Job summary
The Microbiology Department is based at the John Radcliffe Hospital and provide services to the Oxford University Hospitals NHSFT, primary care, South 4 Pathology Partnership, other NHS providers, private care, UKHSA and research trials.
The laboratory holds UKAS accreditation and is accredited with the IBMS for pre and post HCPC registration training.
The department undertakes bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, serology, and molecular microbiology; as well as high-throughput SARS-COV-2 testing. The successful candidate will be expected to rotate between all sections of work in the department.
The laboratory is a 24/7 service and successful applicants will participate in working day, evenings, night, weekend & bank holiday sessions. The post is full time, average working hours over the shift pattern 37.5 hours.
The department is well equipped including BD BACTEC FX, BD MGIT, BD MAX, BD Kiestra, Bruker MALDI-TOF, SediMAX, Abbott Architect i2000SR, DiaSorin Liaison XL, Abbott Alinity m, Abbott m2000, ELITe InGenius, BioFire TORCH, Cepheid GeneXpert, KingFisher, QuantStudio 5 and GridION.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will act as a Specialist HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist in all sections of microbiology (bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, serology, and molecular microbiology; as well as high-throughput SARS-COV-2 testing). You will undertake manual and automated processes, interpretation, and report generation to aid clinicians in patient care pathways. You will demonstrate a high standard of quality in your work, as well as maintaining up to date knowledge of current working practices within diagnostic microbiology.
The successful applicant will support teaching and development of all staff groups, as well as participate in all aspects of quality management to assist UKAS accreditation. You will need to demonstrate the ability to lead and supervise teams and the daily responsibilities associated with staffing, workflow, and problem solving.
Applicants must be HCPC registered as a BMS, hold the IBMS Specialist Diploma (or CPSM Logbook) and have extensive post registration experience in a routine NHS diagnostic microbiology laboratory.
Successful candidates must be conscientious, enthusiastic, and able to work well as a team, as well as individually. You will be required to lead teams and show initiative to troubleshoot, and problem solve. You will be required to demonstrate competence and able to work as an autonomous practitioner to participation in all shift patterns required for the service delivery.
About us
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. Find out more here www.ouh.nhs.uk
The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and 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 thisDelivering Compassionate Excellenceand 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. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via theOUH YouTube channel.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main Purpose of the Post:
- The post holder will act as a Registered Biomedical Scientist (BMS) with a high level of Microbiology knowledge, skills and demonstrated competence who provides a comprehensive range of scientific and diagnostic services throughout all sections of the Department, as an aid/basis for diagnosis.
- Services are provided to hospital clinicians and general practitioners and the post holder is required to liaise with these, other healthcare professionals, patients and their representatives.
- The post holder will be required to perform automated and manual laboratory procedures of varying complexity some of which require a high degree of skill and experience.
- The post holder will exercise autonomy within professional and managerial boundaries and will be required to verify and validate completed work.
- The post holder will be required to work at any of the laboratory sites within the Trust as and when required.
- The work may include some weekend, bank holiday and evening or night duties, which requires a flexible approach to the hours of employment, according to individual contract.
Scientific and Clinical Responsibilities
- Analyses potentially infectious samples using a range of highly specialised laboratory procedures, by either manual or automated techniques, to produce results of a quality consistent with excellent patient care. Undertakes these duties in all areas of the Department.
- Ensures efficient use and maintenance of resources, is aware of stock levels and rotation, storage conditions, batch numbers and expiry dates, thus ensuring the viability of the reagents and/or blood products used.
- Exercises own initiative and works in co-operation with other staff members to ensure that the workload is processed in a timely and efficient manner.
- Is fully conversant with departmental policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), ensuring that personal performance complies with ISO 15189-2012 and other professional standards.
- Carries out troubleshooting and preventative maintenance on highly complex automated systems. Ensures appropriate records are kept and liaises with senior staff and service engineers where appropriate.
- Matches samples with request forms and inputs patient and test information into the laboratory computer system, requiring complete accuracy.
Analytical and Interpretative Responsibilities
- Exercises individual skills through the observation and interpretation of clinical material or data, which may include therapeutic drug monitoring.
- Completes the work process by the verification and validation of results and report generation. This involves the interpretation of clinical data and requires in-depth theoretical knowledge.
- Recommends additional tests where appropriate to assist the requesting clinician in the diagnostic process.
Role Responsibilities
- Practices in accordance with the professional, ethical and legal codes of the Health Care Professions Council and the Trusts protocols and guidelines. Is accountable for own practice and maintenance of Registration status.
