Biomedical Scientist

Job Title: Biomedical Scientist - Night Shift

Department: Haematology and Blood Transfusion

Location: Royal Free Hospital, London

Contract /Hours: Permanent, Full-time (37.5 hours per week)

Salary range: Up to £72,471.70 per annum DOE inclusive of regional pay allowance plus unsocial working hours allowance

About the Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Haematology & Blood Transfusion Department at Health Services Laboratories (HSL), Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead Site, for a Specialist Biomedical Scientist to join our dedicated night shift team.

We are seeking committed, motivated, and enthusiastic individuals who are keen to develop their skills and play an integral role in shaping the future of our pathology services.

The successful candidate will primarily work night shifts across Diagnostic Haematology, Coagulation, and Blood Transfusion, following a comprehensive induction period undertaken during core working hours. Scheduled training and competency assessment days will be provided throughout the year to ensure skills and knowledge are maintained to the highest standard.

If you are passionate about delivering high-quality laboratory services and would like to contribute to the ongoing development of pathology services at HSL, we would welcome your application.

The department provides an excellent training and development programme designed to help staff realise their full potential and progress their careers. The successful applicant will have opportunities for further professional development, including involvement in quality management, training, and service improvement activities, with responsibilities tailored to experience and competence.

Join us and be part of an innovative team delivering high-quality diagnostic services while helping to shape the future of pathology at HSL.

Key Responsibilities

• You will be part of a team responsible for the 24/7 running of the routine Haematology & Blood Transfusion section and have the opportunity to play an integral part in introducing new methodologies and technologies and providing a service of the highest standard to our service users
• To undertake routine maintenance of analysers and equipment, ensuring that Calibration, IQC and EQC are within acceptable limits. This forms part of the duties of completing all documentation required by CPA/UKAS and MHRA. To communicate any issue that may affect provision of the service to the Senior Biomedical Scientist.
• To undertake basic troubleshooting in the event of equipment or assay failure. Escalating the failure to a senior member of staff as necessary and maintaining incident documentation as required by the Standard Operating Procedures
• To ensure that adequate stocks of consumables and reagents are available to maintain an efficient service, informing Senior Biomedical Scientists when supplies need replenishing
• Performs investigations in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures and Laboratory health and safety policies, to a high standard providing results in a timely fashion so as to comply with turnaround times as stated in the Users Handbook
• To perform routine morphological assessments of routine blood smears and to be able to identify normal and abnormal blood cells and common blood-borne parasites
• To perform more complex investigations under the supervision of a Senior Biomedical Scientist
• To perform blood group and antibody screening and other routine tests within the Blood Transfusion laboratory, and to perform further secondary testing including Antibody Panel investigations and identification as necessary
• To be aware of all local and national guidelines and policies related to the provision of safe blood products to patients.
• To provide compatible blood components for routine and emergency transfusion
• To undertake technical and first level authorisation of results, ensuring that IQC is within accepted limits. To interpret and understand the implications of results at a basic level and to take appropriate action when these fall outside the expected ranges, communicating them to the requestor and referring the request to the Haematology Registrars or Consultant Haematologist where clinical input is required
• To receive and communicate information accurately and concisely to colleagues and service users as required
• To inform the Senior Biomedical Scientist or manager of any issues that may affect the provision of the service
• To assist in the development and implementation current and new techniques within the laboratory
• To assist in the validation of new equipment
• To assist in the review and development of current and new Standard Operating Procedures
• To undertake and assist in Clinical and Scientific audits as required by the RRL manager
• Report and investigate all incidents and adverse events entering the information in the CAPA module of Q-pulse in a timely manner, conducting Root Cause analysis and remedial action as required

Training and Education

• To undertake relevant and necessary training to maintain and improve knowledge and skills as directed by the Head of Haematology and Transfusion Laboratories or Deputies
• To maintain own personal development and attend departmental meetings as required
• To maintain registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and participate in a recognised CPD scheme
• To take an active interest in and keep abreast of developments in the discipline
• To assist in the development of junior colleagues by assisting in the training of trainee BMS and MLA staff, and to undertake, complete, and sign off all competencies associated with these grades

