Job summary
Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the leading acute Trusts in the North West of England. An independent assessment by the HSJ supported by NHS Employers has rated St Helens & Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in the top 100 places to work in the country. Our Pathology Directorate provides a comprehensive service to the community and our acute hospitals serving a population in excess of 600,000.
Applications are sought from Biomedical Scientists, who have current HCPC registration. It is desirable that you are in the process of completing or have completed the IBMS Specialist portfolio within Haematology and Blood Transfusion or can demonstrate equivalent experience working within the department. Within the role you will be given the opportunity for personal and continued professional development.
You will join our friendly and enthusiastic team working in the busy Blood Science Laboratory as a Specialist Biomedical Scientist within the Haematology & Transfusion department. You will help provide a 24 hours continuous service for the trust and you will help provide medical staff with a high quality service, assisting your colleagues with providing accurate and timely results.
Main duties of the job
The Laboratory provides pathology services to Whiston, Southport, Ormskirk and St Helens Hospitals. Rotation across all sites is expected, including shift work. There are emergency departments at both Whiston and Southport Hospitals together with the regional burns and plastic surgery unit at Whiston and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport.
The Haematology laboratory is fully equipped with Telepath LIMS (Dedalus) and Sysmex EPU middleware. Whiston Haematology currently has the tracked Sysmex XN9100 full blood count analysers, SP-50, DI-60 digital morphology analyser, Interrliner and Auto-Compact ESR machines, and the tracked CN coagulation analysers (CN6000 and CN6500). We also utilise the Sebia Capillary Electrophoresis analyser for Haemoglobinopathy screening and additionally, the Phadia 250 platform is used for the running of Anticardiolipin and Beta-2GPI antibodies. Southport has XN 2000 full blood count analysers and a CN3000 Coagulometer; Ormskirk has a XN1000. The Transfusion Department has Grifols blood grouping analysers and EVM middleware across Whiston and Southport.
The successful applicant will be a flexible, highly motivated individual and strong team player who is fully committed to patient care. The post requires full participation in the out of hours CPP rota which is paid at Agenda for Change rates with an additional essential specialist Blood Science service provision payment.
About us
The Secretary of State has approved the partnership between St Helens & Knowsley and Southport & Ormskirk Hospitals.
From 1st July we have come together as a single organisation under the name Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 17 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk and Newton hospitals.
The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales.
Our Vision is to deliver 5 Star Patient Care:
- CAREthat is evidence based, high quality and compassionate
- SAFETY that is of the highest standards
- COMMUNICATION that is open, inclusive and respectful
- SYSTEMS that are efficient, patient centred and reliable
- PATHWAYS that are best practice and embedded, but also respect the individual needs of patients
Our achievements include:
- Trust rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
- Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
- Awarded National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for our Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme
Please see our Wellbeing & Benefits booklet for more information on our staff benefits. Accessible version available upon request.
Job description
Job responsibilities
KEY DUTIES
Technical
- Undertake manual, semi-automated and fully automated laboratory investigations on a rotational basis through all sections within the Department as required.
- Follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and participate in the regular review and update of SOPs.
- Ensure that equipment is used in accordance with Departmental policies and suppliers instructions.
- Undertake routine and more complex maintenance procedures on the analysers within the Department carry out appropriate internal maintenance procedures and maintain maintenance records.
- Plan and organise their work within the demands of the team.
- Undertake technical validation and authorisation of the complex results from laboratory investigations ensuring accuracy and precision as specified by laboratory protocols.
- Measure and monitor the accuracy and precision of laboratory investigations using appropriate quality control procedures.
- Carry out corrective action when quality control procedures indicate loss of performance. Inform senior staff as necessary
- Prepare reagents to specification.
- Monitor laboratory and satellite blood fridges and take remedial action in the event of failure to secure stock viability.
- Assist medical staff in bone marrow biopsies
- Report any instance or event that may cause service delivery failure.
- Have occasional direct patient contact for example performing sweat test Analysis on children referred from the Paediatric Consultants, and to deliver relevant information to parents/guardians. To be aware of trust policies regarding working with children.
