Clinical Scientist

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board; Cherwell District; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust invites applications for a joint appointment in the Department of Clinical Biochemistry and the Wolfson Centre for Prevention of Stroke and Dementia. The post holder will split time between clinical biochemistry duties and research development, focusing on mass spectrometry methods and clinical service improvements.

The role offers opportunities for further study (including FRCPath) and involvement in quality management, training and departmental

Qualifications

• HCPC registration and master level qualification or equivalent.
• Completion of STP or equivalent in Clinical Biochemistry is desirable.
• Experience of Mass Spec method development.
• Experience of neurological marker analysis is advantageous.
• Experience of DNA extraction techniques.
• Experience publishing research in Clinical Biochemistry.

Responsibilities

• Provide routine and emergency analytical, interpretive and consultancy service.
• Participate in Duty Clinical Biochemist rota.
• Develop and implement mass spectrometry methods for service and research.
• Coordinate research and development projects in line with department needs.
• Attend departmental meetings and contribute to policy and management.

Skills

Mass spectrometry

Clinical biochemistry

Analytical techniques

Quality management

Education

HCPC Registration

Masters/PhD in Clinical Biochemistry

Tools

Mass Spectrometry development

Job description

This is a joint appointment between the NHS Department of Clinical Biochemistry and the University Department, the Wolfson Centre for Prevention of Stroke and Dementia. The post holder will spend the equivalent of 2.5 days per week in each department. The NHS post will be a development role in which specialist testing (mainly mass spectrometry) will be implemented for service and research provision. An active role in duty biochemist rota is expected. The University role will require development and analysis of research assays to support the work of the Wolfson Centre. Opportunities for further study and qualifications are available (including DPhil and/or FRCPath).

Managerial

Managerial To have knowledge of managerial processes within the Trust and to have good awareness of Trust policies and how they relate to staffand service of the department. Furthermore, to use this knowledge for the benefit of the clinical and scientific service. To investigate where current processes and/or policies can be changed in order to improve service provision to patients and users. Topropose and develop changes to practice in order to improve these issues. To liaise with Biomedical Scientists in order to implement developments and changes in aspects of the service as delegated by theHead of the Department. To liaise with the Consultant Clinical Scientist and the Head of the Department in order to ensure that the referral of specimens to otherlaboratories meets the clinical needs and is cost-effective. To be accountable for the quality and cost-effectiveness of this service,provide supervision and undertake audit. To liaise with senior members of staff to ensure that highly complex analytical services related to chromatographic techniques and massspectrometry, are of the highest quality and timely. To attend and actively contribute to departmental meetings related to management, quality management and clinical policymanagement. To be accountable for the quality of designated clinical research and trials for which the Department is undertaking commissionedanalytical work, and to coordinate and implement such work. To ensure that all clinical incidents and complaints are properly recorded and reported to one of the Consultants or to the LaboratoryManager. To ensure that such incidents are properly investigated, and appropriate action is taken to ensure an improvement of theservice in line with the Trust policies, procedures and national guidelines.

Scientific

Scientific To assist the Consultant Biochemist in providing an effective scientific service in the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, includingcontributing to the quality of the service and the requirements of UKAS. To regularly participate in and coordinate the development of new methods, to implement them, and to act as necessary to maintain theperformance of these methods in routine use. To liaise and collaborate with other laboratory staff to provide as high a standard of service as is reasonably possible. To provide highly skilled technical services across all analytical sections of the department, including analysis of routine blood, urineand other fluid samples. To attend the Departments Quality Meetings and carry out delegated and designated duties to ensure the quality of the results and theservice. To take an active role in ensuring the quality service. Within the postholders sphere of competence, to coordinate, implement, and analyse specimens from clinico-scientific studies forwhich the Department is undertaking commissioned analytical work.

Clinical

Clinical To assist Consultant Chemical Pathologists and Consultant Clinical Scientist in the provision of a routine and emergency analytical, interpretative, diagnostic and consultancy service to clinicians with the Trust and its partner hospitals and in General Practice, and inthe planning of service as directed. To participate in the Duty Clinical Biochemist rota for clinical review of reports. The duties include: Being the point of contact for clinical queries to the Department from the Trust clinicians, GPs, and other users of the service Providing advice to the Trust clinicians and GPs on the selection of clinically relevant tests in order to facilitate the diagnosis, treatment,monitoring and understanding of disease. Interpretation of results on a case-by-case basis, considering the clinical context, previous test results, current analytical performanceand other confusing factors such as drug treatments and co-existing disease states Using judgement to seek advice from the Consultants in the Department on difficult cases and queries, and conveying the obtainedadvice to the clinicians involved in the care of patients. Bringing to the attention of the Trust clinicians, GPs and midwives those results which suggest a need for an urgent medicalintervention. Highlighting where there may be a conflict between test results and the initial clinical impressions. Initiating further necessary investigations Liaising with the laboratory staff for the investigation of cases where a less-than-ideal analytical performance is suspected, andsuggesting means to remedy any problem. Dealing with any ad hoc clinical query raised by service users, Departmental staff, outside agencies, patients or their carers. To attend the weekly Departmental Clinical meetings. Occasional attendance at relevant clinics, as deemed necessary by the Consultant Biochemist for learning and education. To undertake such relevant duties of an appropriate nature as may be described by the Head of the Department.

Professional

Professional To adhere to the department health and safety policy. To regularly carry out the appropriate risk assessments in line with the Trusts Clinical Governance Policy. To assist with the writing and updating of departmental policies and standard operating procedures in areas of expertise. To actively maintain the necessary requirements for State Registration and membership of the Health Professions Council.

Research and Development

Research and Development To coordinate and implement research and development projects in line with the Departments service and as appropriate to the HealthServices requirements, as agreed with the Consultant Clinical Biochemists or the Head of the Department. To assist the Consultant Chemical Pathologists and Consultant Clinical Biochemist in performing clinical audit projects, both within theDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry and with outside users of the service. To present the results of research and development activities at local and national forums, and publish the research data in peerreviewed journals.

Training

Training To assist the Consultant Clinical Biochemist in training the Pre Registration Clinical Biochemists. To take part in teaching programmes organised by the department for the training of Biomedical Scientists and other undergraduate andpostgraduate staff both within and outside the Department of Clinical Biochemistry. To attend formal local, national and international scientific and clinical meetings, as deemed appropriate by Consultant Clinical Scientist,for the furtherance of the post-holders and the departments expertise and to be actively engaged in the dissemination of scientificknowledge. To actively pursue further higher professional qualifications (FRCPath) with the support and encouragement of the department and toparticipate in appropriate activities for personal development, appraisal and registration.

• HCPC Registration and appropriate masters level qualification or equivalent
• Completion of STP or equivalent in Clinical Biochemistry, A good knowledge of Clinical Biochemistry and specialist knowledge of advanced analytical techniques, Experience of Mass Spec method development
• Experience of neurological marker analysis
• Experience of DNA extraction techniques
• Experience of publishing research papers in Clinical Biochemistry
  The Wolfson Centre for Prevention of Stroke and Dementia (CPSD) was established by Professor Peter Rothwell as a new Division within the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford in 2017.https://www.ndcn.ox.ac.uk/divisions/cpsd, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

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