- Develops own skills, taking responsibility for Continuing Professional Development and performance.
- Complies with the requirements of internal and external/national quality assurance schemes along with internal requirements for audits and competence assessment to national standards.
- Demonstrates proficiency in the assessment, planning and prioritisation of tasks.
- Communicates 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.
- Provides and receives complex scientific and clinical information to and from colleagues and service users. Is aware of barriers to understanding and is able to present information accordingly.
- Provides and receives sensitive information to and from patients and their representatives where empathic and re-assurance skills are required. May include notification of adverse events.
- Displays and maintains an appropriate level of IT skills.
- Able to supervise staff and ensures work is completed in line with sample requirements
Teaching, Training and Research Responsibilities
- Participates in the supervision and training of Trainee BMSs, support staff and clinical staff where required
- Proactive in creating a training ethos for all staff
- Proactive in gaining knowledge and understanding in line with departmental in-house training manuals or other qualifications
Other Responsibilities
- Demonstrates excellent personal communication and team working skills.
- Complies with the requirement to practice within data protection and confidentiality guidelines.
- Demonstrates specialist skill and professional knowledge acquired through post Registration, academic and scientific development.
- Demonstrates continuing ability to work individually and unsupervised to a level required in the provision of an out of hours service for lone working on shift or on call.
- Works to ensure that performance targets and sample turnaround times are met by continually assessing quality and priority of work.
- Works to ensure compliance with ISO 15189:2012
- Has 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.
- Assists in improving and developing departmental quality by challenging and questioning practice, contributing ideas as appropriate and participating in the change management process, in conjunction with senior staff
- Attends departmental and Trust-wide staff meetings as appropriate.
- Attends regular appraisal, maintains competence levels within the Department and assists in own personal and professional development
- To maintain good work relations with all members of staff and to promote effective team working taking action when own or others behaviour undermines equality and diversity.
- To treat everyone associated with the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with courtesy and respect.
- Maintains good work relations with all members of staff and to promote effective team working.
- Treats everyone associated with the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with courtesy and respect.
- Demonstrates and promotes the OUH NHSFT core values and behaviours
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main Purpose of the Post:
- The post holder will act as a Registered Biomedical Scientist (BMS) with a high level of Microbiology knowledge, skills and demonstrated competence who provides a comprehensive range of scientific and diagnostic services throughout all sections of the Department, as an aid/basis for diagnosis.
- Services are provided to hospital clinicians and general practitioners and the post holder is required to liaise with these, other healthcare professionals, patients and their representatives.
- The post holder will be required to perform automated and manual laboratory procedures of varying complexity some of which require a high degree of skill and experience.
- The post holder will exercise autonomy within professional and managerial boundaries and will be required to verify and validate completed work.
- The post holder will be required to work at any of the laboratory sites within the Trust as and when required.
- The work may include some weekend, bank holiday and evening or night duties, which requires a flexible approach to the hours of employment, according to individual contract.
Scientific and Clinical Responsibilities
- Analyses potentially infectious samples using a range of highly specialised laboratory procedures, by either manual or automated techniques, to produce results of a quality consistent with excellent patient care. Undertakes these duties in all areas of the Department.
- Ensures efficient use and maintenance of resources, is aware of stock levels and rotation, storage conditions, batch numbers and expiry dates, thus ensuring the viability of the reagents and/or blood products used.
- Exercises own initiative and works in co-operation with other staff members to ensure that the workload is processed in a timely and efficient manner.
- Is fully conversant with departmental policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), ensuring that personal performance complies with ISO 15189-2012 and other professional standards.
- Carries out troubleshooting and preventative maintenance on highly complex automated systems. Ensures appropriate records are kept and liaises with senior staff and service engineers where appropriate.
- Matches samples with request forms and inputs patient and test information into the laboratory computer system, requiring complete accuracy.
Analytical and Interpretative Responsibilities
- Exercises individual skills through the observation and interpretation of clinical material or data, which may include therapeutic drug monitoring.
- Completes the work process by the verification and validation of results and report generation. This involves the interpretation of clinical data and requires in-depth theoretical knowledge.
- Recommends additional tests where appropriate to assist the requesting clinician in the diagnostic process.
Role Responsibilities
- Practices in accordance with the professional, ethical and legal codes of the Health Care Professions Council and the Trusts protocols and guidelines. Is accountable for own practice and maintenance of Registration status.
- Develops own skills, taking responsibility for Continuing Professional Development and performance.
- Complies with the requirements of internal and external/national quality assurance schemes along with internal requirements for audits and competence assessment to national standards.