- Check the integrity of patient samples and note any interfering factors before initiating analysis.
- Take responsibility for selection of correct blood and blood products from laboratory stock, as requested for patients following standard operating procedures.
- Ensures best use of stocks in component selection, and maintenance of adequate stock of blood and products in accordance with pre-determined stock levels, and order patient specific products as required in accordance to SOP's from local NBTS.
- When required, to take technical responsibility for the daily running of a section
- Monitor performance of equipment and methods, identifying to Senior staff any concerns. Undertaking equipment repair as required and seeking any necessary advice from equipment manufacturers.
- When available, to provide technical support and advice to out of hours staff by telephone, and to attend the department out of hours if required.
Diagnostic
- Use interpretive skills to determine the clinical significance of results of laboratory tests, for example, by:
- Preparing, examining, and reporting on examination of specimens
- Performing molecular diagnostic tests and electrophoresis
- Performing diagnostic tests by various methods including Biochemical, Immunological, Electrophoretic, Chromatographic and Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques.
- Microscopy, for example in the reporting of blood film morphology, malaria screening, transfusion compatibility testing, Kleihauer-Betke testing.
- Interpret diagnostic laboratory results and take appropriate actions for example:
- Authorisation of results
- Adding technical comments and suggest further investigations
- Referring results for a second opinion using professional judgement
- Informing the requestor/medical staff of clinically significant results
- Communicate patient results by telephone
- Carry out the analysis of serum, whole blood, urine and other body fluids and tissues utilising automated, semi-automated and manual techniques.
- Operate multi-channel, high throughput, micro-processor controlled analytical instruments for the routine and emergency analysis of patient samples.
- Carry out more specialised assays using a range of dedicated analysers and manual techniques.
- Access on-board reagent supply logs and select reagents and consumables that require replenishment before commencing analysis.
- Inspect calibration and quality control data on these instruments and program calibration for those parameters that require it to ensure optimal performance.
- Technically validate and report individual results in electronic form and to ensure that results are released in a timely manner in accordance with Quality Control policy.
- Deal with abnormal, problem, and critical results and initiate what action needs to be taken regarding checking the validity of results and informing senior BMS staff, clinicians and/or Consultant Pathology staff.
- Perform External Quality Control and be aware of the External Quality Control performance for the section.
Out of Hours Working
- Demonstrate competency in order to work autonomously out of hours.
- Complete regular training exercises in order to maintain relevant skills in Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology, Blood Transfusion as appropriate to enable unsupervised participation in the laboratory out of hours service.
- Initiate re-analysis, dilution, reflex tests, and validation of abnormal results.
- Technically validate results for the clinical staff on the wards and inform the appropriate Pathology Consultant of abnormal results outside pre-set action limits.
- Be aware of security and health and safety issues appertaining to the out of hours situation.
- Act as the first point of contact for service users out of hours. Advise service users about appropriate use of the laboratory service. Act as a liaison between service users, Pathology Consultants, and other laboratory personnel as appropriate.
Health and Safety
- Adhere to Trust and departmental Health & Safety protocols and Fire regulations.
- Identify risks, and to be aware of risk assessments affecting the workplace. Report clinical incidents to the Blood Sciences Service Lead. Report any defects or required maintenance in building /services to the Blood Sciences Service Lead.
- Adhere to current Control of Substances Hazardous to Health legislation (COSHH). Ensuring the preparation, safe handling, storage, and disposal of reagents is carried out in accordance with departmental policy and COSHH legislation regarding hazardous materials and chemicals.
Communication
- Communicate results to persons authorised to receive them in a clear and concise manner following appropriate policies and procedures.
- Provide advice and information to laboratory, ward, GP staff and patients regarding samples and sample handling including information on appropriate tests and collection conditions for in-house, referred and infrequently requested tests.
- Deal with result and test queries where information may be conflicting and difficult to understand- appropriateness of test or explanation of results.
- Initiate major incident cascade within Pathology in the absence of senior staff and liaise with National Blood Service over blood stock levels
- Communicate any relevant information to laboratory colleagues within the section and inform effectively at hand over.
