Biomedical Scientist - Microbiology

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Staff development opportunities

Job summary

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals invites applications for a Band 5/6 HCPC Biomedical Scientist in Microbiology based at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals. The role works 37.5 hours per week, with shifts between 8am and 8pm, including weekends and bank holidays, with out-of-hours on-call for urgent samples.

The lab is UKAS accredited (ISO15189) and IBMS approved for training; experience in NHS laboratory settings is desirable.

Qualifications

• HCPC registered with significant experience in Microbiology.
• IBMS membership and continued professional development.
• Understanding of health and safety legislation in clinical laboratories.
• Knowledge of quality management systems in pathology.

Responsibilities

• Perform a range of laboratory tests autonomously.
• Work on a shift rota covering 24 hours, seven days a week.
• Participate in the on-call rota.
• Direct junior staff on technical and work issues.
• Assist with stock management and inventory control.
• Communicate results and information using IT systems.

Skills

HCPC registered

Microbiology experience

IBMS membership

Quality management

Education

Degree in Microbiology

Tools

Virtuo

UF5000

MALDI-TOF

Genetic Signatures analyser

Job description

We hope to be welcoming you to the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals team soon; we've shown you exactly why we're 'a great place to work', now it's time to see for yourself! Have a look at our current vacancies down below and make the first step to starting a fantastic new career. Need help with your NHS application? We've got you covered! Our brand-new step-by-step NHS Application Help Video will guide you through the process, making it easier, faster, and stress-free to apply. Additionally, you can check out our helpful Application Guide as well!

You can also look at our recruitment flipbook , an interactive brochure showcasing various entry-level roles. It includes a fun quiz to help you find the right role and links to more information about our hospitals and our fantastic staff.

Corporate Services Roles

For roles in our corporate services departments including - Digital Services (I.T), Recruitment, Employment Services, Temporary Staffing, Rostering, Procurement and Finance, these departments are now part of OneLSC and can be found on the ELHT website: https://elht.nhs.uk/working-us/our-vacancies

Main area Pathology - Microbiology Grade Band 5/6 Contract Permanent: Rostered Week-end working and out of hours on-call service Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 438-PB4806

Site Blackpool Teaching Hospitals Dept of Microbiology Town Blackpool Salary £32,073 - £48,117 per annum, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 05/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

Are you fascinated by bacteria, find mycology magical or love following the clues to identify an unusual organism? Then you are the right person to join our team of Biomedical Scientists, in Microbiology.

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Band 5/6 HCPC Biomedical Scientist to join our Microbiology team based at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals whilst employed by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, working for the Lancashire and South Cumbria Pathology service. Previous experience of working in an NHS laboratory would be desirable.

We are a very busy, well-equipped laboratory. We receive a variety of patient samples, such as urine, faeces, blood and swabs from both hospital and community patients in Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde We are accredited by UKAS (ISO15189) and are an IBMS approved training laboratory.

Please note: This vacancy may close early if a high volume of applications is received.

Main duties of the job

As a Biomedical Scientist, you are an integral part of the team; responsible for identifying pathogens which cause disease.

We provide the information that medical staff use to determine appropriate treatment options to help our patients quickly and effectively. As well as this, you would be involved with the maintenance and troubleshooting of various automated systems including Virtuo, UF5000, MALDI-TOF, and Genetic Signatures analyser.

You will need to be enthusiastic about providing an excellent standard of work which contributes to patient care. You should be highly motivated, computer literate, demonstrate good interpersonal skills, and always remain respectful of the Trust values. You will be supported in your training by our dedicated team of experienced staff who will ensure all your training needs are met to become competent in all areas.

This position is full time working 37.5 hours a week between the hours of 8am and 8pm, weekends and Bank Holidays, part-time hours may be considered. Once established, you will partake in the out of hours on-call service for urgent samples

Working for our organisation

We have fantastic people working hard to deliver quality services to our patients. Whatever your role, you help look after people in our local area & give specialist care to 1.5 million people across Lancashire & Cumbria.

Working with us gives you the knowledge and sense of pride that every activity you do genuinely does make a difference to support our patients & staff, ensuring we keep thriving & delivering outstanding healthcare right across our local towns.

You’ll have access to varied development opportunities, learn new skills, meet fab people & do things you’d never have done. You’ll learn about working in a hospital, interacting with people from all different roles to build skills & enhance your career path.

