Job overview
This is an exceptional opportunity to lead a nationally recognised Point of Care Testing service.
Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services (BSPS) is one of the country's largest thriving NHS pathology networks, providing pathology services across six acute hospitals and associated community services. Our POCT service has been developed over many years and has established a strong national reputation for quality, innovation, clinical partnership and professional leadership.
In 2025, the BSPS POCT team won the NHS England Chief Scientific Officer Award for Outstanding Healthcare Science Service of the Year at the Advancing Healthcare Awards, recognised as a national leader in training, governance and best practice. The service delivers more than 56,000 tests each day across 1,380 devices, using a workforce of 85 staff, and was the first multi-NHS Trust POCT service to achieve ISO 15189:2022 accreditation.
Main duties of the job
As Consultant Clinical Scientist and POCT Specialty Lead, you will provide scientific, clinical and strategic leadership to a multidisciplinary POCT team of 85 staff, working across BSPS acute hospitals and community services, including three ICBs, seven community hospitals and 15 Virtual Ward and Hospital at Home services. You will also become Director of Qpoint, BSPS's established POCT External Quality Assessment Scheme, with responsibilities extending locally, nationally and internationally.
You will lead the strategic development of POCT across BSPS, and further develop POCT across acute, community, Virtual Ward and Hospital@Home services. You will develop innovative clinical pathways that bring high-quality diagnostics closer to patients, and maintain and further develop our ISO 15189:2022 accredited service. You will lead and develop a highly skilled POCT workforce, and drive research, development, audit, digital connectivity and adoption of new technologies. You will influence POCT strategy across multiple NHS organisations, and develop the national and international profile of BSPS POCT and Qpoint, working with clinicians, healthcare organisations, professional bodies and industry to advance the effective use of POCT.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
You will work closely with senior clinical, operational and executive colleagues across the network to develop safe, effective and innovative POCT services and clinical pathways. The role includes responsibility for the strategic development of POCT, quality and governance, workforce development, procurement and service innovation.
BSPS has already demonstrated what can be achieved through innovation. Our LabKit model brings laboratory-quality mobile POCT into community and primary care settings — including GP surgeries, urgent care centres and patients' own homes — supporting the network's wider Hospital@Home and Virtual Ward services.
We are looking for an experienced and credible Clinical Scientist with significant POCT experience and the ability to operate confidently at both strategic and operational levels. You will combine scientific expertise with leadership, vision, innovation and the confidence to influence and challenge senior clinical colleagues. You will have a strong understanding of POCT quality and governance, EQA, clinical risk, service development and the application of POCT across healthcare settings. You will be passionate about developing people, improving patient pathways and ensuring POCT delivers genuine clinical value.
You will be joining a pathology network recognised nationally for its scale, innovation and quality, and taking leadership of a POCT service that has already achieved national recognition. The foundations are exceptional, and we are now looking for the person who can take POCT at BSPS to the next level. If you are ambitious about the future of Point of Care Testing and want to lead a service with genuine national standing, we would love to hear from you.
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Person specification
Managerial
Essential
- Experience as an active member of relevant committees
- Knowledge of financial management, resource allocation and procurement.
- Able to advise and lead on specific service development and strategic planning
- Able to provide leadership for the POCT Team and professional direction to more junior staff.
- Able to develop and take responsibility for professional guidelines and policies impacting across the Trust and Health Community
- Able to organise and manage complex activities
- Able to prepare and present complex scientific and clinical information at local, regional, national and international conferences.
- Able to negotiate to provide value for money from diagnostic companies.
- Good coaching, teaching and mentoring skills.
Desirable
- Leadership course/qualification Management course/qualification
Personality
Essential
- Positive attitude to solving problems and to managing change
- Able to prioritise tasks and organise time efficiently
- Able to inspire confidence in peers and subordinates through excellent interpersonal skills, common sense and ability to express rational logic
Qualifications
Essential
- First degree or assessed equivalent level of knowledge and expertise
- Masters Degree or assessed equivalent level of knowledge and expertise in a relevant specialty
- Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists or relevant PhD
- Demonstration of Continuing Professional Development at agreed level of participation
- Registered as a clinical scientist with Health and Care Professions Council
- To have completed a minimum of 5 years in post as a Registered Clinical Scientist of which at least 2 years should have been at advanced practitioner level.
- Experience in consulting with clinical staff of all grades wanting advice on any aspect of pathology specialty/POCT and its relevance in specific situations.
Desirable
- PhD and FRCPath
Experience and Scientific Knowledge
Essential
- Extensive knowledge of the UK POCT diagnostics market.
- To have an extensive knowledge of routine and specialised analytical methods, quality assurance and problem
- To have a sound knowledge of metabolic medicine in adults, children and neonates, consistent with pathology specialty.
- To have a good knowledge of managerial processes within a typical NHS Hospital Trust.
- Extensive knowledge of specialist healthcare science activities across the healthcare sector and opportunities for use of POCT.
Desirable
- To have expert knowledge in a specialised area
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This advert is for Consultant Clinical Scientist Specialty Lead Point of Care Testing with Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust in Frimley Park Hospital. It is listed as a Band 9 Health science services role. The advertised salary is £115,052 - £132,053 None. The contract type is Permanent: None. The application deadline is 28 Aug 2026.
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