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Consultant Chemical
Pathologist
Job Description
1. DESCRIPTION OF POST
Nominal Base:
Darlington Memorial Hospital
The post-holder will be required to work at any location within the Trust
Hours:
Full Time, 10 Programmed activities 8.5 DCC + 1.5 SPA
Contract type:
Substantive
Hierarchy:
Professionally Accountable to Medical Director
2. JOB SUMMARY
The post advertised is tenable on a whole time basis (10 programmed activities). The post is a
replacement post and the appointee would share the work of the department with the current
substantive Consultant Clinical Scientist and Principal Clinical Scientist. The appointee would be
expected to work closely with other consultants within the Trust and promote and maintain the high
quality of these services. The post is nominally based at Darlington Memorial Hospital however the
post holder will provides services on both acute sites including University Hospital of North
Durham. There are laboratories present at both the acute sites at University Hospital of North
Durham and Darlington Memorial Hospital. The directorate provides Pathology services to the
Trust and also to the general practitioners in the local area. The department has Clinical
Pathology Accreditation (UK) Ltd accreditation and is accredited with United Kingdom
Accreditation Service under the new ISO15189 standards.
The post holder will be responsible and accountable for the provision of a comprehensive Clinical
Biochemistry service and to maintain the quality of the service to the standards set nationally by
Clinical Pathology Accreditation UK Ltd and United Kingdom Accreditation Service.
To provide a Consultant advisory service in all aspects of clinical biochemistry, to medical, nursing
and other healthcare professional staff.
To be responsible for ensuring compliance with Clinical Governance including quality assurance
and audit.
To share the role of Head of Department/Deputy Head of Department on a rotational basis with the
Consultant Chemical Pathologist/Consultant Clinical Scientist and be eligible for the post of
Director of Pathology.
These posts are subject to change in relation to site working and may be impacted upon by future
service transformation i.e. Better Health Programme
3. SERVICE
The Trust has five Care Groups, namely Surgery, Acute & Emergency Care, Integrated Adults,
Family Health, and Clinical Specialist Services. Chemical Pathology sits within the Clinical
Support services Care Group.
The Department provides a Clinical Biochemistry service to the County Durham and Darlington
Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and surrounding local Clinical Commissioning Groups. Laboratory
sites are located at Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham.
Siemens XPT chemistry and immunoassay analysers are provided through a managed service
contract that is up for renewal in 2020.
Point of care tests are also undertaken at sites throughout all areas to which the routine Clinical
Biochemistry service is provided.
The Clinical Biochemistry service is provided 24 hours, 7 days per week
The Department has an annual workload of 4.5 million tests/annum.
The Department has responsibility for an additional workload in point of care tests, a service that is
being developed according to the Trust Point of Care Testing policy.
Care Group and Service Overview
The service is managed in accordance with the “Strategic Review of Pathology Services” notably
paragraph 4.22-4.26. Under the current arrangements the Directorate of Pathology is headed by
the Clinical Director, Dr Paul Barrett who is the main budget holder and managerially responsible
for the running of Pathology services for the Trust. The Clinical Director is assisted by a Head of
Pathology and Diagnostic Transformation, currently Mr Chris Hunton is Interim General Manager
in this role. Clinical Biochemistry is part of the Clinical Specialist Services Care Group,
accountable to the Care Group Clinical Director, Dr Elizabeth Loney and the Interim Associate
Director of Operations, Mr Paul Frank. The Clinical Director is appointed for a three year period, at
the end of which the post is reviewed.
The department has a Clinician Lead in Clinical Biochemistry who holds the budget for the
department and is managerially accountable to the Clinical Director. This position is held by Dr Tim
Lang Consultant Clinical Scientist. The Clinical Lead is assisted by the Manager of Pathology and
Lead Biomedical Scientist for Blood Sciences. The latter post is held by Mr John Fletcher. A
number of Senior Biomedical Scientists are accountable to the Lead Biomedical Scientist and
Lead Clinician.
All Consultants in Clinical Biochemistry have the opportunity to act as Lead Clinician within the
department.
The Medical staff complement in the Chemical Pathology service comprises of:
Vacant
Dr Tim Lang
Mrs Hazel Borthwick
Consultant Chemical Pathologist (1 WTE)(this post)
Consultant Clinical Scientist (1 WTE)
Principal Clinical Scientist (0.85 WTE)
Technical staff
Senior Manager
1.0
Biomedical Scientist - Band 7
5.0
Biomedical Scientist – Band 6
12.36
Biomedical Scientist – Band 5
7.0
MLA
3.01
Associate Practitioner
3.0
Secretarial / Clerical
Shared resource
Total
31.37 WTE
Workload
Type of activity
Biochemistry Hospital tests
Biochemistry GP tests
Proportion of requests in 2016
43%
57%
Major Equipment
Type
Siemens XPT Advia
Chemistry Analyser
Siemens XPT Centaur
Immunoassay
Analyser
Siemen Preanalytics
and track solution
Osmometer
Spectrometer
Menarini 9210 HbA1c
Analysers
GEM4000 Blood Gas
Analyser
2x at each UHND and DMH
2x at each UHND and DMH
1x at each UHND and DMH
1x at each UHND and DMH
1x at UHND
2 x at DMH
1x at DMH
Laboratory Information Systems:
Clinisys Win Path v5.32
4. MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
i)
Clinical