- Actively participate in departmental meetings, team briefings, educational and audit meetings as appropriate.
- Ensure effective communication is maintained within the department.
- Maintain good working relations with all members of staff and promote effective teamwork.
Other Duties
- Take part in outpatient clinics, collecting biological samples from patients and carrying out Point of Care Testing investigations.
- Contribute to and attend Annual Management Review if required.
- Keep the workplace and work benches clean and tidy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
KEY DUTIES
Technical
- Undertake manual, semi-automated and fully automated laboratory investigations on a rotational basis through all sections within the Department as required.
- Follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and participate in the regular review and update of SOPs.
- Ensure that equipment is used in accordance with Departmental policies and suppliers instructions.
- Undertake routine and more complex maintenance procedures on the analysers within the Department carry out appropriate internal maintenance procedures and maintain maintenance records.
- Plan and organise their work within the demands of the team.
- Undertake technical validation and authorisation of the complex results from laboratory investigations ensuring accuracy and precision as specified by laboratory protocols.
- Measure and monitor the accuracy and precision of laboratory investigations using appropriate quality control procedures.
- Carry out corrective action when quality control procedures indicate loss of performance. Inform senior staff as necessary
- Prepare reagents to specification.
- Monitor laboratory and satellite blood fridges and take remedial action in the event of failure to secure stock viability.
- Assist medical staff in bone marrow biopsies
- Report any instance or event that may cause service delivery failure.
- Have occasional direct patient contact for example performing sweat test Analysis on children referred from the Paediatric Consultants, and to deliver relevant information to parents/guardians. To be aware of trust policies regarding working with children.
- Check the integrity of patient samples and note any interfering factors before initiating analysis.
- Take responsibility for selection of correct blood and blood products from laboratory stock, as requested for patients following standard operating procedures.
- Ensures best use of stocks in component selection, and maintenance of adequate stock of blood and products in accordance with pre-determined stock levels, and order patient specific products as required in accordance to SOP's from local NBTS.
- When required, to take technical responsibility for the daily running of a section
- Monitor performance of equipment and methods, identifying to Senior staff any concerns. Undertaking equipment repair as required and seeking any necessary advice from equipment manufacturers.
- When available, to provide technical support and advice to out of hours staff by telephone, and to attend the department out of hours if required.
Diagnostic
- Use interpretive skills to determine the clinical significance of results of laboratory tests, for example, by:
- Preparing, examining, and reporting on examination of specimens
- Performing molecular diagnostic tests and electrophoresis
- Performing diagnostic tests by various methods including Biochemical, Immunological, Electrophoretic, Chromatographic and Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques.
- Microscopy, for example in the reporting of blood film morphology, malaria screening, transfusion compatibility testing, Kleihauer-Betke testing.
- Interpret diagnostic laboratory results and take appropriate actions for example:
- Authorisation of results
- Adding technical comments and suggest further investigations
- Referring results for a second opinion using professional judgement
- Informing the requestor/medical staff of clinically significant results
- Communicate patient results by telephone
- Carry out the analysis of serum, whole blood, urine and other body fluids and tissues utilising automated, semi-automated and manual techniques.
- Operate multi-channel, high throughput, micro-processor controlled analytical instruments for the routine and emergency analysis of patient samples.
- Carry out more specialised assays using a range of dedicated analysers and manual techniques.
- Access on-board reagent supply logs and select reagents and consumables that require replenishment before commencing analysis.
- Inspect calibration and quality control data on these instruments and program calibration for those parameters that require it to ensure optimal performance.
- Technically validate and report individual results in electronic form and to ensure that results are released in a timely manner in accordance with Quality Control policy.
- Deal with abnormal, problem, and critical results and initiate what action needs to be taken regarding checking the validity of results and informing senior BMS staff, clinicians and/or Consultant Pathology staff.
- Perform External Quality Control and be aware of the External Quality Control performance for the section.
Out of Hours Working
- Demonstrate competency in order to work autonomously out of hours.
- Complete regular training exercises in order to maintain relevant skills in Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology, Blood Transfusion as appropriate to enable unsupervised participation in the laboratory out of hours service.
