Job Summary
Please note that the working hours for this post will be covering the 3 x shifts in the department (after training if required). Early shift – 07:30 to 15:30, Day shift – 08:30 to 16:30 and Late shift – 11:30 to 19:30. You will also be required to participate in the departments on call rota, following appropriate training.
The work performed by the Cellular & Molecular Therapy (CMT) Laboratories in NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), is central to the provision and improvement of life saving stem cell transplants. Our laboratories support over half of all haemopoietic stem cell transplants performed in England each year through a network of GMP grade laboratories in 5 specialist facilities across the country.
The department provides specialist services to hospitals covering a large geographical area. We work with peripheral blood derived stem cells, umbilical cord blood and bone marrow cells, collected for patients undergoing stem cell transplantation. We have close partnerships with various transplant programmes and other groups undertaking clinical trials, ground-breaking research and service development. The successful applicant will be highly motivated, ‘team focussed’ and with good time management skills. The work will involve routine service provision, specialist cell processing, and other development activities. We would expect the successful candidate to be flexible and willing to adapt to change. Experience of working in a cell therapy laboratory, and familiarity with stem cell processing and/or flow cytometry techniques would be an advantage.
You should be a HCPC registered Biomedical with relevant post- registration experience and ideally a specialist qualification in the field of transplantation science. Biomedical Scientists wishing to develop specialist skills in Cellular and Molecular Therapies will be considered for the posts, paid as a BMS on an NHS Band 5 scale whilst achieving the necessary experience and qualifications.
Main duties of the job
1. You will be required to perform, analyse, record and interpret a wide range of laboratory investigations and technical procedures relating to the issue of patient test results for organ transplant and blood transfusion and the issue of blood and tissue products, with the support of the team
2. You will be responsible for the support and training of new and less experienced staff
3. You will be required to handle blood and tissue samples and operate a range of laboratory analysers and equipment
4. The role may require you to undertake urgent on-call work providing 24/7 testing and advice, depending on specialty
5. The role may require you to work variable hours and days, weekends and bank holidays as per the roster within the department (unless otherwise rostered within the shift agreement) with appropriate notice, depending on specialty
About You
Qualifications
6. Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered Biomedical Scientist
7. Science graduate with relevant post graduate training eg British Blood Transfusion Society specialist certificate, British Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Diploma or equivalent experience (Band 6)
8. Evidence of continuous learning and professional development (Band 5&6)
9. Willingness to undertake further training and development (Band 5&6)
Experience
10. Experience of the use of a range of laboratory analysers and equipment (Band 5)
11. Experience in a range of scientific techniques (Band 5)
12. Broad science knowledge with a specialist knowledge in transfusion / tranplantation science gained through previous experience working as a Biomedical Scientist (Band 6)
13. Experience in specialised laboratory techniques using a wide range of complex equipment (Band 6)
14. Experience in prioritising and issuing work to other staff and monitoring progress to ensure deadlines are met (Band 6)
15. Understanding of UK Accreditation Service (UKAS), Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), UK Blood Transfusion Service (UKBTS) and British Committee for Standards in Haematology (BCSH) guidelines (Band 6)
16. Experience of working with Information Technology (Band 5 & 6)
17. Experience of writing reports, preparing and delivering presentations and training and mentoring staff (Band 6)