Biomedical Scientist

Job summary

We are looking for a full-time permanent BMS in Haematology and Blood Transfusion at CDDFT in our very busy Department of Blood Sciences which processes 1500-2000 samples per site each day.

Nominal Base will be Darlington Memorial Hospital but you will be expected to travel to and work at the other sites within the Trust if required. Blood sciences at CDDFT is a very busy laboratory with much to offer the successful candidate. You will be a proactive member of the Blood Sciences Team; excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential as is the ability to work within a team processing a high workload of specimens. You should have great multi-tasking ability, excellent organisational skills, attention to detail, and be able to appropriately prioritise urgent work.

The job description is generic for all Blood Sciences BMS staff and all necessary training will be provided, but evidence and experience in a UK laboratory in Haematology and Transfusion or Biochemistry is preferred. APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE THAT RELEVANT EXPERIENCE SHOULD HAVE BEEN OBTAINED WITHIN THE LAST THREE YEARS.

Main duties of the job

Main tasks include:

1. Maintaining and running automated analysers in accordance with laboratory protocols, performing QC.
2. Investigating and troubleshooting QC failures and spurious test results.
3. Performing manual tests and staining and recording the results.
4. Booking patient samples on to the Laboratory Computer System and ensuring the correct test requests are inputted. Centrifuging samples.
5. Authorising results and forwarding abnormals to Consultant Haematologists as required.
6. Examining blood smears under the microscope and performing manual differential counts as needed.
7. Managing pending test lists, prioritising urgent work to meet turnaround times.
8. Performing blood groups and identifying antibodies, crossmatching Blood and products for patients, managing blood stocks.
9. Answering telephone queries and liaising with other Trust staff and the general public.
10. Stock control including ordering, receiving and receipting deliveries, documenting and organising batches of reagents and performing verification tasks.
11. Assist in the training and competency assessment of new Band 4 staff.

About us

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community-based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.

Job responsibilities

The Blood Sciences Department is UKAS accredited and part of your role will be to complete all required quality documentation including training, competency and CPD.

You must be an HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist, have an IBMS accredited BSc in Biomedical Science or equivalent. Candidates working towards HCPC registration will be considered. Candidates must be able to provide documentary relevant CPD evidence in support of their application at interview.

The main automation in Haematology is changing in 2025 to Siemens Hema analysers and stainers, Coagulation ACL TOPS 550 analysers and Blood Transfusion to Ortho automated technology. The LIMS is provided by Clinisys Winpath.

Experience of the above is advantageous but not essential as all necessary training will be provided.

Main Specialist BMS tasks are:

1. Performing complex analyses.
2. Authorising results, reflexing tests as required, referring abnormals to Consultants.
3. Ensuring analysers maintained, calibrated and quality controlled and troubleshooting any issues.
4. Performing Blood groups and antibody identification and crossmatching by both manual and automated techniques.
5. Providing Blood and products in a timely manner in emergency situations; you must be able to prioritise, multi-task, keep calm and have excellent communication skills in emergency scenarios.
6. Managing blood and blood product stock.
7. Training and supervising Band 4 staff.

Person Specification

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Organise own work activities
• Prioritisation of duties
• Communication
• Medical / Scientific terminology
• Numerical: Calculations etc.
• Manual dexterity, Tests and analysers
• Precise and accurate work performance

Special Requirements

Essential

• Able to travel across trust sites to meet the requirements of the post
• Shift work
• Out of hours work

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc Biomedical Sciences

Desirable

• Computer literate
• ECDL
• Working towards the specialist diploma
• Science / English / Math A-levels

Experience

Essential

• Relevant laboratory experience

Statutory Registration

Essential

• HCPC registered

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.