., treatment, monitoring and understanding of disease.
The post holder will work with other consultants and clinical scientists to provide a Duty Virologist and clinical reporting service on a rotational basis. The post holder will interpret highly complex clinical and pathological data and be responsible for the clinical authorisation of laboratory reports.
To participate in the out of hours' consultant on call rota and act as coordinator in the event of a major incident as required.
You would be required to maintain up to date specialist expertise and knowledge of scientific developments in Clinical Virology in particular molecular diagnostics. To ensure that such knowledge is systematically passed on to other laboratory staff, where appropriate.
You will ensure all quality and medico-legal requirements are fulfilled including accreditation to national standards. This will involve working with senior BMS staff to maintain all relevant documentation to the required standard within their area of responsibility.
Please note, as part of the selection process, you may be asked to take a test or deliver a presentation.
Selection process details
STAGE 1 Application & Sift:
This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your Qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and capabilities outlined in the person specification. You will be required to complete an application form. You will also be asked to provide information within the Employer/ Activity history section of the application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised criteria.
Applicants are strongly advised to use the person specification section as sub-headings in the application to make it clear how you meet each of the selection criteria.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview and assessment, a presentation will form part of this assessment.
STAGE 2 Interview
All candidates who are successful at the sift stage will progress to an interview and will be assessed on the essential criteria as advertised.
Option 3 External - Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants)
Security Clearance Level Requirement:
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
The successful candidate will be appointed to the NHS Agenda for Change Band 8d.
Clinical scientist is a protected title and all clinical scientists are required to be registeredwith the Health and Care Professionals Council ( before they cantake up an appointment.
Person Specification
Registration
Essential
7. Registration with Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Clinical Scientist
Desirable
8. Eligible for Higher Specialist Scientific register (HSSR)
Qulaifications
Essential
9. Honours degree in relevant science subject
10. PhD in Clinical Virology or equivalent
11. Professional- Fellow of Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath) OR assessed equivalent knowledge and expertise within speciality of clinical Virology
Experience
Essential
12. Recent post registration experience as a Registered Clinical Scientist in Clinical Virology in an HSST post
13. Experience of leadership and management including service planning and development
14. Record of research and development in clinical Virology including peer reviewed publications and oral presentations at local and national meetings
Desirable
15. Scientific and clinical experience of Virology
16. Leadership or management qualification
Knowldege
Essential
17. Scientific - Comprehensive scientific and technical knowledge of Clinical Virology including antivirals infective processes, aetiology and drug interactions/spectrum of activity
18. Comprehensive knowledge of clinical analytical and research methods, regulatory standards, accreditation (ISO), quality assurance and problem solving
19. Comprehensive knowledge of clinical aspects of Virology to provide consultant level advice to scientific, medical and nursing staff on investigations in clinical Virology, and on the clinical interpretation/public health advice based on diagnostic information in complex diagnostic situations
20. Clinical - Thorough Knowledge of managerial procedures in general, in the Trust and NHS/UKHSA and a good understanding of the principles or Clinical and Research Governance
21. Knowledge of resource management and procurement
Desirable
22. Comprehensive knowledge of clinical virology, advice and antimicrobials
Skills / Attributes
Essential
23. Well-developed clinical and professional awareness within and beyond context of own specialty
24. Thorough knowledge of PC packages for word processing, presentations spreadsheets and databases
25. Ability to lead on service development and delivery in Clinical Virology
26. Ability to deal on own initiative with complex and unpredictable situations and lead others
27. Well developed analytical and technical skills. Ability to lead and direct method development projects including in the evolving field of Pathogen Genomics
28. Ability to initiate, lead and supervise R&D activities
29. Able to advise clinical staff on investigations and interpretations of clinical Virology tests
30. Able to recognise patterns of abnormality and relate them to clinical situations and assess differential diagnoses
31. Able to conduct clinical audit of services and instigate corrective action
32. Able to use and manipulate PC packages and laboratory and hospital information systems
33. Good oral and written communication skills
34. Able to pass on skills/knowledge to others within both formal and informal training and teaching environments
35. Able to prepare and present complex scientific and clinical information at local, national and international meetings to large audiences
36. Able to impart bad news in a sympathetic manner
37. Good hand eye co-ordination for fine manipulation of delicate instrumentation
38. Excellent interpersonal skills
39. Able to work collaboratively with laboratory and clinical teams
40. Committed to personal and team development via recognised CPD schemes
41. Able to make judgements requiring analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options
42. Motivation, drive and enthusiasm
43. Able to maintain self-control in difficult and challenging situations
44. Able to maintain concentration on important tasks despite interruption
45. Good organisational and time management abilities
Desirable
46. Knowledge of regional or national committees of professional body or NHS groups