Principal Clinical Scientist

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and self-motivated Clinical Scientist to join the growing Specialist Services Laboratories (including Toxicology) within BCPS Clinical Biochemistry, based at Sandwell and City Hospitals. This is a pivotal time to be part of our team as we continue to expand and develop our specialist and clinical toxicology services across the Black Country Pathology network.

To join our forward-thinking team, you will be HCPC-registered and hold FRCPath Part 1, with a clear commitment to completing the full qualification. We provide structured support and mentorship to help you achieve this milestone. You’ll be part of an experienced, collaborative team that truly values innovation and professional development. This role involves occasional travel—typically once or twice a month—to New Cross Hospital and other BCPS sites as part of our connected, evolving service.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will (summary)

• Work as a member of the BCPS clinical team .
• Provide clinical advice and interpretation of results and participate in the general clinical support rota.
• Acquire experience in contributing to clinical discussions and patient management decisions.
• Support or undertake method development which may require dexterity and use of complex laboratory equipment.
• Provide professional support for one or more projects.
• Contribute to the management of the Service and BCPS through active involvement in committees and working groups.

Proactively

• Keep up to date with developments in Clinical Biochemistry.
• Support compliance with the nationally accepted standards (UKAS: ISO 15189 or equivalent).
• Engage in the professional training of Clinical Scientists and Biomedical Scientists and contribute to postgraduate and undergraduate teaching and training.
• Contribute to the BCPS research and development programme.
• Work with the BCPS IT and Clinical Informatics Team to implement technology and develop laboratory informatics.

The postholder is expected to:

• To undergo training leading to satisfactory attainment of Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists.
• Maintain registration with the Healthcare Professions Council.
• Participate in the CPD programme.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Provide a Principal Clinical Scientist-level Clinical Biochemistry advisory service to the hospital, health professionals and referral laboratories. Undertake clinical validation and authorisation of a range of complex reports. Take responsibility for accuracy, interpretation and timely reporting of test results. Direct scientific staff to undertake further investigations to solve complex diagnostic cases. Including adding clinical interpretative comments to reports and identifying potentially erroneous results. Provide clinical advice, interpretation of results and participate in the 'duty biochemist' rota. Interpret and implement national clinical guidance (e.g., NICE ). Acquire experience in contributing to clinical discussions and patient management decisions by participating in relevant MDT clinical meetings, ward rounds or clinics. Liaise with colleagues undertaking specialist investigations to ensure appropriate clinical advice is delivered in a timely manner to the requestor. Support or undertake method development which may require dexterity and use of complex laboratory equipment. Provide a patient-centred, safe, clinically, operationally, and financially effective, equitable, resilient and future-proof Clinical Biochemistry service to all users. Develop areas of special interest, performing independently a range of complex scientific work and offering an interpretative service.

Be clinically and professionally responsible for a section(s), write and develop clinical guidelines/protocols for testing strategies. Contribute to the development of policies and practices within the department by participating in departmental committees or working groups. Support development and improve the existing service portfolio by continual review of quality, productivity, and efficiency. Propose and evaluate potential new services relevant to the department. Comply with health and safety legislation, Trust’s policies and procedures, standing financial instructions. Ensure that any H&S issues are raised through the departmental management structure.

Promote and support the R&D culture of the BCPS. This includes: Supporting and participating in R&D and developing a research interest taking into account service needs and the BCPS research focus. Building constructive relationships and strategic alliances with other research-active or interested professional groups to advance the research, development, and innovation agenda.

Acquire and maintain a comprehensive and relevant knowledge of equipment, technologies and methods used. Assist with evaluating, replacing, and commissioning highly specialised laboratory equipment and instrumentation. Take responsibility for the operation, training requirements and performance quality of specialised laboratory investigations and instrumentation, including the effective use of QC systems. Develop a knowledge of the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), other computer systems (e.g., PAS, QPulse, ICE, EPR) to provide an effective service to patients and users, taking responsibility for the entry and storage of sensitive data.

Interpret complex results and provide an advisory service for screening, diagnostic and prognostic tests. Know when to seek advice and support when needing to exercise professional judgment Be approachable and available when colleagues seek advice and support to exercise their professional judgement. Effectively prioritise workload. Acquire data analytics skills required to undertake service data analysis and produce appropriate complex reports independently.

The postholder will be expected to develop advanced communication skills, constructively and effectively communicate with staff of all professional groups and grades within and outside BCPS. Effectively communicate with suppliers of technology, regional, superregional and national agencies, professional bodies, and opinion leaders. Develop skills to provide complex clinical/scientific reports, advice, reviews and opinions for a range of highly specialised investigations and topics. To support staff with training difficulties, working with the other senior staff to manage the process.

Assist in the implementation of quality processes within the department. Participate in EQA schemes as required. Undertake the production, maintenance and implementation of SOPs. Ensure that all audits, critical incidents, and complaints are recorded, and corrective / preventive actions made. When incidents occur, take immediate appropriate action, and ensure incidents are reported as appropriate (Datix and Q Pulse) Assist in the rectification of non-conformance from Audits etc.

Maintain an advanced working competency in the use of the laboratory information system, the analyser interface system, any software used in the running of analytical equipment, the document management system together with any standard package available on laboratory PC’s such as word, Excel, or Power Point. Provide support and training for other staff members in relation to the above.

Provide education and training to postgraduate standards. Gain, and maintain, the skills and critical ability required to perform the role of a HCPC Registered Clinical Scientist. Apply for Higher Specialist Scientific Training (HSST) through the national programme if appropriate. Work towards obtaining Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists by examination at the first reasonable opportunity. Ensure that research findings are appropriately disseminated, enabling research outcomes to inform the broader health service agenda and positively impact the BCPS brand. Maintain expertise in relevant areas to facilitate training other staff in the Department.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have regular contact with vulnerable people and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.