Biomedical Scientist

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is the largest comprehensive cancer centre in Europe, internationally recognised for excellence in patient care, research and education. Our Blood Sciences laboratories operate across three sites: Chelsea, Cavendish Square and Sutton. We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic Band 5 Biomedical Scientist to join our established team at the Sutton site. The Blood Sciences departments process approximately 350,000 samples annually, providing high-quality laboratory services that support world-class cancer care. The laboratory is UKAS accredited to ISO 15189:2022 standards and is committed to delivering safe, accurate and timely diagnostic services.

As a Band 5 Biomedical Scientist, you will work within our Blood Sciences team, supporting the delivery of Biochemistry and related laboratory services. You will perform analytical testing, maintain quality standards, participate in quality assurance activities and contribute to the efficient day-to-day running of the department. Our laboratory operates 24/7, with opportunities to participate in the out-of-hours service. This is an excellent opportunity to develop your career within one of the UK's leading specialist healthcare organisations while making a meaningful contribution to patient care.

Main duties of the job:

• The post holder will be responsible for carrying out analytical work.
• The post holder will rotate through all sections of the department.
• The key working relationships will be with staff in Biochemistry, Blood Transfusion and Haematology, but the post holder will be expected to liaise with staff throughout Pathology and the Trust.

Why Join Us?

• Work with modern laboratory platforms, including QuidelOrtho, Binding Site, Sebia and Bio-Rad systems.
• Gain experience within a UKAS-accredited laboratory supporting specialist cancer services.
• Access excellent training, continuing professional development opportunities and a supportive learning environment.
• Be part of a friendly, collaborative team committed to delivering outstanding patient care.

What We Are Looking For:

• HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist, or eligible for registration.
• Experience working in a Biochemistry laboratory.
• Strong organisational, technical and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities:

• To receive, centrifuge and record all samples in accordance to local SOPs including those being referred to other laboratories.
• To process all samples that require further action, informing users when required in accordance with SOP.
• To ensure knowledge of all instrumentation across the different sections in Biochemistry is up to date.
• To be competent to operate the laboratory equipment to deliver an excellent analytical service.
• To prepare analysers: daily start up, routine maintenance, run controls, check within limits and action appropriately.
• To monitor analysers continuously throughout the day, running control samples as necessary.
• To load specimens into racks, selecting appropriate tests on analyser software and start analyser processing.
• To technically validate appropriate results according to departmental SOPs including checking all results from analysers for validity, correctness, comparison with previous patient results and within linearity ranges for analyser.

Education/Qualifications:

• Diploma or Degree level study (or equivalent).
• HCPC Registration.
• Evidence of progress with HCPC registration portfolio.
• Evidence of post registration study.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development.
• Previous out of hours experience.

Skills Abilities/knowledge:

• Evidence of working well in a team.
• Ability to demonstrate self-motivation.
• Ability to make decisions, organise and prioritise.
• Computer Literacy (eg: Microsoft Word and Outlook).
• Self-confident, contributes to laboratory meetings.

Experience:

• Experience of working in a diagnostic laboratory.
• Able to work to deadlines.
• Able to understand / follow SOPs.
• Full understanding of EQA & IQC and their implications.
• Experience reviewing and authorising patient results.
• Able to technically validate laboratory results.
• Full understanding of laboratory H&S procedures.

The Royal Marsden values diversity and is committed to the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority groups. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are working to create a workplace that enables all staff to reach their full potential. We are committed to this because we know that greater diversity and inclusion will lead to an even greater positive impact for the people we serve.

Due to the high volumes of applications we receive, we reserve the right to close any adverts before the published closing date once we have received a sufficient number of applications. We advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment. Please ensure your information is accurate to avoid errors with processing your application.

All applicants will be contacted by email to the address supplied on your application. Applicants are advised to check their email accounts regularly and to ensure that email filters are set to allow our emails.

Flu Vaccination – What We Expect of our Staff:

At The Royal Marsden we have an immune compromised patient population who we must protect as much as we can against the flu virus. Each year, seasonal flu affects thousands of people in the UK. Occurring mainly in winter, it is an infectious respiratory disease capable of producing symptoms ranging from those similar to a common cold, through to very severe or even fatal disease.

The wellbeing of our staff and patients is of the utmost importance to us, and it is the expectation of The Royal Marsden that all patient-facing staff have an annual flu vaccination, provided free of charge by the Trust.