Clinical Scientist (Biochemist), Band 8a

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Gloucester; On-site; GBP 58,000 - 65,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS pension

Generous annual leave

On-site facilities

Job summary

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust invites applications for a Clinical Scientist (Biochemist), Band 8a, on a part-time 30-hour week basis. The post leads POCT activities, supports quality assurance, and deputises for the Quality Officer within the Clinical Biochemistry team.

Working across two sites, you will contribute to governance, service development and staff training, ensuring high standards of care.

Qualifications

• HCPC registered Clinical Scientist with current registration.
• Degree in biochemistry or allied subject; MSc in Blood Science or equivalent.
• Evidence of CPD and ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Lead POCT selection and management in collaboration with the POCT team.
• Deputise for Quality Assurance/Quality control including IQC/EQA review.
• Authorise results and provide clinical/scientific advice to staff.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Quality assurance

IQC/EQA knowledge

Laboratory governance

Education

MSc in Blood Science – Clinical Biochemistry

PhD or research experience

Tools

Roche platforms

Job description

Current jobs at Gloucestershire Hospitals

Clinical Scientist (Biochemist), Band 8a

Band 8a

Main area Clinical Biochemistry Grade Band 8a Contract 12 months (Fixed term 12 months maternity cover) Hours Part time - 30 hours per week Job ref 318-26-T0685

Site Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Town Gloucestershire Salary £57,528 - £64,750 (pa, pro rata if part-time) Salary period Yearly Closing 11/11/2026 23:59 Interview date 01/12/2026

At Gloucestershire Hospitals, our people are at the heart of everything we do. As the county’s largest employer, we are proud to provide high-quality acute, elective, and specialist services to more than 650,000 people across our county. Our care is delivered across Gloucestershire Royal, Cheltenham General and Stroud Maternity Hospital.

With over 9,000 employees representing more than 95 nationalities, bringing together a mix of cultures and experiences to the care that we deliver. Whether you’re beginning your NHS journey or looking to take the next step in your career, this is an exciting time to join us. We’re investing heavily in innovation, research, and transformation, with more than 100 active clinical studies and major developments underway across our hospitals.

We take pride in working as one team, driven by a shared ambition to grow, develop, and continually improve. Every contribution is valued and by combining our collective strengths, we support not only our diverse communities but one another. You can expect a warm, supportive culture and colleagues who are passionate about teamwork, professional development and delivering exceptional care. We offer structured development programmes, mentoring and leadership opportunities to help you progress in your career.

We’re committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong. By joining our Trust, you will benefit from a comprehensive package that includes flexible working opportunities, generous annual leave, the NHS pension scheme, competitive bank rates, local discounts, access to on-site nurseries, reduced public transport costs, reward and recognition schemes and a wide range of health and wellbeing initiatives.

Be part of Gloucestershire Hospitals, explore your future with us today.

Job overview

To participate in the provision and development of a high-quality Clinical Biochemistry service, under the overall supervision of the Head of Department & Consultant Chemical Pathologist. The department operates on two sites and provides a 24 hour per day 365 days per year service that receives more than 1.2 million requests (13.2 million tests) per year. This role requires the use of specialised clinical, scientific and technical knowledge to contribute to the provision of a high‑quality service, responsive to stakeholder needs.

Deputy to the Quality Officer for Clinical Biochemistry, including method validation and verification, IQC and EQA review and troubleshooting, laboratory support and clinical liaison.

As a member of the Clinical Biochemistry clinical team, to contribute to the Duty Biochemist rota, working with a team of three other clinical scientists, two consultant chemical pathologists and one Specialist Registrar, to authorise results and deal with laboratory and clinical queries.

Contribute to leadership, quality management, governance, service development and staff training within the department.

Biochemistry Clinical Lead for Point of Care Testing (POCT). This role includes leading on the selection and management of POCT analysers supported by the department, working closely with the departmental POCT lead co‑ordinator and the POCT team, as well as wider members of primary and secondary care and clinical service users.

