Biomedical Scientist (XR05)

Expected Shortlisting Date:
10/02/2025

Planned Interview Date:
14/02/2025

An opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic person to join the central laboratory of the Yorkshire and North East Genomic Laboratory Hub. The role will be based within the Haematological Malignancy Diagnostic Service (HMDS), St James Hospital, Leeds with a focus on haemato-oncology molecular work.

The department is part of a NHS Genomics Network of Excellence doing work to optimise the genomic investigations offered to patients with lymphoma. This fixed term role would be suitable for candidates looking for experience in a research-related role which will offer the opportunity to be part of this exciting project to improve patient outcomes.

This is an opportunity to become part of a highly successful department with extensive facilities, high levels of scientific expertise and a national/international reputation for developments of assays/methodologies within a clinical trial/R&D setting which are then translated into routine practice.

Main duties of the job

The purpose of this role is to contribute to the development and delivery of a high-quality diagnostic service. The successful candidate will be required to deliver a broad range of complex and specialised scientific work from raw data requiring highly skilled performance. There will be a relatively high level of individual responsibility and freedom to act applied to a variety of situations with or without scientific/technical support.

Applicants should be state registered as a biomedical scientist with the HCPC. Previous experience of working within a molecular laboratory is highly desirable.

About us

HMDS provides a specialist service for the diagnosis of blood cancers and is part of the central laboratory for the Yorkshire and North East Genomic Laboratory Hub. The laboratory is the largest of its type in the United Kingdom with a high throughput of specimens including peripheral blood, bone marrow and tissue biopsies. The department also has a strong research programme and there will also be opportunity to be involved in projects related to research and clinical trials. This post provides the opportunity to join this successful team at the forefront of diagnostic services.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

• To undertake routine and more complex clinical technical investigations, some of which may be under supervision.
• To communicate complex and sensitive information to colleagues and other healthcare staff.

Job Dimensions

As a biomedical scientist you will work towards becoming a fully competent member of the departmental team. As part of the team, you will be expected to perform a range of routine and more complex investigations some of which may be under the supervision of more experienced biomedical scientists. Working in different sections of the department you will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute towards the provision of an accurate and timely service for patients. You will be expected to apply professional judgements and specialist skills to technically complex and sometimes difficult situations, and how to work, often under pressure, either independently or as part of the team. Within the team you may be required to organize the tasks of support workers. You will be required to communicate information, often related to patient management and care, to colleagues, healthcare staff and other organizations.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required

In order to carry out the job sufficiently and effectively you will have successfully studied for an accredited degree in biomedical sciences, or other equivalent qualification acceptable to the Health Care Professions Council and the Institute of Biomedical Science. You will develop your competencies and further your knowledge in all aspects of the speciality through practical experience, in house training and structured study subject to the requirements of continuous professional development (CPD). In addition, basic computer skills are essential to carry out your work.

The Leeds Way Values

Our values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are:

• Patient-centred
• Collaborative
• Fair
• Accountable
• Empowered

All our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values. Additionally, the following are core values which relate specifically to this post:

• As a healthcare worker dealing with sensitive (patient related) information the importance and value of personal honesty and integrity as a commitment to patient service and confidentiality will be recognised.
• You will maintain registration with the Health Professions Council as a biomedical scientist and abide by the HCPC standards of proficiency, assuring the quality of your work for patients.
• In contributing to the quality of a technical clinical service you will understand the requirement to continuously develop appropriate skills and accumulate relevant knowledge whether by formal or in-house training.

Core Behaviours and Skills

In order to work effectively in the role the job holder must be able to demonstrate a number of attributes. These abilities will include:

• To gain new knowledge through experience, formal study and participation in relevant training schemes.
• To become an integral member of a team providing a clinical technical service.
• To work independently when and as directed by supervisors.
• To communicate clearly and effectively whether orally, graphically or electronically.
• To plan the designated workload and assist in the organization of tasks undertaken by support workers.
• To work with precision and follow accurately the documented laboratory standard operating procedures.
• To operate highly complex laboratory equipment safely and efficiently.
• To input and extract patient data from the laboratory computer system.
• To interpret, validate and authorize the results of the section.
• To demonstrate relevant tasks to others as appropriate.
• To contribute actively towards the improvement of service quality by participation in relevant discussions with other team members.
• To remain competent in established procedures and to develop new skills as experience is accrued.
• To participate actively in the departmental appraisal scheme.
• To take account of changes in service delivery by demonstrating a flexible approach to work.

