Applications are invited for a HCPC registered Consultant Clinical Scientist to join the microbiology team at County Durham and Darlington Foundation NHS trust. The successful applicant will join a dedicated and enthusiastic clinical & scientific team providing specialist infection services within County Durham.

CDDFT Pathology is embracing change and this is an opportunity to help shape the service. New equipment and laboratory information systems are in the pipeline for delivery in the next 2 years as part of our modernisation programme. If you have vision and dynamism, we want you to help drive this exciting period of change by further developing our service alongside our clinical & scientific workforce.

The service provides a wide range of microbiology, virology and serology testing to a population of 650,000 across County Durham and Darlington. Working closely with the scientific team and clinical staff across the trust and primary care settings you will help to provide a clinical diagnostic and advice service, supporting a 24/7 laboratory via in hours and on-call provision.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will join a team of Consultant Microbiologists and Specialty Doctors in providing clinical advice and guidance on: infectious diseases the diagnosis, treatment & management of infections infection prevention & control (IPC) and antimicrobial stewardship to the trust, GPs, clinics and services across County Durham.

The post holder will bring specialist clinical expertise and strategic direction to the clinical microbiology service by expanding and developing practice, implementing clinical governance and delivering improved outcomes within the clinical microbiology service.

You will also work collaboratively with the department senior scientific and management team to provide a comprehensive scientific service (analytical and interpretative) by the microbiology department to nationally accepted standards.

About us

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented

From April 1 2024 we are unable to offer sponsorship for healthcare roles that do not meet the minimum salary, If you are in the UK on a VISA please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post.

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will:

Be able to independently discuss and advise clinicians on the interpretation of clinical microbiology results.

Lead ward rounds and clinical discussion meetings, multi-disciplinary teams (MDT) and clinical discussion meetings as required, giving advice on selection, availability and interpretation of microbiology tests, antimicrobial advice and infection prevention & control (IPC) guidance.

Take an active role in antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) including: ward rounds attendance at Trust AMS meetings antimicrobial guideline development multi-disciplinary working with pharmacy and other teams to promote and ensure compliance with AMS strategies and policies.

Take an active role in infection prevention & control including support, advice and guidance to clinicians and IPC colleagues in support of the consultant microbiologist IPC lead.

Maintain up to date specialist expertise and knowledge of scientific developments and practice relevant to clinical microbiology and other relevant subjects including public health and IPC. Ensuring, where appropriate, that such knowledge is systematically passed on to all laboratory staff.

Ensure all quality and medico-legal requirements are fulfilled including accreditation to national standards. This will involve working with consultant microbiologists, management and senior laboratory staff to maintain all relevant documentation to the required standard within their area of responsibility.

Liaise with a range of staff both within the Trust and the wider health community (e.g. staff from other laboratories, clinical staff, managers, GPs, community nurses and Clinical Commissioners) regarding strategic organisational, analytical and interpretative aspects of work carried out by the clinical microbiology laboratory. This includes the selection of assays and services offered as well as giving advice on appropriate investigations, sample handling, interpretation of results, differential diagnosis and therapy monitoring both in individual patients and in general.

Take the scientific lead in the Clinical Microbiology Department on research and development, according to the established rules and guidelines within the Trust, on relevant scientific and clinical problems, within a chosen area of expertise.

Have consultant status and will be eligible for the roles of Clinical Lead for Microbiology and Pathology Clinical Lead.

To deputise for the department clinical lead, head of service or other consultants as required.

Take an active role in determining the strategic direction of the department, in collaboration with the Pathology Service. Contribute to short, medium and long term planning strategies affecting service delivery of microbiology and infection prevention to the Trust and other users of the service.

Provide scientific, technical and clinical teaching and training relevant to clinical microbiology to students, laboratory & clinical staff and other healthcare providers.

Have particular responsibility for training clinical scientists, medical specialist trainees and biomedical scientists in microbiology.

