Specialist Biomedical Scientist - Blood Bank

Job summary

These posts are NOT suitable for annex 21 applicants. You will not be shortlisted if you don't have the necessary qualifications.

The Department of Blood Transfusion is seeking to recruit a full time B6 BMS to work as part of a team covering both of our transfusion laboratories at LGI and SJUH.

As a Transfusion service we cover the transfusion requirements for four hospitals and two hospices. We oversee the transfusion of 41,500 units of blood, plasma, and platelets every year. We are a team of Support Workers, Biomedical Scientists, Hospital Transfusion Team, and Consultants working to deliver a Blood Transfusion service which is one of the most complex and busiest services in England.

Main duties of the job

Perform a wide range of complex technical procedures. These will include the safe and effective use of highly complex laboratory equipment. Your level of knowledge and understanding of these procedures 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 such errors and failures using appropriate laboratory and Trust policies.

Use of LIMS to enter, manage, retrieve, interpret, validate and authorise complex patient information and results.

To be an integral member of a team providing a clinical technical service and a high quality laboratory service.

To work independently when and as required by the service, for instance when working alone in the provision of the emergency on-call service or providing urgent results. The postholder as a specialist scientist within their field will be guided by principles and broad occupational policies/SOPs within the confines of the Quality Management System.

To work with precision and follow accurately the documented laboratory standard operating procedures.

About us

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.

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 Care 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 requirements continuously develop appropriate skills and knowledge.

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE/SUMMARY

These posts are NOT suitable for annex 21 applicants. You will not be shortlisted if you don't have the necessary qualifications.

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 (HCPC) and the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS). You will have developed a range of competencies and specialist knowledge in all aspects of the discipline through extensive practical experience, in house training and structured study through the IBMS specialist portfolio programme and will continue to develop your skills and knowledge subject to the requirements of continuous professional development (CPD). In addition, basic computer skills and use of various laboratory and Trust based databases are essential to carry out your work.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Clinical/ Scientific /Technical

To undertake specialist clinical technical investigations for the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of disease.

Under direction of the team lead co-ordinates effective workflow management with prioritisation of samples received within specialist area.

Development and validation of in house quality control material and reagents in conjunction with section leadership.

To participate in equipment testing, validation and adaptation as a function of service development.

To operate, maintain highly complex laboratory equipment safely and efficiently. Use specialist expertise for complex troubleshooting and resolution of technical equipment failure and analytical processes.

Leadership and Management

To provide leadership and contribute to general departmental management, for instance, by producing rotas, assisting in the ordering, receipt and control of consumables.

HR responsibilities including actively participating in line management, attendance management, recruitment and departmental appraisal scheme.

The post holder will be responsible for the day to day management of a group of staff and the supervision of qualified staff or students.

To plan and prioritise the designated workload within a laboratory section and assist in the organization of tasks undertaken by other scientists and support workers.

To demonstrate relevant tasks to others as appropriate and complete.

To take account of changes in service delivery by demonstrating a flexible approach to work.

Actively supports and encourages individual and team development.

To deputise for more senior staff where appropriate.

Quality / Training

To be involved in the production of laboratory documentation such as SOPs, risk assessments and training records.

Supports a robust programme of training and competency assessment within the area of specialist responsibility, ensuring that procedures are only undertaken by staff with the requisite knowledge and skills at all times.

To contribute actively towards the improvement of service quality by participation in relevant discussions with other team members including staff and departmental meetings.

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.

Other

To gain new knowledge through experience, formal study and participation in relevant training schemes including CPD.

The post holder will be expected to gain competence in techniques to enable participation in the delivery of 24 hour Pathology service. This entails contracted participation in a 24/7 rota and / or the out of hour rota.

The post holder will be required to work cross site locations (LGI & SJUH) if the service requires it.

Any other duties commensurate with grade following discussion with line manager.

Infection Control

The jobholder must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Infection Control policies, in particular by practising Universal Infection Control Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before and after contact with patients and their environment.

HEALTH AND SAFETY / RISK MANAGEMENT

All staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service users. This includes complying at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Policies, including Health and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed security and safer working procedures, and reporting incidents using the Trust Incident Reporting system.

EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

The jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patient or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.

TRAINING AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

The jobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional Development remains a priority. The jobholder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role.

COMMUNICATION & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

As the job holder you will communicate and work directly or indirectly with a diverse range of other staff. Those shown below are examples:

Internal

Junior staff, colleagues, supervisors and managers within the speciality.

Pathology staff working in other specialities.

Members of clinical teams including nurses, doctors and other practitioners.

Administrative and secretarial staff.

Estates and facilities staff.

External

Staff in primary care facilities

Staff in other hospitals

Staff in non NHS organisations (for example suppliers of consumables, equipment engineers)

Patients

SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS

Physical Effort:

Many tasks involve the job holder standing at equipment or sitting at the laboratory bench for extended periods.

This job may include movement of goods of light and moderate loads up to 15kg. There is the occasional requirement to move loads of 20kg with the aid of a trolley.

It is anticipated there will be the occasional requirement to exert moderate physical effort for several short periods in a shift.

Mental Effort:

The day to day repertoire of this job is diverse and the job holder can expect to be asked by supervisory staff to change tasks at short notice. In order to minimise errors concentration is required on a daily basis when processing specimens. Occasionally this may require prolonged concentration and is subject to workload.

Emotional Effort:

In normal circumstances there is little patient contact by the job holder and exposure to emotional circumstances is limited.

The post holder will work generally in a laboratory environment and may be required to sit or stand. We would encourage you to attend one of our two sites for an informal look round but understand that is not always practicable. We will offer MS Teams meetings should you wish to have an informal discussion.