• Job Description

  Req#: C9381-25-0353?language=en&page=303&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  The National Poisons Information Service (Birmingham Unit), City Hospital, Birmingham wishes to appoint additional Specialists in Poisons Information. As the National Poisons Information Service provides a 24-hour-a-day, seven days-a-week service, it will be necessary for the appointees to work flexibly to cover the 24-hour Service on a rotational rota basis, including the need to work at weekends, at night and on Public and designated holidays, in accordance with the working rotas.

  The National Poisons Information Service provides advice to health professionals on all aspects of clinical toxicology, via a computerised database (TOXBASE), by telephone and in correspondence.

  Although funding for this post is secured initially for 12-months, there may be an opportunity for it to become substantive.

  Main duties of the job

  Specialists in Poisons Information participate in the 24/7 call centre provision answering telephone enquiries from healthcare professionals regarding the management of the poisoned patient.

  When not rostered on a telephone shift, the appointee will be expected to undertake a range of administrative duties. This will include contributing to the update of the UK's clinical toxicology database, TOXBASE, researching and responding to written enquiries, contributing to NPIS Birmingham research activities as well as local and national continuing professional development programmes.

  In addition, NPIS Birmingham is responsible for receiving chemical safety information from external stakeholders. The appointee will be required to contribute to these activities as required.

  About us

  The UK National Poisons Information Service comprises four units (Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Newcastle) that work together to provide a seamless 24h national helpline to healthcare professionals.

  The NPIS (Birmingham Unit) is staffed by physicians who are clinical toxicologists and scientists who usually hold at least a master's degree in toxicology or in a closely allied scientific discipline. The unit has a strong reputation in clinical research and actively contributes to the peer-reviewed literature on a wide range of topics. In addition, all staff are encouraged to present their work nationally and internationally.

  Details

  Date posted

  17 July 2025

  Pay scheme

  Agenda for change

  Band

  Band 6

  Salary

  £37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum

  Contract

  Fixed term

  Duration

  12 months

  Working pattern

  Full-time

  Reference number

  381-ME-7258715

  Job locations

  SWB NHS Trust

  City Hospital

  Birmingham

  B18 7QH

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details on what this role entails.

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details on what this role entails.

  Person Specification

  Experience

  Essential

  • Previous experience working in a multidisciplinary team.

  Desirable

  • Previous employment or experience in the National Poisons Information Service/ health information/ clinical advisory role.

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • Honours degree in a scientific or biomedical subject with close alignment to toxicology

  Desirable

  • A postgraduate qualification, preferably to Masters Level in toxicology or a closely related science.

  Skill

  Essential

  • Be able to progress multiple work activities simultaneously, while responding to tight deadlines.

  Desirable

  • Able to comment on complex documents such as reports and research data.

  Knowledge

  Essential

  • Must demonstrate a special interest in toxicology with the knowledge of appropriate medical and scientific terminology

  Desirable

  • Show evidence of continuing professional development (CPD), such as postgraduate study

  Person Specification

  Experience

  Essential

  • Previous experience working in a multidisciplinary team.

  Desirable

  • Previous employment or experience in the National Poisons Information Service/ health information/ clinical advisory role.

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • Honours degree in a scientific or biomedical subject with close alignment to toxicology

  Desirable

  • A postgraduate qualification, preferably to Masters Level in toxicology or a closely related science.

  Skill

  Essential

  • Be able to progress multiple work activities simultaneously, while responding to tight deadlines.

  Desirable

  • Able to comment on complex documents such as reports and research data.

  Knowledge

  Essential

  • Must demonstrate a special interest in toxicology with the knowledge of appropriate medical and scientific terminology

  Desirable

  • Show evidence of continuing professional development (CPD), such as postgraduate study

  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.

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust

  Address

  SWB NHS Trust

  City Hospital

  Birmingham

  B18 7QH

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.swbh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust

  Address

  SWB NHS Trust

  City Hospital

  Birmingham

  B18 7QH

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.swbh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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