North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Microbiology Team Manager

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

Microbiology Team Manager, Band 7, Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle

The Virology, Immunology and Microbiology departments that make up Infection Sciences have received significant investment in recent years and is looking to further develop our test repertoire using the new platforms that are now available. We have a small, enthusiastic and friendly team with a good reputation who are a key part of acute service provision within North Cumbria. This busy department services internal and external customers and requires individuals to often work under pressure with accuracy.

Applications are invited from HCPC Registered Biomedical Scientists for the post of Microbiology Team Manager.

Manage the day-to-day operation, quality, efficiency and scientific provision in Microbiology including quality management, I.T. applications, training and health & safety (H&S).

Commitment to weekend working, on call and early/late shifts

Main duties of the job

The main duties of the post include responsibilities for:

Clinical -

  • Perform analytical, interpretive judgements on results, ensuring staff and service development for best practice at all levels.
  • As lead practitioner, resolve staff problems in clinical judgements and analytical results / techniques.

Management -

  • Lead/manage staff within the Microbiology laboratory and associated support services, ensuring appropriate staff structures, policies, practices and competences are in place.
  • Performance manage staff through appraisal and development
  • Maintain Quality Assurance schemes for Microbiology

Administration -

  • Maintain a QMS to ensure continual compliance with accreditation and regulatory bodies

Education -

  • Manage training requirements for all staff in Microbiology undertaking the role of training supervisor, acting as lead for planning and monitoring.

About us

At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding hospital and health services to half a million people. Established on 1st October 2019, the Trust is creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout north Cumbria and beyond. We're responsible for delivering over 70 services across 15 main locations and we employ more than 6,500 members of staff.

Our 5 key principles demonstrate our belief in the delivery of 'safe, high quality care every time'.

  • Being a clinically led organisation
  • Quality and safety at the heart
  • A positive patient experience every time
  • A great place to work
  • Managing our money well

As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.

Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.

Details

Date posted

24 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£43,742 to £50,056 a year pro rata per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

262-A-25-7481941

Job locations

Cumberland Infirmary

Newtown Road

Carlisle

CA2 7HY


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

CERTIFICATE OF SPONSORSHIP:

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment.Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed. For further information visit theUK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligible vacancies.

Disclosure and Barring Service:

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.

The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as follows if applicable to the post:

Standard Check: £21.50 + Administration cost of £5.90 = £27.40. Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

Enhanced Check: £49.50 + administration cost of £5.90 = £55.40. Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

NCIC can offer successful future employees the following benefits:

27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years

Flexible working Scheme

NHS Discounts*

Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work*

Excellent opportunities for development*

Competitive NHS Pension scheme

Vivup is a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems

*Subject to eligibility

Important Information

Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.

If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

CERTIFICATE OF SPONSORSHIP:

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment.Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed. For further information visit theUK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligible vacancies.

Disclosure and Barring Service:

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.

The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as follows if applicable to the post:

Standard Check: £21.50 + Administration cost of £5.90 = £27.40. Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

Enhanced Check: £49.50 + administration cost of £5.90 = £55.40. Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

NCIC can offer successful future employees the following benefits:

27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years

Flexible working Scheme

NHS Discounts*

Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work*

Excellent opportunities for development*

Competitive NHS Pension scheme

Vivup is a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems

*Subject to eligibility

Important Information

Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.

If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • BSc in biomedical science or equivalent.
  • HCPC registration
  • MSc in healthcare science or equivalent.

Desirable

  • Essential IT skills (EITS) or equivalent.
  • Foundation management certificate or equivalent

Experience

Essential

  • Staff supervision within an NHS laboratory.
  • Extensive relevant technical / clinical techniques and methodologies.
  • Quality, finance, staffing and risk assessment policies and procedures.

Desirable

  • Audit experience

Knowledge

Essential

  • Continuing professional development with portfolio.
  • Specialist knowledge in area of practice.
  • EQA and IQA procedures.
  • Stock management systems.
  • Equality legislation and best practice.

Desirable

  • Equality impact assessment.
  • Quality management. UKAS standards.
  • Trust and department H&S procedures.

Skills

Essential

  • Technical competence with ability to supervise staff in any section of the department.
  • Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Technical ability to carry out advanced troubleshooting on complex analytical systems.
  • Good team worker with ability to motivate and influence a team, fostering good professional practice.
  • Ability to use in-house IT systems and competence with word processing, spreadsheet and database software.
  • Leadership skills and staff management
  • Ability to instigate procedures for corrective action.
  • Ability to formulate, perform and evaluate training.
  • Ability to review anomalous / unexpected findings and take appropriate action.
  • Good hand-eye coordination.
  • Ability to organise rotas and work plans.
  • Ability to deputise for the operational manager.
  • Ability to manage people.

Desirable

  • Ability to perform complex statistical analysis of data and interpretation.

Personal Circumstances

Essential

  • Commitment to CPD

Other Requirements

Essential

  • Flexible approach to working patterns.
  • Able to travel independently between hospital sites.

Desirable

  • Driving Licence
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • BSc in biomedical science or equivalent.
  • HCPC registration
  • MSc in healthcare science or equivalent.

Desirable

  • Essential IT skills (EITS) or equivalent.
  • Foundation management certificate or equivalent

Experience

Essential

  • Staff supervision within an NHS laboratory.
  • Extensive relevant technical / clinical techniques and methodologies.
  • Quality, finance, staffing and risk assessment policies and procedures.

Desirable

  • Audit experience

Knowledge

Essential

  • Continuing professional development with portfolio.
  • Specialist knowledge in area of practice.
  • EQA and IQA procedures.
  • Stock management systems.
  • Equality legislation and best practice.

Desirable

  • Equality impact assessment.
  • Quality management. UKAS standards.
  • Trust and department H&S procedures.

Skills

Essential

  • Technical competence with ability to supervise staff in any section of the department.
  • Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Technical ability to carry out advanced troubleshooting on complex analytical systems.
  • Good team worker with ability to motivate and influence a team, fostering good professional practice.
  • Ability to use in-house IT systems and competence with word processing, spreadsheet and database software.
  • Leadership skills and staff management
  • Ability to instigate procedures for corrective action.
  • Ability to formulate, perform and evaluate training.
  • Ability to review anomalous / unexpected findings and take appropriate action.
  • Good hand-eye coordination.
  • Ability to organise rotas and work plans.
  • Ability to deputise for the operational manager.
  • Ability to manage people.

Desirable

  • Ability to perform complex statistical analysis of data and interpretation.

Personal Circumstances

Essential

  • Commitment to CPD

Other Requirements

Essential

  • Flexible approach to working patterns.
  • Able to travel independently between hospital sites.

Desirable

  • Driving Licence

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

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Cumberland Infirmary

Newtown Road

Carlisle

CA2 7HY


Employer's website

https://www.ncic.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Cumberland Infirmary

Newtown Road

Carlisle

CA2 7HY


Employer's website

https://www.ncic.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Infection Sciences Operational Manager

Kevin Bertram

kevin.bertram@ncic.nhs.uk

01228814333

Details

Date posted

24 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£43,742 to £50,056 a year pro rata per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

262-A-25-7481941

Job locations

Cumberland Infirmary

Newtown Road

Carlisle

CA2 7HY


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)