Biomedical Scientist
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Working together, with trust and respect, to make a difference
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Applicants are invited to apply in Welsh, any application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English. To support our all Wales service, we particularly welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
Please be advised that there is a temporary top up for Bands 2 and 3 to reflect the incorporation of the top up to the living wage of £12.60 per hour - £24,638 per annum.
This temporary top up will be in place until the annual pay uplift for 2025/26 is confirmed.
Job overview
The Toxoplasma Reference Unit (TRU) provides specialist diagnostic testing and clinical advice services for management and surveillance of Toxoplasma infection to laboratories and clinicians throughout England and Wales. The post holder will practise as an HCPC-registered Biomedical Scientist, performing routine and advanced investigations in all aspects of the Unit’s diagnostic serology and molecular services, following Standard Operating Procedures.They will contribute to ensuring the department meets standards of service delivery, as defined by the laboratory’s quality management system. The post holder will be expected to participate in all rotas to ensure service continuity. The post holder will work as part of the wider laboratory team, liaising with medical and other laboratory staff, hospital/trust staff, customers and members of the public, as appropriate.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will participate in specimen processing, undertaking routine and advanced microbiological investigations in all aspects of the TRU’s diagnostic service, according to Standard Operating Procedures. They will operate, monitor, and undertake routine daily maintenance of laboratory equipment.They will perform specimen reception tasks, manual and computerised data entry and contribute to the transmission of authorised laboratory test results, including provision of urgent results. They will assist with the training and supervision of new staff and trainees, and the day-to-day supervision of junior staff.
The post holder will also participate in external and internal quality assurance, perform audits, and assist in maintenance and compliance of the quality management system. They will contribute to service development through participation in research, evaluation of laboratory methods/equipment and implementation of new techniques.
The TRU is situated within Public Health Wales Swansea which is part of an all-Wales Microbiology network that provides support for Health Protection across Wales. As such, the post-holder may be required at short notice to respond to public health emergencies, including outbreaks and other emergency situations.
Working for our organisation
We are Public Health Wales – the national public health organisation for Wales. Our purpose is ‘working together for a healthier Wales'. We exist to help all people in Wales live longer, healthier lives. With our partners, we aim to increase healthy life expectancy, improve health and well-being, and reduce inequalities for everyone in Wales, now and for future generations.
Together, our teams work to prevent disease, protect health, and provide leadership, specialist services and public health expertise. We are the main source of public health information, research and innovation in Wales. Never more has public health been so important as we come through the Coronavirus pandemic, face the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis and tackle and prevent the harmful effects of climate change.
Our organisation is guided by our Values, 'Working together, with trust and respect, to make a difference'. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of the communities we serve and from those wishing to work part time or on a job share basis.
To find out more about working for us and the benefits we offer please visit https://phw.nhs.wales/careers/
For guidance on the application process, please visit https://phw.nhs.wales/working-for-us/applicant-information-and-guidance/
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Laboratory Operations and Safety
Undertakes routine diagnostic laboratory procedures, with appropriate supervision, to include specimen processing, including serum separation, labelling, and inoculating of selected clinical samples. (The post holder handles bodily fluids and materials).
To establish the presence of infection through antibody/antigen, molecular detection and culture methods undertaking analysis of data obtained to determine infection status.
To recognise urgent samples, incorrect specimen types, unlabelled high-risk specimens, and process accordingly and to recognise labelling problems with specimens and reject according to specimen acceptance protocol.
Undertake all duties in accordance with agreed guidelines, policies, and procedures, following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) including Quality management and Health and safety and participating in their review and update.
Undertake more complex specimen processing under specialised conditions e.g. processing samples in molecular diagnostics facilities.
Undertake routine molecular and serological investigations, diluting specimens for serology/molecular tests using variable volume pipettes requiring high levels of hand eye coordination and accuracy.
Prepares specimens for diagnostic testing according to available algorithm, advice, and guidance available from senior staff.
Participates in work-based research projects, in support of service development/improvement and clinical trials.
To be conversant with and undertake duties in accordance with the agreed guidelines, policies and procedures of Public Health Wales, Health Protection and the host trust where relevant.
Collect and safely dispose of laboratory waste with strict adherence to the laboratory’s safe waste disposal policy.
Perform manual and computerised data entry to ensure data accuracy when entering demographics, specimen related information and results into the laboratory information system.
Communication and Customer Service
Provide helpful, competent, and efficient assistance to staff and visitors to the laboratory.
