Job summary
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 already within Haematology and Blood Transfusion. 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
The Laboratory provides pathology services to Whiston, Southport, Ormskirk and St Helens Hospitals. Rotation across all sites is expected. 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.
Main duties of the job
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.
The Haematology laboratory is fully equipped with Telepath LIMS (DXC) 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, 2 x CS5100 Coagulometers; soon moving to the tracked CN coagulation analyser. 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 CS2500 Coagulometer (soon CN), and Ormskirk has a XN1000. The Transfusion Department has Grifols blood grouping analysers and EVM middleware across Whiston and Southport.
This is an exciting time to be joining this Trust for those who feel they can contribute to the shaping and development of a modern laboratory service. Be part of the team that delivers "Excellent patient care in world class hospitals."
About us
St Helens & Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is the only acute Trust in Cheshire and Merseyside and one of the few in the country to achieve OUTSTANDING rated by the Care Quality Commission.
We provide a full range of acute adult services to our local population of circa 360,000 and provide tertiary services across the North West, North Wales, and Isle of Man. We are a Major Trauma Unit and the Mersey Regional Burns Unit.
Our '5 Star Patient Care' strategy is at the heart of what we do; supporting our vision to provide world class services for all our patients by getting it right for every patient, every time.
Our latest achievements include:
- Acute Trust of the Year HSJ Awards November 2019
- Trust rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
- Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
- Best acute Trust in the North West for quality of care (NHS Staff Survey 2021)
- Best place to work in the North West (NHS Staff Survey 2021)
- Awarded National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for our Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme
In the NHS Staff Survey 2021 the Trust scored the highest marks in the North West for the following areas:
- Standard of care
- Best place to work
- Care of patients being the Trust's priority
- Staff engagement
- Staff morale
- Compassionate & inclusive
- Providing safe environments for staff
Please see attached Wellbeing & Benefits booklet for more information on our benefits for staff. 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 to 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 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
CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Maintain Professional Registration with the HCPC.
- Adhere to relevant Code of Practice of Professional and Regulatory bodies.
- Maintain and promote the professional image of the Pathology, STHK and SOHT.
- Maintain and develop skills to enable participation in departmental rotation.
- Maintain an awareness of developments and provide suggestions for implementation as appropriate.
- Attend educational and training courses as required by the departmental manager. Maintain knowledge of advances in relevant scientific areas, through Continuous Professional Development activities.
- Actively participate in departmental continuous professional development activity.
- Maintain skills as appropriate in Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology, Blood Transfusion areas to enable participation in the rota.
- Work to support the delivery and maintenance of standards expected by external agencies such as UKAS and MHRA.
ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES
- Ensure that records are kept up to date and stored safely to ensure compliance with good work practices required for the standards of Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK)
- Comply with good laboratory practices required for the standards of Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) including Health and Safety.
- Advise the Operational Lead when stocks of reagents and consumables are approaching minimum stock levels or take appropriate action.
- Comply with the local and national policies for safe, secure, and confidential processing and storage of patient and other laboratory information.
- Use Pathology systems according to the authorised protocols.
- Enter own results and those obtained by others into the Laboratory Information System LIMS.
- Check and correct, if necessary, information input by other laboratory staff.
- Maintain the integrity and accuracy of laboratory databases.
- Know and understand back-up procedures in the case of LIMS/PAS failure
- Assist in the audit of data held on the pathology laboratory information system.
- Perform required maintenance of analytical systems and interfaces including archiving and backup of software and results to ensure effective maintenance and running.
TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES
- Specialist BMS staff will provide training to colleagues in accordance with the training policies in operation.
- Specialist BMS will assist the training officer in the supporting of staff undertaking portfolio/competency assessments and sign off work as appropriate.
- Specialist BMS may be asked to prepare and deliver presentations for teaching purposes.
- Appropriately utilise the Departmental Quality System.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide supervision to Registered and Trainee Biomedical Scientists, Medical Laboratory Assistants, and students.
- Undertake annual review of trainee and MLA staff as required.
- Act as advisor and support to other members of staff
- Lead on specific specialist areas within a section such as Haemoglobinopathy screening, ELISA, staff training, Quality and Audit, POCT.
- Participate in recruitment process.
- Carry out staff appraisals as requested.
- Deputise for Senior staff in the supervision of the department when required.
- Liaise with company contacts and engineers to organise instrument repair when required by senior staff.
RESEARCH & AUDIT
- Assist in clinical audits, trials and research projects as directed by departmental management.
- Participate in departmental audit plan delivering audits as directed.
- Undertake method and laboratory instrument evaluation as directed by senior laboratory staff.
- Treat all trial samples with appropriate care and attention to ensure their efficacy.
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 to 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 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
CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Maintain Professional Registration with the HCPC.
- Adhere to relevant Code of Practice of Professional and Regulatory bodies.
- Maintain and promote the professional image of the Pathology, STHK and SOHT.
