Job overview

An opportunity is available for an experienced, enthusiastic, and highly motivated HCPC Registered Specialist Biomedical Scientist to cover a Senior BMS post in Haematology for 1 year. The post will be based at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital site but there will be a requirement to rotate to the Bedford Hospital site also.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work with the clinical haematology, laboratory manager and seniors in the provision of a comprehensive and quality assured scientific service within the department.

The post holder will deliver, on their own responsibility, a range of complex scientific work demanding skilled performance, to understand and improve working practices in the Haematology Laboratory and throughout the hospital.

The post holder will assist the laboratory manager in the delivery of a high quality, efficient and effective service, through the Quality Management System [QMS] and quality monitoring process using key performance indicators. The post holder will work with considerable autonomy and will be responsible for implementing change to policies and procedures ensuring that the service complies with current UKAS standards, national and European legislation and discipline specific regulatory bodies.

The post holder will assist the laboratory manager in operational improvement aspects of the Laboratory Information Management System [LIMS] for the department, whilst maintaining service continuity and mitigating risk.

Working for our organisation

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics.

You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. 
We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.

Please review all documents attached to this advert to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To perform as a HCPC Registered Biomedical Scientist [BMS] assisting in the management of the service.

To assist the laboratory manager in the implementation and delivery of a cohesive service, in conjunction the clinical lead for the department.

To implement the quality policy including the agreed quality objectives.

To be involved in all aspects of the day-to-day operation to UKAS standards of the Haematology Laboratory with appropriate technical support. This will include:
- Running and maintenance of specialised instrumentation as required;
- Using relevant Pathology and Trust IT systems (e.g. LIMS, ICE);
- Performance monitoring and EQA;
- Demand management of haematology assays and subsets of blood transfusion requests;

To be responsible for clinical/laboratory liaison of; oversight of tests, changes to tests and newly introduced tests within the laboratory service pertinent to Haematology.

To review the impact of changes on existing guidelines and to develop new guidelines where required.

To be the laboratory lead for quality assurance and control in liaison with the senior team.

To contribute to the development and selection of analytical methods employed and to maintain awareness of their reactions, limitations and causes of interference or error. This knowledge is essential for the validation of reports, identifying errors and explaining anomalous results to clinical staff.

 To be involved in a medium-term service development and enhancement including:
- Setting of service standards for the laboratory, particularly those related to automated testing;
- Participation in audit within Haematology and in liaison with other departments;
- Attending Clinical/Laboratory Haematology Senior Staff Meetings;
- Equipment selection and evaluation;
- Evaluation and implementation of new methods;
- Making recommendations on clinical protocols;
- Evaluation of published developments and innovations;

Where delegated, to be responsible for the formulation and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures [SOP] for the department utilising the Document Management Module of the Q-Pulse system.

To contribute on matters of quality assurance related to laboratory analysis and to take appropriate action when errors are identified.

To maintain an up-to-date knowledge in procedures associated with clinical haematology in order to give scientific advice.

To ensure laboratory incidents and complaints are reported and to investigate result, service complaints and incidents and ensure that effective immediate and follow up actions are taken.

To manage and provide action plans to resolve nonconformities that are recorded by internal and/or external audits or complaints to ensure the completion of corrective and preventative actions that have been identified.

To communicate verbally and in written reports the results of scientific investigations to clinicians and other healthcare professionals.

To participate in evidence based training and maintain a level of knowledge to fulfil this role through Continual Professional Development [CPD] for retention of HCPC Registered Biomedical Scientist status.

To bridge the gap between the clinical team and the laboratory and offer opportunities to interact with users of the Service.

To participate in repatriation of assays and enhancement of testing repertoire within the laboratory.

To manage the delivery of training in conjunction with the training officer, ensuring tutorials, one to one training and competency assessments are fulfilled in accordance with ISO 15189 .

To ensure the completion and reporting of EQA schemes, troubleshooting for the cause of any problems and actions required as a result of poor performance such as consistent bias or other quality problem.

To conduct and complete departmental audits whether vertical, horizontal or examination audits relevant to the service.

To assist in the Risk Management Policy for the department such as InPhase management, ensuring Risk Assessments are conducted, reporting of incidents, accidents and adverse events via the reporting structures that exist including the clinical lead and/or the pathology managers as required.

To regularly assess the service performance providing information required for the quality monitoring report for the department.

Where requested to represent the department in senior management meetings, decision-making and policy implementation.

To represent the department at local, regional and national meetings and conferences where appropriate.

To bring to the attention of the laboratory manager and Haematology Consultant any problems or difficulties encountered in the performance of their duties.

To comply with Policies and Procedures commensurate to role.

To deputise in the absence of the laboratory manager when required to do so.

To attend an annual appraisal from your line manager.

Undertake other duties commensurate with the post as directed.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Completed a Master’s degree or related professional health care qualification (Fellow of Institute of Biomedical Scientist (IBMS) or Chartered Scientist) or equivalent. Completed an IBMS Higher Specialist Diploma (HSD) or equivalent. BSc in Biomedical Sciences or equivalent and demonstrable experience at Specialist BMS level HCPC BMS Registrant

Experience

Essential criteria

Highly specialist knowledge of Haematology procedures and a number of esoteric specialisms. Extensive working experience in Biomedical Science at an advanced level. Track record of working without supervision. Audit and evaluation, clinical & information governance.

Desirable criteria

Managing staff. Implementation of new technologies e.g. laboratory equipment and Pathology information management systems

Skills

Essential criteria

Excellent Inter-personal skills Ability to utilise evaluation tools Ability to analyse complex data and use information to inform judgements Standard keyboard skills

Desirable criteria

Leadership skills Negotiation skills Proven project management skills

Personal Skills

Essential criteria

Personal integrity – leading by example Drive and determination Flexibility Tactful and diplomatic Flexible in approach and in working relationships

Desirable criteria

Team Leader and decision maker Commitment to service development

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Fully conversant with the Haematology methodology and ability to employ advanced techniques of laboratory diagnosis. Ability to make decisions on extended sample testing based on test outcomes, to aid clinical diagnosis and without supervision.

Desirable criteria

Lean working National and local issues facing Pathology

Communication Skills

Essential criteria

Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, at all levels. Good listening skills Manage highly complex information

Desirable criteria

Able to communicate with multi-disciplinary teams throughout Health Economy

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.