Biomedical Scientist
The place to work in pathology
We are looking for top talent to join the UK’s leading and fastest growing pathology company – a scientific organisation with a clinical purpose.
Working in partnership with our service partners, Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospitals, King’s College Hospital and Princess Royal University Hospital we aim to set the standard for the future of pathology.
Job overview
Exciting Opportunity: Biomedical Scientist (Synnovis Pay Band 5) – Point of Care Testing
Are you someone who enjoys working with people and thrives in a role that offers variety and impact? Join our Point of Care Testing (POCT) Team as a Biomedical Scientist (Synnovis Pay Band 5), supporting both hospital-based and community healthcare settings.
In this role, you’ll play a key part in delivering high-quality diagnostic services. You will work within the POCT Team to assist with governance of the Trust point of care service at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospitals Trust (which also includes Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals).This will involve writing documents such as SOPs and user guides as well as performing audits of equipment and service users. You will work within the POCT team to deliver training to Trust staff on the correct use of POCT instruments and interfaces.
You’ll also carry out a range of protocol-driven tasks—some of which may be specialist or complex procedures. You will be familiar with interpretation of internal quality control (IQC) and external quality (EQA) assurance data and will assist service users in trouble shooting to improve performance.
You’ll work largely independently, collaborating with other healthcare professionals to support routine Secondary Care procedures in both Primary and Secondary Care environments.
Your primary base will be Royal Brompton Hospital, with time occasionally spent at Harefield Hospital
Main duties of the job
Synnovis is a scientific organisation with a clinical purpose and is part of SYNLAB Group, Europe’s leading provider of laboratory diagnostic services. Working in partnership with Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospitals (including Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals), King’s College Hospital, Princess Royal University Hospital and local CCG networks, we aim to set the standard for the future of pathology.
This role is based in Synnovis Analytics which is responsible for the provision of Pathology testing services to Synnovis’ patients and customers.
Job Summary
The Biomedical Scientist (Synnovis Pay Band 5) will work within the Point of Care Testing (POCT) Team in both the hospital setting and out in the Community.The post holder will assist the POCT Manager in auditing both POCT equipment and users of the service. They will have responsibility for training Trust staff in the correct use of POCT instruments and the use of interfaces. In addition, they may perform a range of protocol driven tasks, some of which may be specialist or complex procedures.
The post holder will mainly be working with other healthcare professionals in order to support routine Secondary Care procedures in a Primary or Secondary Care setting.
You will be expected to work primarily at Royal Brompton Hospital with some time spent at the Harefield Hospital site.
Key Relationships
Other healthcare professionals and point of care testing staff. Appropriate Line Managers and Clinical Scientists within Blood Sciences Department.
Working for our organisation
Our hospitals – Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals, Part of GSTT, stretching from southeast and central London to outer northwest London – have been responsible for some of the most significant medical breakthroughs ever made in our specialist fields.The hospital is one of the most advanced centres for heart and lung care anywhere in the world today. It has jointly pioneered work in the development of ‘artificial hearts’ (also known as left ventricular assist devices or LVADs).
We carry out over 40% of all cardiac surgery in London, and nationally a third of all tests for inherited lung conditions and a quarter of all tests for inherited heart conditions
At our dedicated heart attack centre, we deal with heart attack emergencies from outer north-west London, providing primary angioplasty in our specialist catheter laboratories. We believe our arrival-to-treatment time of 27 minutes is one of the fastest in Europe.Speed of treatment has been shown to be crucial to survival in these cases.
Your development and learning
You will have a suite of learning opportunities available through The ACCE competencies programme, the Scientific Learning and Development Fund and the Synnovis Academy through which you can receive funding / support for advanced qualifications.
Through our Innovation Accelerator Fund, you can apply for finance to get that new innovative scientific project off the ground, and participate with the wider scientific community through symposiums, conferences and other peer group meetings.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Overview
The POCT Biomedical Scientist plays a vital role in supporting diagnostic services across hospital and community settings. Working within the Synnovis Pathology framework and in collaboration with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT), the post holder ensures the effective operation, maintenance, and quality assurance of point of care testing equipment.This role demands technical proficiency, administrative accuracy, strong communication skills, and a commitment to professional standards and patient care.
Main Responsibilities
Technical Duties- Perform routine operative and preventative maintenance on POCT instruments and analysers.
- Undertake first-line calibration and basic troubleshooting of analytical equipment.
- Ensure quality control procedures are followed; take corrective action and report failures to senior staff.
- Safely set up equipment for use by others and support clinics with installation and training.
- Process EQA specimens using automated, semi-automated, and manual methods.
- Analyse straightforward scientific and technical issues, evaluating options and making informed decisions.
- File samples according to protocol and maintain accurate records.
- Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) and contribute to their regular review and updates.
- Maintain accurate and compliant records for UKAS accreditation.
- Manage stock levels of reagents, consumables, and stationery to ensure uninterrupted service.
- Liaise with GP surgeries, hospital clinics, and other departments to support POCT operations.
