Job overview
We are looking for an enthusiastic Biomedical Scientist (Band 6), for full time (37.5 hours per week) role within Clinical Immunology and Allergy at the Synnovis Analytics HUB laboratory in Blackfriars Bridge. The role is for a permanent contract. Ideally you would have a few years of Immunology experience under your belt. The successful applicants will join our ever growing, friendly and interactive team which delivers an excellent diagnostic Immunology service to King’s College Hospital, Guy’s and St. Thomas’s Hospitals, local GPs and other customers throughout the UK.
An extended working day is in operation from 08:00 to 19:30, Monday to Friday, which is covered by three shifts. There is voluntary shift on Saturdays. Our service is fully UKAS accredited, and we are accredited by the IBMS for Training. We offer an extensive repertoire of analyses covering autoimmunity, allergy, monoclonal gammopathies and immunodeficiency. The laboratory team comprises 25 staff members, which includes Biomedical Scientists, Clinical Scientists, and Medical Laboratory Assistants. The laboratory team is supported by a team of medical personnel and administrative staff. We are committed to quality improvement.
Please note that for a Biomedical Scientist to be paid at Band 6 it is essential that they have completed their specialist portfolio. We may consider applications from employees who have not completed a specialist portfolio, but if they are successful, they will be paid at Band 5.
Main duties of the job
BMS staff are trained in all sections of the lab. We are committed to staff training and staff are actively encouraged to develop themselves through the various training opportunities available within Synnovis.
You will have a suite of learning opportunities available through The Synnovis Way Development programme, the Scientific Learning and Development Fund and the Synnovis academy through which you can receive funding / support for advanced qualifications.
Through our Innovation Accelerator Fund, you can apply for finance to get that new innovative scientific project off the ground, and participate with the wider scientific community through symposiums, conferences and other peer group meetings.
Working for our organisation
Your development and learning (Applicable for Analytics):
You will have a suite of learning opportunities available through The Synnovis Way Development programme, the Scientific Learning and Development Fund and the Synnovis Academy through which you can receive funding / support for advanced qualifications.
Through our Innovation Accelerator Fund, you can apply for finance to get that new innovative scientific project off the ground, and participate with the wider scientific community through symposiums, conferences and other peer group meetings.
BMS staff are trained in all sections of the laboratory. We are committed to staff training; staff are actively encouraged to develop themselves through the various training opportunities available to them within Synnovis.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
• Perform and interpret routine and specialist biomedical investigations by participating in regular daily workloads, as directed by management, in line with your skills, experience and competencies.
• Maintain standards of conduct required by the HCPC to practice as a registered Biomedical Scientist.
• Provide technical advice to clinical colleagues as required and within limits of competency.
• Process specimens and handle sensitive information with care and due diligence, such as patient results, in line with local SOPs.
• Propose and implement changes to SOPs, policies and work practice as required.
• Participate in development of new tests, as directed, including alignment with accreditation bodies and local management processes. Where necessary this will include analysing clinical trial samples.
• Participate in verification and validation work when required.
• Day to day supervision of MLAs, APs and BMSs, providing support, training and mentoring to ensure performance is in line with laboratory standards.
• Observe all safety regulations and ensure others are doing the same. This includes holding people to account when standards fall short of expectations and raising concerns about safety in the laboratory.
• Ensure compliance for your area of work with all legislative and quality requirements of regulatory directives, accreditation bodies, and local management including:
• Care Quality Commission
• UKAS
• Synnovis policies and SOPs
• Any other body in area of responsibility.
• Participate in quality management activities including inspections, audits, EQA and IQC procedures as required.
• Utilise the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), Q-Pulse quality management database and other relevant software to ensure high quality reliable data capture and entry.
• Complete data entry accurately to record sensitive patient information, requiring frequent, long period of concentration whilst maintaining patient confidentiality and following Information Governance (IG) guidelines.
• Work closely with colleagues in the quality team to identify best practice and embed a culture of high quality and performance across your area.
