Clinical Scientist- Microbiologist

Overview

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Clinical Scientist - Microbiologist. The closing date is 10 February 2026.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Clinical Scientist band to join the Clinical Microbiology Department at Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust. This is a consultant position, however registered and principal clinical scientist in training to become a consultant will be considered for the position with salary dependent on experience.

The successful applicant will work closely with the laboratory, infection control and clinical paediatric infectious diseases colleagues (NHS and academic) both within the Trust and outside, to provide high quality infection services to our specialist patient population.

We are looking for an enthusiastic Clinical Scientist to join us as we develop our Paediatric Infection Service. The successful applicant will be playing a key role supporting and developing the existing service. We are keen that potential applicants can develop their special interests and fulfill their personal goals at Alder Hey. Further microbiology links with neighbouring Trusts may also be possible depending on the background and interests of the successful candidate.

Applicants should hold or be working towards Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath) and be registered as a Clinical Scientist in Clinical Microbiology with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC).

To clinically authorise results generated by the laboratory microbiology team, make an assessment of the quality of data, and add interpretative comments, suggest further investigations and ensure prompt communication of urgent results where appropriate.

To work, in close collaboration with the infectious diseases team, to provide clinical guidance and scientific advice and assistance to all grades of medical and nursing staff on the selection, performance and interpretation of clinically relevant tests in order to facilitate the diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and understanding of disease in children.

To work with the infectious diseases team to support the clinical liaison service and help resolve highly complex clinical problems as they arise. To attend and participate in clinical multidisciplinary team meetings, giving advice on selection, availability and interpretation of microbiological tests.

To ensure maintenance of and participate in a rota that provides clinical authorisation of results out-of-hours, including weekends.

To ensure that validated reference ranges, interpretative comments, and protocols for paediatric microbiological investigations are available at a standard as outlined within UKAS ISO
15189.

To undertake clinical audits of service effectiveness and instigate appropriate changes to service. Additionally, contribute to audit in other medical specialties and organisations outside of the Trust, nationally and locally.

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust is a major teaching hospital of the University of Liverpool. It serves not only the local population of children, but is the tertiary referral centre for children from Merseyside, Cheshire, parts of Lancashire, Shropshire and North Wales for many sub-specialties of pediatrics. A brand new award-winning purpose built Hospital was opened in 2015 providing modern customised facilities for children, families and staff.

The hospital has 240 beds, including day beds for surgery, a medical day care unit and observation beds in the Emergency Department.

The Trust is situated 4 miles from the city centre and within easy reach of the motorway network, is an international centre of excellence, treating over 200,000 children a year. The Trust is renowned for both its clinical innovation and dedication to staff development.

The microbiology department provides a routine and 24 hour emergency service for in and out patient requests for microbiological tests, the majority of the work coming from within the Trust, with small numbers of requests from general practice (1-2% of overall workload).

The scope of testing performed in-house includes all routine bench based bacteriology,…