Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a well motivated Biomedical Scientist to join our Haematology and Blood Transfusion teams.
Pathology First operates over three sites using a hub and spoke model. Our hub site offers a high throughput service for our non-urgent community work, and specialist testing comprising factor assays and haemoglobinopathy screening. Our two hospital laboratories at Southend and Basildon provide urgent testing for acute admissions and inpatients with a full hospital transfusion service, this includes serving the cardiothoracic centre at Basildon, and a substantial oncology and haemato-oncology workload. The Southend site boasts a biomedical scientist-led anticoagulant clinic. This role will involve rotating across the haematology and transfusion sections and across sites. Our laboratories receive approximately 1.2M FBC and coagulation samples and 100K transfusion samples per year. The department is equipped with Werfen ACL-TOPs, Beckman Coulter DXHs, Ortho Visions and Bio-Rad D100s. The main IT platform for all sites is Clinisys WinPath Enterprise.
You will need to be flexible to fit in with our multi-site, around the clock shift pattern (unsocial shifts attract additional payments). There will be a mixture of twelve-hour nights, twelve-hour days, and eight-hour earlies, lates and days. The environment is fast paced offering a one hour turnaround time to acute users, two hours for inpatients and four hours for community requests. Following appropriate training you will independently validate common clinical Haematology and Blood Transfusion investigations. You will learn to be conversant with the main laboratory information management system and middle-ware applications. We will consider supporting suitable employees through the IBMS specialist diploma.
Main duties of the job
As a Biomedical Scientist you will be responsible for the organisation and functioning of the laboratory and ensuring that the correct procedures are performed. Working a 37.5 hour week, you will be expected to assist with the day-to-day operation of the laboratory as well as maintaining the high standards of quality and current working practices, including technical problem solving of analytical equipment. Participating in the out-of-hours service, which operates 24/7, is essential.
Working for our organisation
SYNLAB UK & Ireland work closely with clinicians, hospitals, occupational health providers and clinical researchers to deliver comprehensive pathology services.
We thrive in diverse environments, which is mirrored in our workforce, clients, customers, suppliers, communities, and partners. We believe that an inclusive workplace culture is essential for attracting and retaining talented individuals, and for building a sustainable, high-performing workforce.
Our staff are crucial to our mission of making a positive impact on healthcare. We foster a culture of continuous personal development, providing scientists and staff with the support and resources needed to acquire new skills and advance their careers through learning and development opportunities, coaching, and clear career pathways.
SYNLAB UK & Ireland is committed to equal opportunities and does not unlawfully discriminate based on any status or condition protected by applicable UK employment law.
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.
• 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
• Synlab 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.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. BSc (Hons) IBMS accredited degree or equivalent
2. HCPC State registration as a Biomedical Scientist, or anticipated within the next 3 months
Experience
Essential criteria
3. 3 years minimum experience of working within a Blood Sciences Laboratory
Skills
Essential criteria
4. Able to work independently, implements and proposes changes to procedures for own work area.
5. Demonstrates a sound understanding of the physiology, pathology, and scientific principles relevant to specialism
6. Demonstrates a high degree of skill and knowledge where interpretation of results can be highly subjective
7. Well-developed physical skills, demonstrable ability to use precision equipment and consumables
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.
For our Permanent workforce we offer a competitive benefits package.
All employees are entitled to:
• Contributory pension scheme
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• 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.