- Initiate re-analysis, dilution, reflex tests, and validation of abnormal results.
- Technically validate results for the clinical staff on the wards and inform the appropriate Pathology Consultant of abnormal results outside pre-set action limits.
- Be aware of security and health and safety issues appertaining to the out of hours situation.
- Act as the first point of contact for service users out of hours. Advise service users about appropriate use of the laboratory service. Act as a liaison between service users, Pathology Consultants, and other laboratory personnel as appropriate.
Health and Safety
- Adhere to Trust and departmental Health & Safety protocols and Fire regulations.
- Identify risks, and to be aware of risk assessments affecting the workplace. Report clinical incidents to the Blood Sciences Service Lead. Report any defects or required maintenance in building /services to the Blood Sciences Service Lead.
- Adhere to current Control of Substances Hazardous to Health legislation (COSHH). Ensuring the preparation, safe handling, storage, and disposal of reagents is carried out in accordance with departmental policy and COSHH legislation regarding hazardous materials and chemicals.
Communication
- Communicate results to persons authorised to receive them in a clear and concise manner following appropriate policies and procedures.
- Provide advice and information to laboratory, ward, GP staff and patients regarding samples and sample handling including information on appropriate tests and collection conditions for in-house, referred and infrequently requested tests.
- Deal with result and test queries where information may be conflicting and difficult to understand- appropriateness of test or explanation of results.
- Initiate major incident cascade within Pathology in the absence of senior staff and liaise with National Blood Service over blood stock levels
- Communicate any relevant information to laboratory colleagues within the section and inform effectively at hand over.
- Actively participate in departmental meetings, team briefings, educational and audit meetings as appropriate.
- Ensure effective communication is maintained within the department.
- Maintain good working relations with all members of staff and promote effective teamwork.
Other Duties
- Take part in outpatient clinics, collecting biological samples from patients and carrying out Point of Care Testing investigations.
- Contribute to and attend Annual Management Review if required.
- Keep the workplace and work benches clean and tidy.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registration with Health and Care Professions Council
- A recognised Biomedical Science degree with honours which is acceptable to the Health Professions Council
- IBMS Specialist portfolio
Desirable
- Membership of the Institute of Biomedical Science
- Willing to pursue further qualifications
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Experience of CPD by portfolio
- Understands theoretical and practical laboratory procedures
- Understand basic quality control procedures
- Show understanding of H&S requirements, including COSHH regulations
- Detailed working knowledge of laboratory information and management computer systems and standard IT packages e.g., work processing and spread sheets.
Desirable
- Experience of presentations
- Problem solving
- Familiarity and compliance with UKAs Accreditation requirements
Skills
Essential
- Ability to work within all areas of department
- Possess good interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to organise own workload and that of subordinate staff
- Personable, friendly demeanour
- Well organised
- Willing to work flexibly
- Ability to work with minimal supervision
- Willing and able to learn new skills
- Ability to work alone to provide an out of hours service
Desirable
- Ability to use initiative
- Possess highly developed technical skills
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registration with Health and Care Professions Council
- A recognised Biomedical Science degree with honours which is acceptable to the Health Professions Council
- IBMS Specialist portfolio
Desirable
- Membership of the Institute of Biomedical Science
- Willing to pursue further qualifications
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Experience of CPD by portfolio
- Understands theoretical and practical laboratory procedures
- Understand basic quality control procedures
- Show understanding of H&S requirements, including COSHH regulations
- Detailed working knowledge of laboratory information and management computer systems and standard IT packages e.g., work processing and spread sheets.
Desirable
- Experience of presentations
- Problem solving
- Familiarity and compliance with UKAs Accreditation requirements
Skills
Essential
- Ability to work within all areas of department
- Possess good interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to organise own workload and that of subordinate staff
- Personable, friendly demeanour
- Well organised
- Willing to work flexibly
- Ability to work with minimal supervision
- Willing and able to learn new skills
- Ability to work alone to provide an out of hours service
Desirable
- Ability to use initiative
- Possess highly developed technical skills
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).
