Principal Clinical Scientist

Integrated Care System; Tooting; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust in Tooting is seeking a Principal Clinical Scientist to join the Clinical Biochemistry Department. This role involves significant responsibilities including analytical services, teamwork in a variety of clinical areas, and ongoing development opportunities. Candidates must have strong qualifications, including a relevant degree and registration with HCPC, as well as specific experience in LC-MS/MS and/or HPLC.

Qualifications

• Significant experience as a clinical scientist in a clinical biochemistry laboratory.
• Wide experience of general clinical biochemistry.
• Ability to implement policies and propose changes.
• Computer literacy and knowledge of health and safety issues.

Responsibilities

• Work autonomously as an HCPC Registered Clinical Scientist.
• Participate in the Duty Biochemist rota.
• Interpret and communicate clinical significance of results.
• Contribute to research and development.

Skills

Clinical Biochemistry knowledge

LC-MS/MS expertise

HPLC expertise

Good communication skills

Analytical skills

Education

Honours degree in Biochemistry or related subject

Masters degree in Clinical Biochemistry

Registration with HCPC

Part 1 Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists

Job description

Go back St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Principal Clinical Scientist

The closing date is 25 August 2025

We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic individual to join our team in the Clinical Biochemistry Department at St George's University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The role will enable your continued development as a Clinical Scientist and require you to have knowledge and experience in LC-MS/MS and/or HPLC. You will build on your broad range of experience in Clinical Biochemistry and provide scientific input into both the automated and the specialist laboratories of the Biochemistry department.

The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to service improvement, to develop as part of the wider Blood Sciences team, and to provide leadership and direction across the department. You will also be expected to support the professional scientific staff and service managers in delivering the analytical services and to carry out general laboratory duties.

Across the SWLP network, all Clinical Scientists participate in regular meetings and educational sessions which allow for training opportunities. Full support will also be provided for the attainment of FRCPath examinations.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will join our existing friendly team at St George's Hospital, comprising a Consultant Chemical Pathologist, a Consultant Clinical Scientist, two Principal Clinical Scientists, and two Senior Clinical Scientists. You will participate in the clinical advisory and authorisation rota and will be encouraged to develop an area of specialised knowledge. In addition, you will contribute to research, development, and audit relevant to the Clinical Biochemistry service. It is an exciting time to join SWLP with the introduction of new automated equipment and the expansion of the specialist chemistry services with the procurement of additional specialist equipment. The successful candidate will have opportunities for involvement in a number of network projects related to these service developments.

The Biochemistry Department at St George's Hospital comprises a large, automated laboratory, which currently functions as the GP hub for the South West London Pathology network, and the specialist chemistry laboratories, which perform renal stone analysis, Apo E genotyping, ALP isoenzymes and an increasing repertoire of HPLC and LC-MS/MS assays.

About us

South West London Pathology (SWLP) is an award-winning pathology partnership between four leading Hospital Trusts - St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Croydon Health Services NHS Trust and Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals. The network is designed to provide an integrated, high-quality pathology service for hospitals and GPs across South West London, by bringing together the best of each Trust's service and providing them within a single organisation.

St. George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the regional specialist care provider for South West London, Surrey and beyond. The trust provides a high-quality, comprehensive range of health services from leading-edge tertiary and trauma care to community services. With national and regional referrals added to our local 3.5m catchment, we serve a population of around 5m. We also provide services at Queen Mary's Hospital in Roehampton. These include outpatient rapid diagnostic and treatment facilities, a minor injuries unit, limb fitting services and 70 elderly, intermediate care and rehabilitation beds.

Job responsibilities

1. To work autonomously as an HCPC Registered Clinical Scientist within both professional and departmental guidelines.

2. To have knowledge of clinical conditions and how they may affect biochemical analyses and results.

3. To participate regularly in the Duty Biochemist rota, to undertake detailed interpretation, authorisation and reporting of patient results and advising clinical colleagues on the appropriate selection and timing of tests, differential diagnosis, monitoring and guidance on therapeutic drug monitoring. To be the bleep holder for the department during this time and to resolve any problems/queries that may arise both within the laboratory and from other departments, referring to the consultant staff when necessary.

4. To use a high level of skills to interpret and communicate the clinical significance of results of scientific investigations to other clinicians and healthcare professionals, including senior medical staff. To instigate additional investigations in his/her speciality that may be appropriate to an individual patient.

*Please refer to the attached detailed job description.

Person Specification

Qualifications and training

• Honours degree in Biochemistry (or related subject)
• Masters degree in Clinical Biochemistry.
• Registration as a clinical scientist with the Healthcare Professions Council (HCPC)
• Part 1 Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (DipRCPath)

Knowledge and Experience

• Significant years of post-registration working experience as a clinical scientist in a recognised/NHS clinical biochemistry laboratory during which they should have demonstrated that they can work across a range of clinical areas including Mass Spec/HPLC
• Wide experience of general clinical biochemistry and analytical methods
• Ability to implement policies and propose changes to working practices
• Computer literacy. Ability to use the internet for research, assay finding and other relevant professional activities.
• Knowledge of Health and safety issues relating to the laboratory activity
• Awareness of national, professional and NHS guidelines and their impact on the quality and provision of service

Skills and Abilities

• Good communication skill, written and verbal, with ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and effectiveness at all levels
• Effective influencing skills; in general and with senior health care professionals
• Teaching and mentoring skills
• Ability to prioritise workload
• Organisational skills; ability to work autonomously and as a team leader

Other relevant requirements

• Ability to propose and implement change
• Ability to cope under pressure
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to be proactive, take their own initiative, and work independently and autonomously
• Ability to concentrate for long periods to carry out tests or authorise results with frequent interruptions to give advice, answer queries and solve problems
• Able to effectively prioritise urgent work in order of clinical importance
• Able to work with accuracy and diligence and with attention to detail.
• Flexible
• Required to work in an area of biological risk, frequently exposed to both biological and chemical hazards, contact with body fluids and faecal material
• Required to use VDU for protracted periods and short periods of light effort
• High degree of precision and hand eye co-ordination for use of analytical instrumentation

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

£64,156 to £71,148 a yearp.a. pro rata inclusive of HCAS (Inner)