Principal Biochemist

Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Basildon; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading healthcare organization as a Clinical Scientist in Biochemistry, where you will provide vital diagnostic services across multiple hospital sites. This role offers the chance to work in a dynamic team dedicated to delivering high-quality healthcare. You will support research initiatives and ensure that laboratory services meet national standards. With a commitment to professional development, you'll have access to training and opportunities to advance your career in a supportive environment. If you are passionate about improving patient outcomes and thrive in a collaborative setting, this position is perfect for you.

Benefits

Flexible working opportunities

Career development training

Access to research projects

Supportive working environment

Qualifications

• HCPC registered Clinical Scientist with 12 months experience.
• Completed STP training or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Provide a comprehensive Clinical Biochemistry service.
• Support the Consultant Clinical Scientist team.

Skills

Biochemistry diagnostics

Research project development

Laboratory safety

Quality assurance procedures

Statistical software

Bioinformatics software

Education

FRCPath part 1

PhD in Biochemistry

Tools

Statistical software

Bioinformatics software

Job description

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is now one of the largest trusts in the country, serving a population of 1.2 million people comprising acute hospital sites at Broomfield in Chelmsford, Basildon and Southend.

We are a well-led, high-performing and innovative organisation determined to provide the best health care services for our local population and working in the best interests of the people we serve.

Job overview

We are delighted to offer the opportunity for an enthusiastic and highly motivated individual to join our Clinical Biochemistry Team.

With the merger of three Hospital Trusts in 2020 (Basildon, Southend and Broomfield) into the single Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, we are working towards a single operating model with the clinical team working across sites. You will join an existing team comprising of 4 consultant; 1 principal, 1 senior and trainee clinical scientists.

The primary hospital base for this post is currently at Basildon Hospital, but the successful candidate may need to work across any of the laboratory sites. Laboratory services are provided on each of the 3 main hospital sites. There is also an offsite Hub laboratory based in Basildon.

The laboratories offer both large scale automation and support several specialist areas. There is a rapidly developing POC service supporting both primary and secondary care.

The laboratory services have achieved UKAS accreditation and are accredited training departments with the National School of Healthcare Science for the STP programme, and with the IBMS for training of Biomedical Scientists.

We are looking for an individual who is HCPC registered for 12 months or more as a Clinical Scientist and has completed the STP training or equivalent. We would consider candidates who have completed part-1 of FRCPath.

Main duties of the job

Provide a comprehensive Clinical Biochemistry service to the Trust and ICB and:

Support the Consultant Clinical Scientist team in the clinical, advisory and scientific work of the department.
Responsible for ensuring that the Clinical Biochemistry service provided is of consistently high quality and in line with Trust objectives as well as national standards.
Support research and development activity
May be required to work at the different hospital sites within the group. (Broomfield, Basildon and Southend)

Working for our organisation

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is now one of the largest in the country, with a workforce of approximately 15,000 who serve a population of 1.2 million people.

We work together, and in conjunction with MSE Health and Care Partnership, to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and wellbeing of our patients in a compassionate way, and provide a respectful, but vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

From facilities through to consultant specialists we want to be the best, to achieve this we need to recruit not just those who are the finest in their field but also those who have the potential to be. Yes, experience is important but so is outlook - if you are dynamic, forward-thinking and enthusiastic we want you to join us.

We not only offer you a good working environment with flexible working opportunities, but also the opportunity to develop your career with access to appropriate training for your job and the support to succeed and progress

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached a full job description which outlines the details of the role and responsibilities.

If you would like to have a chat about the role or organise an informal visit, please contact our Group Lead for Biochemistry and Immunology, Stephen Whiting, on 01268 524900 ext. 3025. We look forward to receiving your application.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• FRCPath part 1
• Registered with Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Desirable criteria

• PhD or equivalent in an area of Biochemistry

Experience

Essential criteria

• Evidence of working in biochemistry diagnostic laboratory
• Evidence of independantly developing research projects

Desirable criteria

• Peer reviewed publications

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Understanding of Laboratory safety requirements
• Understanding of Quality assurance proceedures
• Ability to use statistical and bioinformatics software programmes

Please be aware as per the new Immigration guidelines we cannot sponsor candidates with a salary (full time or pro Rata) under the current minimum threshold.

Please note, the selection processes at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust are in place to ensure we recruit candidates with the right skills and values, please be advised that the use of AI in applications are monitored. We remain vigilant against candidates who misuse these tools to generate an application that doesn't accurately reflect their skills, and you will be required to declare on your application if AI has been used before submitting your application

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

• Principal Biochemist - BA - CSS - B8a (PDF, 392.6KB)
• Privacy Policy (PDF, 441.0KB)
• AFC Pay Poster 24/25 (PDF, 39.2KB)
• Behaviours Framework (JPG, 298.0KB)