Specialist Biomedical Scientist (XR06)

Job summary

Expected Shortlisting Date: TBC

Planned Interview Date: TBC

Do you have the skills, drive and ambition to develop as a Specialist Biomedical Scientist within Microbiology at Leeds? As we embark on an exciting journey to move to the Centre For Laboratory Medicine, a brand new, £30m, purpose built laboratory facility, this role offers a multitude of opportunities to work within a forward thinking, innovative department.

The post is currently based at Leeds General Infirmary, relocating to St James University Hospital when microbiology services transfer in 2024/25. You will be fundamental in helping to develop a collaborative microbiology service working alongside other trusts in West Yorkshire to help deliver the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYATT) partnership. The pathology Managed Service Contract (MSC) is currently being renewed, bringing the latest in technology to help deliver a quality and efficient service.

This post is advertised as a full time position working within Bacteriology, with rotation within Mycology and Environmental and Waters Laboratories. Extensive specialist knowledge is essential.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will be a member of the departmental team carrying out examination of samples for diagnosis of bacterial and mycological causes of infection. On a daily basis you will be allocated to a laboratory section where you will work with other scientists and support staff to process samples and report results. Staff rotate within the department. Additionally, as a band 6, you are expected to supervise within sections and will be trained to be responsible for technical authorisation of results. As a Specialist Biomedical Scientist you will also be encouraged to develop further skills in service development, training and quality management.

We provide a full 24/7 laboratory service supported by a shift system covering weekends, extended days and nights. (agenda for change T&Cs). As a Specialist Biomedical Scientist you will participate in providing cover for the service after suitable training.

You will be pro-active in your own development and that of the service. Our charity partner organisation Leeds Cares provides funding for staff and contributes to training and development including further IBMS & professional qualifications.

About us

The department is currently located within the Old Medical School at Leeds General Infirmary processing in excess of one million samples per annum. The department uses a number of technologies to deliver the service including WASPlab, MALDI-Tof, DS2 & IQ Sprints alongside traditional culture-based Microbiology. Equipment will be refreshed in the new build with addition of molecular technology in the enteric department. The successful candidate will be working in a busy laboratory; delivering services to one of the UKs largest teaching hospitals leading to a diverse workload.

The service is accredited to UKAS ISO 15189 with a robust Quality Management system in place. The department is also the lead laboratory for Public Health England in the Yorkshire and Humber region and plays an important role in delivering Microbiology & Virology services to support this function. The team are diverse and enthusiastic to deliver a quality service.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For full job description please see attachment.

JOB PURPOSE/SUMMARY

As a specialist biomedical scientist you will be a fully competent member of the department. Normally working as part of a team, you will be expected to perform a wide range of specialist clinical technical investigations. At other times you may be required to work alone and independently, for example when working on-call. Working in different sections of the department you will have 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. Within the team you may be required to organize the tasks of support workers. You will be required to communicate highly complex information, often related to patient management and care, to colleagues, healthcare staff and other organizations.

You will be required to attend MDT and other user meetings where appropriate. Post holders will be involved in R&D and may lead projects, under supervision, where appropriate.

The post holder will assist in the day to day running of the laboratory or a particular section of the laboratory, under supervision/delegation of the advanced biomedical scientist. This will involve QC and EQA authorisation, training, risk and incident assessment and investigation and HR procedures. The post holder will be expected to have an awareness of budgets and resource responsibility.

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.

The post holder will have undertaken all mandatory training required for their role and be willing to attend training to facilitate learning in areas such as basic HR functions, appraisal, incident investigation etc.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Clinical/Scientific/Technical

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.

Communication of complex, clinical technical information to users of the service in a manner that is in accordance with departmental procedures. This may include providing specialist clinical technical advice to clinical teams.

Have knowledge and understanding of current national legislation and guidelines relevant to the speciality.

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

Under direction of the team lead co-ordinate 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.

This job requires a high degree of dexterity and precision when manipulating small tools such as pipettes, handling very small volumes of clinical material or when preparing microscope slides for examination by others. In order to achieve the required turnaround times the work must be performed with both speed and accuracy.

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 postholder 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 relevant training and competency paperwork.

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.

Leads waste reduction incentives for designated area.

Contributes to management reports.

Supports collaborative team working across all sections.

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.

Manages key performance indicators in specialist area. This includes supporting section lead in the monitoring and performance of IQC and EQA.

Support appropriate clinical trials involving the laboratory.

Contributes to audit completion in specialist area.

Contributes to H&S compliance and audits in specialist area.

Contributes to QMS compliance/alignment in specialist area.

Conducts incident investigations and risk management including Datix.

Monitoring of results to identify any unexpected trends in assay performance.

Supports with research, development and evaluation of new methods/instruments/tests, including verification of new technologies/tests in specialist area.

Leads continuous service improvement in specialist area.

Leads service continuity plans for specialist area.

Leads implementation of corrective actions from audits.

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.

To maintain registered status as a biomedical scientist with the Health Care Professions Council.

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, breaches of security, controlled and uncontrolled exposure to chemical, biological and radioactive materials.

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.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Post registration experience within Bacteriology - please detail areas of work
• Ability to work unsupervised - provide specific examples
• Experience of using LIMS systems - please specify
• Examples of staff training/mentoring

Desirable

• Post registration experience within Mycology - please detail areas of work
• Post registration experience within Environmental & Waters Laboratories - please detail areas of work
• Line management and leadership skills

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree (or equivalent) suitable for HCPC Registration or Top up modules & Degree - Please state date obtained
• HCPC Registration - please provide registration number and date of registration
• IBMS Specialist Portfolio (registered post 2006) - please provide date obtained

Skills & behaviours

Essential

• Strong communication skills - provide examples in laboratory
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.

Employer details

Employer name: Leeds Teaching Hospitals

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

Employer's website: [website link]