Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Applicants must have a 1st or 2.1 in an undergraduate honours degree or an integrated master’s degree, in a pure or applied science subject relevant to the specialty for which they are applying.
• Applicants with a 2.2 honours degree or better in any subject will also be considered if they have a higher degree that is relevant to the specialty for which they are applying.
• Applicants for reconstructive science posts (maxillofacial prosthetics) must hold current registration as a dental technician with the General Dental Council.
• In-service applicants may submit an application where they do not hold the above degree requirements but are able to fulfil further requirements outlined on the NSHCS website.

Desirable

• For all candidates, evidence of research experience, e.g. in the form of a higher degree or equivalent evidence of scientific and academic capability, is considered desirable.

Scientific Skills

Essential

• A committed, in-depth interest in scientific practice and its application to direct clinical care of patients in a clinical environment.
• Ability to design research investigations and experiments.
• Ability to analyse and assess scientific, technical, and medical literature.
• Ability to make judgments, including clinical judgments involving facts or situations that impact patients.
• Understanding of quality control and management assurance in a science or work-based context.
• Ability to develop proficiency in the performance of routine and complex techniques currently in use, where they are training (ability to follow Standard Operating Procedures accurately) and the ability to develop and validate new techniques.
• Ability to identify problems associated with scientific equipment, inappropriate testing, incompatible results, and to investigate these, plan corrective action confirming appropriateness with senior colleagues, and follow up.
• Ability to use, maintain and troubleshoot scientific equipment.
• Understanding of the role of their chosen specialty in healthcare and disease, and its application in a healthcare setting.
• Good IT skills and knowledge of common computing packages for word processing, spreadsheets, presentation packages and databases.
• Ability to analyse complex information comprising laboratory or workshop data, images and clinical details.
• Knowledge acquired through study and experience to formulate appropriate advice and judgments.

Transferrable Skills

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both writing and speaking in the English language
• Can explain analytical, scientific, and clinical aspects of the work to a variety of people, including scientific colleagues, clinical professionals, service managers, and patients, and to listen to their needs
• Can make formal presentations to groups of colleagues
• Good active listening skills to build rapport with the listener to encourage an open discussion.
• Self-aware and flexible enough to adopt a range of evaluative or empathising listening styles according to the needs of the listener and the situation.
• Ability to work autonomously in the planning and execution of their own work and under the guidance of their Departmental Supervisors.
• Flexibility to acquire the skills to organise, plan, and monitor the workload of others.
• Demonstrable ability to lead others.
• Under guidance, develops good interpretative skills in the formulation of advice to multi-disciplinary team members on diagnosis and appropriate treatment of patients.
• Good personal organisational skills.
• Effective team worker, willing to adopt a role working in collaboration with others.
• Ability to handle patient samples, hazardous reagents, and chemicals in a safe manner in accordance with Health and Safety regulations.
• Ability to support patients (or their carers), including those with a range of acute or chronic clinical conditions and disabilities, in a variety of healthcare settings.
• Ability to work under pressure (emotional resilience and ability to prioritise and plan work).
• Demonstrates values and principles of the NHS Constitution as a whole with a focus on patient-centred care.

Personal Requirements

Essential

• Good attendance record.
• Ability to perform a wide range of duties as outlined in the Job Description.
• Highly developed co-ordination skills with good dexterity and hand-eye co-ordination and those skills required for the performance of fine analytical techniques.
• Ability to meet the travel requirements of the training role and the clinical rotations.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Closing Date: 18 May 2026