Specialist Biomedical Scientist - PoCT - Guildford

Job overview

At SWLP, The PoCT team manages a wide range of PoCT analysers and devices, connected to POCT middleware systems, across five sites and manages maintenance, training, competency, quality assurance and governance of these pieces of equipment. The SWLP Point of Care Testing department is accredited to the ISO 15189:2022 standard

We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic, highly motivated and experienced individual to the role of PoCT Specialist Biomedical Scientist for the SWLP network. The post holder will be based at Croydon University Hospital but will be required to work and coordinate with other SWLP site Leads.

The post-holder will work relatively independently, supported by the SWLP POCT manager, BMS/MLA staff and the Principal Clinical Biochemist on each site to deliver the PoCT service. Given the outward facing nature of this role, the successful individual will need to have good organisational and communication skills and significant experience in PoCT and quality management.

Find out more about South West London Pathology on our website

Main duties of the job

Aim of Role:

To be an efficient and flexible member of the SWL Pathology team providing a consistently high quality and professional service to all POCT users of the service.

Key Result Areas:

1. To support the POCT Co-ordinator in the day-to-day provision of the POCT services within SWLP sites.
2. Contributes to providing a professional POCT service, working effectively as a team member as part of the overall department.
3. Able to perform all core scientific and interpretive work, which corresponds to the training and qualifications of a Registered Biomedical Scientist.
4. To work unsupervised across the sites, ensuring that all POCT devices are operational and maintained and that all operator training requirements are met.
5. To assist in training and supervising staff and deputising for the Advanced Biomedical Scientist when necessary.

Working for our organisation

South West London Pathology is an award winning pathology partnership between three leading Hospital Trusts – St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Epsom and St Helier NHS Foundation Trust and Croydon Health Services NHS Trust – designed to provide an integrated, high quality pathology service for hospitals and GPs across South West London, by bringing together the best of each Trust’s service and providing them within a single organisation.

We expect all our staff at SWL Pathology to share the values that are important to us and that our service users have a right to expect – to be excellent, kind, responsible and respectful, delivering the best possible standard of service at all times and to behave in a way that reflects these values.

SWL Pathology Vision:

To deliver the high quality, cost effective, accessible, innovative pathology services that commissioners, customers, clinical users, staff and patients demand and to be recognised as a leading provider in the market. As part of its commitment to high quality and sustainability SW London Pathology will offer attractive development opportunities for highly skilled staff and will be at the forefront of innovation in pathology services.

1. To be proficient in designated areas of diagnostic work within the department and to provide a comprehensive and appropriate laboratory service to patients and staff.
2. The post holder will work as part of SWLP POCT team and is expected to provide an efficient, cost efficient, cost effective and timely POCT service to all users.
3. To assist in day to day running of POCT department under the direction of POCT Co-ordinator and POCT Manager.
4. Deputise for POCT Co-ordinator as required.
5. To be responsible for the maintenance of IT systems, POCT interfaces and connectivity software.
6. To ensure on daily basis the POCT interfaces are working, and results are being transferred into electronic patient records from POCT device.
7. To assist the POCT Co-ordinator in planning, Co-ordinating and organising the overall workload to ensure completion of work that the POCT Service is supported during normal working hours and out of hours.
8. To plan own daily activities within the POCT Department, dependent on the daily status of the POCT equipment and needs of the clinical users.
9. To assist in monitoring, ordering and storage of POCT consumables.
10. To assist in planning, monitoring, and providing training to staff (such as laboratory staff, POCT staff and end users) on the use of POCT equipment and any associated software.
11. To use a variety of POCT software to manage POCT equipment and users, monitor and trend equipment issues and monitor and trend end user compliance with policies and procedures.
12. To assist in ensuring that training and competency assessments for all POCT equipment users are recorded and stored according to department procedure.
13. To assist in ensuring the POCT department is compliant with the requirements of ISO; MHRA; and other relevant standards as appropriate.
14. To carry out the safe, accurate and precise handling of POCT equipment, reagents and samples.
15. To configure, install, use, maintain and troubleshoot POCT equipment and any associated software.
16. To troubleshoot and assess equipment failure using specialist technical knowledge and deciding on course of action to be taken and report any non-functioning device to the POCT Co-ordinator.
17. To ensure faulty equipment is returned to the manufacturer when necessary following set protocols.
18. To ensure that there is an accurate record of equipment downtime.
19. To utilise Q-pulse for such as document management, auditing, and other purposes.
20. To contribute to the production, review, and update of POCT SOP

For further details, please see the job description attached.

Person specification

Qualifications and Training

• • An honours degree or equivalent in a biological science
• • HCPC Registration
• • Hold the IBMS Specialist Diploma in relevant discipline or equivalent experience

Knowledge and Experience

• • Proven experience post HCPC registration in the relevant discipline
• • Excellent working knowledge of specialist subject in relevant discipline
• • Evidence of continuing professional development
• • Knowledge of health and safety issues
• • Experience of quality management systems

Skills and Abilities

• • Practical specialist analytical skills associated with diagnostic laboratory work
• • Competence in PC word processing, spreadsheet and database software
• • Accuracy and attention to detail
• • Able to follow written methodologies or protocols
• • Able to work as part of a team
• • Ability to work under pressure
• • Ability to plan and prioritise allocated work
• • Intermediate level of computer skills
• • Excellent communication and presentation skills
• • Use of enhanced pathology computer systems

Other relevant requirements

• • Good hand eye co-ordination
• • Able to perform light physical work
• • Capable of intense periods of concentration