Work with pathology managers to maintain a balanced budget for the microbiology department. This includes with the management team holding the budget for service delivery and function

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• First or second class honours degree in microbiology or assessed equivalent level of knowledge and expertise.
• MSc in microbiology or assessed equivalent level of knowledge.
• PhD in a relevant specialty or equivalent demonstrable experience
• Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Science, or externally assessed as equivalent.
• Leadership or management qualification or equivalent experience
• Demonstration of Continuing Professional Development by participation in the Royal College of Pathologists scheme or equivalent.
• Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists by examination (part 1 & 2) in the specialty, or evidence of equivalent qualification, or evidence of experience and achievement at the similar level

Statutory Registration

Essential

• Current Registration as a Clinical Scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience as a HCPC registered Clinical Scientist in clinical microbiology and a broad and comprehensive experience in the field.
• Developed expertise in one or more specialized analytical or clinical areas.
• Good record of achievement in research, development and audit activities, through presentations at national or international conferences and publication in peer reviewed journals.
• Demonstrable leadership experience

Desirable

• To have undertaken training and gained experience in a specific sub speciality

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Clinical & Scientific
• To have an extensive knowledge of clinical microbiology in adults and paediatrics.
• Well-developed clinical awareness within and beyond the context of own specialty.
• Able to advise senior medical staff, nursing staff and other health professionals on the investigation and interpretation of microbiological samples and infection processes in complex situations also utilizing data from other specialties.
• Able to recognise patterns of abnormality and relate them to clinical situations and provide appropriate clinical advice.
• Able to analyse highly complex information from outside as well as within the service and use to evaluate differential diagnoses.
• Sound basic knowledge in other areas of pathology and diagnostics.
• Extensive knowledge of routine and specialized analytical methods, quality assurance and problem solving.
• Well-developed analytical (technical) skills.
• Well-developed deductive and intuitive abilities.
• Proven research and development record. Able to initiate, direct and co-ordinate R & D activities.
• Quality & Governance
• Extensive knowledge of national professional and NHS guidelines relating to service provision and quality.
• Extensive knowledge of regulatory and accreditation standards applicable to the laboratory (including UKAS / ISO15189).
• Able to perform clinical risk assessments, resolve issues or investigate complaints relating to the service as part of clinical governance procedures.
• Able to lead and co-ordinate audit activities and implement corrective action.
• Able to conduct clinical audit and present reports.
• Managerial & Leadership
• Demonstrable leadership skills.
• Good knowledge of managerial processes within the Trust / NHS and how policies and procedures relate to the staff and service.
• Good knowledge of financial management, resource allocation and procurement.
• Experience of membership of committees at directorate level or above.
• Able to lead on service development and delivery at a departmental level on general service or more specific aspects.
• Able to take personal responsibility for own decisions and advice and for those of more junior staff.
• Experience of service planning and development.
• Health & Safety
• Good health and safety knowledge
• Able to perform risk assessments.
• Fully conversant with COSHH regulations and their application in laboratories.

Desirable

• Expert knowledge in a specialised area.
• Knowledge by experience of national committees of profession, NHS or international groups.
• Able to lead on service development beyond the department.

Special Requirements

Essential

• Able to advise and lead on broad service development and strategic planning.
• Able to provide leadership within the department, across the Trust and beyond within the context of service planning and development or quality.
• Able to provide professional direction.
• Able to develop and take responsibility for professional guidelines and policies impacting across the Trust and health community.
• Detailed awareness of current and developing NHS and healthcare issues and guidelines.
• Demonstrable ability to work to a deadline and produce reports on time.
• Able to prepare and present scientific and clinical information at meetings or as part of a teaching commitment.
• Able to prepare and present complex scientific and clinical information at local, national or international level.
• Able to teach students, scientific, technical, nursing and medical staff.
• Able to prepare and present complex scientific and clinical information at local, national or international conferences.
• Able to challenge with confidence established scientific and clinical views using reasoned argument, personal knowledge and research findings.
• Able to organise and manage complex activities.
• Able to maintain intense concentration on important tasks despite frequent interruptions.
• Able to manage a very unpredictable work pattern where concentration on specific tasks is often interrupted for specialist advice or other queries requiring immediate attention.
• Able to establish and maintain effective networks with professional, clinical and managerial colleagues within and beyond the Trust.
• Good coaching and mentoring skills, able to provide counselling.
• Able to take control in difficult and challenging situations.
• Able to supervise and lead the activities of staff of all grades and backgrounds
• Able to manage change.
• Able to use and manipulate lab computer system and standard software package.
• Positive and optimistic, confident, well-motivated and innovative.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written).
• Flexible approach to working patterns including ability to participate in out of hours working and on call rotas.
• Awareness of own limitations
• Able to travel between hospital sites and more widely, according to service needs.

Desirable

• Able to develop or contribute to national guidelines and policies.
• Able to lead networks at a regional or national level.

Employer details

Employer name

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Address

University Hospital Of North Durham

North Road

Durham

DH1 5TW

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

C9439-24-0978