Biomedical Scientist

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Swindon; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Band 5 Biomedical Scientist to join the Microbiology Team on a full-time basis. The post involves diagnosing infections using modern methods and traditional techniques where required, with professional development toward an IBMS Specialist Diploma in Medical Microbiology.

Responsibilities include interpreting clinical data, processing specimens, reporting results, and supporting on-call duties.

Qualifications

• Registered biomedical scientist with HCPC in the UK.
• BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science or equivalent required.
• Working towards IBMS Specialist Diploma in Medical Microbiology.

Responsibilities

• Interpret clinical details and allocate tests to samples.
• Process biomedical samples with high competency per SOPs.
• Interpret and report complex analytical results and authorise reports.
• Communicate test results by telephone, report or electronic systems.
• Make decisions on sample quality and data validity; report anomalies.
• Operate, maintain and troubleshoot complex lab equipment.

Skills

Biomedical Science degree

HCPC registration

Specialist diploma (towards)

Education

BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science

HCPC registration

IBMS Specialist Diploma (towards)

Job description

Main area Microbiology Grade Band 5 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (On call rota & weekend working) Job ref 249-7951435-3

Employer Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Great Western Hospital Town Swindon Salary £32,073 - £39,043 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 13/10/2026 23:59

Biomedical Scientist

Band 5

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a unique organisation, serving as the sole integrated provider in the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire system. Our scope extends beyond boundaries as we oversee adult community services in Swindon and provide acute care from the Great Western Hospital.

Our 5,500 staff have 1.2m patient contacts a year, with 13,000 operations carried out in our Theatres, around 4,000 babies born, and our emergency attendances are now well over 100,000 per year. Those numbers only tell part of our story about what an exciting time it is to join Great Western Hospitals.

We are cultivating a culture that fosters our ambitions, prioritising equality, diversion, inclusion, wellbeing, and leadership. We aim to create an environment where every member of our team can truly thrive.

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used, then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Job overview

PREVIOUS APPLICANTS NEED NOT APPLY

We are looking for a Band 5 Biomedical Scientist to join our Microbiology Team on a full time basis.

Biomedical Scientists (BMS) are an integral part of the laboratory team responsible for the diagnosis of infection and disease processes by the application of latest scientific knowledge, coupled with the most up to date scientific methods and use of traditional methods where required. BMS carry out, and interpret the results of, laboratory tests on biomedical samples that will aid clinical staff in the diagnoses of illness and evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. Further professional development will be expected, as the post holder works towards a Specialist Diploma in Medical Microbiology.

Main duties of the job

• To interpret clinical details and patient demographic data for the allocation of tests to samples.
• To process biomedical samples using various techniques with a high degree of competency in accordance with standard operating procedures, providing accurate and timely appropriate results.
• To accurately interpret and report timely complex analytical results, and authorise Microbiology reports according to laboratory policy.
• To communicate effectively test results by telephone, printed report or electronic report, deal with telephone enquiries, and provide technical advice to laboratory users.
• To be able to make decisions regarding the quality of specimens and the validity of test data and ensure any anomalies / errors are reported to Senior BMS staff as soon as possible.
• To use complex and technical laboratory equipment in the course of their duties including maintenance and troubleshooting of the equipment.

Working for our organisation

We are proud to be part of BSW Hospitals Group – a formal partnership between Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. With a combined workforce of over 17, 600 colleagues, and budget of 1.6 billion the Group is united by a common purpose to deliver the best possible care to over 1 million people.

We are creating a heath and care system that works with the people we care for, reducing the differences people currently face in access, experience and outcomes, improving the experience of our colleagues and tackling shared challenges like sustainability and finances. Every improvement we make across our Group will be guided by what creates the greatest benefit for our colleagues, our patients, our communities and our partners.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• At all times to act in accordance with and adhere to laboratory and Trust procedures and protocols.
• To work under the direction of Senior BMS staff in the provision of a diagnostic Microbiology service, working within departmental guidelines and safety policies.
• To be responsible for health and safety issues pertinent to diagnostic laboratory work, adhering to all Trust and laboratory employment Health and Safety policies and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations.
• To rotate (after suitable training and competency verification) through all sections of the Bacteriology department.
• To participate in rotas covering Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday mornings as required.
• To participate in the out-of-hours service in a lone worker situation.
• To participate in mandatory training requirements of the Trust and attend training sessions, educational meetings and laboratory meetings as appropriate.
• To participate in annual joint review in accordance with the Trust appraisal policy.

Person specification

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science (Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) approved) or equivalent
• Current registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Working towards IBMS Specialist diploma in Medical Microbiology

Experience

• Experience of working as a Biomedical scientist within a Medical Microbiology laboratory in an NHS Laboratory or equivalent in the UK
• Post-HCPC Registration experience of working in all areas of a Medical Microbiology laboratory.
• Experience of working on-call in a lone worker situation

Thank you for expressing interest in this role. For further employer guidance, please review the attached supplementary applicant information.

Certificate of Sponsorship - Sponsorship can only be offered where the role meets the relevant eligibility criteria, including minimum salary requirements. Please note that not all roles within the organisation are eligible for sponsorship. Eligibility for this role includes:

• Current right to work in the UK, subject to verification

Meeting the Skilled Worker visa criteria, where applicable

4 April 2024, UK immigration policy changes increased the minimum salary levels required for Skilled Worker visas. Further information is available on the UK Visas and Immigration website.

Current employees should be aware that this position is advertised as a Great Western Hospitals position and appointment ends any TUPE protection.

Candidates are responsible for covering the cost of their own DBS check if required: £21.50 for a Standard DBS check, recoverable from the first pay, or £49.50 for an Enhanced DBS check, divided and recoverable over the initial two pay periods. Payment for DBS checks for bank posts must be settled prior to commencement. Apprentices are exempt from DBS payment.

We are committed to supporting our staff in achieving a healthy work-life balance through flexible work arrangements. Upon joining the Trust, you have the right to request flexible working, with an unlimited number of requests allowed.

Upon acceptance of a job offer, your information will be transferred to the national NHS Electronic Staff Records System. All communication regarding your application will be conducted via email; please ensure to check your junk/spam folders as emails may occasionally be filtered there.

The Trust is a Disability Confident Employer; all applicants who have a disability can opt to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme, which means that, providing they meet the minimum essential criteria for the post, they will be offered an interview. We are also proudly accredited as a Veteran Aware organisation and have signed The Armed Forces Covenant.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.