Biomedical Scientist in Torquay

Main area Haematology & Blood Transfusion Grade NHS AfC: Band 5 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Participation in the out-of-hours service) Job ref 388-8125830-PC&S

Employer Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Torbay Hospital Town Torbay Salary £32,073 - £39,043 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 23/10/2026 23:59

Biomedical Scientist

NHS AfC: Band 5

Job overview

An opportunity has arisen within our Haematology/Blood Transfusion for a full time, substantive (37.5 hours per week) .The 37.5 hours may include weekend working.

We are looking for a Band 5 BMS Biomedical Scientist to join the dynamic and evolving team within the Haematology and Blood Transfusion departments at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust.

You will be well-motivated, enthusiastic, HCPC registered BMS and must have experience in a high throughput Haematology and Blood Transfusion department.

The department is IBMS approved for training and has UKAS accreditation to ISO 15189.

Main duties of the job

• The successful applicant will participate in the laboratory rotation through all sections of Haematology and Blood Transfusion and ensure that a quality service is being provided.
• Good organisational, interpersonal and communication skills are required as is the ability to work flexibly. Previous experience of working in a UKAS accredited laboratory and experience of using a quality management system is required.
• Following an appropriate period of training, the post holder will be required to participate in the out-of-hours service.
• The Department is fully automated in its analytical platform for Blood Transfusion (Immucor NEO Iris), Coagulation (Stago Star Max), Special Haematology (Sebia Capillarys 3 Tera), Haematology (Sysmex), and Immunology (Bioflash). The laboratory current uses the SafeTrace Tx Laboratory Information Management System, alongside Beaker in haematology, following the installation of Epic. You will rotate through all sections of the laboratory and after appropriate training will be required to participate in the out of hours shift pattern covering nights and weekends.

Working for our organisation

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is an integrated organisation providing acute health care services from Torbay Hospital, community health services and adult social care healthcare services for a residential population of 375,000 and an additional 100,000 visitors in the holiday season.

The Haematology and Blood Transfusion department provides a comprehensive service for the Trust and the associated NHS Organisation’s.

Torbay Hospital is situated in Torquay, part of the English Rivera, with spectacular scenery and some of the cleanest beaches in Britain. The dramaticwilderness of the Dartmoor National Park is within easy reach.

The Government has formally announced that it intends to introduce regulations that will require most healthcare workers to be fully vaccinated (1st and 2nd dose) against COVID-19 by 1st April 2022. To achieve this the successful applicant must have had their 1stCOVID-19 vaccination by 3rd February 2022. Therefore, full COVID-19 vaccination will be a condition of employment unless an individual is medically exempt. We will ask for proof of vaccination or exemption during the recruitment process.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Planning and organisation:

• Perform urgent analyses as requested by clinicians, utilising the most appropriate methods, techniques or analysers to provide results as soon as possible, and telephone results as required
• Plan own work schedules and those of BMS Trainees and MLA’s, to ensure the results are issued from the laboratory efficiently
• Maintain adequate stocks of reagents and consumables to ensure the service is always provided to specified standards. Inform Section Leader when stock is low. To include setting up electronic stock management under instruction from Senior staff and Managed Service Contractor.
• Work in all areas of the laboratory, organising and prioritising different tasks, utilising specialist equipment where necessary
• Advise other health care professionals of the technical/analytical validity of results using knowledge and experience, and to refer complex queries on to more qualified staff
• To perform specialist haematology /transfusion investigations under the supervision of Band 6 Specialist Biomedical Scientist
• Run Haematology /Transfusion main line analysers and instrumentation according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s), utilising knowledge and skills to authorise patient results.
• Troubleshoot and perform frontline repair to Haematology /Transfusion analysers/automation in accordance with user manuals, within your own limits, to maintain an efficient service and to seek assistance from Senior staff when necessary
• Determine the suitability of specimens and appropriateness for the test requested. When necessary, advise clinical colleagues of sample issues and the correct remedial actions to ensure the quality of results and patient care
• Authorise completed work in a timely manner so that results are available for other health care professionals to aid in their diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care of patients.
• Work always in accordance with principles of best practice with reference to all national and local policies and guidelines
• Ensure issues and problems are resolved satisfactorily and referred to the Section Leader as appropriate
• To participate in annual Individual Performance Review.
• To provide advice and assistance to junior BMS, Trainee BMS, and MLA staff and ensure staff work fully in compliance with laboratory procedures and policies
• Interpret blood films using specialist knowledge. Report results in a timely manner, adding clinically relevant comments and inform the requesting clinician of abnormal or clinically significant results where a delay could compromise patient care.
• Provide support for a specific area of the Laboratory, upon direction from Deputy Head or Head BMS, including Quality Management, Training, competency testing, Health and Safety.
• Active participation in Continuing Professional Development and the maintenance of Health Professions Council registration
• Answer telephone enquiries regarding results and other general issues. To understand when to refer more complex queries are referred to Senior members of staff
• Prioritise the telephoning of abnormal test results to the requestor, to enable timely action and intervention to aid the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients
• Follow SOP’s, and aid in their review and amending as required. Be prepared to comment on your own work or work of the Department to improve service delivery
• Provide cover for, within your own limits, for Senior staff in their absence and be prepared to work on your own when necessary.

People management and training:

• Provide support for a specific area of the Laboratory, upon direction from Deputy Head or Head BMS, including Quality Management, Training, competency testing, Health and Safety.
• Active participation in Continuing Professional Development and the maintenance of Health Professions Council registration

Information Technology and administrative duties:

• Answer telephone enquiries regarding results and other general issues. To understand when to refer more complex queries are referred to Senior members of staff
• Prioritise the telephoning of abnormal test results to the requestor, to enable timely action and intervention to aid the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients

Research and Development:

• Follow SOP’s, and aid in their review and amending as required. Be prepared to comment on your own work or work of the Department to improve service delivery
• Provide cover for, within your own limits, for Senior staff in their absence and be prepared to work on your own when necessary.

Qualifications/Experince

• State Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council
• BSc In Biomedical Science or equivalent
• Experience of a high throughput Laboratory
• Experience of UKAS accreditation
• Recent experience within Haematology and Blood Transfusion in an NHS laboratory
• Experience of using Quality Management System

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.

Name Reginald Norris Job title Haematology Technical Manager Email address reginald.norris@nhs.net Telephone number 01803 655240 Additional information

For an opportunity to meet the team we would welcome an informal visit to the department.

Please contact Reginald Norris to arrange a visit.

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