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Job summary

Main area
External Quality Assurance
Grade
Band 8a
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
001-HS018-0324-A
Employer
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Employer type
NHS
Site
Weqas, Unit 6,
Town
Cardiff
Salary
£51,706 - £58,210 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
06/05/2024 23:59

Employer heading

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board logo

Clinical Scientist Specialist in EQA

Band 8a

WHO WE ARE:

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is one of the largest Integrated Health Board in the UK, employing over 16,000 staff and providing over 100 specialist services. Serving a population of around 500,000 people living in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, we are focussed on the health 
and care needs of our local population whilst also working with our partners to develop regional services. Together we are committed to improving health outcomes for everyone and to delivering excellent care and support.


Our mission is “Living Well, Caring Well, Working Together”. We have recently refreshed our strategy, Shaping Our Future Wellbeing, which sets out the Health Board’s Vision for improving the health and wellbeing of the populations we serve by 2035 through the delivery of our strategic 
objectives; Putting People First, Providing Outstanding Quality, Delivering in the Right Places, and Acting for the Future. We have challenging times ahead, but we are confident that by tackling these  challenges together, we can support people to live healthier lives and reduce the unfair differences in 
the prevalence of illness and health outcomes we see in our communities today. We aspire to deliver outstanding care and treatment for people when they need it, where they need it; care that compares well with the best in the world, but to do so, we need to transform how we deliver services over the 
next decade and beyond. 

We are a values-driven organisation and out goals will only be realised if our values are at the heart of everything we do. Created by colleagues, patients and their families and carers, our values are:

  • We are kind and caring
  • We are respectful
  • We have trust and integrity
  • We take personal responsibility 

As an organisation we strongly believe that it is vital our leaders exhibit the behaviours and values that we expect from all our staff.

We are a teaching Health Board with close links to the university sector, and together we are training the next generation of healthcare professionals, while working on research that will hopefully unlock the cures for today’s illnesses

Please be advised that there is a temporary top up for Bands 1,2 and 3 to reflect the incorporation of the top up to the  living wage of £12 per hour - £23,465 per annum. This temporary top up will be in place until  the annual pay uplift for 2024/25 is confirmed


 

Job overview

We are seeking an enthusiastic, self -motivated HCPC Registered Clinical Scientist in Clinical Biochemistry to join our team at Weqas. Applicants are invited that have gained advanced theoretical and practical knowledge through post-registration experience in the provision of a Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory service, consistent with the attainment of FRCPath part 1.

Weqas is as an External Quality Assessment (EQA)organization, hosted by Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board.  With over 50 staff including clinical scientists, biomedical scientists, technologists, information technologists and administrative support staff, it is one of the largest EQA providers in the United Kingdom providing highly specialist clinical and scientific services within Laboratory Medicine. This includes external audit, performance analysis and an educational and clinical advisory service, including the manufacturing of clinical material for diagnostic laboratories and Point of Care testing applications.  As well as UK NHS organizations, the service is also provided to the independent healthcare sector, commercial diagnostic companies and International clients, across 80 different countries. Weqas also runs a world class Reference Measurement Service, the only Laboratory in the UK that can provide this highly specialized and technically challenging service.

 

Main duties of the job

The post holder is responsible for providing clinical guidance, specialist interpretative and problem-solving advice to clients (hospital scientists and clinicians) on the performance of a wide range of clinical laboratory investigations.  This also includes alerting regulators across the UK and Ireland of potential poor performance issues with their laboratory diagnostic services. Reporting to the Consultant Clinical Lead, the post holder will be expected to become a subject matter expert in EQA.  As such, the post holder will contribute to the performance and improvement of the EQA service to meet nationally and Internationally accepted standards.

The post holder is required to contribute to the clinical oversight of the EQA Programme to ensure that the programme design is clinically appropriate; that the service is challenged and that the appropriate clinical interpretation is provided on the reports.

The post holder will have delegated responsibility for the supervision of scientific research projects and service improvement projects across the organisation including those for other scientific staff.

Working for our organisation

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is one of the largest Integrated Health Boards in the UK, employing over 15,000 staff, providing over 100 specialist services.   Working across 6 hospital sites, we have a diverse range of career opportunities to offer. Serving around 500,000 people living in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, we are focussed on the health and care needs of our local population whilst working with our partners to develop regional services.

Our mission is  “Caring for People, Keeping People Well”, and our  vision is that every person’s chance of leading a healthy life should be equal.   As an organisation we are unashamedly ambitious for our population’s health, rising to the challenges of today and tomorrow through our 10-year strategy, Shaping our Future Wellbeing.    We are contributing to a healthier Wales with great emphasis placed on innovation and improvement, learning from around the world and leading the way in clinical research.   Partnership working is strong at Cardiff and Vale, and we work closely with our staff and our community.    

Cardiff, the thriving Welsh capital, is a fantastic city to live and work in with an abundance of sports, arts and cultural attractions.    Situated to the west of Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan offers a combination of beautiful Welsh countryside and a dramatic natural coastline.  Whether city life or rural living, Cardiff  and the Vale offers the best of both worlds.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click “Apply now” to view in Trac.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Post graduate qualification in Clinical Biochemistry (MSc or relevant PhD)
  • FRCPath part 1

Registration

Essential criteria
  • State Registered Clinical Scientist (Health and Care Professions Council) for Clinical Biochemistry.

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Post-registration laboratory experience
  • Interpreting, clinical validation and providing advice on laboratory results.
  • Evidence of research undertaken, project management and service development.
  • Evidence of performing clinical audits.
  • Evidence of practical problem solving and troubleshooting experience in a laboratory environment
  • Practical experience in using statistical techniques.
  • Training experience

Knowledge and Skills

Essential criteria
  • Advise on interpretation of EQA reports
  • Extensive knowledge of highly specialist analytical methods
  • QA techniques including Internal Quality Control, EQA, Audit and risk assessment.
  • Good knowledge of laboratory computer information systems and Microsoft packages.
  • excellent oral and written communication skills.

Personal attributes

Essential criteria
  • The ability to work independently, plan complex activities and manage own workload
  • Good presentation skills as required for the presentation of clinical cases

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareApprenticeships logoAge positiveDisability confident leaderhyderus o ran anableddCore principlesAccredited Living Wage EmployerDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - GoldArmed Forces CovenantDFN Project Search LogoStonewall Top 100 Employers in 2023Stonewall Top 100 Employers in 2023

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Welsh language skills are desirable

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Annette Thomas
Job title
Director
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
02921 848332
Additional information

Gareth Davies

Deputy Director

[email protected]

02921 841286

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