# Band 8a/8b - Specialist Healthcare Scientist in Blood Sciences > NHS job listing from Job Clerk for West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. ## Canonical URLs - **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/band-8a8b-specialist-healthcare-scientist-in-blood-sciences/6381637c-05af-4bed-b958-77926ef84f3d - **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/band-8a8b-specialist-healthcare-scientist-in-blood-sciences/6381637c-05af-4bed-b958-77926ef84f3d.md ## Summary - **Status:** Live - **Employer:** West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust - **Town:** Watford - **Region:** East of England - **Country:** England - **Profession:** Health science services - **Grade:** Band 8 - **Salary:** £59,798 - £79,638 pa inc HCA - **Contract type:** Permanent - **Employment type:** Full time, Flexible working, 37.5 hours per week - **Closing date:** 2026-06-11T23:59:00.000Z - **Posted:** 2026-05-28T08:22:25.072Z - **Source information URL:** https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/UK/Hertfordshire/Watford/West_Hertfordshire_Teaching_Hospitals_NHS_Trust/Blood_Sciences/Blood_Sciences-v8041361 - **Application URL:** https://apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/8041361?ShowJobAdvert=&feedid=9002 - **Employer website:** https://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk ## Job Content ### Job overview Do you thrive in a fast-paced, challenging environment? You can make an impact with us as our next Band 8b Clinical Scientist in Chemical Pathology. We invite applications from suitably qualified and experienced applicants, with significant experience of working in a busy Chemical Pathology Department. The successful candidate will be expected to be an experienced HCPC Registered Clinical Scientist in Clinical Biochemistry and have successfully completed the Part 1 FRCPath examination. This would be an excellent role for a Band 8a Scientist wishing to increase their knowledge, skills, and experience in a stimulating and supportive environment. At a band 8a level this would be a developmental post. You would be supported to successfully complete a set of competencies prior to obtaining a Band 8b post. Training and supervision would be provided. Those with part 1 FRCPath who are actively working towards obtaining part 2 FRCPath are encouraged to apply. This post will provide full support in preparing for part 2 FRCPath. Registration as a Clinical Scientist is essential. ### Main duties of the job The post holder is expected to lead the Proteins section of the laboratory and play a major role in the departments Quality Management System. They will also be expected to undertake, protocol development, clinical and scientific liaison within the network including ‘duty’ biochemist. They will work closely with IT as data analyst. They will contribute to medical teaching and training trainee clinical scientists. The appointee will assist the Head of Department and other members of the Consultant team in providing a comprehensive, cost effective and high-quality Chemical Pathology service in our laboratories which is compliant to ISO15189:2012 standard. The department are actively working to the ISO15189:2022 standard. The appointee will represent the Chemical Pathology Department at relevant Trust and Pathology meetings and will contribute to service improvement as well as facilitating delivery of current service provision across the department. ### Detailed job description and main responsibilities There is a full 24/7 hour acute/urgent analytical service at Watford General Hospital and a Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 20:00 pm, non-urgent service provided at the Hemel Hempstead site. The successful candidate is expected to work across sites as required. The post holder will be expected to participate in the on-call roster for the provision of clinical advice out of hours after appropriate training. The laboratory is fully automated using Roche Cobas platforms for automated chemistry, and immunochemistry and Sebia system for protein electrophoresis. The Trust is committed to the personal development of its staff at all levels. A new shared pathology network is created with pathology colleagues across the local Integrated Care System (ICS) including East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB). Health Services Laboratories (HSL) is the newly appointed provider for shared networked pathology service provider. This role requires working closely with Consultants, Team Leaders, Quality Leads, and Chemical Pathology operation manager and Pathology Board Unit (PBU). ## Job Details Do you thrive in a fast-paced, challenging environment? You can make an impact with us as our next Band 8b Clinical Scientist in Chemical Pathology. We invite applications from suitably qualified and experienced applicants, with significant experience of working in a busy Chemical Pathology Department. The successful candidate will be expected to be an experienced HCPC Registered Clinical Scientist in Clinical Biochemistry and have successfully completed the Part 1 FRCPath examination. This would be an excellent role for a Band 8a Scientist wishing to increase their knowledge, skills, and experience in a stimulating and supportive environment. At