Skills & Experience

• Experience of working in a Haematology and Blood Transfusion Laboratory is essential. You will be part of a team responsible for the 24/7 running of the routine Haematology , coagulation & Blood Transfusion sections and have the opportunity to play an integral part in introducing new methodologies and technologies and providing a service of the highest standard to our service users
• The post holder will have opportunities for further development, with responsibilities for quality and training dependent on experience. The department has an excellent training programme to develop staff to realise their potential and career advancement

Essential

• HCPC Registered as a Biomedical Scientist with an accredited Biomedical Science Degree
• Proven post-registration laboratory experience
• Experience in Haematology, Coagulation, and/or Blood Transfusion laboratories. and have previously participated in a night shift rota in Haematology, coagulation and blood transfusion
• Theoretical and practical knowledge in Haematology, coagulation and blood transfusion.
• Current registration with The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Specialist Diploma or equivalent experience

Desirable

• Demonstrate experience of working to a laboratory Quality Management System.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Able to communicate effectively with people at all levels
• Well-presented and will abide by dress codes
• Demonstrate professionalism and a customer-focused attitude
• Calm under pressure
• Punctual and reliable
• Helpful, friendly and polite
• Flexible and adaptable
• Committed to the corporate quality objectives
• Commercially aware

Skills and Abilities

• Good organisational skills
• Ability to work accurately, neatly and efficiently
• Attention to detail is very important
• Ability to work in a team
• Basic Keyboard skills and familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to maintain patient confidentiality at all times
• Ability to work on own initiative
• Ability to communicate efficiently with other members of the laboratory in English - both verbally and in writing
• Use of laboratory equipment relevant to the specialty
• Demonstrate experience of working to a laboratory Quality Management System

About Us

Sonic Healthcare is an internationally renowned healthcare provider with a demonstrable track record of medical services across the world. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, Sonic is an ASX Top 50 company that has grown to become one of the world’s leading healthcare providers, specialising in pathology, radiology and primary care medical centres. We have operations in Australia, the USA, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand.

Sonic Healthcare UK encompasses the two main entities in the UK, The Doctors Laboratory (TDL) and Health Services Laboratories (HSL). HSL is a partnership between The Doctors Laboratory (TDL), Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH). HSL was formed to provide pathology services to the NHS Trusts and has expanded further to provide services to other NHS Trusts. Over 3,500 staff work at Sonic Healthcare UK, primarily under the TDL or HSL banner.

Our purpose is to deliver medically-led diagnostics, innovation, value and long-term investment to healthcare. With our core laboratory based at The Halo Building in London WC1H 9AX, we also have an expanding site in Manchester as well as smaller hospital-based laboratories across the country. We maintain rigorously high standards of quality, whilst also delivering efficiencies to healthcare through careful workforce planning, pioneering technology and significant investment in infrastructure and IT.

Due to the nature of work that Sonic Healthcare UK undertakes, our clients require that Employees filling certain roles, need, as part of their on-boarding to complete a DBS Check.

Why Join Sonic Healthcare UK?

At Sonic Healthcare UK we offer a variety of excellent staff benefits including:

• Training and development opportunities - supporting professional development

• Annual salary review - salary and progression are aligned to our internal transparent pay structure (Progression Plus), supporting career development and structured annual salary reviews

• Discounted gym membership - we have a corporate gym membership scheme with Better Gyms
• Cash healthcare plan - cash back on a variety of healthcare costs including dentist and opticians

• Sick Pay Entitlement - one month’s full pay and one month’s half pay after probation

• Permanent Health Insurance and Death in Service Cover

• Life Assurance - providing salary continuation for long term illness (six months qualifying period)

• Employee Assistance Programme - supporting staff wellbeing

• Season Ticket Loan Scheme - interest free loan for the cost of annual travel ticket

• Perkbox - Access to additional staff perks and benefits such as high street discounts

• Company Pension Scheme - company and staff contributions which increase with service

• Competitive annual leave allowance

• Flexible working hours - we support and offer flexibility around shift patterns and working schedule

Please read the job description and person specification carefully and ensure that your application reflects the knowledge, skills and experience required.

We respect and value the diversity of our staff and welcome applications from diverse communities.

PLEASE NOTE: WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CLOSE THIS VACANCY AT ANY TIME EVEN IF A CLOSING DATE IS SHOWN HERE OR IN ANY OTHER MEDIA