Job overview
The post holder will have responsibility for the day to day operation of the Biochemistry laboratory service with East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT), delivered at Royal Blackburn Hospital and Burnley General Hospital sites.
Working in partnership with the Biochemistry Managers, the post holder will ensure that the requirements for laboratory accreditation (UKAS) and the needs of service users are consistently met.
The post holder will provide effective leadership and training to the department.
The post holder will be part of the Quality and departmental management team, and will participate in Biochemistry Management, Quality, and departmental meetings. The post holder may also be required to represent the Department and/or Directorate at meetings at Divisional and Trust level.
This vacancy is open internally to ELHT and to the other Trusts in Lancashire and South Cumbria.
Main duties of the job
To assist in managing the delivery of a robust Biochemistry laboratory service to ELHT.
Will work as a key member of the Departmental Management Team, which is responsible for the effective operational management and strategic direction of Biochemistry at ELHT.
Will work in partnership with the Directorate Manager, Biochemistry Managers, and other senior staff, to develop and promote efficient and effective systems and processes in the management of the resources including finance, staff, information, equipment and space.
Working for our organisation
The department has recently invested in a fully tracked solution for automation with Siemens Aptio track and Atellica analysers at the Royal Blackburn site with similar equipment also in place on the Burnley site.
Whilst this post is based at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital, this may change in the future if services are reorganised.
On 1st April 2026, Pathology services for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust will come together to form the Lancashire and South Cumbria Single Pathology Service.
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will be the Lead Provider of the service and the employer of colleagues working within the service, across sites.
If you are successful in your application, and commence work prior to 1st April 2026, your employment will transfer to Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on 1st April 2026 under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations, 2006. There will be no impact for your job role, terms and conditions of employment or location of work.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the JD and PS for full information
·
· Will work with other members of the Biochemistry Senior Team so that the department contributes to and meets the Trust and Divisional Objectives including delivering cost improvement savings.
· Will take a proactive role in the continuing provision of a high quality and responsive service meeting both regulatory and accreditation requirements.
· Will promote the continuous improvement in service delivery and quality within Biochemistry, using modern methods to lead in the delivery of service and workforce transformation and re-design.
· To assist in line managing the BMS and support staff, supporting them to undertake the routine work within Biochemistry and develop a culture in which members of staff are continuously improving the delivery of high quality services.
· Will set and ensure the development and acceptance of challenging but realistic objectives for staff, and through leadership, motivation and systematic performance management to achieve the required results.
* Will communicate effectively with Healthcare Scientists, Clinicians and other healthcare providers both within and outside of the Trust including Estates, Human Resources, Finance, Payroll, Occupational Health; representatives and service personnel from Commercial organisations.
· Will actively participate in meetings within Biochemistry, Clinical Laboratory Medicine and wider within the Trust, providing specialist leadership and expert advice.
· Manage technical audit within the department.
· Take a lead on training within Biochemistry.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
* MSC in a Biomedical Science or equivalent or FIBMS by examination (if registered before 1994)
* HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist
Desirable criteria
* Willingness to undertake discipline specific post graduate qualification if not already held
Experience
Essential criteria
* Previous experience within a Biochemistry department (min 6 years post registration)
* Experience of training and competence assessment of laboratory staff.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
* Extensive knowledge of Biochemistry techniques and equipment applicable to this role
* Extensive IT skills including MS office, Quality management software & LIMS
* Detailed knowledge of ISO/UKAS standards and other relevant legislation
Skills
Essential criteria
* Able to organise own workload
* Good decision making skills
* Excellent interpersonal & communication skills