Responsible for the provision, organisation and development of the Clinical Biochemistry
Service ensuring nationally accepted quality standards (ISO15189 standards/UKAS or
equivalent) are implemented.

Independently review and clinically validate results produced by the Clinical Biochemistry
Department having responsibility for further action required including suggestions for and
instigation of further investigations.

To independently discuss, advise and challenge clinicians, including senior medical staff, on
the complex interpretation of clinical biochemistry results and the appropriate use of tests e.g.
advise on differential diagnosis, monitoring and therapy changes.

To liaise with clinicians and nursing staff on the performance of complex dynamic function
tests.

Will provide existing clinical services for the two weekly lipid clinics

To develop and maintain collaborative relationships with medical colleagues in other
specialities and participate in appropriate multidisciplinary meetings, ward rounds and other
postgraduate meeting e.g. other clinical areas of metabolic medicine such as metabolic bone,
nutrition and endocrinology

To set standards for laboratory communication with clinicians and determine how the clinical
advisory service is delivered.

The post holder will be expected to participate in the weekday and weekend emergency on-call
rota, mainly for general advice to clinicians and laboratory staff. The consultant on call carries
the Department’s pager. The current on-call arrangement is for a one in three

Instructing Biomedical Scientist staff on an appropriate course of action following test requests
or results which are out with standard protocols.

To determine the best combination of tests included in request profiles and investigative
strategies, the method of requesting, sample handling and result reporting.

Responsible for setting of all necessary parameters associated with biochemistry tests such as
reference ranges and action limits which for example determine when results must be
telephoned to clinicians and when results would require further critical assessment by senior
staff before release from the department.

Collaborate with clinical staff in the development and implementation of Trust wide guidelines.
ii) Scientific

Responsible for selection of appropriate test parameters and analytical methodology under the
control of the Clinical Biochemistry Department.

Responsible for the development of new analytical methods.

Responsible for the choice, use and management of new analytical equipment under the
control of the Clinical Biochemistry Department.

Evaluate critically existing analytical procedures, to maintain such procedures at the highest
possible standards consistent with the resources available, and to advise on their value and
reliability.

Responsible for directing the resolution of analytical and scientific problems that may arise
within the Clinical Biochemistry Department and in clinical areas undertaking point of care
testing.

To maintain up to date specialist expertise and knowledge of scientific developments and
practice relevant to clinical biochemistry and other relevant subjects.
Ensuring, where
appropriate, that such knowledge is passed on to all laboratory staff.

Disseminate knowledge gained through private study or research and development projects
through presentations at local, national and international meetings and publications.
iii) Quality Management

Support and facilitate the development and implementation of Clinical Governance.

Responsible for the development of a quality assurance strategy for the routine and specialised
tests within the Clinical Biochemistry Department and of all point of care testing.

Responsible for the departmental quality control procedures and rules which govern the
acceptance or rejection of patient results.

To be responsible for laboratory participation in the appropriate External Quality Assessment
Schemes, monitoring of performance and ensuring any necessary corrective action is
undertaken in the event of unsatisfactory performance.

To contribute to the production and on-going revision of the Clinical Biochemistry Department
Quality Manual and Electronic Pathology Clinical User Guide.

To liaise with clinical users regarding quality of service issues.

Responsible for the documentation and investigation of errors, clinical incidents and complaints
in line with Trust policies and procedures.

To lead, co-ordinate and/or participate in Audit activities undertaken by the Clinical
Biochemistry Department and in collaboration with other clinical departments at a local and
regional level.

To supervise the preparation of the Clinical Biochemistry Department for external inspection by
UK Accreditation Service.
iv) Research and Development

To conceive, initiate, statistically validate, supervise and co-ordinate research and development
activities on relevant scientific and clinical problems both within the Clinical Biochemistry
Department and in collaboration with clinical colleagues from other disciplines where
appropriate. Ensuring opportunities for research and development that present are taken up by
delegating projects to others in the department.

