Job summary
An opportunity has arisen for a Principal Clinical Scientist to join the Clinical Biochemistry team in the Department of Blood Sciences, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals. The department is located across two sites at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in the city centre and the Freeman Hospital to the North East of the city.

The Trust is one of the largest providers of specialist clinical services in the country. It is supported by a UKAS-accredited Blood Sciences Department with a wide range of specialist sections including Special Chemistry which provides a range of assays using LC-MS/MS, HPLC and ICP-MS, SAS Endocrinology, Metabolic and Newborn Screening, Maternal Serum Screening, Flow Cytometry, Proteins and Immunology and Special Haematology as well as Core Biochemistry, Core Haematology and Blood Transfusion on both sites. Many services are provided to the other trusts within the region as well as to centres throughout the UK and overseas. In addition, support is provided for research and development including collaboration with local clinicians and universities.

The successful candidate will be based primarily at the Freeman Hospital, although cross-site working will be required. They will provide support for Core Biochemistry and develop experience in Specialist Endocrinology and Special Chemistry and participate in the duty biochemist rota.

Main duties of the job
The post-holder will provide support for Core Biochemistry, including method validation and verification, troubleshooting, QA support and clinical liaison.

The post-holder will work with the Special Chemistry and SAS Endocrine teams, helping with service development, authorising reports and liaising with service users.

The post-holder will be part of the departmental Duty Biochemist team, working with a team of seven other clinical scientists and three consultant chemical pathologists as well as a number of scientists and clinicians in training. This includes participation in the Duty Biochemist rota, authorising results generated throughout the biochemistry department and liaising with clinical services.

They will contribute to leadership, quality management, governance, service development and staff training within the department.

Training for the specialist aspects of the role will be provided as required with support for career progression including for further FRCPath examinations.

Appointment to this post will require completion of FRCPath part 1. Candidates who are working towards this examination are welcome to apply as they may be considered for appointment to Band 7, with automatic progression to Band 8a within 12 - 18 months upon completion of FRCPath part 1.

About us
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

With around 2 million contacts with patients every year, we deliver care from:

• Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
• Freeman Hospital
• Newcastle Dental Hospital
• Cramlington Manor Walks
• Urgent treatment centres
• Newcastle Fertility Centre
• Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
• Northern Genetics Service

These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.

We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.

Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.

For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Job responsibilities
Band 8a

• To assist in delivery of a quality, cost effective and patient focussed service from a combination of specialist areas within the department.
• To provide highly specialised advice and interpretation, and to perform final authorisation of patient reports for hospital and primary care clinical staff.
• To carry out research, development and audit in the field of clinical biochemistry.
• To be departmental Duty Biochemist in a rota with other scientific and medical staff.
• To provide scientific supervision of work within specialist departmental teams which may include: Endocrine, Core Automated, Proteins, Special Chemistry, Newborn/Maternal Screening, Paediatrics and Point of Care Testing (POCT).
• To perform specialised, nationally accredited analyses on body fluids, sometimes involving direct patient contact.
• To maintain standards and effect improvements to the service.

Band 7
As a state registered Clinical Scientist:

• To assist in delivery of a quality, cost effective and patient focussed service from a combination of specialist areas within the department.
• To provide highly specialised advice and interpretation, and to perform final authorisation of patient reports for hospital and primary care clinical staff.
• To carry out research and development and audit in the field of clinical biochemistry.
• To be departmental Duty Biochemist in a rota with other scientific and medical staff.
• To perform specialised, nationally accredited analyses on body fluids,sometimes involving direct patient contact.

• Interview Date Friday 16 October 2026
• 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
• You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

Person Specification
Meets All Band 8a Criteria
Essential

• 1 st or 2nd class honours degree in Biochemistry or Chemistry or assessed equivalent knowledge
• MSc in Clinical Biochemistry or assessed equivalent knowledge
• Successful certified completion of a formal Clinical Scientist training programme or assessed equivalent, approved as appropriate for registration as a Clinical Scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• FRCPath (Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists) Part 1 or equivalent knowledge and experience
• A higher degree (PhD) in the field of Clinical Biochemistry or equivalent knowledge or experience
• Registration as a Clinical Scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Relevant experience as a Clinical Scientist working in Clinical Biochemistry
• Analytical skills in a range of areas
• Be developing an expertise in a specialised analytical or clinical area
• To have had training in research and development
• Evidence of CPD (Continuous Professional Development)

Meets All Band 7 Criteria
Essential

• 1 st or 2nd class honours degree in Biochemistry or Chemistry or assessed equivalent knowledge
• MSc in Clinical Biochemistry or assessed equivalent knowledge
• Registration as a Clinical Scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) or evidence of progression towards registration
• Successful certified completion or near completion of a formal postgraduate training programme approved as appropriate for registration as a Clinical Scientist with the HCPC
• Supervised in service experience
• Evidence of CPD (Continuous Professional Development)

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
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).

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

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).

Employer details
Employer name
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address
Freeman Hospital
317 01 Freeman Hospital
NE7 7DN
United Kingdom

Employer's website
https://careers.nuth.nhs.uk/why-us (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Consultant Clinical Scientist
Tim Lang
tim.lang@nhs.net
01912824585