Specialist Biomedical Scientist

The place to work in pathology

We are looking for top talent to join the UK's leading and fastest growing pathology company - a scientific organisation with a clinical purpose.

Working in partnership with our service partners, Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospitals, King's College Hospital and Princess Royal University Hospital we aim to set the standard for the future of pathology.

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity for a full time Specialist Biomedical Scientist (BMS) at Guy's and St Thomas' Blood Sciences Essential Services Laboratory (ESL) within one of the leading teaching hospitals in the UK. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced state registered BMS to gain further experience and develop skills and knowledge. This is a 24/7 shift role.

You will work with a highly trained and knowledgeable BMS laboratory team initially rotating through Blood Transfusion, routine Haematology and Coagulation. This post may also in the future include rotation into the routine Biochemistry Laboratory as we move to a multidisciplinary setting in the ESL.

Blood Transfusion utilise Winpath Enterprise, Blood-Track systems and Bio-Rad analysers.

Haematology and Coagulation use Epic Beaker, Sysmex XN and Sysmex CN.

You will be fully supported and upon satisfactory completion of in-house training and competency assessment you will be required to work on the 24/7 out of hours rota.

Main duties of the job

This role delivers biomedical investigations as part of the laboratory team in Synnovis. Within this you will be issuing blood products, processing specimens, analysing and releasing results whilst maintaining local quality systems. Reporting to the Senior Specialist BMS or Operations Manager, you will be developing your specialist knowledge and skills to ensure the successful delivery of pathology services, in line with our corporate objectives.

You will hold a variety of accountabilities in the laboratory environment. These include, but are not limited to:

Complete routine biomedical investigations in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) and within specific turnaround times.

Develop specialist expertise in complex investigations and troubleshooting techniques.

Deliver work autonomously within all regulations and legislative requirements.

Operate and maintain complex laboratory equipment within all safety standards relevant to your area.

Support colleagues with guidance and answering questions as required.

Use cost effective methods in your practice and maintain levels of consumable goods and supplies in your area, and report shortages accordingly.

Working for our organisation

Your development and learning

You will have a suite of learning opportunities available through the Synnovis Development programme, the Scientific Learning and Development Fund and the Synnovis Academy through which you can receive funding or support for advanced qualifications.

Through our Innovation Accelerator Fund, you can apply for finance to get that new innovative scientific project off the ground, and participate with the wider scientific community through symposiums, conferences and other peer group meetings.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

You will hold a variety of accountabilities in the laboratory environment. These include, but are not limited to:

• Complete routine and complex specialist biomedical investigations in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) and within specific turnaround times.
• Deliver work autonomously within all regulations and legislative requirements.
• Operate and maintain complex laboratory equipment within all safety standards relevant to your area, including troubleshooting.
• Supervise and guide colleagues and answer questions as required.
• Use cost effective methods in your practice and maintain levels of consumable goods and supplies in your area, and report shortages accordingly.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform and interpret routine and specialist biomedical investigations by participating in regular daily workloads, as directed by management, in line with your skills, experience and competencies.
• Maintain standards of conduct required by the HCPC to practice as a registered Biomedical Scientist.
• Provide technical advice to clinical colleagues as required and within limits of competency.
• Process specimens and handle sensitive information with care and due diligence, such as patient results, in line with local SOPs.
• Propose and implement changes to SOPs, policies and work practice as required.
• Participate in development of new tests, as directed, including alignment with accreditation bodies and local management processes. Where necessary this will include analysing clinical trial samples.
• Participate in verification and validation work when required.
• Day to day supervision of MLAs, APs and BMSs, providing support, training and mentoring to ensure performance is in line with laboratory standards.
• Observe all safety regulations and ensure others are doing the same. This includes holding people to account when standards fall short of expectations and raising concerns about safety in the laboratory.
• Ensure compliance for your area of work with all legislative and quality requirements of regulatory directives, accreditation bodies, and local management including:
  • Care Quality Commission
  • UKAS
  • Synnovis policies and SOPs
  • Any other body in area of responsibility.
• Participate in quality management activities including inspections, audits, EQA and IQC procedures as required.
• Utilise the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), Q-Pulse quality management database and other relevant software to ensure high quality reliable data capture and entry.
• Complete data entry accurately to record sensitive patient information, requiring frequent, long period of concentration whilst maintaining patient confidentiality and following Information Governance (IG) guidelines.
• Work closely with colleagues in the quality team to identify best practice and embed a culture of high quality and performance across your area.
• Report all incidents and adverse events to management and enter the information in the CAPA module of Q-Pulse in a timely manner as directed, supervising and assisting junior colleagues with the process.
• Demonstrate ongoing laboratory-based competency against training plans.
• Demonstrate professionalism, patience and empathy when explaining complex subjects, and in particular when communicating with people who do not share same level of knowledge or understanding.
• Prioritise your workload effectively to ensure that deadlines are met, and that work is delivered to the highest standards possible.
• Take part in CPD activities to ensure that your practices and knowledge are always relevant and up to date to your specific area.

