Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Clinical Biochemist

The closing date is 29 November 2026

Job summary

• Good Honours degree in Biochemistry or equivalent.
• Research qualification / Higher degree such as PhD.
• MSc in Clinical Biochemistry.
• Completion of part 1 FRCPath
• Successful completion of an approved training scheme in Clinical Biochemistry.
• A commitment to Further and Continuing Professional Development.

Main duties of the job

• To effectively liaise with clinical staff and other healthcare workers to provide advice on the appropriate use of the clinical biochemistry service.
• To work and communicate effectively as part of a team.
• To promote and maintain close links with appropriate clinical departments and teams including if appropriate attendance at ward rounds and MDT's.
• To develop and strengthen existing links between Clinical Biochemistry and its users by providing, receiving and acting on information that may be highly complex.

About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset?
Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Details

• Date posted: 13 November 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 8a
• Salary: £57,528 a year
• Contract: Fixed term, Maternity Cover for 18 months
• Duration: 18 months
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: 184-OL-PU-6289

Job locations
Musgrove Park Hospital, Musgrove Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 5DA, United Kingdom
Yeovil District Hospital, Higher Kingston, Yeovil, Somerset, BA21 4AT, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities
Technical
Depending on training needs you will spend time in all areas of the SPS Laboratories pertinent to Clinical Biochemistry to allow competence to be achieved in the following:

• To safely handle blood, urine, faeces, other body tissue, and hazardous chemicals.
• To ensure that appropriate preventative maintenance is carried out on laboratory instruments and equipment in the specialist sections prior to them being used for patient investigations.
• To ensure that reagents are prepared, stored and used according to manufacturer and laboratory procedures.
• To perform complex manual, semi-automated and fully automated laboratory investigations.
• To be responsible for monitoring quality control of the analytes measured in the specialist sections and ensure that appropriate action is taken where required.
• To measure and monitor the accuracy and imprecision of laboratory investigations using appropriate quality control procedures.
• To undertake validation of the results from laboratory investigations to ensure accuracy and precision as specified by laboratory quality procedures and protocols.
• To investigate and take corrective action when quality control or assurance procedures indicate loss of performance of the laboratory instruments or methods.
• In the event of a service failure to take appropriate action to safeguard patient sample integrity, to identify priority work and where necessary to seek alternative arrangements for service provision.
• To troubleshoot faults in complex laboratory instrumentation.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Good Honours degree in Biochemistry or equivalent.
• Research qualification / Higher degree such as PhD.
• MSc in Clinical Biochemistry.
• Completion of part 1 FRCPath
• Successful completion of an approved training scheme in Clinical Biochemistry.
• A commitment to Further and Continuing Professional Development.

Desirable
Please see the attached JD

Experience
Essential
Please see the attached JD

Additional Criteria
Essential
Please see the attached JD

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Musgrove Park Hospital, Musgrove Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 5DA, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Hiring Manager Sadie Thomas, sadie.thomas@somersetft.nhs.uk

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