Core Knowledge and Understanding

As the job holder you will acquire sufficient knowledge and understanding to:

• Carry out a range of basic and more complex technical procedures. This will include instruction in the safe and effective use of highly complex laboratory equipment. The level of knowledge and understanding achieved will be consistent with that to allow you to recognise system failures and errors. You will understand the need to report adverse events in the event of errors and failures.
• Participate actively in departmental internal and external quality assurance schemes. Your level of knowledge and understanding will allow you to recognise when expected levels of quality have not been met.
• Participate in the maintenance of a safe working environment. This will include an awareness of the hazards associated with your work. In addition you will be made aware of any suitable actions to take in the event of breaches in health and safety. Such hazards include fire, manual handling, and breaches of security, controlled and uncontrolled exposure to chemical, biological and radioactive materials.
• Maintain patient confidentiality. You will recognise the absolute requirement to protect sensitive information that is related to patient care.
• Observe the requirements of departmental policies relating to service provision, for example sample labelling and adverse event reporting.

Principal Duties & Areas of Responsibility

• To maintain registered status as a biomedical scientist with the Health Care Professions Council.
• To perform, sometimes under supervision, appropriate technical laboratory procedures and tasks that are consistent with the job holder's levels of knowledge, skills and experience.
• To develop competence in all sections of the department and to perform tasks accurately and in accordance with departmental standard operating procedures.
• To enter, manage and retrieve patient information using the laboratory computer system.
• To communicate accurately sensitive and complex information to users of the service in a manner that is in accordance with departmental procedures.
• To demonstrate relevant job-related tasks to new or more junior staff.
• To actively participate in the laboratory quality assurance programme.
• To participate in laboratory audit processes and support appropriate clinical trials involving the laboratory.
• To contribute to general departmental management, for instance, by assisting in the ordering, receipt and control of consumables.

This list is not exhaustive and the changing needs of the service from time to time may require the development of other appropriate tasks and skills. These will be fully discussed with the post holder in advance of their implementation.

Tasks that are typically expected of the job holder: These differ between specialities within pathology.

Administrative Tasks Include:

• Entering patient demographic information and the tests requested onto the laboratory computer system. This information must be entered quickly and accurately so that rapid turnaround times can be maintained.
• Accepting and signing for deliveries of stock and consumables. This requires checking deliveries against delivery notes to ensure orders have been met.
• Reporting adverse events according to Trust risk management procedures.

Technical Tasks Involved During Processing of Pathology Samples Include:

• Assessing suitability and urgency of pathology samples. Assigning relevant tests and investigations.
• Monitoring the performance of highly complex laboratory equipment such as automated analysers and performing basic repairs in the event of malfunction. This may include IT equipment.
• Prioritising, performing and interpreting clinical technical investigations according to standard operating procedures. These samples may be high risk (e.g. from patients with HIV, TB, hepatitis) or require chain of evidence (e.g. for legal purposes). Authorizing the results of investigations.
• Examples of this work are:
• Blood grouping and cross matching
• Antibody identification
• Microscopy including fluorescent and electron microscopy
• Operating highly complex analytical equipment
• Identifying micro-organisms and assessing their antibiotic susceptibility
• Epidemiological investigations such as air sampling in operating theatres and outbreak investigations
• Molecular techniques (e.g. polymerase chain reaction)

Communication Tasks Include:

• Issuing written, electronic or verbal reports to clinicians and other practitioners.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree (or equivalent) suitable for HCPC registration.

Experience

Essential

• Developing knowledge within speciality.
• Developing experience within the department.

Desirable

• Knowledge of conventional IT software e.g. Microsoft Office.
• Previous experience of working in a laboratory.

Skills & Behaviours

Essential

• Able to work in a team. Able to work independently.
• Flexible approach to work.
• Good communicator.
• Friendly attitude.
• Dexterity.
• Good hand/eye coordination.
• Basic computer skills.

Desirable

• Physically able to move around and between sites.

Other Criteria

Essential

• Participation in relevant CPD schemes.
• Willingness to undertake other formal study and in-house training.
• Competence in a range of complex laboratory procedures.
• Physically able to move around and between sites.
• Physically able to assist in movement of moderate loads.

Employer Details

Employer Name

Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Address

St. James's University Hospital
Beckett Street
Leeds
LS9 7TF

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