Consultant Clinical Scientist- Head of Department Biochemistry

The post holder will be required to provide clinical, professional, and technical leadership and direction for the delivery of a comprehensive Paediatric Clinical Biochemistry service (analytical and interpretative). This involves the delivery of a broad range of highly complex, specialised, and non-routine scientific work requiring skilled performance and development of practice, teaching, audit, and research in Paediatric Biochemistry.

Main duties of the job

1. To be accountable for the provision and development of the Biochemistry services within the Trust and to develop the service in line with nationally agreed standards.
2. To provide specialist paediatric interpretive advice to colleagues within the Trust, and to medical and scientific consultant colleagues in Primary Care and other Trusts, giving expert opinion in specialist areas of paediatric biochemistry.
3. To act as Trust lead for the Regional Newborn Screening programme.
4. To contribute to national and international strategic planning, in the development of the effective delivery of Paediatric Biochemistry service to agreed standards.
5. To coordinate and undertake research and development within the department and Trust and participate in multi-centre clinical trials.
6. To plan, initiate and undertake audit in line with nationally agreed standards for laboratory accreditation.
7. To deliver expert advice and act as a role model providing leadership within the Trust.
8. To be responsible for the sourcing and procurement of major analytical laboratory equipment in the department. This will include equipment within the regional Newborn Screening laboratory.
9. To be responsible for and ensure appropriate use of the departmental budget.
10. To be responsible for planning and implementation of regional Newborn Screening programmes.
11. To plan and deliver teaching and training programmes in Clinical Biochemistry for all staff groups.

About us

As one of Europe's biggest and busiest children's hospitals, at Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, we treat everything from common illnesses to highly complex and specialist conditions. In addition to our main hospital site, we offer paediatric services at a number of community sites and hold local clinics across Merseyside, Cumbria, Shropshire, Wales and the Isle of Man. We also provide specialist inpatient care for children with complex mental health needs in our recently relocated and newly opened state of the art facility.

Alder Hey has a thriving research portfolio and leads research into children's medicines, infection, inflammation and oncology. We are becoming recognised as one of the world's leaders in children's healthcare and research. We contribute to public health, lead cutting-edge research and teach the next generation of children's specialists. Alongside this is our Innovation Hub, a dedicated space where clinicians and industries can come together to create new products and technologies.

We know that a children's hospital is different and that our job is more than just treating an illness. To us, every child is an individual. As well as giving them the very best care, we set out to make them feel happy, safe and confident as they play, learn and grow. At Alder Hey we are here to look after a child and their family and that includes mums, dads, brothers and sisters.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

1. To provide clinical guidance and scientific advice and assistance to all grades of medical and nursing staff on the selection, performance and interpretation of clinically relevant tests in order to facilitate the diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and understanding of disease in children.
2. To clinically authorise results generated by the Clinical Biochemistry team, assess the quality of data, and add interpretative comments suggest further investigations and ensure prompt communication of urgent results where appropriate.
3. To ensure maintenance of and participate in the departmental duty biochemist/clinical liaison rota. To resolve highly complex clinical problems as they arise.
4. To ensure that a Biochemistry clinical advice out-of-hours rota is maintained.
5. To ensure that validated reference ranges and protocols for paediatric Clinical Biochemistry investigations are available at a standard as outlined within UKAS ISO15189.
6. To attend and participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, giving advice on selection, availability and interpretation of biochemical tests. Additionally offering advice to patients on why tests are performed and what the results mean where necessary.
7. To ensure timely referral of patients with abnormal Newborn Screening results to the appropriate clinical teams.
8. To liaise with clinicians and nursing staff on the performance of complex dynamic function tests, offering support where necessary.
9. To undertake clinical audits of service effectiveness and instigate appropriate changes to service. Additionally, contribute to audit in other medical specialties and organisations outside of the Trust, nationally and locally.
10. To be responsible for performance monitoring of the analyses undertaken within the laboratory, liaising with external quality assessment groups.

Management

1. To be responsible for the provision of the Clinical Biochemistry Service to nationally agreed standards e.g. UKAS ISO15189 or equivalent.
2. To be responsible for the development and implementation of policies for the Clinical Biochemistry department, including Newborn Screening and Point of Care Testing.
3. To be responsible for service planning for Clinical Biochemistry, Newborn Screening and Point of Care Testing, analysing, interpreting and comparing different options.
4. To ensure communication and dissemination of information within the department including organising and chairing regular staff meetings.
5. To be responsible for the security and maintenance of the Clinical Biochemistry laboratory.
6. To participate, as a member of the Pathology senior management team, in strategic management and planning for the laboratory.
7. To develop and maintain links with appropriate commercial sectors to assist with the development and evaluation of new technologies to ensure that the Trust and its patients gain maximum benefit.