You’ll make an impact, be challenged to think differently, be bold & help innovate to keep improving things. Everything we do centres around patient care which means your role is pivotal and something really to be proud of.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Perform a range of laboratory tests autonomously and demonstrate an understanding of the scientific basis for tests and the disease processes under investigation.
• Be able to work on a shift rota, covering 24 hours, seven days a week
• Participate in the on-call rota
• To communicate, as appropriate, using information technology
• To direct more junior staff regarding technical and work issue
• Dealing with telephone enquiries from nurses, clinicians, healthcare practitioners, giving technical advice on results and use of the service
• Appropriate recording of Inventory management within the section to ensure accurate stock management.
• To assist in effective verbal and written communication by qualified and unqualified staff
• Report any issues to an appropriate person

We look forward to you joining our close-knit Microbiology family. The environment is busy – but you will embrace this and enjoy the challenge of working to tight turn-around-times and targets. You will go home after your working day knowing you have made a positive difference to the patients we serve.

An advert can only contain so many words – but we are available to answer any questions you may have regarding the role before you apply.

Person specification

Qualifications & Education

• HCPC registered with significant experience in Microbiology
• Uses continuing professional development as a means of self- development
• IBMS membership
• Experience of working in a microbiology clinical pathology laboratory.
• Understanding of health and safety legislation pertaining to clinical laboratories
• Understand the components of a quality management system
• Understanding of laboratory quality issues
• Problem solving ability
• Familiar with Pathology LIMS

Thanks for taking the time to view this advert; we’re looking forward to receiving your application. You should be aware that the vacancy may close earlier than the published date if sufficient applications are received so it would be best to apply as soon as you can. We’ll contact you by e-mail to update you on the progress of your application so please check the e-mail account that you applied from (including spam/junk) regularly.

We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership, neurodiversity or veteran status are encouraged to apply for this post. Our Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders is available Here

To support you in your application process we’ve created a What we can offer you guide that shows what you can expect when you join our hospitals. The guide includes links to our strategic aims and objectives as well as our values, development support and rewards and benefits. To help you get the best from your application we’ve also put together two guides to help you make your application the best it can be. Just click here and here to go through them, or have themopen as you complete your application.

We recognise that the recruitment process may present barriers for some and you may need personal adjustments to enable you to participate in our recruitment process. Please make contact with the recruitment team at the earliest opportunity to ensure that measures can be put in place to enable your application for this post.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) when writing job applications

If you choose to use AI or other tools to assist in writing your application, it's essential to personalise this information, particularly your supporting information section. While AI can help streamline the writing process, these tools cannot fully grasp the context or requirements of the job you’re applying for. There is also a risk that it can generate false or misleading information.

AI-generated job applications can often be generic, impersonal and may not accurately reflect your qualifications, knowledge, skills, and experiences. It is crucial that you personalise your supporting statement by articulating these in your unique voice. Relying solely on AI to write your application or supporting information section is not advocated by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals and could negatively impact your chances of success in the application process.

We have added a disclaimer to our application process advising that the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Supporting Information

The supporting information section is an opportunity for you to showcase how your qualifications, knowledge, skill and experiences align with the requirements and criteria outlined in the job description and person.

Our recruiting managers score applications based on the criteria listed in the person specification. They will be looking for evidence of how you meet these criteria. To increase your chances of securing an interview, provide examples of how you have applied your skills and knowledge in real-life situations. Share work-related successes and challenges you’ve navigated that align with the criteria. These could be from various aspects of your life, including work, education, and personal experiences.

Consider structuring your supporting information section with clear headings or bullet points. This approach will help both you and the recruiting manager navigate through your application more effectively.

Working Smarter pledge

We are reminded everyday of how important life is, so as part of our Working Smarter pledge we offer a variety of flexible working options and wellbeing support to enable our people to find and maintain the right work-life balance.

Please note a young person must be in part-time education or training until they’re 18. therefore if you are under 18 we are unable to employ you on a full time basis, unless it is in an apprenticeship role.

Disclosure and Barring Service checks

If the role you’ve applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this on your behalf and the cost will be recovered from your salary, either as a one-off payment, or over 3 months. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently the charges are - Basic DBS check £26.40 Standard DBS check £26.40 and Enhanced DBS check £54.40. You should be aware that if you are successful in obtaining a position that requires a DBS check but later withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check. DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions. The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here .

In line with guidance from United Kingdom Health Security Agency, all staff and volunteers are required to comply with Trust Infection Prevention and Control processes in relation to safe working. This includes mask wearing and adherence to social distancing at all Trust sites.

NO UNSOLICITED ADVERTISING COMPANY APPROACHES

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

On this page we list our current jobs and vacancies.