Job summary
An opportunity has arisen for a well-motivated individual to work in our Microbiology and Virology Department as a Registered Biomedical Scientist.
Applicants should have an accredited degree in Biomedical Sciences (or equivalent) be registered with the HCPC or be working towards such status and be eager to learn and participate in continuous professional development. Candidates should ideally have experience in Microbiology and/or Virology.
Applications for a Trainee BMS position will be considered from candidates with an IBMS accredited Biomedical Sciences degree. The successful applicant will be expected to undertake a period of on the job training whilst completing an IBMS Registration Training Portfolio, which will result in the award of an IBMS Certificate of Competence on successful verification. Typically, this will take approximately 12 months to achieve and will enable application for HCPC registration as a Biomedical Scientist. During this period the trainee will be placed on Annex 21 at 75% of Band 5.
- Interview Date 10/04/2024
- 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
Main duties of the job
As a biomedical scientist, you will utilise knowledge and technical skills to process a wide variety of sample types including faeces, blood, sputums and swabs. You will use both manual methodology and automation to produce and interpret results for patient management. You will rotate through all core sections of the laboratory and it is essential that applicants will be able to take part in the out of hour's service once trained.
Microbiology plays a pivotal role in the provision of 1.1 million samples per year, which are essential for the delivery of high quality clinical care within all Directorates of the Trust and in Primary Care. The Department also acts as a regional and national reference laboratory. The Department is UKAS accredited and is housed at the Freeman Hospital. The laboratory is progressive, well equipped and is accredited for training, with participation in CPD being actively encouraged.
About us
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest, largest and most successful teaching NHS foundation trusts in the country, with over 16,000 staff and an annual income of £1 billion.
We have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.
We're also proud to be the second largest provider of specialised services in the country. This means we support people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.
Our staff oversee around 2 million patients 'contacts' each year, delivering high standards of healthcare.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people's race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- The department of Microbiology and Virology is made up of several specialist sections and the post holder will normally rotate between them and participate as part of a team, in providing Microbiology and Virology laboratory support to the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, General Practitioners and other legitimate users of the service.
- Procedures will be carried out without supervision under the guidance of an Advanced Biomedical Scientist. The post holder will be required to evaluate situations and seek advice from senior members of staff if deemed appropriate.
Responsibilities
- To undertake the reception, sorting, numbering, booking in and preparation of Microbiology and Virology samples for analysis, including interpretation of clinical details and deciding which investigations are most appropriate.
- To inoculate and incubate culture plates, analyse cultures, decide on possible significant pathogens, identify micro-organisms, perform antibiotic susceptibility tests, validate and report results and interpretive comments using judgement in determining and initiating further tests that may be required.
- To perform microscopical examinations on a variety of samples, identifying any abnormal results and taking appropriate actions.
- To process blood and serum samples by automated or manual methods, analysing and reporting results and interpretive comments.
- To bring any significant or aberrant results to the attention of the departmental senior staff, Medical staff and Infection Prevention & Control Nurses as appropriate.
- To provide specialist technical advice to Medical and Infection Prevention & Control staff regarding the results obtained.
- To actively participate in the maintenance and basic trouble shooting of Automated laboratory equipment, report any faults and non-compliances to a senior member of staff and take prompt and appropriate action in response to unexpected situations.
- To participate in the department Quality Assurance programmes and to report any non-compliant events to a senior member of staff.
- To work in compliance with local health and safety rules to ensure a safe working environment for you, colleagues and visitors. To adhere to department and Trust Health and Safety policies (including COSHH, Risk assessments and Standard Operating Procedures) and to report any non-compliances to a senior member of staff.
- To supervise, teach and train students, unqualified staff, Specialist Registrars or visitors, and to cover for absent colleagues.
- The Registered BMS will participate in Microbiology out of hours rotas when sufficiently experienced. They will be asked to provide cover for Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday duties in the department as required.
- The Registered BMS will be expected to be competent to take part in on-call working, and will be required to provide out of hours cover during the week, at weekends and also Bank Holidays.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate.The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- The department of Microbiology and Virology is made up of several specialist sections and the post holder will normally rotate between them and participate as part of a team, in providing Microbiology and Virology laboratory support to the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, General Practitioners and other legitimate users of the service.
- Procedures will be carried out without supervision under the guidance of an Advanced Biomedical Scientist. The post holder will be required to evaluate situations and seek advice from senior members of staff if deemed appropriate.
Responsibilities
- To undertake the reception, sorting, numbering, booking in and preparation of Microbiology and Virology samples for analysis, including interpretation of clinical details and deciding which investigations are most appropriate.
- To inoculate and incubate culture plates, analyse cultures, decide on possible significant pathogens, identify micro-organisms, perform antibiotic susceptibility tests, validate and report results and interpretive comments using judgement in determining and initiating further tests that may be required.
- To perform microscopical examinations on a variety of samples, identifying any abnormal results and taking appropriate actions.
- To process blood and serum samples by automated or manual methods, analysing and reporting results and interpretive comments.
- To bring any significant or aberrant results to the attention of the departmental senior staff, Medical staff and Infection Prevention & Control Nurses as appropriate.
- To provide specialist technical advice to Medical and Infection Prevention & Control staff regarding the results obtained.
- To actively participate in the maintenance and basic trouble shooting of Automated laboratory equipment, report any faults and non-compliances to a senior member of staff and take prompt and appropriate action in response to unexpected situations.
- To participate in the department Quality Assurance programmes and to report any non-compliant events to a senior member of staff.
- To work in compliance with local health and safety rules to ensure a safe working environment for you, colleagues and visitors. To adhere to department and Trust Health and Safety policies (including COSHH, Risk assessments and Standard Operating Procedures) and to report any non-compliances to a senior member of staff.
- To supervise, teach and train students, unqualified staff, Specialist Registrars or visitors, and to cover for absent colleagues.
- The Registered BMS will participate in Microbiology out of hours rotas when sufficiently experienced. They will be asked to provide cover for Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday duties in the department as required.
- The Registered BMS will be expected to be competent to take part in on-call working, and will be required to provide out of hours cover during the week, at weekends and also Bank Holidays.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate.The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- BSc in Biomedical Sciences or other subject approved by IBMS & / or accredited by HCPC or working towards said qualifications
- Health & Care Professions Council registration as BMS (or commencing pathway to becoming State Registered)
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Able to organise and prioritise own work activities
- Communication skills
- Analytical and judgemental skills
- Planning and organisational skills
Desirable
- Keyboard skills and some technical skills.
- Additional responsibilities e.g. manual handling, first aid
- Awareness of the role of Healthcare Science Practitioner / Biomedical Scientists
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- CPD
- Computer literacy
- Familiarity with Health & Safety and COSHH
- NHS Laboratory Experience
Desirable
- Specialist training courses
- Knowledge of the role of microbiology and/or virology
- Aware of ISO 15189 and evidence of its importance
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- BSc in Biomedical Sciences or other subject approved by IBMS & / or accredited by HCPC or working towards said qualifications
- Health & Care Professions Council registration as BMS (or commencing pathway to becoming State Registered)
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Able to organise and prioritise own work activities
- Communication skills
- Analytical and judgemental skills
- Planning and organisational skills
Desirable
- Keyboard skills and some technical skills.
- Additional responsibilities e.g. manual handling, first aid
- Awareness of the role of Healthcare Science Practitioner / Biomedical Scientists
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- CPD
- Computer literacy
- Familiarity with Health & Safety and COSHH
- NHS Laboratory Experience
Desirable
- Specialist training courses
- Knowledge of the role of microbiology and/or virology
- Aware of ISO 15189 and evidence of its importance
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
