Biomedical Scientist in Clinical Biochemistry

Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our supportive team in Clinical Biochemistry here at Bristol Royal Infirmary, Laboratory Medicine within University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW). 

You will be part of a team providing a Clinical Biochemistry service to the Trust. The post holder will rotate through all sections of the Department practising a wide range of automated and manual analytical procedures to produce high quality test results.

You will be expected to understand the need for analytical quality and clinical urgency, and take appropriate action when finding abnormal pathology results in order to maintain the highest standards of patient care.

The successful candidate will support the 24/7 operation of the laboratory by participating in the out of hours rota, taking part in early, late, nights, weekend and bank holidays as allocated. 

The working pattern in this role is rota based. Therefore your contracted hours of 37.5 per week (full time working equivalent) will be calculated across a rota period of 13 weeks in accordance with agenda for change. Dependant on the needs of the service, your total working hours will fluctuate due to the different length of time of the shifts, however as part of rota management your shifts will balance to be within your contracted time.  

Main duties of the job

• To follow protocols for performing a wide range of laboratory procedures.
• Participate the 24/7 out-of-hours service, early, late, night shifts as required, and at weekends providing Clinical Biochemistry services to the Trust.
• Organise personal workload in response to the urgency and volume of requests.
• To inspect analytical quality control results and authorise the reporting of only those analytical results which satisfy established criteria.
• Recognise the importance of abnormal results, and to ensure that they are reported without delay. To ensure that appropriate follow on tests are performed in line with the level of abnormality detected.
• Maintain equipment and work space in a clean and functional condition.
• To ensure that analytical procedures and equipment not conforming to quality specifications are brought to the attention of the senior staff member.
• Supervise Medical Laboratory Assistants and assist in training all other grades of staff including Medical staff.
• Establish, maintain and increase their knowledge, skills and competency. This includes maintaining a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) portfolio, providing evidence of participation in learning and development activities.

In addition to your analytical skills, you will be expected to supervise and train medical laboratory assistants, as well as other technical and scientific staff working under the direction of the section leader.

Person specification

Aptitudes

Essential criteria

• Good Team Member.
• Conscientious.
• Attention to Detail.
• Manual dexterity.

Knowledge & Experience

Essential criteria

• Operational experience in an NHS Clinical Biochemistry laboratory.
• Understanding and experience of quality control systems.
• Understanding and experience of working to quality standards.
• Experience of laboratory computer systems.
• Able to demonstrate commitment to service improvements.
• Understanding of the critical importance of confidentiality.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of document management systems (e.g. Q-Pulse).

Qualifications and Training

Essential criteria

• BSc or equivalent in Biomedical Science.
• Registration with HCPC.
• Evidence of CPD.

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria

• Basic keyboard skills.
• Ability to use Microsoft Windows and associated programmes such as Word & Excel.
• Competence to perform analytical tests.
• Ability to represent the Department effectively in its relations with other Departments and externally.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to plan own work.
• Be able to problem solve.
• Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure.