Chief Medical Scientist

Principal Duties & Responsibilities:

The duties of the post of Chief Medical Scientist are:

• To perform his/her duties under the direction of the Consultant in charge and the Laboratory Manager
• To ensure that the technical work carried out in the department is to the highest standard and reflects patient needs.
• To provide guidance and support to medical scientists and medical laboratory assistants in the performance of their duties.
• To supervise and support the Surveillance Scientist in the collection, analysis and dissemination of data.
• To support the infection control service by means of specimen processing, facilitating access to results and the provision of cumulative data.
• To liaise with the Information Technology Systems Manager and to ensure that staff are adequately trained so as to make the most efficient and effective use of the systems.
• To organise the workflow thereby ensuring all areas of the work are adequately covered.
• To collaborate with the Consultants in the maintenance of efficiency and the introduction of new methods in the Laboratory, including research, when appropriate and or feasible.
• To monitor the internal and external quality assurance programmes and to take remedial action as required.
• To oversee and implement measures for the safety, health and welfare of all staff.
• To facilitate the education and training of staff in accordance with professional guidelines.
• To facilitate the education and training of student medical scientists in accordance with college guidelines.
• To encourage the professional development of staff.
• To ensure that equipment is properly maintained and kept in a serviceable condition.
• To take responsibility for the preparation of annual budget estimates including a planned replacement programme for capital equipment.
• To be responsible for the stock control of all reagents consumables and minor equipment, this involves pricing, ordering and budgeting of same.
• To ensure all aspects of ISO15189 accreditation are maintained or improved.
• To keep records of annual leave, sick leave, study leave etc. of Medical Scientists and Medical Laboratory Assistants and to submit monthly sick leave absences to the Human Resources Department.
• To provide statistical and management information to the relevant hospital authority as required.
• To represent the Department at hospital meetings as required.
• To perform any other duties appropriate to the office.

The job description is an outline of the post as it is currently perceived by the hospital and will be subject to review and amendment. This job description will therefore be subject to change in light of the various strategies for the hospital and the development of the Clinical Directorate model and any future developments that arise and will evolve and change over time.

Selection Criteria: 

Selection criteria outline the qualifications, skills, knowledge and/or experience that the successful candidate would need to demonstrate for successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post. 

Applications will be assessed on the basis of how well candidates satisfy these criteria.

Mandatory:

1. Statutory Registration, Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc

(a) Candidates for appointment must:

(i) Be registered, or be eligible for registration, on the Medical Scientists Register maintained by the Medical Scientists Registration Board at CORU. 

OR

(ii) Applicants who satisfy the conditions set out in Section 91 of the Health and Social

Care Professionals Act 2005, (see note 1 below*), must submit proof of application for registration with the Medical Scientists Registration Board at CORU.

The acceptable proof is correspondence from the Medical Scientists Registration

Board at CORU confirming their application for registration as a Section 91 applicant was received by the 30th March 2021.

AND

(iii) Possess one of the following NFQ Level 9 post graduate qualifications or

equivalent qualification at minimum Level 9 validated by the Academy of

Clinical Science and Laboratory Medicine;

• MSc Clinical Laboratory Science, Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT).
• MSc Clinical Laboratory Science, Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin).
• MSc Clinical Chemistry, University of Dublin, Trinity College
• (TCD). MSc Biomedical Science, University of Ulster (UU)
• MSc Biomedical Science, Cork Institute of Technology (CIT)/University
• College Cork (UCC).
• MSc Biomedical Science, Munster Technological University (MTU)/University
• College Cork (UCC).
• MSc Molecular Pathology, Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT)/University of
• Dublin, Trinity College (TCD).
• MSc Medical Science, Atlantic Technological University (ATU)

OR

(iv) An equivalent qualification at minimum Level 9 validated by the Academy of Clinical Science and Laboratory Medicine (ACSLM).

OR

(v) Have attained the Fellowship of the Academy of Clinical Science and Laboratory Medicine awarded before July 2018.

OR

(vi) Have attained the Fellowship examination of the Institute of Biomedical Science (Awarded prior to 1999).

AND

(vii) Possess at least seven years full time clinical experience (or an aggregate of seven years full time clinical experience) as a medical scientist in a clinical diagnostic laboratory since qualifying as a medical scientist, two years of which were spent in a promotional post (e.g. Medical Scientist, Senior or Medical Scientist, Specialist).

AND

(viii) Demonstrate evidence of Continuous Professional Development.

AND

(b) Candidates must have the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability, management, leadership and professional ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office

AND

Provide proof of Statutory Registration on the Medical Scientists Register maintained by the Medical Scientists Registration Board at CORU before a contract of employment can be issued. (Applicable to Section 38 applicants only)

2. Annual registration

(i) On appointment, practitioners must maintain annual registration on Medical

Scientists Register maintained by the Medical Scientists Registration Board at

CORU

And

(ii) Practitioners must confirm annual registration with CORU to the HSE by way of the annual Patient Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC).

Informal Enquiries ONLY to: (Please note NO APPLICATIONS will be accepted via the Informal Email)