Consultant Clinical Scientist for Microbiology | East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust; Colchester; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS Trust in Colchester is seeking an HCPC Registered Microbiology Clinical Scientist to enhance their pathology services. This role involves providing essential clinical advice, leading service development, and participating in the microbiologist rota. Candidates should be experienced in Clinical Microbiology with FRCPath and PhD qualifications. The position offers a comprehensive benefits package and the chance to work in a digitally transforming environment.

Benefits

Generous pension scheme

Flexible working options

Training and development opportunities

Access to NHS discounts

Qualifications

• Experience as a Consultant in Clinical Microbiology.
• Ability to provide clinical advice and interpret results.
• Experience in developing clinical microbiology services.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the duty microbiologist rota.
• Provide Consultant Clinical Advisory Service.
• Collaborate with teams to develop services.

Skills

Clinical Microbiology

Consultative skills

Team collaboration

Education

FRCPath

PhD or equivalent

Job description

Overview

We are looking for a HCPC Registered Microbiology Clinical Scientist to join ESNEFT’s cutting-edge pathology services. You will reflect our forward-thinking approach to healthcare and embrace the latest technology to improve outcomes and the patient experience. A generous recruitment incentive payment and relocation package may be available.

Our state-of-the-art labs at our acute sites are supplied with top quality equipment and are managed in-house as NHS facilities, giving us greater flexibility to respond quickly when urgent tests are needed. Our new patient record system Epic, due for introduction next year, will transform the way we work by bringing all of our speciality reports and patient information into one accessible place, saving vital time for our staff.

In Microbiology you will have a unique opportunity to help shape our ambitious programme of service development. Following a £5m investment in a molecular facility, the department is working on a programme of repatriation to Ipswich Hospital from other labs. Our £64m Essex and Suffolk Elective Orthopaedic Centre is due to open Autumn 2024 and will offer dedicated microbiology opportunities for complex cases to support career development in modern surroundings.

We are ESNEFT and provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex, with sites in Colchester and Ipswich. We offer a generous pension scheme, flexible working options, training and development opportunities, and access to NHS discounts. Time matters to us—we are investing in an electronic patient record transformation with Epic to bring a leading EPR system to ESNEFT.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, we want to hear from you.

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description. This advert closes on Sunday 12 Oct 2025.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the duty microbiologist rota and provide a Consultant Clinical Advisory Service in Clinical Microbiology for the diagnosis, investigation and treatment of patients to medical, nursing and other healthcare staff within this and other hospitals and in primary care.
• Provide clinical advice including interpretation of results and guidance on the selection of further tests to aid diagnosis and treatment.
• Work in collaboration with clinical, scientific, laboratory and quality teams to support the Clinical lead in developing the clinical microbiology service and deliver training to junior clinical staff as part of succession planning.
• Lead, deliver and develop busy and expanding services for the benefit of patients and contribute to long-term service planning.

Qualifications

• Experienced Consultant with FRCPath and PhD. If you are close to achieving this or your qualifications are equivalent, consideration may be given.
• Post will involve work across Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals.

Why ESNEFT

• Strong collaboration with clinical, scientific, laboratory and quality teams.
• Opportunity to be part of major digital transformation with Epic.
• Support for training and development, with flexible working options and a comprehensive benefits package.