Synnovis is a pathology partnership between SYNLAB UK and Ireland, and the NHS, including sites, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to deliver and transform pathology services across South East London.

The partnership provides services to 1.7 million people living in South East London, as well as to hundreds of thousands of patients from outside the region who use local healthcare services.

The partnership provides diagnostics, testing and digital pathology for hospital trusts, GP services and other healthcare providers.

Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital Foundation Trust is a major emergency and specialist teaching Trust which has all the specialties associated with a fascinating and career defining case load including: Women's Services, Fetal Medicine, Haematology, Oncology, Transplantation, and is also home to the Evelina Children's Hospital and the Cancer Centre on the Guy's site.

You will be close to the vibrant Borough Market and the South Bank, which are exceptional London locations; perfect places to work and relax next to such iconic venues as Big Ben, The London Eye and The Shard!

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• BSc (Hons) IBMS accredited degree or equivalent
• HCPC State registration as a Biomedical Scientist
• Specialist portfolio in relevant discipline (if HCPC Registration via IBMS Portfolio route) or equivalent experience or FIBMS
• Evidence of ongoing Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

Desirable criteria

• Willing to work towards higher levels of education
• IBMS membership

Experience

Essential criteria

• Significant demonstrable broad-based discipline specific practical experience
• Analysing, interpreting and technical validation of routine, complex and specialist results
• Using Laboratory Information Systems
• Development of special interest and expertise in one or more areas of the laboratory, for example Quality, Health & Safety, Training or IT

Skills & Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Demonstrates a sound understanding of the physiology, pathology, and scientific principles relevant to specialism
• Demonstrates a high degree of skill and knowledge where interpretation of results can be highly subjective
• Well-developed physical skills, demonstrable ability to use precision equipment and consumables
• Leadership qualities with experience of coaching, coordinating and supervising a team
• Ability to troubleshoot highly technical and precision equipment
• Ability to troubleshoot problems arising on analytical platforms, manual assays and semi-automated procedures, and know when to escalate
• Competent at communicating verbally and in writing with colleagues and clinical staff
• Ability to effectively manage own time, able to prioritise work for self and others and able to plan activities within area of work
• Ability to maintain focus and concentration for extended periods of time
• Demonstrable knowledge and application of quality systems, with reference to ISO/UKAS
• Demonstrable knowledge and application of health and safety legislation and procedure

Desirable criteria

• Leadership qualities with experience of coaching, coordinating and supervising a team

Applications are welcomed from applicants with a disability. We can make reasonable adjustments and offer support and advice in a variety of ways throughout the application process. All applicants are welcome to apply regardless of age, disability, gender, marital status, race, nationality or ethnic origin, religion, or sexual orientation. Equality of opportunity is our policy.

Our Bank workers enjoy competitive market rates and flexible contract assignments across all of our sites, dependent on your availability and location.

For our Permanent workforce w e offer a competitive benefits package.

All employees are entitled to:

• Contributory pension scheme
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Ground breaking development
  opportunities

Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults . All employees have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in the course of their daily duties and for ensuring that they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.

Please apply for this post on-line. If you have problems with using the online process, or need any assistance, please email [email protected]

Your e-mail address is important to us. We communicate to all job applicants via the e-mail address which has been provided on the application form. Please ensure that you check your e-mail on a regular basis.

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.

If you decide to apply for this post but do not hear back from us within three weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been short-listed on this occasion.

Thank you for your interest in Synnovis.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Documents to download

• Job Description (PDF, 488.3KB)