Specialist Biomedical Scientist
Synnovis Pay Band 6
The place to work in pathology
We are looking for top talent to join the UK’s leading and fastest growing pathology company – a scientific organisation with a clinical purpose.
Working in partnership with our service partners, Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospitals, King’s College Hospital and Princess Royal University Hospital, we aim to set the standard for the future of pathology.
Job overview
Are you interested in working within the field of newborn screening? Would you like to be part of a team that screens over 55,000 newborn babies each year for inherited and congenital conditions, making a meaningful difference to patients and their families?
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Band 6 Specialist Biomedical Scientist to join the Newborn Screening Department within Reference Chemistry at Synnovis. You will become part of a dedicated team delivering the Newborn Screening service, alongside a wider multidisciplinary workforce of over 70 scientists and support staff based in our modern Blackfriars Hub, just a five‑minute walk from Southwark and Blackfriars stations.
The successful candidate will play a key role within the South East Thames Regional Newborn Screening Laboratory, providing a vital service to over 55,000 babies annually. You will work collaboratively with Biomedical Scientists, Medical Laboratory Assistants, and Clinical Scientists, and be part of a wider network of 18 laboratories across the UK and Ireland.
This is a full‑time, permanent position (37.5 hours per week), working Monday to Friday, 09:00–17:30.
If you are looking to start or progress your career in this rewarding and impactful field, we encourage you to apply.
Main duties of the job
Our laboratory provides screening for newborn babies using various technologies for the following conditions: congenital hypothyroidism, phenylketonuria, medium‑chain acyl‑CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, maple syrup urine disease, homocystinuria, glutaric aciduria type 1, isovaleric acidaemia, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disorders, hereditary tyrosinemia type 1, severe combined immunodeficiency.
Techniques include PCR, HPLC, MS/MS, immunoassay and enzymatic techniques. Use of pipettes, centrifuges, plate shakers, and analytical equipment will be part of the role.
Other responsibilities include receiving, booking, sorting and archiving specimens, maintaining and operating analytical equipment, preparing reagents and patient batches. The post‑holder will be expected to work in accordance with laboratory quality and health and safety policies and standard operating procedures.
The successful candidate will work closely with Clinical and Senior Biomedical Scientists and must be able to reliably and efficiently communicate with all grades of staff within and external to the department, as well as other external centres, being the point to call for external queries and referrals via telephone and email. Attention to detail and good communication skills are a must in this role. You will be expected to work under pressure both as part of a team and independently, maintaining accuracy.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Purpose of the Job
This role delivers specialist biomedical investigations as part of the laboratory team in Synnovis. Within this you will be processing specimens, analysing and releasing results whilst maintaining local quality systems. Reporting to the Senior Specialist BMS or Operations Manager, you will hold a variety of responsibilities, including supervision and troubleshooting, to ensure the successful delivery of pathology services, in line with our corporate objectives. You will be accountable to the senior BMS of the section and ultimately the deputy and director of the newborn screening service.
What you will do
* Complete routine and complex specialist biomedical investigations in accordance with SOPs and within specific turnaround times.
* Deliver work autonomously within all regulations and legislative requirements.
* Operate and maintain complex laboratory equipment within all safety standards relevant to your area, including troubleshooting.
* Supervise and guide colleagues and answer questions as required.
* Use cost‑effective methods in your practice and maintain levels of consumable goods and supplies in your area, reporting shortages accordingly.
Key Responsibilities
* Perform and interpret routine and specialist biomedical investigations as part of regular daily workloads, 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, 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 may 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 in line with laboratory standards.
* Observe all safety regulations and ensure others are doing the same; hold people to account when standards fall short of expectations and raise 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 and 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 concentration while maintaining patient confidentiality and following Information Governance 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, 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, especially when communicating with people who do not share the same level of knowledge or understanding.
* Prioritise your workload effectively to ensure that deadlines are met and 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.
Person specification
Qualifications
* BSc (Hons) IBMS accredited degree or equivalent.
* HCPC State registration as a Biomedical Scientist.
* Specialist portfolio in relevant discipline (if HCPC Registration via IBMS Portfolio route) or equivalent experience or FIBMS.
* Evidence of ongoing Continuous Professional Development (CPD).
* Willingness to work towards higher levels of education.
* IBMS membership.
Experience
* Significant demonstrable broad‑based discipline specific practical experience.
* Analysing, interpreting and technical validation of routine, complex and specialist results.
* Development of special interest and expertise in one or more areas of the laboratory, e.g. quality, health & safety, training or IT.
* Experience of working with specialist techniques such as PCR.
* OMNI experience.
Skills & Knowledge
* Demonstrates a high degree of skill and knowledge where interpretation of results can be highly subjective.
* Ability to troubleshoot problems arising on analytical platforms, manual assays and semi‑automated procedures, knowing when to escalade.
* Demonstrable knowledge and application of quality systems, with reference to ISO/UKAS.
* Demonstrable knowledge and application of health and safety legislation and procedures.
* Leadership qualities with experience of coaching, coordinating and supervising a team.
* Knowledge of the NBS screening pathway.
Benefits
* Contributory pension scheme.
* Generous annual leave entitlement.
* Bank workers enjoy competitive market rates and flexible contract assignments across all sites, dependent on availability and location.
* Permanent workforce receives a competitive benefits package.
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.
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