Senior Clinical scientist

NHS Jobs; North East; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust seeks a HCPC-registered Principal Clinical Scientist to lead Clinical Biochemistry across two main sites. The role offers engagement with major projects, education of staff, and contribution to national standards. Relocation support may be available.

The post holder will provide expert advisory services, lead high-quality diagnostics, and supervise a team of scientists within a UKAS-accredited laboratory.

Qualifications

• Three years of training in Biochemistry or equivalent experience.
• HCPC registration or eligible for registration.
• Ability to implement policies and drive service improvements.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive advisory and interpretive service in Clinical Biochemistry.
• Lead and support education and training for staff and trainees.
• Participate in research, development and audit to improve the service.

Skills

Clinical biochemistry

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

BSc Biochemistry or Chemistry

MSc Clinical Biochemistry

Tools

Laboratory instrumentation

Job description

Go back County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Clinical scientist

The closing date is 30 September 2026

This is an exciting opportunity to recruit a HCPCregistered Principal Clinical Scientist to work within Clinical Biochemistry.The department provides a comprehensive service to the acute hospitals and surroundingprimary care networks and commissioning teams from two main sites at DarlingtonMemorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. The service iscurrently undertaking two major projects (new managed service contract forlaboratory equipment and new LIMS) that will see the latest technologiesintroduced and future proof the service to continue to develop excellent

services for its patients, in line with regional andnational agendas. The laboratory offers a wide range of routine automatedtesting as well as xanthochromia analysis, specialist faecal testing, liverfibrosis markers and testing for the myeloma service.

Alongside ouroutstanding development opportunities and excellent NHS benefits, relocationexpenses will be considered in line with Trust policy. Durham and Darlingtonare exciting places to live with vibrant, expanding centres which are close tobeautiful countryside. Both benefit from excellent transport links

Main duties of the job

Thesuccessful applicant will, in conjunction with consultant staff, be responsibleand accountable for the provision of a comprehensive Clinical Biochemistryservice and to maintain the quality of the service to the standards setnationally by UKAS (ISO 15189). In addition, they will be able to provide anadvisory service in all aspects of Clinical Biochemistry to their colleaguesTrust-wide. They will demonstrate an enthusiasm for learning and have excellentwritten and verbal communication skills to work effectively with the otherstaff in the Clinical Biochemistry laboratory and other sections of thepathology service. The laboratory is accredited according to UKAS 15189standards and is an accredited training laboratory for the provision of theClinical Biochemistry Training Programme (STP).

Trainingand Education are of vital importance to the team, and the post holder willplay an active role in contributing to the education of our clinical andscientific team as well as the departments Clinical Scientist trainee.

About us

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.

Job responsibilities

The post holder will provide a high quality advisory andinterpretive service in all aspects of Clinical Biochemistry to users,clinicians, GPs and other healthcare professionals.

The post holder will:

beresponsible for participating in research, development and the provision ofspecialised, non-routine diagnostic services.

Assistin delivery of a quality, cost effective and patient focussed service from acombination of specialist areas within the department.

Providehighly specialised advice and interpretation, and to perform finalauthorisation of patient reports for hospital and primary care clinical staff.

Carryout research and development and audit in the field of clinical biochemistry.

Bepart of the departmental Duty Biochemist in a rota with other scientific andmedical staff.

Performspecialised, nationally accredited analyses on body fluids, sometimes involvingdirect patient contact.

Responsiblefor personal use of highly complex equipment e.g. multi-channel chemistryanalysers. The post holder will be a senior member of the department offeringscientific and clinical advice to the laboratory and laboratory service users.

activelyassist in providing advisory service to Clinicians and GPs within normalworking hours and rotation to any site as required. The post holder will bepart of the Duty Biochemist team, a team of Clinical Biochemists andClinicians, responsible for the validation and interpretation of results andadvisory service

providetraining to junior technical staff.

assistin service development and quality improvement.

It is expected thatFRCPath part 1 will be achieved within 2 years of appointment.

Person Specification

Experience

• Supervised in service experience. Three years of training in Biochemistry. Basic knowledge of managerial processes and structures within the NHS. Implement policies, proposes changes to practices for area. Ensures implementation of policies, proposes changes to practices for work area

Qualifications

• 1st or upper 2nd class honours degree in Biochemistry or Chemistry MSc in Clinical Biochemistry or assessed equivalent knowledge. Successful certified completion or near completion of a formal postgraduate training programme approved as appropriate for registration as a Clinical Scientist with the HCPC.

Special Requirements

• Able to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post Physical Skills: Good hand eye co-ordination for fine manipulation of instrumentation. Personal Attributes: Able to maintain self-control in difficult and challenging situations and to take control of situations where more junior staff are in difficulty. Self confidence.
• Data entry, text processing or storage of data; regular requirement to use computer software to interpret reports. Day to day supervision; clinical supervision; practical training/ specialist training Supervises junior staff, may lead team for own work area; provides clinical supervision; trains less experienced staff/ provides specialist training to own or other disciplines Occasional/frequent exposure to unpleasant conditions Handles contained or controlled hazardous materials, contact with body fluids Concentration for tests, investigations, frequent interruptions for urgent tests; microscope or equivalent work for lengthy periods.
• Driving posts musty have valid Full UK driving licence

Statutory Registration

• Registered as a Clinical Scientist with the Health Professions Council

Special Skills & Knowledge

• Highly specialist expertise underpinned by theoretical knowledge & experience following three years for specialty training. Understanding of specialist healthcare science activities. Thorough knowledge of human biochemistry and metabolic medicine. Knowledge of and training in research, development and audit techniques. Regularly undertakes research and audit work to facilitate service improvements. A wide range of analytical methods, analytical techniques and in instrumentation Thorough knowledge and understanding of Quality assurance requirements for results and laboratory operations. Computer skills and statistics Complex facts or situations, requiring analysis, interpretation, comparison of Options. Analysis and interpretation of test, investigation results. Provide specialist/ highly specialist clinical technical services; provide Interview
• specialised/highly specialised advice. Undertakes, screens, interprets diagnostic tests, including equipment testing/ highly specialist tests, including specialist equipment testing; clinicians/specialist, clinical and scientific advice to clinician

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.

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust