Job summary

Haematology & Morphology Training Lead (Specialist Biomedical Scientist) - Blood Science

Expected Shortlisting Date

19/09/2024

Planned Interview Date

26/09/2024

This is a great time to join one of the largest Pathology departments in the country, and in advance of moving to our new £30m Centre for Laboratory Medicine building (on the St. Jamess University Hospital site) and new Acute Hospital Laboratory (on the Leeds General Infirmary site), in early 2025.

The Department of Blood Sciences is seeking to recruit an experienced Specialist Biomedical Scientist in Haematology to coordinate and lead on all aspects of haematology and morphology training for more junior members of staff, in conjunction with the Training Manager and Haematology Service Lead. This role is offered as full or part time, and there is no expectation of unsocial hours working. We encourage all candidates to contact us to discuss this opportunity and can offer informal visits to our laboratories for interested candidates.

Please note: The interview will be held in person as the selection process will include a practical exercise related to the role.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will work across Haematology as a Specialist Biomedical Scientist and will have specific responsibility for delivering the morphology training programme and for leading on the training of more junior members of staff. In addition, the candidate will also support the department in maintaining its ISO15189 accreditation status, collaborating with the Clinical Haematology teams in the regional Oncology centre and the Leeds Children's Hospital. This is a unique opportunity for the successful candidate to gain wide ranging experience within a specialist centre, and to share their passion for Haematology with the next generation of Biomedical Scientists.

To be considered, you must be registered with the HCPC and have significant experience in Haematology and of blood film morphology. Experience of coordinating or leading on training activity would be advantageous. If registering with the HCPC on or after 2006, a completed IBMS Specialist Portfolio in Haematology is an absolute requirement of this post.

About us

Our Pathology services operate across two large university teaching hospitals in the Leeds Metropolitan area with a population of around million and provide services both regionally and nationally. In addition to the new laboratory projects, we are also working to deploy a West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT) regional LIMS, and a new Managed Pathology Service Contract. Construction on the new Leeds Children's Hospital is also about to start, which will include all in-patient maternity and specialist neonatal services to become the largest single site maternity centre in the UK.

The successful candidate will be well supported by the wider scientific and clinical teams. The Blood Sciences Department is accredited to ISO15189 and by the IBMS as a training laboratory in both Clinical Biochemistry and Haematology.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Job description

Job responsibilities

As a specialist biomedical scientist you will be a fully competent member of the department. Normally working as part of a team, you will be expected to perform a wide range of specialist clinical technical investigations. At other times you may be required to work alone and independently. Working in different sections of the department you will have the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute towards the provision of an accurate and timely service for patients. You will be expected to apply professional judgements and specialist skills to technically complex and sometimes difficult situations. Within the team you may be required to organise the tasks of more junior members of staff. You will be required to communicate highly complex information, often related to patient management and care, to colleagues, healthcare staff and other organisations.

You will be required to attend MDT and other user meetings where appropriate. Post holders will be involved in R&D and may lead projects, under supervision, where appropriate.

The post holder will assist in the day to day running of the haematology laboratory, under supervision/delegation of the advanced biomedical scientist. This will involve QC and EQA authorisation, training, risk and incident assessment and investigation and HR procedures. The post holder will be expected to have an awareness of budgets and resource responsibility, and coordinate / lead on all aspects of haematology and morphology training for more junior members of staff

In order to carry out the job sufficiently and effectively you will have successfully studied for an accredited degree in biomedical sciences, or other equivalent qualification acceptable to the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS). You will have developed a range of competencies and specialist knowledge in all aspects of the discipline through extensive practical experience, In addition, basic computer skills and use of various laboratory and Trust based databases are essential to carry out your work.

The post holder will have undertaken all mandatory training required for their role and be willing to attend training to facilitate learning in areas such as basic HR functions, appraisal, incident investigation etc.

For full details, please refer to the attached job description.

Person Specification

Skills & behaviours

Essential

Willingness to undertake other formal study and in house training. Significant blood film morphology skills. Excellent communication skills, oral and written. Able to work in a team. Able to work independently. Knowledge of conventional IT software Microsoft Office. Flexible approach to work.

Desirable

Teaching, training and mentorship skills Line management experience and leadership skills

Qualifications

Essential

BSc (or equivalent) suitable for HCPC registration purposes. HCPC registration IBMS Specialist Portfolio in Haematology (2006 registration onwards) (or equivalent) Competence in a wide range of complex laboratory haematology procedures. Participation in relevant CPD schemes

Experience

Essential

Post registration experience within the speciality of Haematology Experience of LIMS / laboratory IT systems Proven ability to work unsupervised independently

Desirable

Line management experience Teaching, training and/or mentorship experience

Additional Requirements

Essential

Physically able to move around and work between sites Physically able to assist in movement of moderate loads