Principal Biochemist, Chemical Pathology

Principal Duties & Responsibilities:

1. To take responsibility for the delivery of a safe, high quality and comprehensive service to Clinical Biochemistry, meeting the needs of the services users, while maximising the use of resources and ensuring that up to date scientific findings are incorporated into the service.
2. To provide clinical and scientific advice to clinicians on the appropriateness and choice of biochemical investigations and their interpretations within approved scope of competence and practice.
3. Be an active member of the Chemical Pathology Management team.
4. To be involved in clinical validation, follow-up and reporting of test results.
5. To monitor and ensure the quality of analyses and service provided by the department, through quality control and quality assurance programmes, which incorporate corrective and remedial action. Be actively involved and ensure all Scientists are committed to departmental Accreditation, Audit and Quality Assurance, maintaining effective Clinical Governance.
6. Comply, contribute and be involved in the revision, training and implementation of departmental and professional policies and procedures such as: - Health + Safety including risk assessment and COSHH - ISO15189 Accreditation Standards including audit and continuous improvement - Quality Assurance Programmes - Clinical Effectiveness
7. To be actively involved in, performance monitoring and in the training, education and supervision of other staff members. Maintain knowledge of technological and technical advances in methods of Chemical Pathology practice and procedures in order to promote a culture of continuous improvement within the department.
8. To optimise the method and range of biochemical investigation provided, by undertaking and directing evaluations of methods and instruments and by participating in clinical and laboratory audits.
9. To work in co-operation with other professional groups, including scientific, clinical, technical staff, and hospital management to achieve the optimal clinical biochemistry service in an efficient and cost effective manner and with due regard to regulations governing health, safety and working conditions within the laboratory.
10. To keep abreast of development in clinical biochemistry in particular in relation to clinical biochemistry (international best practice) and the application of new techniques to the delivery of biochemistry services.
11. To initiate, direct and participate in research and development projects as appropriate.

12. To undertake specialised analyses, when required.
13. To participate and contribute to appropriate management committees and clinical conferences.
14. To participate and lead in preparation for, and maintenance of, laboratory accreditation to ISO15189.
15. Contribute to the management of the provision of all relevant training in the laboratory. Maintain the required knowledge and skills to provide effective training, keeping up to date with current advances in technology and diagnostic techniques.
16. To participate in out-of -hours on call, as appropriate.
17. Be able to exercise personal responsibility and make decision in complex and unpredictable circumstances.

18. Delegate appropriate tasks and supervise Senior and Basic Grade Scientists, Medical Laboratory Assistants and Non Laboratory staff to achieve the desired quality of patient care.
19. The Principal Biochemist, as part of the Chemical Pathology management team, will assist and advise the hospital’s procurement committee by preparing functional specifications and business cases for major pieces of equipment. The Principal Biochemist will also be responsible for the maintenance, calibration, quality control, validation and verification of major pieces of equipment.
20. With the Laboratory System Information Manager, the Principal Biochemist will ensure the efficient and effective functioning of the LIS, and associated software applications.
21. The Principal Biochemist is required to take responsibility for daily departmental organisation of staff breaks and workload allocation within their area of responsibility. The Principal Biochemist is responsible for assigning, as appropriate, to Senior and basic grade scientists roles involving management of the quality management system, Health and Safety, COSHH, Risk Assessment, Infection Control, Learning/CPD, Departmental Protocols and Accreditation.
22. Provide leadership and supervision to all staff grades in difficult situations such as very busy periods, and with patients requiring multiple examinations.
23. To undertake other duties appropriate to the post as may be assigned from time to time by the Clinical Director or their nominee as prescribed under Section 2.

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 (See Recognised Qualifications* below):

(a) Eligible applicants will be those who on the closing date for the competition:

(i) (a) Possess a BSc (Hons)/BA (Mod) in a subject area related to

clinical biochemistry/laboratory medicine and diagnostics (See

recognised qualifications* below)

Or

(b) An equivalent qualification.

Or

(ii) (a) Have obtained before March 2018, a degree in which Biochemistry was taken as a subject in the final examination, or equivalent.

And

(b) Be currently employed as a Biochemist in the Irish health system.

And

(iii) Possess an MSc (Taught or Research) (or higher qualification) in Clinical

Biochemistry or relevant subject area. (MSc degree may be by examination or thesis) or equivalent qualification.

And

(iv) Possess a PhD in a subject relevant to clinical Biochemistry/clinical diagnostics/laboratory medicine or Part I FRCPath (UK) or equivalent qualification.

And

(v) Have 5 years fulltime (or an aggregate of 5 years fulltime) relevant experience in clinical biochemistry/related discipline of which 2 years full time (or an aggregate of two years fulltime relevant experience) should be in a senior clinical biochemist post. (Clinical/translational Post-Doctoral experience may be considered).

And

(b) Candidates must possess 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.

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