Senior Biomedical Scientist/Clinical Scientist - Haematology & Coag

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Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people.

We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. Plus, we provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries.

We welcome and encourage application from anyone with protected characteristics, as well as supporting reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals encourages flexible working in all our roles to support staff in maintaining healthy home-life balance. Working patterns such as: part time working, self-rostering, compressed hours, annualised hours, term time, reverse term time and flexitime working can be explored.

Job overview

The Haematology department at Blackpool Victoria Hospital is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Senior Biomedical Scientist or registered Clinical Scientist to work within our friendly, hard-working team. This is an exciting opportunity to bring your knowledge and experience to the team and to learn new skills in an interesting and challenging role

The successful candidate will have significant post registration experience in haematology and coagulation, as well as a completed IBMS specialist portfolio and an MSc (or equivalent) in a related subject .

Reporting to the Haematology Laboratory Manager, you will be working with the other senior staff in Haematology to ensure the smooth running and high-quality output of the service. The post holder will have specific lead responsibility for coagulation and departmental audit.

Main duties of the job

• Part of the senior team responsible for the day-to-day running of the laboratory
• Training of BMS and MLA staff in accordance with departmental SOPs
• Write and update SOPs relevant to your section
• Verification, testing and training for new equipment
• Ensuring ongoing staff competency assessment and CPD
• Ensuring timely and accurate processing of patient samples
• Maintaining and controlling analysers, including trouble shooting, reporting faults and liaising with engineers
• Taking a lead on departmental audits including scheduling and completion
• Quality tasks including document control, IQC/EQA, pre-acceptance testing, measurement of uncertainty, gathering data for statistical analysis e.g. KPI monitoring
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of the quality management system to ensure accreditation to ISO15189:2022
• Performing specialist coagulation tests such as lupus, thrombophilia, factor assays and DOACs
• Work closely with the clinical haematology team to improve and develop the service
• Provide cover for the senior BMS staff responsible for other sections of the laboratory
• Deputise for the Haematology Laboratory Manager as necessary

Working for our organisation

The department is equipped with Siemens Advia 2120i Haematology analysers, Werfen ACL TOP 550 coagulation analysers, Starrsed ST automated ESR analyser, and Beckman Coulter Navios flow cytometer. Prior experience and training on these systems would be advantageous.

A significant equipment refresh is imminent, and the post holder will be required to assist with verification, updating documentation and training staff in the use of the new equipment.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire and operates within a regional health economy catchment area that spans Lancashire and South Cumbria, supporting a population of 1.6 million. The Trust is a provider of specialist tertiary care for Cardiac and Haematology services across this region.

The Trust provides a range of acute services to the 352,000 population of the Fylde coast health economy and the estimated 18 million visitors to the seaside town of Blackpool. Since April 1, 2012, the Trust also provides a wide range of community health services to the 445,000 residents of Blackpool, Fylde, Wyre and North Lancashire.

Blackpool is known for its historic seafront and promenade, as well as many tourist attractions, including the famous Blackpool Tower.

Blackpool is conveniently situated within a 45-minute drive of Manchester, and less than three-hours from Edinburgh and London by rail.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see job description and person spec for more details of the expectations of this role

When completing your application, please ensure you address as many as possible of the essential and desirable requirements as stated in the person spec.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria

• BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science or Clinical Scientist (or equivalent)
• Registration with the HCPC as a Biomedical Scientist or Clinical Scientist
• MSc Biomedical Science (or related subject) or equivalent
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable criteria

• Formal leadership/management qualification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Significant post registration experience in haematology and coagulation, demonstrating specialist and up to date knowledge in the field
• Understanding of the principles of staff appraisal
• Experience and understanding of audits to fulfil the requirements of ISO15189
• Experience of technical and clinical validation of results
• Experience of interpreting complex diagnostic laboratory results
• Knowledge of the requirements for UKAS accreditation to ISO15189
• Experience of performing and understanding specialist coagulation tests

Desirable criteria

• Experience in immunophenotyping / flow cytometry
• Experience in training / supervising a team

Skills and Ability

Essential criteria

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to use own initiative to solve problems
• Computer literate, including Microsoft packages, LIMS and middleware
• Ability to work autonomously with a high degree of responsibility
• Ability to work accurately and efficiently and multi-task in a high-pressure environment

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Any invitation to interview will be sent to the email account stated on your application form.

If the role you have applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this as part of your pre-employment checks. Please note, you will be required to repay the cost on appointment. This will be collected via a salary deduction. You can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months from your salary or as a one-off payment on commencement in post. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently the charges are - Basic DBS check £22.00, Standard DBS check £22.00 and Enhanced DBS check £42.00.

You are encouraged where possible, to register for the DBS update service. This is an annual registration fee of £13. By registering for the update service you will not have the additional cost of repeated disclosures.

Should you withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check.

DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions.

By submitting an application for this vacancy you are confirming your agreement to the above in the event you are successfully appointed.

The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here.

Please ensure that you read the Person Specification attached below as your application will be judged against this.

Please note that every effort will be made to keep the vacancy live until published closing date, though there may be instances where such interest is generated, that for administrative reasons the post may close earlier.

Please note that in line with national NHS guidelines this Trust operates a strict non-smoking policy. Members of staff are not permitted to smoke on Trust premises or grounds at any time nor take breaks during working hours for the purposes of smoking.

The Trust does not offer interview expenses to shortlisted candidates unless indicated in the advert.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Documents to download

• Job Description (PDF, 433.9KB)
• Person Specification (PDF, 464.4KB)
• Conditions of Service (PDF, 306.1KB)
• Guidance on Pre-Employment Checks (PDF, 64.2KB)
• Statement on Recruitment of Ex-Offenders (PDF, 43.2KB)
• Application Guide Booklet (PDF, 511.1KB)