Biomedical Scientist

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust; North East; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional health trust is seeking a Biomedical Scientist to work in their busy Blood Sciences Department. The successful candidate will be involved in running automated analysers, performing manual tests, and managing sample processes. Essential skills include excellent communication, attention to detail, and organisational abilities. HCPC registration and a degree in Biomedical Sciences are required. Competitive salary between £31,049 and £37,796 annually, with opportunities for professional development.

Qualifications

• HCPC registered.
• Experience in a UK laboratory in Biochemistry preferred.
• Ability to travel to different sites.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and run automated analysers according to laboratory protocols.
• Investigation of QC failures.
• Perform manual tests and record results.
• Manage pending test lists and prioritize urgent work.
• Answer telephone queries and liaise with other staff.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Organisational skills

Attention to detail

Manual dexterity

Medical / Scientific terminology

Education

BSc Biomedical Sciences

Working towards specialist diploma

Science / English / Math A-levels

Job description

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Biomedical Scientist

The closing date is 23 December 2025

We are looking for a Biomedical Scientist in Clinical Biochemistry at CDDFT in our very busy Department of Blood Sciences which processes 1500-2000 samples per site each day.

Nominal base will be University Hospital of North Durham 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, have excellent organisational skills and 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 Biochemistry is preferred. Applicants, please note that relevant experience should have been obtained within the last three years.

Responsibilities

Main tasks include:

• Maintaining and running automated analysers in accordance with laboratory protocols, performing QC.
• Investigating and troubleshooting QC failures and spurious test results.
• Performing manual tests and recording the results.
• Booking patient samples onto the Laboratory Computer System and ensuring the correct test requests are inputted. Centrifuging samples.
• Authorising results and forwarding abnormals to Clinical Scientists as required.
• Managing pending test lists, prioritising urgent work to meet turnaround times.
• Answering telephone queries and liaising with other Trust staff and the general public.
• Stock control including ordering, receiving and receipting deliveries, documenting and organising batches of reagents and performing verification tasks.
• Assist in the training and competency assessment of new Band 4.
• Training and supervising Band 4 staff.

Additional specialist BMS tasks:

• Performing complex analyses.
• Authorising results, reflexing tests as required, referring abnormals to Consultants.
• Ensuring analysers maintained, calibrated and quality controlled and troubleshooting any issues.
• Providing results 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.
• Participate in the department’s 24/7 shift rotation covering day shifts, late shifts, night shifts, weekends and bank holidays. Cross‑site cover will be required at the other sites to meet the needs of the service.

NB: This is NOT a training post and candidates who are not HCPC registered will not be considered.

You must be able to produce all certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre‑employment checks.

Statutory Registration

• HCPC registered

Special Requirements

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

Qualifications

• BSc Biomedical Sciences.
• Working towards the specialist diploma.
• Science / English / Math A‑levels.

Special Skills & Knowledge

• Organise own work activities.
• Prioritisation of duties.
• Communication.
• Medical / Scientific terminology.
• Manual dexterity, tests and analysers.
• Precise and accurate work performance.

Experience

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

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.

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

£31,049 to £37,796 a year per annum, pro rata.

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