Senior Biomedical Scientist

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King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1.7 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites, and specialist services from King's College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in the London Borough of Bromley.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the ever expanding Stem Cell Laboratory's team at King's College Hospital NHS Trust. It is expected that this service will move early in 2025 to a nearby state-of-the-art new facility. The successful candidate will help to maintain standards and staff competency in this challenging transition period.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be required to assist in the provision of a comprehensive and appropriate Bone Marrow transplant service and will take a lead on facilitating clinical trials for patients from Haematology and other Trust departments.

Working in a clean-room environment to process bone marrow, stem cells and cord blood for patient transplant, this post holder will be an experienced senior scientist providing training, direction and leadership to junior team members.

The post holder is expected to be fully conversant with all the national and international regulations in place for stem cell processing and those likely to come into force from agencies such as MHRA, HTA and JACIE. The post holder will be expected not only to have scientific knowledge of stem cell biology, but also to have knowledge of other biological sciences such as immunology, microbiology, cell culture, cryopreservation and molecular biology to supplement their core knowledge base.

A degree of flexibility is required to process collections which run late or are emergency procedures which were not planned or expected. The laboratory is also looking to move to extended hours rota covering weekends, and participation in the rota will be expected by all members of staff.

Working for our organisation

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical
• Assess the clinical relevance and importance of diagnostic test requests, work in progress and test results
• Use highly specialist interpretative skills to determine clinical significance of complex laboratory results and take appropriate action including:

o Authorisation of laboratory investigations.
o Preparation, examination and reporting of flow cytometry results related cell enumeration (including but not limited to CD34+ cells and CD3+ cells)
o Ordering relevant follow-up laboratory procedures.
o Adding relevant technical and clinically relevant comments.
o Referring results for second opinion.
o Informing medical staff of clinically significant results.
• Efficient management of patients' clinical material and maintenance of a safe ethical system of storage especially in liquid nitrogen vapour phase storage.
• Provide approved departmental information and advice to other healthcare professionals, and refer on to appropriate specialists requests for information.
• Verify unexpected results and to ensure that the correct pre-analytical procedures were performed and to request repeat collection where necessary.
• To bring urgent, markedly abnormal or unexpected results to the attention of the requesting clinician or other appropriate person as soon as possible.
• Ensure work is completed timely and to required standards: results are reported within the agreed turnaround times and in accordance with the relevant Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
• To be aware of the clinical implications of the service provided and to assist in ensuring that the department is centred on patient care and the patient pathway.
• To be involved in the reporting of accidents and near misses via Q-pulse/Datix/HTA or any other appropriate platform and the subsequent investigation
• Initiate and contribute to audit and research and development activities and encourage and enable all staff to do the same.
• Facilitate and participate in research and development activity and ensure that all activity undertaken is within the Trust's policy.
• To take responsibility for the receipt, storage and distribution of AT(I)MPs
• To maintain the emergency back-up systems for the ultra-low temperature storage facility containing cells for transplantation.
• To take responsibility for the issue of cells for transplantation to wards.
• Delegate work when appropriate and supervise the scientific and technical work of subordinate staff.

Person specification

Education & Qualifications

Essential criteria

• BSc Biomedical Sciences or equivalent
• State Registration (HCPC)
• MSc Biomedical Science (or equivalent)
• Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development

Desirable criteria

• Post graduate management qualification

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential criteria

• Quality Control and Assurance management
• Risk management theory and practice
• Knowledge of HR legislation and policies
• Teaching and training skills
• Significant experience of management of staff and Stem Cell Lab work (or equivalent)
• Competent in the interpretation and technical validation of results
• Developed decision making skills
• Experience in: Cell Culture, flow cytometry and cryopreservation

Desirable criteria

• Experience of Quality Management Systems
• Management of the provision, storage and distribution of CAR-T and other AT(I)MP therapies

Communication

Essential criteria

• Ability to communicate complex information effectively both written and oral at all levels both within and outside the Trust
• Ability to motivate individuals
• Ability to disseminate scientific knowledge
• Able to produce concise and accurate daily reports to update senior members of staff.

Organisational

Essential criteria

• Ability to plan, organise and manage own and others work and time
• Ability to adapt and organise and prioritise the unpredictable nature of workload efficiently
• Ability to work under pressure and multitask without compromising standards

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Click here to see the range of benefits we offer
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust's criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Annual Reports and Other Corporate Publications

King's Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre Website

King's College Hospital is part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a pioneering collaboration between King's College London, and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

• Senior Biomedical Scientist (Band 7)_JD (PDF, 219.5KB)
• Senior Biomedical Scientist (Band 7)_PS (PDF, 102.1KB)
• Denmark Hill Site Map (PDF, 1.2MB)
• Candidate Brochure DH (PDF, 225.6KB)
• Candidate Brochure PRUH & SOUTH SITES Nursing (PDF, 182.0KB)
• Visa and Sponsorship Information (PDF, 352.6KB)