- Maintain and develop skills to enable participation in departmental rotation.
- Maintain an awareness of developments and provide suggestions for implementation as appropriate.
- Attend educational and training courses as required by the departmental manager. Maintain knowledge of advances in relevant scientific areas, through Continuous Professional Development activities.
- Actively participate in departmental continuous professional development activity.
- Maintain skills as appropriate in Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology, Blood Transfusion areas to enable participation in the rota.
- Work to support the delivery and maintenance of standards expected by external agencies such as UKAS and MHRA.
ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES
- Ensure that records are kept up to date and stored safely to ensure compliance with good work practices required for the standards of Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK)
- Comply with good laboratory practices required for the standards of Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) including Health and Safety.
- Advise the Operational Lead when stocks of reagents and consumables are approaching minimum stock levels or take appropriate action.
- Comply with the local and national policies for safe, secure, and confidential processing and storage of patient and other laboratory information.
- Use Pathology systems according to the authorised protocols.
- Enter own results and those obtained by others into the Laboratory Information System LIMS.
- Check and correct, if necessary, information input by other laboratory staff.
- Maintain the integrity and accuracy of laboratory databases.
- Know and understand back-up procedures in the case of LIMS/PAS failure
- Assist in the audit of data held on the pathology laboratory information system.
- Perform required maintenance of analytical systems and interfaces including archiving and backup of software and results to ensure effective maintenance and running.
TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES
- Specialist BMS staff will provide training to colleagues in accordance with the training policies in operation.
- Specialist BMS will assist the training officer in the supporting of staff undertaking portfolio/competency assessments and sign off work as appropriate.
- Specialist BMS may be asked to prepare and deliver presentations for teaching purposes.
- Appropriately utilise the Departmental Quality System.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide supervision to Registered and Trainee Biomedical Scientists, Medical Laboratory Assistants, and students.
- Undertake annual review of trainee and MLA staff as required.
- Act as advisor and support to other members of staff
- Lead on specific specialist areas within a section such as Haemoglobinopathy screening, ELISA, staff training, Quality and Audit, POCT.
- Participate in recruitment process.
- Carry out staff appraisals as requested.
- Deputise for Senior staff in the supervision of the department when required.
- Liaise with company contacts and engineers to organise instrument repair when required by senior staff.
RESEARCH & AUDIT
- Assist in clinical audits, trials and research projects as directed by departmental management.
- Participate in departmental audit plan delivering audits as directed.
- Undertake method and laboratory instrument evaluation as directed by senior laboratory staff.
- Treat all trial samples with appropriate care and attention to ensure their efficacy.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Current registration with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- A recognised Biomedical Science degree with honours which is acceptable to the HCPC
- PgD Biomedical Sciences and/or equivalent experience
Desirable
- Membership of the Institute of Biomedical Science
- Willing to pursue further qualifications e.g. MSc. Advanced specialist diploma etc
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Detailed working knowledge of laboratory information and management computer systems and standard IT packages e.g. work processing and spread sheets.
- Sufficient number of years post qualification experience
- Understands theoretical and practical laboratory procedures
- Ability to organise own workload and that of subordinate staff
- Evidence of CPD
- Ability to work within all areas of the department
Desirable
- Exhibit competency to work alone out of core hours
Skills
Essential
- Problem solving skills
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Good organisational skills
- Ability to work flexibly
- Ability to work with minimal supervision
- Willing and able to learn new skills
- Ability to use initiative
- Highly developed technical skills
- Understands quality control procedures
- Ability to work within all areas of department
Desirable
- Ability to work alone to provide an out of hours service
- Presentation skills
Other
Essential
- Show understanding of H&S requirements including COSHH regulations
- Familiarity and compliance with CPA Accreditation requirements
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Current registration with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- A recognised Biomedical Science degree with honours which is acceptable to the HCPC
- PgD Biomedical Sciences and/or equivalent experience
Desirable
- Membership of the Institute of Biomedical Science
- Willing to pursue further qualifications e.g. MSc. Advanced specialist diploma etc
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Detailed working knowledge of laboratory information and management computer systems and standard IT packages e.g. work processing and spread sheets.
- Sufficient number of years post qualification experience
- Understands theoretical and practical laboratory procedures
- Ability to organise own workload and that of subordinate staff
- Evidence of CPD
- Ability to work within all areas of the department
Desirable
- Exhibit competency to work alone out of core hours
Skills
Essential
- Problem solving skills
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Good organisational skills
- Ability to work flexibly
- Ability to work with minimal supervision
- Willing and able to learn new skills
- Ability to use initiative
- Highly developed technical skills
- Understands quality control procedures
- Ability to work within all areas of department
Desirable
- Ability to work alone to provide an out of hours service
- Presentation skills
Other
Essential
- Show understanding of H&S requirements including COSHH regulations
- Familiarity and compliance with CPA Accreditation requirements
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).
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).