• Report all incidents and adverse events to management and enter the information in the CAPA module of Q-pulse in a timely manner as directed, supervising and assisting junior colleagues with the process.
• Demonstrate ongoing laboratory-based competency against training plans.
• Demonstrate professionalism, patience and empathy when explaining complex subjects, and in particular when communicating with people who do not share same level of knowledge or understanding.
• Prioritise your workload effectively to ensure that deadlines are met, and that work is delivered to the highest standards possible.
• Take part in CPD activities to ensure that your practices and knowledge are always relevant and up to date to your specific area.
Core duties include:
• Plan and organise their work within the demands of the team
• Perform manual, semi-automated and fully automated laboratory investigations
• Interpret first line laboratory results and take appropriate actions in line with laboratory policies and procedures
• Keep up to date with current scientific and technical developments, including through participation in scientific meetings if appropriate
• Participate in internal and external quality assurance programmes
as well in the quality control, document and incident reporting procedures
Synnovis is a pathology partnership between SYNLAB UK and Ireland, and the NHS, including sites, Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to deliver and transform pathology services across Southeast London.
The partnership provides services to 1.7 million people living in Southeast London, as well as to hundreds of thousands of patients from outside the region who use local healthcare services.
The partnership provides diagnostics, testing and digital pathology for hospital trusts, GP services and other healthcare providers.
The Hub
The hub is an eight-storey building, and we are working across 10 floors including the ground and lower ground floors. Synnovis’ corporate function operates from the hub on the 8th floor, above the laboratory underneath. This is a total net internal area of almost 10,000m squared across the 10 floors.
Based in Blackfriars, it’s less than a 5-minute walk from Southwark Tube or Blackfriars station and nestled closely to a vast array of entertainment and fabulous places to dine, relax and meet people.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. BSc (Hons) IBMS accredited degree or equivalent
2. HCPC State registration as a Biomedical Scientist
3. Specialist portfolio in relevant discipline (if HCPC Registration via IBMS Portfolio route) or equivalent experience or FIBMS
4. Evidence of ongoing Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
Desirable criteria
5. Willing to work towards higher levels of education
6. IBMS membership
Experience
Essential criteria
7. Significant demonstrable broad-based discipline specific practical experience
8. Analysing, interpreting and technical validation of routine, complex and specialist results
9. Using Laboratory Information Systems
10. Development of special interest and expertise in one or more areas of the laboratory, for example Quality, Health & Safety, Training or IT
Skills & Knowledge
Essential criteria
11. Demonstrates a sound understanding of the physiology, pathology, and scientific principles relevant to specialism
12. Demonstrates a high degree of skill and knowledge where interpretation of results can be highly subjective
13. Well-developed physical skills, demonstrable ability to use precision equipment and consumables
14. Ability to troubleshoot highly technical and precision equipment
15. Ability to troubleshoot problems arising on analytical platforms, manual assays and semi-automated procedures: and know when escalate
16. Competent at communicating verbally and in writing with colleagues and clinical staff
17. Ability to effectively manage own time, able to prioritise work for self and others and able to plan activities within area of work.
18. Ability to maintain focus and concentration for extended periods of time
19. Demonstrable knowledge and application of quality systems, with reference to ISO/UKAS
20. Demonstrable knowledge and application of health and safety legislation and procedures
Desirable criteria
21. Leadership qualities with experience of coaching, co-ordinating and supervising a team
Applications are welcomed from applicants with a disability. We can make reasonable adjustments and offer support and advice in a variety of ways throughout the application process. All applicants are welcome to apply regardless of age, disability, gender, marital status, race, nationality or ethnic origin, religion, or sexual orientation. Equality of opportunity is our policy.
Our Bank workers enjoy competitive market rates and flexible contract assignments across all of our sites, dependent on your availability and location.
For our Permanent workforce we offer a competitive benefits package.
All employees are entitled to:
22. Contributory pension scheme
23. Generous annual leave entitlement
24. Ground breaking development
opportunities
Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. All employees have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in the course of their daily duties and for ensuring that they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.