- Assist with procurement processes, including logging and filing delivery documentation.
- Ensure timely reporting of results through effective work file management.
- Support EQA schemes by distributing samples, collecting data, and collating results.
- Contribute to Operational Performance Management Systems (OPMS) by collecting and entering relevant data.
- Communicate effectively with staff and team members, adapting methods to meet individual needs.
- Act as the first point of contact for complaints and queries related to POCT services.
- Liaise with Trust staff to address training and equipment enquiries promptly and professionally.
- Implement new policies and propose changes within Synnovis and community-based POCT areas.
- Deliver POCT training to Hospital staff, including conducting workplace assessments.
- Provide instruction on POCT procedures to healthcare professionals
- Participate in audits of POCT processes across hospital and community settings.
- Promote effective teamwork and maintain positive working relationships with all staff.
- Ensure compliance with local and national policies for the secure and confidential handling of patient and laboratory data, in line with SOPs and Synnovis quality standards.
- Organize daily tasks independently and prioritize urgent duties.
- Proactively escalate issues that may impact service delivery to senior colleagues at Synnovis and GSTT.
- Collaborate with community healthcare providers to deliver high-quality care.
- Uphold principles of equality and fairness in all professional interactions.
- Provide practical training in procedures to new staff within own area.
- Maintain and promote the professional image of Synnovis Pathology.
- Undertake initial training and competency assessments as required.
- Maintain knowledge and skills through participation in the annual appraisal cycle.
- Adhere to health and safety policies and complete all mandatory and statutory training as directed.
For now, the job you are applying for will be based at one of our hospital sites however, from 1 April 2024 our people and services will start to move to our Hub laboratory in Blackfriars, Southwark, SE1, with some work remaining in refurbished essential services laboratories across our hospital network, focusing on the rapid turnover of urgent tests.
Please do ask your recruiting manager if you wish to find out more.
Synnovis is a pathology partnership between SYNLAB UK and Ireland, and the NHS, including sites, Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to deliver and transform pathology services across South East London.
The partnership provides services to 1.7 million people living in South East London, as well as to hundreds of thousands of patients from outside the region who use local healthcare services.The partnership provides diagnostics, testing and digital pathology for hospital trusts, GP services and other healthcare providers.
The Royal Brompton Hospital
Royal Brompton Hospital has a formidable international reputation for its treatment of lung and heart disease, built over more than 175 years.It has ranked in the top ten 'World's Best Specialized Hospitals' ever since Newsweek created the list in 2021. It is home to Europe's largest centre for the treatment and management of cystic fibrosis, and also sees patients suffering from asthma and chronic lung conditions.
Harefield Hospital
Based in Uxbridge, North West London, The hospital is one of the largest and most experienced centres in the world for heart and lung transplants. It has jointly pioneered work in the development of ‘artificial hearts’ (also known as left ventricular assist devices or LVADs).
At our dedicated heart attack centre, we deal with heart attack emergencies from outer north-west London, providing primary angioplasty in our specialist catheter laboratories. We believe our arrival-to-treatment time of 27 minutes is one of the fastest in Europe.Speed of treatment has been shown to be crucial to survival in these cases.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- BSc (Hons) IBMS accredited degree or equivalent
- HCPC State registration as a Biomedical Scientist
- Evidence of ongoing Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
- Willing to work towards higher levels of education such as IBMS Specialist Portfolio
- IBMS membership
Experience
Essential criteria- Previous experience of working in Point of Care
- Experience of training and assessing competency in POCT users.
- Experience in writing documents and presenting information to a wide audience
- Analysing, interpreting and technical validation of routine, complex and specialist results
- Experience with the introduction of new equipment into a laboratory or POCT environment
- Experience in customer liaison e.g. good telephone skills
Skills & Knowledge
Essential criteria- Accuracy and attention to detail
- Good command of spoken and written English
- Numerate and able to undertake scientific calculations
- Knowledge of relevant legislation policies and procedures
- Understanding of the stock control and procurement processes
- Knowledge of Health and Safety policies for hospital/health environments
- Confident self-starter who is capable of working on their own initiative and un-supervised
- Experience or interest in IT systems & networks
Equality of opportunity is our policy.
Our Bank workers enjoy competitive market rates and flexible contract assignments across all of our sites, dependent on your availability and location.
For our Permanent workforce we offer a competitive benefits package.
All employees are entitled to:
- Contributory pension scheme
- Generous annual leave entitlement
- Ground breaking development
opportunities
Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. All employees have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in the course of their daily duties and for ensuring that they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
Please apply for this post on-line. If you have problems with using the online process, or need any assistance, please email [email protected]
Your e-mail address is important to us. We communicate to all job applicants via the e-mail address which has been provided on the application form. Please ensure that you check your e-mail on a regular basis.
Due to the high volumes of applications we receive, we reserve the right to close any adverts before the published closing date once we have received a sufficient number of applications.
If you decide to apply for this post but do not hear back from us within three weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been short-listed on this occasion.
Thank you for your interest in Synnovis.