Main duties of the job

• Clinical lead for POCT; leading on the selection and management of POCT analysers supported by the department, working closely with the departmental POCT lead co‑ordinator, trust clinical lead and other key stakeholders.
• Deputise for the lead in Quality Assurance/Quality control for the department, in the review and evaluation of IQC and EQA to maintain the service to the required standard.
• Contribute to duty biochemist rota.

Working for our organisation

We take pride in placing people at the centre of everything we do, working together as a united team. Driven by a shared ambition to continually grow, develop, and learn, we recognise and value every contribution. By combining our experience and skills, we not only support our vibrant, diverse communities, but also support one another.
With a team of over 9,000 employees, we are proud to be the largest employer in Gloucestershire and rank among the top 10 largest Trusts in the South West region. By joining our Trust, you will benefit from an excellent package that includes exclusive benefits, flexible working opportunities and the chance to gain valuable experience in one or both of our innovative hospitals.

As well as generous annual leave allowance, you will have access to the excellent NHS pension scheme, competitive bank rates, discounts at local shops and restaurants, access to two on‑site nurseries, discounted public transport, reward and recognition and a range of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Assist in communicating and resolving existing or evolving analytical problems with laboratory personnel at all levels.
• Provide the final authorisation of complex test results generated within the laboratory and participate in the diagnostic decision‑making process by commenting on the reports with suggestions for further investigations or treatment.
• To act as a largely independent practitioner, but under the overall supervision of the Consultant Chemical Pathologist, in the provision of clinical and scientific advice on the appropriateness, interpretation and performance of patient investigations and laboratory results.
• Use professional judgement to discuss, direct and advise on the investigation of patients and on the interpretation of complex analytical data with all grades of clinical staff, within and outside the Trust, taking responsibility for individual patient outcomes.
• Use professional judgement to instigate additional investigations that may be appropriate to an individual patient as a member of the clinical team caring for that patient.
• Organise, monitor and report on the results of complex analyses with laboratories throughout the UK. Where required, vet these requests for appropriateness and discuss any issues with all grades of clinical staff.
• To identify and discuss with national experts the initial investigation of suspected rare conditions, to organise these often‑complex investigations with other laboratories throughout the UK.
• Take an active role in the scientific work of the department including collaboration with other clinical departments in the implementation of new services.
• Evaluate and implement new analysers and analytical techniques as required by the department.

Additional contract details: Fixed term 12 months maternity cover

The proposed interview date is 1st December

Person specification

Qualifications

• HCPC registered Clinical Scientist
• Further education i.e. degree in biochemistry or allied subject and MSc in Blood Science – Clinical Biochemistry or equivalent.
• Royal College of Pathologists Part 1 Clinical Biochemistry examination.
• Demonstrate evidence of continued professional development (CPD) e.g. courses/meetings attended, presentations, quality improvement projects.
• PhD or research experience.

Knowledge

• Proven experience and broad knowledge of the technical, scientific and clinical aspects of all aspects of Clinical Biochemistry.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.
• Organisational and time management skills.
• Participate in UKNEQAS interpretive comments scheme or equivalent.

Experience

• Recent experience working in a Clinical Biochemistry laboratory as a Clinical Scientist or Trainee Clinical Scientist.
• Experience troubleshooting internal quality control (IQC) and external quality assessment (EQA) issues.
• Experience of working as an independent practitioner.
• Experience of Point of Care Testing (POCT) e.g. verification, governance, troubleshooting.
• Experience of working with Roche analytical platforms.
• Experience of working as a duty biochemist.
• Experience of maintaining service quality to United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) standards.

We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

You will only be contacted by the Recruitment Team via email if you are shortlisted for this post. Please ensure therefore that you check your e‑mail account regularly.

IMPORTANT: If you require sponsorship in order to apply for this role, eligibility is subject to your individual circumstances ie. current/previous visa status and the relevant salary threshold. We cannot make that assessment for each individual at this stage, therefore we advise those that may require sponsorship to ensure they have self assessed and thoroughly understood their eligibility using the Home Office guidance here - UK Visas and Immigration - GOV.UK

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.