Senior Biomedical Scientist

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder is the lead specialist responsible for a team of Biomedical Scientists and Medical Laboratory Assistants delivering a medical laboratory service which achieves the objectives of efficient and effective patient care and resource management. They will support the operations managers in providing comprehensive, high quality and responsive laboratory service. All staff are expected to work between from 8am and 8pm Monday to Sunday on a rotational basis including bank holidays or as required. Shift patterns are constantly under review to meet service needs.

Duties and Responsibilities

Technical

1. To undertake manual, semi-automated and fully automated-laboratory investigations.
2. To ensure that test procedures are carried out according to SOPs and that staff are competent to undertake these procedures
3. To undertake routine operative maintenance on laboratory instruments.
4. To plan and organise their work and the work of others within the demands of the team.
5. To ensure that reagents are prepared, stored and used in a manner suitable for patient investigations.
6. To undertake technical validation of highly complex results from laboratory investigations to ensure accuracy and precision as specified by laboratory protocols
7. To measure and monitor the accuracy and precision of laboratory investigations using appropriate quality control procedures.
8. To ensure that preventative maintenance schedules have been carried out on laboratory instruments prior to them being used for patient investigations
9. To assess, initiate and monitor appropriate action when a situation may cause service delivery failure.
10. To review, assess and initiate corrective action when quality control procedures indicate loss of performance with the laboratory instruments or methods and monitor results.
11. To communicate patient results by telephone.
12. To report any instance or event that may cause a service delivery failure to the laboratory management team.

Scientific

1. To lead and undertake method and laboratory instrument evaluation in collaboration with laboratory management.
2. To initiate and participate in research and development in collaboration with laboratory management.

Diagnostic

1. To use interpretive skills to determine the pathogenic and clinical significance of results of laboratory tests, concentration and attention to detail are essential to these processes and form the greater part of the working day.
2. To interpret diagnostic laboratory results and take appropriate actions. i.e.

• authorisation of results
• ordering relevant follow-up laboratory procedures
• adding technical and clinically relevant comments
• referring results for a second opinion
• informing the requestor/medical staff of clinically significant results
• operation of automated equipment
• To communicate patient results by telephone.

This is complex, sensitive information that must be accurate and may have medico legal implications.

1. To participate and lead in clinical audits, trials and research projects as required and ensure any audit non-conformances are resolved in a timely manner.

Line Management

1. To undertake staff performance appraisals and regular reviews.
2. To formulate and manage staff daily section rotas
3. To agree leave applications in compliance within leave guidelines and enter leave onto the computer database.
4. To act as the first point of contact for staff disciplinary and performance and competency issues
5. To participate in recruitment, selection and induction of staff
6. To act as a mentor for Biomedical Scientists and MLAs.
7. Responsible to perform and organise competency assessments of team members
8. To deputise in their absence, for the Operations Manager, Quality Manager or H&S and Training Manager, where necessary

Laboratory Informatics

1. To comply with local and national policies for the safe, secure and confidential processing, and storage of patient and other laboratory information.
2. To use the Laboratory Information System (LIMS) according to the authorised protocols.
3. To enter their own results and those obtained by others into the LIMS.
4. To maintain the integrity and accuracy of laboratory databases,

Administrative

1. To supervise the day-to-day operation of one or more sub-section(s) of /Virology.
2. To ensure compliance with good work practices required for the standards of ISO15189.
3. To ensure that records are kept up to date and stored safely to ensure compliance with good work practices required for the standards of ISO15189.
4. To write, prepare, review and comply with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and to have the authority to advise on procedures not covered by SOPs.
5. To undertake work file management to ensure that all results are reported within the agreed turnaround time.
6. To assist the department in measuring and monitoring turnaround times for laboratory results, and to initiate corrective action if required.
7. To participate in day to day supervision and training of Medical Laboratory Assistants, Medical staff, locum staff and Trainee Biomedical Scientists preparing for HCPC Registration and other biomedical scientists working towards their IBMS specialist portfolio.
8. To assess and sign off staff training competences and portfolios as required.
9. To assist the department with stock control of reagents and consumables.
10. Ensure OPMS data is recorded accurately and in a timely manner.

General

1. To participate in Continual Professional Development to meet professional requirements.
2. To maintain HCPC Registration.
3. To demonstrate competency in order to meet the necessary criteria for performing appropriate tasks.
4. To maintain knowledge and an awareness of developments in /virology and provide suggestions for implementation as appropriate.
5. To ensure that teams observe and adhere to local and national health and safety policies.
6. To ensure that the workplace and work benches are kept optimally organised and maintained in accordance with agreed Health and Safety policies.
7. To maintain good work relations with all members of staff and to promote effective teamwork.
8. To treat everyone associated with Synnovis and Guys & St Thomas Hospital NHS Trust with courtesy and respect.
9. To ensure compliance with all local and national standards of work practice e.g. ISO15189.
10. To maintain and promote the professional image of Synnovis Infection Sciences and Guys & St Thomas Hospital NHS Trust.

Health and Safety Responsibilities

1. To be aware of and understand the application of relevant health & safety regulations and guidelines.
2. To take appropriate action if there is a spillage of body fluids or hazardous chemicals in order to minimise the risk to staff and the public.

This job description is intended as an outline of the general areas of activity and will be amended in the light of changing needs of the organisation and/or developmental needs of the post holder. The postholder is required to participate in an annual joint review/appraisal wherethis job description will be reviewed.

The post holder may be required to carry out other duties in line with the grading of the post. The job description may be subject to change and, if so, this will take place in consultation with the post holder.

Synnovis is a pathology partnership between SYNLAB UK and Ireland, and the NHS, including sites, Guys & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust and Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to deliver and transform pathology services across South East London.

The partnership provides services to 1.7 million people living in South East London, as well as to hundreds of thousands of patients from outside the region who use local healthcare services.

The partnership provides diagnostics, testing and digital pathology for hospital trusts, GP services and other healthcare providers.

Guys and St Thomas Hospital Foundation Trust is a major emergency and specialist teaching Trust which has all the specialties associated with a fascinating and career defining case load including: Womens Services, Fetal Medicine, Haematology, Oncology, Transplantation, and is also home to the Evelina Childrens Hospital and the Cancer Centre on the Guys site.

You will be close to the vibrant Borough Market and the South Bank, which are exceptional London locations; perfect places to work and relax next to such iconic venues as Big Ben, The London Eye and The Shard!

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science or equivalent
• MSc Biomedical Science (or related subject) or equivalent (FIBMS)
• HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council) if completed via portfolio registration (must have specialist portfolio)
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Evidence of managerial training/advanced technical expertise

Desirable

• Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences

Experience

Essential

• Working as a member of a team
• Significant post HCPC Registration experience in a clinical diagnostic laboratory in relevant discipline

Desirable

• Training and supervising a team
• Working alone during an out-of-hours service
• Audits
• Validation and verification

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Comprehensive knowledge of Virology techniques- routine and specialist
• Ability to undertake technical validation of results
• Basic Molecular Diagnostic techniques
• Command of written and spoken English
• Ability to authorise results for clinical use
• Ability to interpret diagnostic laboratory results
• Basic use of Microsoft Word and Excel
• Health & Safety legislation and procedures
• Quality Control and Assurance

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

Synnovis Analytics

Address

St Thomas' Hospital

Westminster Bridge Road

London

SE1 7EH

Employer's website

http://www.synnovis.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)