To actively participate in departmental meetings, communicate and liaise effectively with all members of staff in the laboratory.
Undertakes the transmission of authorised laboratory test results (paper, electronic, verbally), including provision of telephoned urgent and emergency results.
Performs specimen reception tasks including receiving, sorting and distribution of specimens from patients, checking specimens against request forms submitted from own and other laboratories/departments. Checks all details from form according to specimen acceptance policy and rejects unsafe specimens.
Provide telephone reception support, answering queries from staff, external customers/clients, and other contacts, and authorised results and general advice on sample types required referring clinical/specialist requests to Senior Biomedical/Clinical Scientists.
Report equipment failures to senior staff.
Equipment Management and Stock
Operates, monitors, and undertakes routine daily maintenance of laboratory equipment including, computers, automated analysers and microscopes used by all staff.
Use and operate expensive equipment that includes laboratory computer, centrifuge, sample processors, pipettes.
Order, monitor and replenish appropriate consumable stocks for routine activities.
Training and Development
Trains in laboratory working practice in appropriate sections of the laboratory, in accordance with the requirements of the IBMS training portfolio and the laboratory training programme.
Undertakes appropriate academic and professional training to maintain registration as a Biomedical Scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Seeks and completes further academic/practical training as necessary as a condition of professional registration.
Acquires and retains a working knowledge of laboratory operating procedures, quality assurance systems and health and safety policies.
To develop skills and knowledge required to work within the TRU to include molecular assays and serology.
To recognise relevant clinical details and process specimen accordingly using knowledge and experience.
Contribute to service development through participation in research, development, and evaluation of laboratory methods/equipment and implementation of new techniques and validation of proposed changes to methods.
Assist with the training and supervision of new staff and trainees in accordance with departmental protocols, and day to day supervision of junior staff (Band 3 and 4).
Data Management and Confidentiality
Perform manual and computerised data entry to ensure data integrity when entering demographics, specimen-related information, and results into the laboratory information system.
Ensure compliance with the confidentiality of all information concerning patient diagnosis, treatment, or personal affairs in line with the Data Protection Act.
To be adaptable to change and train/work with a flexible approach in all sections of the department as necessary.
Person specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential criteria- Biomedical Sciences Degree
- IBMS Certificate of Competence or other qualification acceptable for HCPC registration OR Registration as a Biomedical Scientist with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- Good knowledge of microbiology
Experience
Essential criteria- Experience of working in a UKAS ISO 15189 accredited microbiology laboratory
Skills and Attributes
Essential criteria- Good manual dexterity and hand/eye coordination for performance of technical tasks i.e., pipetting skills, use of diagnostic equipment.
Public Health Wales, reserves the right to close this vacancy early. We therefore encourage early applications.
Priority is given to staff awaiting redeployment. We therefore reserve the right to withdraw this advert at any stage.
If you have a disability and have any particular requirements to enable you to participate in the application process, please contact [email protected]
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR APPLICANTS: Applications for our roles are carefully reviewed and shortlisted based on specific criteria, which varies from job to job. Using a generic application to apply for multiple roles or relying on automated AI application services, such as Lazy Apply or AI Apply, may not provide the necessary information, leading to your application being overlooked.To ensure your application is given full consideration, we recommend submitting a tailored application that directly addresses the criteria listed in the Person Specification section of the advert.
If you are successful and short listed for interview you will be contacted by email using the address with which you registered. Please ensure you check your email account regularly.
We are committed to fair, transparent recruitment and believe in equality of opportunity in our workplace and will not tolerate discrimination on grounds of age, disability, gender identity, religion or belief, race or nationality, marriage or civil partnership status, sex, sexual orientation, working pattern, caring responsibilities, trade union activity or political beliefs – or on any other grounds.We welcome applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements.
To work in the UK, all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship to obtain either a Health and Care visa or Skilled Worker visa, unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply should self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship by visiting Work in the UK.If you are eligible for the Health and Care visa, application costs are lower and you do not need to pay the annual Immigration Health Surcharge.
The salary scale shown is for a full-time member of staff, with the amount being adjusted pro rata for those working less than 37.5 hours per week.
In general, anyone joining our Trust who has not previously worked in the NHS will, by default, start on the first point of the advertised pay band. Pay progression will then be determined by annual Performance and Development Reviews in accordance with the NHS Wales Pay Progression Policy.An application for Incremental Credit may be considered, but can only be awarded based on evidenced, reckonable service and/or equivalent, relevant experience.