Senior Biomedical Scientist, Band 7- Microbiology

Job summary

This is an excellent opportunity for a suitably qualified and experienced Biomedical Scientist to join a large and busy UKAS-accredited laboratory.

The Microbiology laboratory is located on the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital site and provides an extensive service to two acute hospitals, smaller local hospitals and to GPs in Gloucestershire and south Worcestershire. The current workload is 380,000 specimens a year.

The successful candidate will be reliable, enthusiastic, motivated and forward thinking. They will be able to demonstrate the necessary skills to lead a small technical team within the laboratory, together with specialist technical knowledge in molecular infection services. The post-holder will be part of the departmental senior management team.

Candidates must have current HCPC registration and substantial years previous experience of working in an NHS Microbiology laboratory at a Specialist BMS level. It is expected that this experience will include a significant amount in a molecular department.

Main duties of the job

The department has a well-equipped laboratory offering a comprehensive service including automated urine analysis, molecular diagnostics, liquid TB culture, Virology, Mycology and Andrology.

The successful candidate will be reliable, enthusiastic, motivated and forward thinking. They will be able to demonstrate the necessary skills to lead a small technical team within the laboratory, together with specialist technical knowledge in molecular services. The post-holder will be part of the departmental senior management team.

Candidates must have current HCPC registration and substantial years previous experience of working in an NHS Microbiology laboratory at a Specialist BMS level. It is expected that this experience will include a significant amount in a molecular department.

You will be expected to participate in the weekend and bank holiday rotas, as required by service needs.

About us

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the largest employer in the county and with over 8,000 staff, we are one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK. We offer a generous annual leave allowance, excellent bank rates, access to the excellent NHS Pension Scheme, discounts for local shops, restaurants and services, access to our health and well-being hub, access to our two on-site nurseries, flexible working options, discounted public transport, reward and recognition schemes, exercise and activity classes and membership to our popular hospital choir.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Postgraduate qualification in Medical Microbiology or Virology, equivalent to MSc level or FIBMS

Registration as a Biomedical Scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Substantial years experience of working as a Specialist BMS in Microbiology or Virology, including significant periods of working in a clinical molecular department

Specialist training, qualifications and experience in the relevant section(s)

-IBMS Specialist Portfolio in Medical Microbiology or Virology, or equivalent experience

Technical Roles

To be able to work competently in the molecular section, taking overall day-to-day responsibility for the service provided

To maintain a high standard of professional competence and current knowledge of the relevant tests and service, maintaining evidence of continuing professional development

To act as a source of specialist molecular testing advice, providing advice to users and departmental staff where needed

To communicate with users and external stakeholders when needed to ensure quality of service is maintained

To use specialist knowledge to determine the relevant tests to be carried out on samples

To use specialist knowledge in the interpretation of test results and allocation of confirmation or identification tests

To ensure all new equipment and tests are appropriately verified or validated before use on clinical samples

To participate in the procurement of equipment, reagents and consumables relevant to the molecular section

To undertake regular horizon scanning activities to ensure the section is able to take advantage of potential technical and service developments

To authorise results on the department LIMS for the molecular section

To participate in rotas to cover authorising in other laboratory sections ( serology)

To ensure the safe handling and reception of samples (including those designated as high-risk)

To ensure all work conforms to the procedures set out in laboratory polices and SOPs

To ensure all work conforms to the standards required by ISO15189 accreditation

To prioritise work, taking into account workload and stated urgency of requests

To be able to use and troubleshoot the equipment used in the section, including providing training on its use

To take a lead role in contingency planning for the section, including potential future pandemic / outbreak response

To ensure clinically significant results are notified to the user or Consultant Microbiologist as appropriate, including the telephoning of urgent results directly to users

To notify users of potential delays in reporting results that may impact on patient treatment

To report issues relating to the laboratory environment or building fabric directly to Estates or to the Laboratory Manager, as appropriate

To ensure all quality control tests are performed as required, and to prevent results being reported if QC results indicate a potential performance problem with a test.

To ensure all EQA samples are processed and reported according to laboratory protocols

To compile and communicate a monthly EQA summary report for the section

To ensure stocks of reagents and consumables are used efficiently and without unnecessary wastage.

To liaise with technical and sales staff of relevant suppliers

To undertake or participate in research activities relating to the section

Supervisory Duties

To ensure all safety procedures are followed within the laboratory

To be responsible for staff and work allocation within the section

To approve annual leave requests for staff

To investigate Datix / NCR incidents

To record sickness absence and conduct return-to-work interviews

To undertake induction for new staff

To undertake initial discussions with staff regarding poor or below-standard performance in the relevant section(s), referring to the Laboratory Manager where required

To liaise with other senior staff to ensure all sections in the laboratory are adequately covered

To undertake staff appraisals and produce personal development plans for assigned staff

To participate in the recruitment, selection and training of new staff

To be a member of the Senior Staff Management committee and relevant SOP groups

-To deputise for the Lab Manager or Deputy Lab Manager, as required

To represent the department in external meetings or conferences as required

To ensure all relevant SOPs, work instructions and bench guides are managed in accordance with the document control policy

To complete risk assessments and COSHH assessments for the molecular section

To participate in the departmental audit programme, undertaking audits as required

To collate epidemiology data and produce reports, where required

To participate in the selection and approval of reference laboratories

To participate in the departmental competency programme, undertaking competency assessments for the section

Person Specification

Qualifications / Experience

Essential

BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Science (or equivalent qualification) Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (Biomedical Scientist) Postgraduate qualification equivalent to MSc or FIBMS Previous substantial experience of working in a UK diagnostic microbiology laboratory at Specialist BMS level Proven bench skills and demonstrable knowledge of current developments within microbiology Knowledge and experience of ISO15189 quality standards and accreditation process Demonstrate a commitment to service improvement and innovative practice Experience of supervising a bench / section in the laboratory Demonstrate good communication skills

Desirable

Experience of managing change projects in a clinical laboratory Experience of working in a molecular microbiology laboratory

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