Where necessary to prepare project plans to obtain ethical approval and funding.
v) Managerial

Responsible for implementation of National, Trust and departmental policies within the Clinical
Biochemistry Department.

Responsible for developing local policies and procedures within broad professional and NHS
guidelines. These will often impact across other departments and local healthcare Trusts.

Provide interpretation of national guidelines to the Trust.

Responsible for business and workforce planning, developing short, medium and long term
planning strategies and service objectives affecting the Clinical Biochemistry service provision
including location of services between main hospital site and point of care testing facilities.

To participate as a member of the Pathology Senior Management Team, in management and
planning for the Pathology Directorate.

Responsible and accountable for the budget and physical assets of the Clinical Biochemistry
Department including negotiation of the revenue budget and capital bids ensuring effective and
efficient use of resources.

Responsible for large scale procurement, requiring OJEU tendering, of equipment under the
control of the Clinical Biochemistry Department.

To investigate income generation opportunities.

To ensure through the laboratory management arrangements that all equipment and physical
resources are used and maintained in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions and with
all due regard to health and safety issues.

Supervise the support and Quality Assurance of extra laboratory equipment throughout the
Trust and community by a nominated Point of Care Testing Co-ordinator.

To undertake at least annually appraisal of performance of immediately subordinate staff.
Provide guidance on personal development requirements and advise on and initiate, where
appropriate, further training.

Ensure that annual appraisal of performance is undertaken for all levels of staff
for whom they have professional management authority.

Responsible for recruitment and selection of senior technical, scientific and clinical staff within
the Clinical Biochemistry Department ensuring that this is carried out within the departmental
establishment and budget.
vi) Information Technology

To assist with the development of the laboratory IT system and be responsible for the regular
review of the functions of the system concerned with clinical biochemistry test requesting,
result reporting and test interpretation.

To input, manipulate and amend data in the laboratory IT system.

To set up spread sheets for specific projects using standard software packages.
vii) Education, Training and Development

Provide to postgraduate standards, scientific, technical and clinical teaching and training
relevant to clinical biochemistry to students (medical and non-medical), laboratory and clinical
staff.

Organise and participate in the departmental scientific/clinical seminars/lecture programme.

Supervise postgraduate projects and work based learning of Biomedical Scientist staff
undertaking externally assessed qualifications.

To encourage and support all staff to develop their full potential for the benefit of the laboratory
service and their careers.

To participate in the Royal College of Pathologists continuing professional development (CPD)
scheme.

To develop and maintain skills appropriate to the grade and to participate in the Trust’s
appraisal scheme.
viii) Communications and Working Relationships

To advise and lead on broad service development and strategic planning and to determine the
feasibility and implementation of service developments the post holder must effectively
communicate, verbally and in writing, with clinical and managerial staff at all levels within the
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.

To have effective communication with all staff in the Clinical Biochemistry Department and
other Pathology departments to promote an integrated and effective laboratory service in
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust while maintaining staff relationships
and morale amongst staff reporting to them.

Lead and participate in formal departmental and Pathology Directorate management meetings
to ensure that developments and improvements to service delivery programmes and protocols
includes specialist clinical biochemistry advice and guidance.

The post holder is expected to establish and maintain networks with professional, clinical and
managerial colleagues within this Trust and beyond it nationally, to ensure provision of a
comprehensive, appropriate clinical biochemistry service which meets the needs of service
users.

To communicate with other laboratories, clinical and nursing staff regarding organisational,
analytical and interpretative aspects of work carried out by the Clinical Biochemistry
Department.

Ensure appropriate communication and co-operation with patients and members of the public.

To discuss, advise and challenge service users including senior medical staff from County
Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust and other healthcare Trusts, on the complex
interpretation of biochemistry results and the appropriate use of tests and further action
required

Prepare and present complex scientific and clinical information arising from research or audit at
local, national and international conferences. Challenging with confidence established
scientific and clinical views using reasoned argument, personal knowledge and research
findings.

Communicate complex information to instrument and reagent manufacturer’s external quality
assessment scheme organisers and regulatory bodies, as required.

Give presentations to teach students, laboratory and clinical staff.

