Senior Clinical Scientist (Biochemistry)

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 48,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS Foundation Trust in Chelmsford is seeking a Senior Clinical Scientist in Biochemistry. The role involves overseeing laboratory services, providing clinical interpretation, and working closely with medical staff. The successful candidate will ensure a high-quality Blood Sciences service and must have at least 4 years of experience in Biochemistry. The position offers a salary of £47,810 per annum. Apply today if you meet the qualifications for this essential role.

Qualifications

• Must have at least 4 years post-graduate experience in Biochemistry.
• Registration as a Clinical Scientist with Health Professions Council or pre-registration.
• Completion of the Scientist training Programme in Biochemistry.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the provision of a quality Blood Sciences service.
• Clinically authorise results and provide advice on biochemistry tests.
• Participate in regular clinical audits.

Skills

Clinical interpretation

Analytical problem-solving

Communication

Liaison with medical staff

Education

1st or 2nd class honours degree in biochemistry

Masters degree in relevant field

PhD in a relevant speciality

Tools

Laboratory equipment

Quality control systems

Job description

Go back Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Clinical Scientist (Biochemistry)

The closing date is 13 January 2026

Here is an exciting opportunity for you to join our pathology services working alongside our Consultant Clinical Biochemist as a Senior Biomedical Scientist in Biochemistry.

The successful candidate will be based at Broomfield Hospital with occasional cover at Basildon, Southend Hospital and the Synlab Hub.

If you are interested in the role and believe you hold the qualities we require, then apply today!

Main duties of the job

You will assist the Clinical Biochemist in the provision of a quality Blood Sciences service for the Trust and its users. The Senior Biomedical Scientist is expected to be responsible, on a day‑to‑day basis, for the delivery of a specified aspect of the service, under the supervision of managerial and clinical staff.

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Be involved in the development and oversight of the laboratory services.
• Participate in the duty Biochemist day rota and provide interpretation of results and advice on biochemistry tests to Clinical Staff and General Practitioners.
• Participate in regular clinical audit.
• Clinical liaison is an integral and key part of the role and the post holder will be assigned to individual directorates or Primary Care Trusts to establish close collaboration.
• Will be required to take specific responsibility within one of the specialist services.
• Maintain and continuously update technical skills.
• Carry out evaluations of new methods and pieces of equipment when required.
• Engage in monitoring the quality and efficiency of service delivery, through internal quality control, local and national audit activities.

About us

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and well‑being of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.

Job responsibilities

For more information about this role please refer attached JD. Some of the responsibilities includes as follows.

To be responsible for clinically authorising results and adding interpretative comments, both proactively (using rules‑based practice and ad‑hoc comments at computerised authorisation of individual results) and reactively (in response to verbal or written requests for advice).

To provide a clinical advisory service to hospital clinicians, nursing staff, General Practitioners and other health professionals that is supervised by the Consultant. The provision of clinical advice will include guidance on the interpretation of results and the selection of further tests to aid the diagnosis and treatment of patients. The post holder will exercise their judgement regarding referral to another clinical specialty and engage in discussion regarding patient management.

Periodically review the laboratory repertoire to ensure that they are clinically appropriate for the requests received.

To clinically authorise and validate patient test results and reports including advice on the highly complex clinical interpretation of complex biochemistry results.

To discuss and advise clinicians on the highly complex interpretation of biochemistry results e.g. advise on differential diagnosis, monitoring and therapy changes and further investigations.

To follow up individual patients and institute other test investigations when necessary.

To have knowledge and understanding of any clinically urgent test results and communicate and discuss these urgently to the appropriate medical or nursing staff.

To investigate any erroneous or unusual patient test results.

To ensure the timely reporting of patient results in order that patient care is not compromised.

To investigate, report and record all errors and untoward incidents in their area of responsibility following Trust protocols and reporting systems.

N.B. Clinical liaison and advisory duties will be performed under supervision of an experienced Registered Practitioner until the Clinical Scientist is HCPC registered.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• 1st or 2nd class honours degree in biochemistry or assessed equivalent of knowledge
• Registration as a Clinical Scientist with Health Professions Council. Or pre‑registration but within 6‑Months of submission of final portfolio.
• Completed the Scientist training Programme in Biochemistry
• Masters degree or equivalent of knowledge
• PhD in a relevant speciality

Knowledge and experience

• At least 4 years post graduate experience in Biochemistry
• Awareness in scientific development and modern technology in biochemistry
• Has broad and up to date knowledge of biochemistry shown by progress towards FRCPath qualification.
• Experience of liaison with medical staff concerning service provision and data interpretation.
• Enhanced knowledge and experience of dealing with and resolving analytical problems in Biochemistry

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.

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

£47,810 a yearPer Annum (Pro Rata for Part Time)