Healthcare Scientist/Trainee Biomedical Scientist - Immunology

We are keen to recruit an enthusiastic, flexible and self-motivated person to join our friendly team of staff. As a Healthcare Scientist, you will play a key role in helping to deliver and develop our comprehensive clinical immunology service.

The post holder will:

1. Be an HCPC Registered Healthcare Scientist/Biomedical wishing to develop their knowledge, skills, and expertise in Laboratory Immunology.
2. Be a trainee scientist holding an IBMS accredited BSc Hons degree acceptable for HCPC registration and will be required to complete the IBMS registration portfolio within 12 months. Trainee scientists will work under supervision.
3. Train and supervise trainee Healthcare Scientists, Laboratory Support staff, and other staff as appropriate.

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE POST

1. To work as part of the team providing a clinical diagnostic service in Laboratory Immunology to the Trust, General Practice, other UK and overseas Trusts and laboratories, and Clinical Trials.
2. As an HCPC Registered Healthcare Scientist, provide high-quality, efficient, and effective clinical diagnostic testing throughout all laboratory sections. Trainees will work under supervision.
3. Develop knowledge of, and expertise in a wide range of Immunology diagnostic assays.
4. After relevant training, provide an out-of-hours on-call service (evenings and weekends).

The Department of Immunology at Oxford University Hospitals Trust is looking for an HCPC registered Healthcare Scientist with experience in an NHS diagnostic laboratory (preferably Immunology). Unregistered applicants who demonstrate requirements or significant progress on their registration portfolio will also be considered.

Applications to join our friendly team are invited from enthusiastic, flexible, and self-motivated scientists. The successful candidate will use their excellent communication skills, playing a role in delivering/development of our comprehensive clinical service. You will help the Department meet the necessary standards for accreditation, ensuring protocols are followed and maintain Health, Safety, and Security for individuals, the Department, and the Trust.

After additional training, the applicant would be expected to take part in our weekend on-call service.

The Department of Immunology is a large and dynamic laboratory providing a regional diagnostic Immunology service. It offers a substantial, specialized, and diverse repertoire of assays. The laboratory has UKAS 15189 accreditation and processes over 600,000 tests per year. Situated in a vibrant, historical city with a tradition of innovation, we offer opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment.

Please ensure you read the job description and your supportive statement reflects this, as your application will be judged against these criteria.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training, and research.

The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington, and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards, and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues, and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence, and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement, and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family.

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE POST

1. To work as part of the team providing a clinical diagnostic service in Laboratory Immunology to the Trust, General Practice, other UK and overseas Trusts and laboratories, and Clinical Trials.
2. As an HCPC Registered Healthcare Scientist, provide high-quality, efficient, and effective clinical diagnostic testing throughout all laboratory sections. Trainees will work under supervision.
3. Develop knowledge of, and expertise in a wide range of Immunology diagnostic assays.
4. After relevant training, provide an out-of-hours on-call service (evenings and weekends).

Scientific and Technical

1. The post holder is expected, following relevant training, to manage their own workload on a day-to-day basis without direct supervision.
2. Check in request cards ensuring that tests appropriate to the patient’s clinical condition are requested.
3. Carry out laboratory tests in a safe and responsible manner according to approved departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
4. Work to ensure that performance targets and sample turnaround times are met by continually assessing quality and priority of work.
5. Have awareness of the requirements of Clinical Governance, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), and local Health and Safety Policies, reporting problems, errors, or breaches via the appropriate mechanisms.
6. Validate diagnostic test results against approved quality standards and report results onto the laboratory information system (LIMS computer). As required, telephone urgent or clinically important results to the requester.
7. Troubleshoot quality control problems, on own or with reference to other staff, and report all such problems to senior staff.
8. Use and maintain equipment safely according to approved departmental procedures (SOPs).
9. Troubleshoot equipment problems, on own or with reference to other staff, and report all such problems to senior staff. Liaise with equipment supplier representatives and engineers to rectify equipment problems.
10. Have a thorough working knowledge of LIMS, Electronic patient requesting systems, and Microsoft Word/Excel.
11. Participate in departmental Research and Development as required.
12. Following relevant training, provide expert scientific and technical advice to other healthcare professionals outside of the immunology department.
13. Complete all relevant paperwork to document non-conformities as they occur, with reference to senior staff as appropriate.

Organisational/Supervisory

1. Assist with the supervision of trainee Healthcare Scientists as directed by the Section Leader.
2. Assist with the training of Laboratory Support staff, trainee Healthcare Scientists, and others as directed by the Section Leader. Help HCS trainees to complete relevant sections of their training portfolios and set appropriate training goals.
3. Bring all inconsistent/doubtful results, abnormal QC, equipment or services breakdown/malfunction, or other adverse incident to the attention of senior staff.
4. Under the guidance of other senior staff, to deputise for the Section Leader in their absence as required.
5. Assist with maintenance of relevant documentation e.g., SOPs / Risk Assessments and assay and equipment verification and validations.

Resources

1. Assist the Section Leader in the efficient and effective use of material resources e.g., consumables and diagnostic kits.
2. Perform stock inventory and stock control duties. Alert senior staff to low or excessive stock levels. Alert senior staff to problems with out-of-date stock.
3. Order stock as required.

Professional

1. As a Registered scientist or trainee, maintain high professional and technical standards and maintain a portfolio to demonstrate active participation in Continuous Professional Development. Ensure continued Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council.
2. Behave responsibly and courteously at all times and maintain good, professional working relationships with other members of staff.
3. Have awareness of the Risk Management Framework, follow policies, procedures, and safe systems of work, make known any hazards or risks that they identify and take all necessary actions to reduce risk.
4. Communicate effectively with other staff groups, both internal and external. To include healthcare professionals, patients and their representatives, external agencies, commercial suppliers, service engineers, and visitors to the laboratory.
5. All staff must maintain the confidentiality of patient details and results.