West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Job summary
We are looking for an experienced and highly motivated Consultant Clinical Scientist (Blood Sciences & Chemical Pathology) to join our Chemical Pathology team at Band 8C. This is a senior scientific leadership role with responsibility for delivering a high-quality, comprehensive Chemical Pathology service across the Trust, including clinical advice, specialist scientific interpretation and leadership of quality and governance.
You will act as Deputy Head of Department and provide clinical leadership for Blood Sciences developments at the Croxley Green Park Laboratory. The role offers an opportunity to shape service development, quality improvement, research, education and innovation while working closely with clinicians, laboratory teams and external partners. The role participates in 24-hour clinical advisory cover; core departmental hours and rota arrangements will be discussed at interview.
Main duties of the job
You will provide expert scientific and clinical advice on the selection, performance and interpretation of complex biochemical investigations, supporting diagnosis, treatment and monitoring. You will lead the Chemical Pathology Quality Management System, including IQC, EQA, audit, incident investigation, CAPA and UKAS compliance, and act as a senior adviser on quality and governance.
As Deputy Head of Department, you will support operational and strategic planning, workforce development, recruitment, appraisal and financial management. You will lead Point of Care Testing activity and support Blood Sciences developments at Croxley Green Park Laboratory. You will also contribute to research and development, service improvement, teaching and professional education, working collaboratively with clinicians, Pathology colleagues, HSL and external stakeholders.
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- First Degree or assessed equivalent of knowledge and expertise.
- Masters Degree or assessed equivalent level of knowledge and expertise in speciality of Clinical Biochemistry.
- Full Membership or Fellowship of Royal College of Pathologists as required for Medical Consultant.
- OR relevant PhD.
- Demonstration of Continuing Professional Development at agreed level of participation.
- Registration as a clinical scientist with Health Professions Council.
Desirable
- PhD
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.
- To have a thorough knowledge of metabolic medicine in adults, children and neonates including inherited disorders, endocrinology disease and toxicology.
- Fully conversant with COSHH regulations and their application to laboratories.
- Able to perform clinical risk assessments and resolve problems or investigate complaints relating to the service as part of Clinical Governance.
- To have a good knowledge of managerial processes within the Trust and NHS.
- Experience of membership of committees at directorate level or above.
- Good awareness of Trust Policies and procedures and how they relate to the staff and service of the department.
- Extensive knowledge of national professional and NHS guidelines relating to service provision and quality.
- Good knowledge of financial management, resource allocations and procurement.
- Involvement in service planning and development.
Desirable
- To have expert knowledge in a highly specialised area,
- Knowledge by experience of national committees of profession of NHS or international groups.
Experience
Essential
- To have completed a minimum of 5 years in post as a Registered Clinical Scientist of which 2 years should have been at advanced practitioner level.
- 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.
Desirable
- To have attained status as a national or international expert or adviser
Skills
Essential
- Well-developed analytical (technical skills).
- Proven research and development.
- Well-developed deductive and intuitive abilities.
- Able to lead on service development and delivery at a departmental level on general service or more specific aspects.
- Able to initiate, direct and co-ordinate R&D activities.
- Able to lead and co-ordinate Audit activities and authorise corrective action
- Well-developed clinical awareness within and beyond the context of own speciality.
- Able to advise senior medical staff, nursing staff and other health professionals on investigation and interpretation of biochemical and metabolic processes in complex situations also utilising data from other specialities.
- Able to recognise patterns of abnormality and relate them to clinical situations and provide appropriate clinical advice.
- Able to analyse highly complex information from outside as well as within the service and use to evaluate differential diagnoses.
- Able to take personal responsibility for own decisions and advice for those of more junior staff.
- Able to conduct clinical audit and present reports.
- Able to advice and lead on broad service development and strategic planning.
- Able to use laboratory computer systems and standard software packages.
- Able to provide leadership within the Department, across the Trust and beyond within the context of service planning and development of quality.
- Able to provide professional direction.
- Able to organise and manage complex activities.
- Detailed awareness of current and developing NHS and healthcare issues and guidelines.
- Able to develop and take responsibility for professional guidelines and policies impacting across the Trust and Health Community.
- Good oral and written communication skills.
- Able to teach students, laboratory staff, nursing and medical staff.
- Able to prepare and present complex scientific and clinical information at local, national or international conferences.
- Able to challenge with confidence established scientific and clinical views using reasoned argument, personal knowledge and research findings.
- Able to maintain intense concentration despite frequent interruptions.
- Able to establish and maintain effective networks with professional, clinical and managerial colleagues within and beyond the Trust.
- Good coaching and mentoring skills.
- Able to supervise and lead the activities of staff of all grades and backgrounds.
Desirable
- Able to lead on service development beyond the department.
- Able to provide national guidelines and policies
- Able to lead networks at a national level.
Closing Date: 20 September 2026
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