Undertake interviews during staff selection procedures.
Provide counselling to staff for performance or attitude problem.
5. PROPOSED TIMETABLE AND JOB PLAN
This is an indicative job plan, the final job plan/on-call arrangements will be agreed in partnership prior
to appointment. The Department is committed to increasing flexibility in working hours and extendeddays may be considered to suit the needs of the Candidate and Trust.
The following provides scheduling details of the clinical activity and clinically related activity
components of the job plan which occur at regular times in the week. Agreement should be reached
between the appointee and their Clinical Director with regard to the scheduling of all other activities,
including the Supporting Professional Activities.
The job plan for approximately the first three months will be based on the proposed timetable shown
below. A formal job plan will be agreed between the appointee and their Clinical Director within 3-6
months, and approved by the Medical Director. The job plan will then be reviewed annually in
accordance with the Trust policy on Consultant Job Planning.
DAY
MON
TUES
WED
THUR
FRI
MORNING
Supporting Professional
Activity
Monthly Clinical
Speciality Group Meeting
Lab-based Clinical Audit
Duty Biochemist
Laboratory improvement
work
LOCATION
TRUST
SITE
AFTERNOON
LIPID CLINIC
LOCATION
UHND
UHND/DMH
TRUST
SITE
Duty Biochemist
LIPID CLINIC (ALTERNATE
WEEKS) GP/STAFF
TEACHING SESSION
Laboratory Improvement work
Laboratory improvement
work /Guidelines Update
work
Supporting Professional
Activity
Laboratory improvement
work
TRUST
SITE
LIPID CLINIC (ALTERNATE
WEEKS)
Duty Biochemist
Clinic administration
ENDOCRINE MDT MEETING
Duty Biochemist
UHND/DMH
BAGH GP
VENUE
TRUST
SITE
SBH
UHND/DMH
TRUST
SITE
DMH
On call commitments
The post includes a commitment to being on-call providing emergency. The current on-call rota is
1:3 (Category B)
Leave
The post holder will be expected to deputise in the absence of colleagues in cases of annual leave,
study leave and sickness as far as is practicable and ensure continuous patient care.
6. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
The post is subject to the Terms and Conditions – Consultants (England) 2003 as amended from time
to time.
The successful applicant will be required to reside within 10 road miles or 30 minutes travel of Bishop
Auckland Hospital, Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham, unless
specific approval is given by the Trust to a greater distance. The post holder must hold a valid car
licence and have use of a car for business purposes.
Removal expenses may be payable in accordance with terms and conditions of service subject to a
maximum of £15,000
The current salary applicable to the post is YC72 £76,001 per annum, pro rata, rising through
pay thresholds to £102,465 per annum, pro rata for part time. Starting salary will be
dependent on Consultant terms and conditions.
For pre-employment health assessment purposes, as part of the Trust’s Staff Health and Wellbeing
Service, the successful candidate will be required to complete a health questionnaire. This will be
treated in the strictest confidence and will not be seen by any employee of the County Durham and
Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, other than Staff Health & Wellbeing Department. The successful
applicant may be required to undergo a medical examination, and any offer of the post is subject to
medical clearance from the Trust’s Occupational Health Physician. The appointee may be required to
undergo any future medical examinations considered necessary by the Trust.
Satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Scheme clearance.
The successful applicant must be on the General Medical Council’s Specialist Register or have a
proposed CCT date within six months of the interview date for this appointment. Specialist Registrars
applying for this post should include with their application a confirmatory certificate signed by their
postgraduate dean giving the date that has been issued to them by their specialist advisory or higher
training committee for the completion of training.
The successful applicant must be fully registered with a licence to practice with the GMC.
7. GENERAL
Education Centre - Facilities & Training
The Education Centre contains well equipped and stocked libraries with easy access to electronic
media and the internet. There is also a well-equipped lecture theatre and seminar rooms with a
significant planned programme of lectures and specific tutorial sessions organised by individual
departments across the DMH and UHND sites. The Regional IMAC lab opened in November 2014 and
hosts the Regional School of Radiology simulation centre, and this resource is supported by the School
and the Trust to improve radiology training for all trainees and students.
Maintaining Medical Excellence
The Trust is committed to providing a safe and effective care for patients. To ensure this, there is an
agreed procedure for medical staff that enables them to report quickly and confidentially, concerns
about the conduct, performance or health of medical colleagues. You must ensure that you are familiar
with the procedure and apply it.
Research
CDDFT is a research-active trust. The Centre for Clinical Research and Innovation (CCRI) is a new,
state-of-the-art clinical trials unit funded by income generated by the Trust’s current research activity.
The CCRI houses the core research team, alongside the Research Nursing and Data Management
teams. The unit provides expertise to aid the design and conduct of high quality trials including trial
management, data processing and trial governance. The unit also has facilities for outpatient clinics
including a four person unit for longer stay appointments. There has been investment in to state-ofthe-art video conferencing facilities to enhance cross-site working and allow for external conferencing.
