Trainee/BMS/Specialist BMS (Biochemistry/Haematology/Transfusion)

NHS AfC: Band 5 / 6

Main area Blood Sciences Grade NHS AfC: Band 5 / 6
Contract: Permanent. Work as part of 24hr shift system. Hours: 37.5 hours per week.

Job ref 262-A-25-7408761
Employer: North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Site: Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle

Salary: £31,049 – £46,580
Specialist knowledge/skills required for band 6
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 24/09/2025 23:59

Job overview

Biomedical Scientist or Trainee Band 5 / Band 6. Specialist knowledge/skills required for band 6 position. Trainee posts would be under Annex 21 of AfC.

Perform laboratory procedures effectively, rotating through the sections of the department, to provide a comprehensive pathology service as an aid to effective diagnosis and treatment of patients.

All staff are expected to work to the Trust Values. The Blood Sciences department ensures the provision of a comprehensive service to North Cumbria Hospitals and primary care. The department offers core analyses on a frequent basis, processing urgent requests and a variety of specialised tests. The majority of the pathology service is provided on a 24/7 basis. Out of hours cover is delivered via extended working arrangements, on call, or shift patterns according to the urgency and volume of the work.

Main duties of the job

Perform manual, semi-automated and fully automated laboratory investigations as required.

Ensure procedures are carried out according to standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Communicate complex technical and clinical information, especially in critical situations, being responsible for technical authorisation of results and clinical authorisation of reports within agreed protocols.

Undertake technical validation of complex / specialist results from laboratory investigations and ensure accuracy and precision as specified by laboratory protocols.

Analyse and interpret test results of a specialist nature.

Service and maintain the diagnostic equipment as required, take corrective action in the event of equipment failure; follow contingency planning if such action fails and report to BMS team manager.

Resolve routine and complex equipment and process problems, reporting to BMS team manager as required.

Working for our organisation

At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.

Our 5 key principles demonstrate our belief in the delivery of ‘safe, high quality care every time’:

• Being a clinically led organisation
• Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust
• A positive patient experience every time
• A great place to work
• Managing our money well

As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.

Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed.

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligible vacancies.

ul> Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.

If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Candidates who have been shortlisted for interview will be notified via email to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time, usually within 2 weeks of the closing date.

For candidates applying using a Hotmail account or with strict firewall settings, please ensure the following:

• Junk mail is checked regularly

Disclosure and Barring Service:

On 28 November 2020, the new Disclosure and Barring Service filtering rules will come into effect. The changes mean that:

• Youth cautions, reprimands and final warnings will no longer be subject to automatic disclosure
• The multiple conviction rule has been removed, meaning that if an individual has more than one conviction, each conviction will be considered against the remaining rules individually

If you are unsure about whether you need to disclose certain criminal record information, free confidential advice may be sought from one of the charity bodies listed below. These bodies can advise you on what you are legally required to declare and may also be able to advise you on how you can disclose criminal record information to a prospective employer and your legal rights when doing so.

Unlock – Tel: 01634 247350, email advice@unlock.org.uk or complete the online form on the Unlock website.

Please note the cost of the DBS check is increasing from 2nd December and the new cost will be Standard DBS check £21.50, Enhanced DBS check £49.50 + any admin costs.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding adults and children; therefore, if the post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended) the successful candidate(s) will be subject to a criminal records check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as follows (if applicable to the post):

• Standard Check: £18 + Administration cost of £3.85 = £21.85. Deducted at £6.85 from 1st month salary and £5 deducted from salary over following 3 months.
• Enhanced Check: £38 + administration cost of £3.90 = £41.90. Deducted at £11.90 from 1st month salary and £10 deducted from salary over following 3 months.

As one of the largest employers in the UK, NCIC future employees will also have access to the following benefits:

• A lease car may be available for this position; further details will be provided upon appointment if applicable.
• 27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years
• Access to NHS discounts with retailers and leisure companies
• EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems

These schemes are subject to availability

Person specification

Qualifications

• BSc in Biomedical Science or equivalent
• HCPC registration
• Essential IT skills (EITS) or equivalent

Experience

• All areas of chosen discipline
• Supervision and training.
• Technical audit.

Knowledge

• Underpinning theory of laboratory practice in area of chosen discipline
• Laboratory health and safety, COSHH, and risk assessment
• Continuing professional development with portfolio
• Equality legislation and best practice

Skills

• Practical laboratory skills
• Able to use initiative appropriately within a team
• Ability to analyse work to determine compliance with standards
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Good organisational skills
• Ability to prioritise work to meet deadlines
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills
• The ability to demonstrate the compassionate values and behaviours needed for dignified care

Personal Circumstances

• Meticulous.
• Motivation.

Other requirements

• Flexible approach to working unsocial hours including nights, weekends and public holidays.
• Ability to travel independently between sites.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Name Graham Woodhall

Job title Blood Sciences Operational Manager

Email address graham.woodhall@ncic.nhs.uk

Telephone number 01228 814540

Additional information

Magdalena Jakubiak Transfusion Team Manager

Manager

Magdalena.Jakubiak@ncic.nhs.uk

01228 814543