Job summary
This is a joint appointment between the NHS Department of Clinical Biochemistry and the University Department, the Wolfson Centre for Prevention of Stroke and Dementia. The post holder will spend the equivalent of 2.5 days per week in each department. The NHS post will be a development role in which specialist testing (mainly mass spectrometry) will be implemented for service and research provision. An active role in duty biochemist rota is expected. The University role will require development and analysis of research assays to support the work of the Wolfson Centre. Opportunities for further study and qualifications are available (including DPhil and/or FRCPath).

Main duties of the job

• A Registered Clinical Scientist, responsible for helping the Consultant Clinical Biochemist and Consultant Chemical Pathologists provide a comprehensive scientific and clinical service in Clinical Biochemistry to the Trust, ICB and other service users.
• To undertake research and development activities in line with the needs of the NHS Clinical Biochemistry department and the Wolfson CPSD unit at Oxford University.
• The post holder will be expected to pursue further higher professional qualifications (FRCPath)
• The post holder will be expected to participate in the Duty Biochemist rota
• Process blood samples taken for research, maintaining documents and databases. Including cataloguing frozen samples.
• Perform biomarker assays and DNA extraction from blood and subsequent PCR to genotype certain risk factors. Training will be given on any aspects of the role you may be unfamiliar with.
• Participate in and contribute directly to scientific discussions.

The Wolfson Centre for Prevention of Stroke and Dementia (CPSD) was established by Professor Peter Rothwell as a new Division within the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford in 2017. https://www.ndcn.ox.ac.uk/divisions/cpsd

About us
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence, and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.

In 2023 NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to the ten core principles Oxford University Hospitals promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment. If you want to make a difference with us, come and join our team. Together, we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.

Job responsibilities
Managerial
To have knowledge of managerial processes within the Trust and to have good awareness of Trust policies and how they relate to staff and service of the department. Furthermore, to use this knowledge for the benefit of the clinical and scientific service. To investigate where current processes and/or policies can be changed in order to improve service provision to patients and users. To propose and develop changes to practice in order to improve these issues. To liaise with Biomedical Scientists in order to implement developments and changes in aspects of the service as delegated by the Head of the Department. To liaise with the Consultant Clinical Scientist and the Head of the Department in order to ensure that the referral of specimens to other laboratories meets the clinical needs and is cost-effective. To be accountable for the quality and cost-effectiveness of this service, provide supervision and undertake audit. To liaise with senior members of staff to ensure that highly complex analytical services related to chromatographic techniques and mass spectrometry, are of the highest quality and timely. To attend and actively contribute to departmental meetings related to management, quality management and clinical policy management. To be accountable for the quality of designated clinical research and trials for which the Department is undertaking commissioned analytical work, and to coordinate and implement such work. To ensure that all clinical incidents and complaints are properly recorded and reported to one of the Consultants or to the Laboratory Manager. To ensure that such incidents are properly investigated, and appropriate action is taken to ensure an improvement of the service in line with the Trust policies, procedures and national guidelines.

Scientific
To assist the Consultant Biochemist in providing an effective scientific service in the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, including contributing to the quality of the service and the requirements of UKAS. To regularly participate in and coordinate the development of new methods, to implement them, and to act as necessary to maintain the performance of these methods in routine use. To liaise and collaborate with other laboratory staff to provide as high a standard of service as is reasonably possible. To provide highly skilled technical services across all analytical sections of the department, including analysis of routine blood, urine and other fluid samples. To attend the Departments Quality Meetings and carry out delegated and designated duties to ensure the quality of the results and the service. To take an active role in ensuring the quality service. Within the postholders sphere of competence, to coordinate, implement, and analyse specimens from clinico-scientific studies for which the Department is undertaking commissioned analytical work.

Clinical
To assist Consultant Chemical Pathologists and Consultant Clinical Scientist in the provision of a routine and emergency analytical, interpretative, diagnostic and consultancy service to clinicians with the Trust and its partner hospitals and in General Practice, and in the planning of service as directed. To participate in the Duty Clinical Biochemist rota for clinical review of reports. The duties include: Being the point of contact for clinical queries to the Department from the Trust clinicians, GPs, and other users of the service Providing advice to the Trust clinicians and GPs on the selection of clinically relevant tests in order to facilitate the diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and understanding of disease. Interpretation of results on a case-by-case basis, considering the clinical context, previous test results, current analytical performance and other confusing factors such as drug treatments and co-existing disease states Using judgement to seek advice from the Consultants in the Department on difficult cases and queries, and conveying the obtained advice to the clinicians involved in the care of patients. Bringing to the attention of the Trust clinicians, GPs and midwives those results which suggest a need for an urgent medical intervention. Highlighting where there may be a conflict between test results and the initial clinical impressions. Initiating further necessary investigations Liaising with the laboratory staff for the investigation of cases where a less-than-ideal analytical performance is suspected, and suggesting means to remedy any problem. Dealing with any ad hoc clinical query raised by service users, Departmental staff, outside agencies, patients or their carers. To attend the weekly Departmental Clinical meetings. Occasional attendance at relevant clinics, as deemed necessary by the Consultant Biochemist for learning and education. To undertake such relevant duties of an appropriate nature as may be described by the Head of the Department.

Professional
To adhere to the department health and safety policy. To regularly carry out the appropriate risk assessments in line with the Trusts Clinical Governance Policy. To assist with the writing and updating of departmental policies and standard operating procedures in areas of expertise. To actively maintain the necessary requirements for State Registration and membership of the Health Professions Council.

Research and Development
To coordinate and implement research and development projects in line with the Departments service and as appropriate to the Health Services requirements, as agreed with the Consultant Clinical Biochemists or the Head of the Department. To assist the Consultant Chemical Pathologists and Consultant Clinical Biochemist in performing clinical audit projects, both within the Department of Clinical Biochemistry and with outside users of the service. To present the results of research and development activities at local and national forums, and publish the research data in peer reviewed journals.

Training
To assist the Consultant Clinical Biochemist in training the Pre Registration Clinical Biochemists. To take part in teaching programmes organised by the department for the training of Biomedical Scientists and other undergraduate and postgraduate staff both within and outside the Department of Clinical Biochemistry. To attend formal local, national and international scientific and clinical meetings, as deemed appropriate by Consultant Clinical Scientist, for the furtherance of the post-holders and the departments expertise and to be actively engaged in the dissemination of scientific knowledge. To actively pursue further higher professional qualifications (FRCPath) with the support and encouragement of the department and to participate in appropriate activities for personal development, appraisal and registration.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• HCPC Registration and appropriate masters level qualification or equivalent
• Completion of STP or equivalent in Clinical Biochemistry

Desirable

• PhD in appropriate scientific field

Laboratory Skills and Knowledge
Essential

• A good knowledge of Clinical Biochemistry and specialist knowledge of advanced analytical techniques

Desirable

• Experience of Mass Spec method development
• Experience of neurological marker analysis
• Experience of DNA extraction techniques
• Experience of publishing research papers in Clinical Biochemistry

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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).