As of 2016 the trust is running 164 clinical trials and employs 16 WTE research nurses.
8. TRUST BEHAVIOURS FRAMEWORK
Patients, public and staff have helped develop the Trusts’ Behaviours Framework of Values that inspire
passion in the NHS and that should underpin everything it does. The NHS values provide common
ground for co-operation to achieve shared aspirations, at all levels of the NHS. The post holder is
required to commit to delivering the actions in the Trust’s Behaviours Framework:
Working together for patients. Patients come first in everything we do. We fully involve patients,
staff, families, carers, communities, and professionals inside and outside the NHS. We speak up when
things go wrong.
Respect and Dignity. We value every person – whether patient, their families or carers, or staff – as
an individual, respect their aspirations and commitments in life, and seek to understand their priorities,
needs, abilities and limits.
Commitment to quality of care. We earn the trust placed in us by insisting on quality and striving to
get the basics of quality of care – safety, effectiveness and patient experience – right every time.
Compassion. We ensure that compassion is central to the care we provide and respond with humanity
and kindness to each person’s pain, distress, anxiety or need.
Improving lives. We strive to improve health and wellbeing and people’s experiences of the NHS.
Everyone counts. We maximise our resources for the benefit of the whole community, and make sure
nobody is discriminated against or left behind.
All employees are required to promote high quality care and good health and wellbeing through the
enduring values described by the Department of Health: “The 6Cs – care, compassion, competence,
communication, courage and commitment.”
Duty of Candour All employees are required to comply with the Statutory Duty of Candour: The
volunteering of all relevant information to persons who have or may have been harmed by the provision
of services, whether or not information has been requested and whether or not a complaint or a report
of that provision has been made
9. COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
The post holder is required to communicate with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders to
ensure continuous patient care and safety standards. Key trust stakeholders will include Clinical
Directors, Executive Colleagues, Care Group Senior Management in addition to clinical and non-clinical
colleagues in the execution of their daily activities.
10. MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISORY POSTS
All managerial and supervisory posts are expected to follow the principles of being a Great Line
Manager and specifically be aware of, understand, and apply fair employment policies/practices, and
equality and diversity principles and legal obligations. Commit to developing staff preferences,
promoting flexible working arrangements, and encourage change of working practice following major
life changing events.
All managerial and supervisory posts will ensure compliance with Trust policies and procedures and
clinical guidelines.
All managerial and supervisory posts must ensure staff have equal access to career progression and
are appraised annually and have a PDP.
11. HEALTH AND SAFETY RESPONSIBILITY/RISK MANAGEMENT
It is the responsibility of the individual to work in compliance with all current health and safety
legislation and the Trust’s Health and Safety Policy and to attend any training requirements both
statutory and mandatory in line with the Trust’s legal responsibility to comply with the Health and Safety
and Welfare at Work Act 1974.
It is a standard element of the role and responsibility of all staff of the Trust that they fulfill a proactive
role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. Members of staff are responsible for
adherence to all Trust policies for the safety of themselves, staff and patients at work
12. INFECTION CONTROL
It is the responsibility of all individuals to comply with infection control policies and to attend any
appropriate training requirements in line with the Trust's responsibility to comply with Government
Directives.
13. CHILD/YOUNG PERSON RELATED POSTS.
Has responsibility for ensuring that children and young people are safeguarded and must comply with
the NHS Safeguarding Children Procedures and the LSCB Child Protection Procedures. The
postholder must attend safeguarding children training at a level appropriate to the role and function of
the post. Safeguarding Children Training is mandatory for all staff within this field.
14. DISCLOSURE & BARRING CHECK
(the post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act)
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 (DBS
to check for any previous criminal convictions).
This post will involve access to patient/person identifiable information, access to children, access to
vulnerable adults and work in a regulated establishments such as a school (delete any/all that are not
applicable to this role)
15. SUSTAINABILITY
The Trust works in partnership with the NHS Sustainability Unit and Carbon Trust to achieve and
exceed carbon reduction targets. Our aim is to be an exemplar organisation in the way we embraces
sustainability and corporate social responsibility. To achieve this it is the responsibility of all staff to
minimise the environmental impact of their day to day activities and adhere to Trusts policies on
sustainability, waste, resource usage and governance.
16. GENERAL
This job description is intended as a guide to the principal duties and responsibilities for the post and
should not be considered an exhaustive list. It is subject to change in line with future development of
the service.
Any changes to the job description will be discussed with the postholder
ANNUAL REVIEW RECORD
Date of Issue: ……………………………
Date of Review:
Employees Signature:
Signature of Line Manager:
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