Stockport NHS Foundation Trust

Biomedical Scientist B5/6 Microbiology

The closing date is 25 May 2025

Job summary

Microbiology Department, Pathology Department, Stepping Hill Hospital

Specialist Biomedical Scientist Band 5/6

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

An opportunity has become available to work with Stockport Pathology Microbiology Department. The post is 37.5 hours per week and the successful candidate will need to participate in the on call and shift work rotas.

Please note - this vacancy may close early if we receive a large volume of applications

Main duties of the job

Applications are invited from a suitably qualified, motivated and enthusiastic person to join our busy, friendly team in the Microbiology Department based at Stepping Hill Hospital

Applicants must possess or be working towards the Specialist Portfolio in Microbiology or have significant experience of working within a Clinical Microbiology Department.

The successful candidate will be required to participate in the emergency on-call rota

Participation in a weekend /late/ early working and bank holiday rota is essential. The following shifts are worked on a rotational basis: 8:00am to 4.20 pm, 9:00am to 5.20 pm, and 12pm to 8pm.

Core working hour's pattern is 7.5 hours per day Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.20pm (with a 50 minute unpaid break).

The department is accredited to UKAS:ISO 15189 and has IBMS approval for the registration and specialist portfolios

About us

We hold a unique position in the Stockport community as the provider of healthcare and we are one of its largest employers.

Our mission is to make a difference every day. Our values are that we care, we respect, and we listen

We believe that the best organisations are those that reflect the communities they serve. We are therefore seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce to make it truly representative of our local population.

We actively encourage applications irrespective of race, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage & civil partnership, or pregnancy or maternity. Recognising those communities that are underrepresented within our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from you.

We recognise that flexible working is important. We take requests for flexible working seriously, consider any request we receive and try to work with you, so we can explore if your request may fit with the needs of the service.

The salary for the role is only one part of the excellent package of benefits we offer to you:

  • Between 27-33 days of annual leave plus bank holidays
  • NHS pension scheme membership
  • Salary sacrifice schemes for lease cars, home electronics and more, to make your salary go further
  • NHS Staff discounts
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Salary finance - for loans, savings, budget planning and tips on managing debt
  • Stockport Credit Union- for local financial advice

Details

Date posted

12 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £44,962 a year pro rata per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

362-A-25-7153984

Job locations

Stepping Hill Hospital

Poplar Grove

Stockport

SK2 7JE


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To perform microbiological processing and direct microscopy of clinical samples.
  • To examine culture plates for the presence of pathogenic organisms and to carry out routine and specialist diagnostic testing to identify and confirm recognised pathogens.
  • To perform antibiotic testing of pathogens following departmental standard operating procedures.
  • To perform microscopic examination for infertility investigation screening
  • To maintain a high quality of work within the Department and perform quality control procedures
  • To submit test results as required for the purpose of internal and national Quality Control Schemes
  • To operate as a lone worker for the department - outside core hours, at weekends and on late night rotas and be required to report clinically significant results directly to hospital staff.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and promote safeguarding by implementing the Trusts policies and procedures, acting promptly on concerns, communicating effectively and sharing information appropriately.

  • If successful this vacancy will require a Standard DBS check at a cost of £21.90. This cost will be deducted from your first Trust salary

In addition to this it will be a condition of your employment that you will join the DBS update service and pay the annual subscription fee of £13.

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To perform microbiological processing and direct microscopy of clinical samples.
  • To examine culture plates for the presence of pathogenic organisms and to carry out routine and specialist diagnostic testing to identify and confirm recognised pathogens.
  • To perform antibiotic testing of pathogens following departmental standard operating procedures.
  • To perform microscopic examination for infertility investigation screening
  • To maintain a high quality of work within the Department and perform quality control procedures
  • To submit test results as required for the purpose of internal and national Quality Control Schemes
  • To operate as a lone worker for the department - outside core hours, at weekends and on late night rotas and be required to report clinically significant results directly to hospital staff.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and promote safeguarding by implementing the Trusts policies and procedures, acting promptly on concerns, communicating effectively and sharing information appropriately.

  • If successful this vacancy will require a Standard DBS check at a cost of £21.90. This cost will be deducted from your first Trust salary

In addition to this it will be a condition of your employment that you will join the DBS update service and pay the annual subscription fee of £13.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Must be HCPC registered
  • Willing to start Specialist portfolio or have equivalent experience
  • Experience working with LIMs

Knowledge

Essential

  • Computer literate
  • Aware of current developments in Biomedical Science/ have recent CPD
  • Knowledge of UKAS:ISO 15189

Desirable

  • Knowledge of a document control system

Experience

Desirable

  • Have started Specialist portfolio
  • Be working as a state registered BMS

Skills

Essential

  • Effective communicator
  • Evidence of team working

Desirable

  • experience of lone working

Work related

Essential

  • Able to handle clincical samples
  • Willing to work out of hours
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Must be HCPC registered
  • Willing to start Specialist portfolio or have equivalent experience
  • Experience working with LIMs

Knowledge

Essential

  • Computer literate
  • Aware of current developments in Biomedical Science/ have recent CPD
  • Knowledge of UKAS:ISO 15189

Desirable

  • Knowledge of a document control system

Experience

Desirable

  • Have started Specialist portfolio
  • Be working as a state registered BMS

Skills

Essential

  • Effective communicator
  • Evidence of team working

Desirable

  • experience of lone working

Work related

Essential

  • Able to handle clincical samples
  • Willing to work out of hours

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. 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.

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. 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).

Employer details

Employer name

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Stepping Hill Hospital

Poplar Grove

Stockport

SK2 7JE


Employer's website

http://www.stockport.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Stepping Hill Hospital

Poplar Grove

Stockport

SK2 7JE


Employer's website

http://www.stockport.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Technical Head of Microbiology

Sadie Macmaster

sadie.macmaster@stockport.nhs.uk

01614195601

Details

Date posted

12 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £44,962 a year pro rata per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

362-A-25-7153984

Job locations

Stepping Hill Hospital

Poplar Grove

Stockport

SK2 7JE


Supporting documents

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