Biomedical Scientist Team Manager Clinical Biochemistry (Band 7)

Job responsibilities

Lead a team performing a range of advanced clinical biochemical analyses on blood and other samples, giving advice on appropriate techniques, to guide and contribute to clinical diagnoses, treatments and the evaluation of the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions.

Manage the work of a laboratory section, using personal knowledge, experience and interpersonal skills, to resolve daily issues regarding samples, analyses, requests and reports, to meet urgent clinical need and agreed turnaround times, aligned with evidence-based best practice, reducing disease prevalence, promoting health, and prioritising resources.

Support and mentor the team to take personal ownership of scientific decisions that impact on patient care by reporting biochemical, metabolic, endocrine, toxicological and specific marker assays, to enable prompt and appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

Oversee instrumentation and procedures, researching and investigating latest techniques, verifying techniques, ensuring the laboratory repertoire remains current and that results of investigations meet quality acceptance criteria.

As the lead specialist for a laboratory section, manage and delegate effectively to specialist biomedical scientists the lead roles for specific areas of responsibility, such as coordination of IT systems, health and safety, audit, supplier management, or introduction and verification of new scientific techniques.

Network with other professionals at all levels, providing day to day liaison between the consultant and users of the service, to authorise results, telephone results that may affect immediate treatment, addition of further relevant tests, to give advice on guidelines and techniques, appropriate specimens and examinations, to manage users expectations and to collaborate on new service developments.

Coordinate and manage internal and external quality assurance schemes, lead on internal audit and 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 highly specialised scientific principles, take responsibility for their competency and continuing professional development so as to engender a culture of career-long learning.

Supervise the writing and review of highly specialist documentation, the verification and control of procedural change, and accurate record keeping of scientific investigations to demonstrate commitment to quality and assurance.

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

Attributes

Essential

• Able to lead, supervise and motivate a team.
• Able to train and assess the competence of others.
• Able to prioritise and multi-task.
• 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 including laboratory information management systems.
• Excellent verbal and written skills including report writing.

Qualifications

Essential

• MSc in Clinical Biochemistry, accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS)
• Or
• IBMS Higher Specialist Diploma in Clinical Biochemistry
• Or
• Fellowship of the IBMS by a route demonstrably relevant Clinical Biochemistry
• And
• Registered with the HCPC as a biomedical scientist

Desirable

• IBMS certificate of expert practice in Leadership
• IBMS certificate of expert practice in quality management
• IBMS certificate of expert practice in training
• Health and safety qualification or certificate
• Relevant information technology qualification or certificate

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working as an autonomous specialist practitioner in a relevant setting, acquired over approximately six years.
• Evidence of continuing professional development that conforms to HCPC standards.
• Advanced (MSc-level) knowledge of Clinical Biochemistry
• Understand the key concepts of the knowledge base in the HCPC standards of proficiency for biomedical scientists.

Desirable

• Experience of leading supervising and motivating a team.
• Specialist knowledge of laboratory health and safety, infection. prevention, risk management and laboratory information management.

Skills

Essential

• Able to conduct highly specialist diagnostic laboratory investigations to reproducible standards in Clinical Biochemistry.
• Able to demonstrate proficiency in specialist practical skills (e.g. HbA1c analysis, protein electrophoresis, Down syndrome screening etc.).
• Able to operate laboratory equipment and automation in Clinical Biochemistry.
• Able to work with accuracy and precision in conformance with standard operating procedures.
• Able to authorise laboratory work according to predetermined standards.

Desirable

• Experience of chemistry automation and Ortho Vitros platforms.
• Experience of procurement of laboratory supplies.
• Experience of participating in UKAS inspections.

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).