Band 8a Principal Clinical Scientist - Immunology

Band 8a Principal Clinical Scientist - Immunology

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

The Immunology laboratory based at Heartlands Hospital was the first such NHS laboratory in the UK and set the model for UK Immunology training and expansion. It remains a large and busy service and receives a substantial amount of referred work. The laboratory performs all immunology work for University Hospitals Birmingham, the majority of GPs across Birmingham and Solihull; it also performs a large amount of specialist work for external users.

The laboratory provides a comprehensive range of immunology assays including autoantibody testing for the diagnosis and management of organ-specific diseases; immunoglobulin, paraproteins, complement, and cryoprotein analyses; cerebrospinal fluid testing for oligoclonal bands; total and allergen/component-specific IgE; fungal and avian serum precipitins, alpha-1 antitrypsin quantitation and phenotyping; serum antibodies against pneumococcus, Haemophilus type b, tetanus and salmonella typhi; lymphocyte subset quantitation and phenotyping, neutrophil respiratory burst and CD62L shedding, lymphocyte activation, proliferation and cytokine production.

The successful applicant will have HCPC registration as an Immunology Clinical Scientist and have RCPath Part 1 (by examination) or be able to demonstrate they are working towards this qualification.

Main duties of the job

1. To act as an independent practitioner, sharing in the provision, management and continuing development of a Consultant-led clinical laboratory and advisory service in Immunology.
2. Perform clinical interpretation and authorisation of Clinical Immunology diagnostic results, liaising with clinical teams as necessary to advise patient care pathways, result interpretation, repeat testing and additional investigations that may be required.
3. Under the overall direction of the Clinical Lead to have managerial responsibility for senior clinical scientists within Clinical Immunology.
4. To provide training and education in Immunology and related topics to a variety of staff/student groups.
5. To lead and participate in clinical audit.
6. To be responsible for maintaining quality of analytical service to the national standards set by UKAS or other relevant accreditation bodies.
7. To promote the introduction of relevant analytical technologies to enable delivery of a leading edge and effective laboratory medicine service that is fit for purpose.
8. To liaise closely with the Consultant Clinical Scientist, Head of Department, Clinical Service Lead and other Consultant Immunologists and Laboratory manager establishing service reconfiguration and development priorities as appropriate.
9. To instigate research and development ideas through discussion with the Clinical Lead which will bring benefit to the overall department.

About us

We are recognised as one of the leading NHS Foundation Trusts in the UK. Our vision is to Build Healthier Lives, and we recognise that we need incredible staff to do this.

Our commitment to our staff is to create the best place for them to work, and we are dedicated to investing in the health and wellbeing of our staff, including a commitment of offering flexible working where we can; offering our staff a wide variety of training and development opportunities, to support their personal and career development objectives.

UHB is committed to ensuring that our staff are treated fairly and feel that they belong, by creating a kind and inclusive environment. This is about equity of opportunity; removing all barriers, including discrimination and ensuring each individual member of staff reach their true potential, achieve their ambitions and thrive in their work. This is more than words. We are taking action. Our commitment to an inclusive culture is embedded at all levels of the organisation where every voice is heard, driven by our diverse and active staff networks, and at Board level by the Fairness Taskforce led by our CEO. We nurture a culture which empowers staff to challenge discriminatory behaviours and to enable people to bring their 'whole self' to a kinder, more connected and bold place to work.

University Hospitals Birmingham is a Smoke-Free premises hospital.

Job responsibilities

Please Note: For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• 1st class or 2:1 honours degree in Immunology or a closely related science.
• MSc in Clinical Immunology or equivalent.
• State registration with Health Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Evidence of continuing professional development and proficiency in accordance with HCPC guidelines.
• RCPath part 1 (by examination) or demonstrating working towards this.

Experience

• An advanced, specialist knowledge of clinical immunology and laboratory medicine.
• Substantial experience as a clinical scientist in an Immunology laboratory covering an extensive range of tests.
• Previous experience in audit, research and development, method/equipment appraisal and evaluation.
• Aware of the political and cultural aspects of the NHS.
• Aware of clinical governance and risk management.
• Aware of laboratory health and safety.
• Aware and experienced in laboratory accreditation standards.
• An advanced knowledge of internal and external quality assurance.

Additional Criteria

• Effective communication skills, both written and oral.
• Numerate and able to undertake scientific calculations.
• Ability to work in a team.
• Manage workload effectively when the workload is unpredictable and there are competing demands.
• Good and accurate keyboard skills.
• Effective logical thought processes and the ability to solve problems and plan remedial action.
• Effective organisational, planning and time management skills.
• Punctual and reliable.
• A good team player.
• Respectful of all grades of staff.
• Ability to work across all sites.

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.