- Demonstrates proficiency in the assessment, planning and prioritisation of tasks.
- Communicates 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.
- Provides and receives complex scientific and clinical information to and from colleagues and service users. Is aware of barriers to understanding and is able to present information accordingly.
- Provides and receives sensitive information to and from patients and their representatives where empathic and re-assurance skills are required. May include notification of adverse events.
- Displays and maintains an appropriate level of IT skills.
- Able to supervise staff and ensures work is completed in line with sample requirements
Teaching, Training and Research Responsibilities
- Participates in the supervision and training of Trainee BMSs, support staff and clinical staff where required
- Proactive in creating a training ethos for all staff
- Proactive in gaining knowledge and understanding in line with departmental in-house training manuals or other qualifications
Other Responsibilities
- Demonstrates excellent personal communication and team working skills.
- Complies with the requirement to practice within data protection and confidentiality guidelines.
- Demonstrates specialist skill and professional knowledge acquired through post Registration, academic and scientific development.
- Demonstrates continuing ability to work individually and unsupervised to a level required in the provision of an out of hours service for lone working on shift or on call.
- Works to ensure that performance targets and sample turnaround times are met by continually assessing quality and priority of work.
- Works to ensure compliance with ISO 15189:2012
- Has 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.
- Assists in improving and developing departmental quality by challenging and questioning practice, contributing ideas as appropriate and participating in the change management process, in conjunction with senior staff
- Attends departmental and Trust-wide staff meetings as appropriate.
- Attends regular appraisal, maintains competence levels within the Department and assists in own personal and professional development
- To maintain good work relations with all members of staff and to promote effective team working taking action when own or others behaviour undermines equality and diversity.
- To treat everyone associated with the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with courtesy and respect.
- Maintains good work relations with all members of staff and to promote effective team working.
- Treats everyone associated with the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with courtesy and respect.
- Demonstrates and promotes the OUH NHSFT core values and behaviours
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- HCPC Registered as a Biomedical Scientist
- Holds IBMS Certificate of Competence Qualification
- Completed the IBMS Specialist Diploma in Medical Microbiology and/or Virology or equivalent level of knowledge and competence
- Completed an IBMS accredited BSc Biomedical Science
Desirable
- Is a member of the IBMS
- Demonstrate evidence of CPD
- Holds an MSc in a Medical Microbiology Subject
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- Experience and knowledge post registration of working within a NHS diagnostic Microbiology Lab
- Demonstrates wide understanding of a wide variety of techniques, methods and automation used within a clinical diagnostic microbiology laboratory.
- Demonstrates competence to work as part of night shift / lone working / on-call
- Demonstrated advanced knowledge of Quality Management or Health and Safety
- Demonstrated advanced knowledge of training and career pathway within the BMS field and training of others
Desirable
- Experience of using all automated and semi-automated equipment in use at OUH Microbiology department
- Knowledge of IT architecture in the running of complex analytical equipment and Laboratory Information Systems
Skills & Ability
Essential
- Team working and leadership skills
- Able to work under extreme pressure and to tight deadlines
- Prepared to work with biological materials and a variety of sample types.
- Flexible approach to hours of work including working nights, evenings, weekends and bank holidays
- Excellent communication and presentation skills. Good grammar used within application
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- HCPC Registered as a Biomedical Scientist
- Holds IBMS Certificate of Competence Qualification
- Completed the IBMS Specialist Diploma in Medical Microbiology and/or Virology or equivalent level of knowledge and competence
- Completed an IBMS accredited BSc Biomedical Science
Desirable
- Is a member of the IBMS
- Demonstrate evidence of CPD
- Holds an MSc in a Medical Microbiology Subject
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- Experience and knowledge post registration of working within a NHS diagnostic Microbiology Lab
- Demonstrates wide understanding of a wide variety of techniques, methods and automation used within a clinical diagnostic microbiology laboratory.
- Demonstrates competence to work as part of night shift / lone working / on-call
- Demonstrated advanced knowledge of Quality Management or Health and Safety
- Demonstrated advanced knowledge of training and career pathway within the BMS field and training of others
Desirable
- Experience of using all automated and semi-automated equipment in use at OUH Microbiology department
- Knowledge of IT architecture in the running of complex analytical equipment and Laboratory Information Systems
Skills & Ability
Essential
- Team working and leadership skills
- Able to work under extreme pressure and to tight deadlines
- Prepared to work with biological materials and a variety of sample types.
- Flexible approach to hours of work including working nights, evenings, weekends and bank holidays
- Excellent communication and presentation skills. Good grammar used within application
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.
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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
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. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
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. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