a band 8a level this would be a developmental post. You would be supported to successfully complete a set of competencies prior to obtaining a Band 8b post. Training and supervision would be provided. Those with part 1 FRCPath who are actively working towards obtaining part 2 FRCPath are encouraged to apply. This post will provide full support in preparing for part 2 FRCPath. Registration as a Clinical Scientist is essential. ## Job Description The post holder is expected to lead the Proteins section of the laboratory and play a major role in the departments Quality Management System. They will also be expected to undertake, protocol development, clinical and scientific liaison within the network including ‘duty’ biochemist. They will work closely with IT as data analyst. They will contribute to medical teaching and training trainee clinical scientists. The appointee will assist the Head of Department and other members of the Consultant team in providing a comprehensive, cost effective and high-quality Chemical Pathology service in our laboratories which is compliant to ISO15189:2012 standard. The department are actively working to the ISO15189:2022 standard. The appointee will represent the Chemical Pathology Department at relevant Trust and Pathology meetings and will contribute to service improvement as well as facilitating delivery of current service provision across the department. ## Responsibilities There is a full 24/7 hour acute/urgent analytical service at Watford General Hospital and a Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 20:00 pm, non-urgent service provided at the Hemel Hempstead site. The successful candidate is expected to work across sites as required. The post holder will be expected to participate in the on-call roster for the provision of clinical advice out of hours after appropriate training. The laboratory is fully automated using Roche Cobas platforms for automated chemistry, and immunochemistry and Sebia system for protein electrophoresis. The Trust is committed to the personal development of its staff at all levels. A new shared pathology network is created with pathology colleagues across the local Integrated Care System (ICS) including East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB). Health Services Laboratories (HSL) is the newly appointed provider for shared networked pathology service provider. This role requires working closely with Consultants, Team Leaders, Quality Leads, and Chemical Pathology operation manager and Pathology Board Unit (PBU). ## Person Specification ### Knowledge: **Essential** - To have a thorough knowledge of human biochemistry and chemistry including metabolic processes, physiology, pharmacology and drug interference. - To have a sound basic knowledge in other areas of Pathology. - To have an extensive knowledge of routine and specialised analytical methods, quality assurance and problem solving. - Able to perform risk assessments on a variety of laboratory situations. - Fully conversant with COSHH regulations and their application to laboratories. - To have knowledge of metabolic medicine in adults, children and neonates including inherited disorders, endocrinology disease and toxicology. - Able to perform clinical risk assessments and resolve problems or investigate complaints relating to the service as part of Clinical Governance. - Extensive knowledge of national professional and NHS guidelines relating to service provision and quality. - Knowledge of resource allocations and procurement. **Desirable** - To have expert knowledge in a highly specialised area e.g. Protein electrophoresis, chromatography, endocrinology. - To have expert knowledge in a specialised area. - Knowledge by experience of national committees of profession of NHS or international groups. ### Experience: **Essential** - Demonstrated experience as a Registered Clinical Scientist, including substantial practice at an advanced practitioner level (8A). **Desirable** - To have attained status as a national or international expert or adviser. - To have developed an expertise in one or more specialised analytical or clinical areas to a point of acting at an expert level within the Trust. - To have attained a good record of achievement in research, development and audit activities, through presentations at national or international conferences and publication in peer reviewed journals. ### Education and qualifications: **Essential** - First Degree or assessed equivalent of knowledge and expertise. - Master’s Degree or assessed equivalent level of knowledge and expertise in speciality of Clinical Biochemistry. - Fellow of Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath) as required for Medical Consultant. - Demonstration of Continuing Professional Development at agreed level of participation. - Registration as a clinical scientist with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). **Desirable** - PhD. ## Documents - [job description (pdf, 579.3kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10329915) ## Agent Notes - This Markdown page is generated from the same Job Clerk job record as the HTML job detail page. - Use the canonical HTML URL for user-facing references. - Use the application URL when the user wants to apply on the source NHS site.