Scientific

1. To maintain up to date specialist expertise and knowledge of scientific developments and practice relevant to routine and specialist paediatric Clinical Biochemistry, Newborn Screening and other relevant subjects. To ensure that such knowledge is systematically passed on to all laboratory staff, where appropriate.
2. To maintain specialist expertise in paediatric Clinical Biochemistry assays using complex automated equipment and specialised manual techniques.
3. To be responsible for troubleshooting assays, having expert knowledge with respect to the limitations of methodologies and resolving equipment problems in the clinical biochemistry laboratory and in clinical areas undertaking point of care testing.
4. To undertake highly specialised laboratory analyses.
5. To critically evaluate analytical methods and equipment to maintain the highest standards.
6. To ensure the department has a system for handling hazardous chemicals and reagents, and that there is compliance with COSHH regulations.

Skills

1. To carry out analytical techniques requiring a high level of skill and manual dexterity.
2. To be responsible for the safe use of complex and expensive instrumentation in accordance with the health and safety guidelines.
3. Use of laboratory and hospital computer systems to identify patients, clinically validate results, resolve and correct errors, compile information for audits and research projects.
4. To have responsibility for the Quality Management System used within the department for accreditation.

Education and experience

1. Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath).
2. Registration with the Health Care Professions Council.
3. To maintain expert knowledge in Clinical Biochemistry, and a general knowledge of other medical disciplines. This additional knowledge is essential for clinical validation of highly complex laboratory data.
4. To maintain up to date knowledge of recent developments and also areas of research relating to aspects of the discipline. A proven ability to critically evaluate information e.g. in the form of published work or critical review prior to publication is essential.
5. It is essential to maintain the necessary clinical, scientific and managerial knowledge and skills by participation in the Royal College of Pathologists Continuing Professional Development programme.
6. To have attained a good record of achievement in research, development and audit activities, through presentations at national or international conferences, and publications in peer reviewed journals.

Training

1. To be responsible for the induction and scientific, technical and clinical training of all laboratory staff in Clinical Biochemistry and Newborn Screening.
2. To assist in training of community midwives, health visitors and other health professionals in all aspects pertaining to their role in new and existing newborn screening programmes. To include background/ rationale of the programme, Sample collection, Principles of tests performed, Reporting, liaison and communication and Audit and review of performance.
3. To be responsible for training of junior staff within the department and regional trainee Clinical Scientists and medical staff (on rotation) in paediatric Clinical Biochemistry.
4. To develop and maintain training programmes as appropriate.
5. To ensure that a programme of departmental continuing professional development (CPD) meetings is available to staff and to give presentations at these meetings.
6. To give formal lectures and teaching sessions to Trainee Clinical Scientists (STP) studying for the MSc in Clinical Biochemistry as part of the North West Regional training scheme as required.

Communication

1. To liaise with other laboratories, clinical, nursing and community staff regarding organisational, analytical and interpretative aspects of work carried out by the Clinical Biochemistry and Newborn Screening laboratories.
2. To liaise with health visitors, midwives, medical staff, other healthcare professionals and when necessary, patients or carers regarding all issues relating to Clinical Biochemistry/Newborn Screening in a professional and sensitive manner.
3. To communicate clinically important results of biochemical tests to clinicians or consultants in other laboratories, emphasising the significance of the results and providing advice on interpretation where appropriate. To maintain an effective network of contact with professional, clinical and managerial colleagues both within and outside the Trust.
4. To present research, clinical cases and audit in the form of scientific posters or oral presentations at grand rounds, regional, national and international meetings.

Quality Issues Clinical Governance

1. To be responsible for internal quality control and external quality assessment for the laboratory, and to liaise with the appropriate external bodies when issues demand.
2. To be responsible for the effective use of audit to maintain and improve service provision.
3. To be responsible for horizon scanning information from a wide range of sources (e.g. DOH) for information on clinical governance and effectiveness which related to the practices in the department, assess relevance and implement changes and monitor standards.
4. To advise and contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of quality management standards within the Biochemistry department.
5. Provide expert advice to the Trusts clinical governance and clinical effectiveness structure on aspects of Clinical Biochemistry. This involves the review and interpretation of guidance information (e.g. Health Technology Assessment documentation).

Strategic Issues

1. Plan Biochemistry laboratory services, taking into account the national strategic direction for specialist paediatric services and the NHS in general interpretation of broad national guidance and legislation professional and scientific developments new technologies and the needs of the patient staff, Trust Divisions, Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) and the Trust business plans.
2. Contribute to the development and implementation of national strategies including goals and standards linked through audit results.
3. Agree service level provision with the Clinical Director and Assistant Medical Director.

Person Specification

Education and training

Essential

• First degree in Biochemistry or a related subject, or assessed equivalent of knowledge and expertise.
• Masters degree or assessed equivalent of knowledge and expertise in the specialty of Clinical Biochemistry.
• Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath).
• Registration as a Clinical Scientist in Clinical Biochemistry with the Health Care Professions Council.

Desirable

• Experience in research/ PhD.

Experience

Essential

• To have completed a minimum of 3 years in post as a Registered Clinical Scientist of which 2 years should have been at advanced practitioner level.
• Evidence of thorough and broad training and experience in Clinical Biochemistry.
• To have developed an expertise in one or more specialised analytical or clinical areas.
• 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

• Experience in paediatric Clinical Biochemistry.

Employer details

Employer name

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust.

Address

Alder Hey Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust,
Eaton Road,
Liverpool,
L12 2AP.

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