Specialist Biomedical Scientist - Microbiology

Job description

Job responsibilities

Specialist Biomedical Scientist in Infection Sciences

Department: Health and Community Services

Job purpose

Apply specialist scientific knowledge, methods and advanced technology to the investigation of clinical samples, to guide the diagnosis and management of infectious diseases, protecting the health of islanders.

Job specific outcomes

Perform and report on a range of specialist infection and molecular laboratory analyses on a variety of samples, giving advice on appropriate techniques, to guide and contribute to clinical diagnoses, treatments and the evaluation of the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions.

Prioritise work, using personal knowledge and experience, to meet urgent clinical need and agreed turnaround times, and contributing to the control of infection, preventive programmes, the safety of the blood supply, and hospital bed occupancy management.

Take personal ownership of scientific decisions that impact on patient care, alone or often leading a small team, by reporting bacterial, viral or other infections, antimicrobial susceptibility, antibody levels and molecular testing results, to enable prompt and appropriate patient treatment.

Troubleshoot instrumentation and procedures, resolving technical nonconformities, ensuring laboratory work meets pre-agreed quality acceptance criteria.

Take on the lead role for a specific area of responsibility, such as coordination of IT systems, health and safety, audit, supplier management or introduction and verification of a new scientific technique, facilitating an effective structure of management and delegation.

Network with other professionals at all levels, sometimes coordinating with off-island consultants, to give advice on guidelines and techniques, appropriate specimens and examinations, to manage users expectations and to give laboratory results.

Coordinate and monitor internal and external quality assurance scheme reports, participate in internal audit and contribute to external accreditation, giving assurance to service users that the quality of laboratory work can be relied upon.

Educate, train and assess the competence of less experienced employees in detailed laboratory processes and scientific principles, and take responsibility for own continuing professional development so as to engender a culture of career-long learning.

Lead on the writing and review of specialist procedures and other documents, keep accurate records of scientific investigations, and participate in verification and control of procedural change, to demonstrate commitment to quality and assurance.

Assess and minimise clinical risk to ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients.

Essential Qualifications

Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) specialist diploma in medical microbiology or virology, or equivalent postgraduate diploma level qualification or equivalent experience

And

BSc(hons) in biomedical science, accredited by the IBMS or equivalent qualification accepted by the IBMS

And

IBMS certificate of competence, or legacy equivalent (e.g. CPSM logbook)

And

Registered with HCPC

Desirable Qualifications

Health and safety qualification or certificate

Relevant information technology qualification or certificate

Job-related mandatory training in health and safety, data security and safeguarding

Knowledge

Post-graduate diploma level knowledge of infection sciences

Degree-level knowledge of biomedical science including cellular science, blood science, infection science, molecular and genetic science, and reproductive science

Understand the key concepts of the knowledge base in the HCPC standards of proficiency for biomedical scientists

Understand the principles of good laboratory practice, quality management, safety, infection prevention and risk management

Specialist knowledge of laboratory health and safety

Specialist knowledge of laboratory information management

Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice in blood transfusion

Technical / Work-based Skills

Able to conduct specialist diagnostic laboratory investigations to reproducible standards in infection sciences

Able to demonstrate proficiency in specialist practical skills (e.g. Isolation and identification of bacterial pathogens,

Able to conduct specialist diagnostic laboratory investigations to reproducible standards in areas of transfusion science and molecular pathology, detection of viruses, antimicrobial susceptibility testing etc.)

Able to operate laboratory equipment in infection sciences

Able to work with accuracy and precision in conformance with standard operating procedures

Able to authorise laboratory work according to predetermined quality standards

General Skills/Attributes

Able to train and assess the competence of others

Able to prioritise and multitask

Able to adapt practice to new developments through change control and verification processes

Able to analyse and critically evaluate information

Demonstrate a logical and systematic approach to problem solving

Able to use appropriate information and communication technologies includinglaboratory information management systems

Experience

Experience of working as an autonomouspractitioner in Bacteriology, acquired over approximately three years in a medical laboratory, of which, approximately two years is in the relevant speciality

Evidence of continuing professional development that conforms to HCPC standards

Appointees to this role will be required to adhere to and perform their duties in line with the standards identified in the States of Jersey tier 5 core accountabilities attributes and behaviour indicators.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc(hons) in biomedical science, accredited by the IBMS or equivalent
• qualification accepted by the IBMS
• Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) specialist diploma in medical
• microbiology or virology, or equivalent postgraduate diploma level qualification or equivalent experience
• Experience of working as an autonomous practitioner in a relevant
• specialist setting, acquired over approximately three years in a medical laboratory, of which at least two are in Microbiology
• Able to demonstrate proficiency in specialist practical skills (e.g.
• Isolation and identification of bacterial pathogens, Able to conduct specialist diagnostic laboratory investigations to reproducible standards in the areas; antimicrobial susceptibility testing, MALDI-ToF, etc.)
• Able

Desirable

• Health and safety qualification or certificate
• Specialist knowledge of laboratory information management
• Quality Management Experience
• Knowledge of UKAS accreditation

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Health and Community Services

Address

Infection Sciences

Pathology, General Hopsital

St. Helier

JERSEY

JE1 3QS

Employer's website

https://www.gov.je (Opens in a new tab)