Microbiology Specialist Biomedical Scientist

Merseywestlancs; Knowsley; Remote; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Mersey West Lancashire NHS Trust is seeking a HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist (Band 6) to join the Microbiology team at Whiston Hospital, Prescot. The post requires full participation in the out‑of‑hours system and offers a full‑time 37.5‑hour week in a 24/7 service.

You will work in a busy UKAS accredited laboratory, handling analyses across blood, body fluids, tissues and cells, contributing to high‑quality patient care.

Qualifications

• HCPC‑registered Biomedical Scientist with significant post‑registration microbiology experience.
• Enthusiastic and motivated to work in a busy UKAS accredited laboratory.

Responsibilities

• Provide a 24/7 pathology service as an autonomous practitioner when competencyed.
• Carry out analyses on blood, body fluids, tissues and cells to aid diagnosis and monitoring.
• Work without supervision in routine and complex microbiology tasks within SOPs.
• Maintain quality control, record results and ensure compliance with policies.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organisational skills

Flexibility

Autonomy

Education

Biomedical Science degree or equivalent

PgD Biomedical Sciences or equivalent

Institute of Biomedical Science membership

Job description

We want talented and enthusiastic people from all backgrounds to join #TeamMWL, with us you can learn, grow and develop yourself and your career, realising your true ambitions and aspirations.

Whatever you’re looking for in your career, you’ll find it here at MWL.

Microbiology Specialist Biomedical Scientist

NHS AfC: Band 6

Main area Microbiology - Pathology - Grade NHS AfC: Band 6 Contract Permanent: 24/7 shift in operation Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (24/7 shift in operation) Job ref 409-8291199

Site Whiston Hospital Town Prescot Salary £39,959 - £48,117 Per Annum Salary period Yearly Closing 02/10/2026 08:00

After applying via NHS Jobs, your submitted application will be imported into our preferred Third-party recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs. You will not be able to track the progress of your application or receive messages through the NHS Jobs website, and furthermore, as an employer, we will not be able to respond to any e-mails sent to us via the NHS Jobs website. By applying for this post you are agreeing to "name of trust" transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are appointed to a post information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Job overview

Applications are invited from HCPC Registered Biomedical Scientists with significant post registration experience in Microbiology as a BMS for the above post.

For this post we require an enthusiastic and motivated individual to work in our busy, well-equipped, UKAS accredited laboratory.

The post is based at Whiston Hospital and there is a requirement for full participation in the out of hours system.

The Department processes over 700,000 requests each year in a modern well equipped department.

Whiston Hospital is well situated close to the M62 and M57 motorways with good access to both Liverpool and Manchester.

Interview Date - To Be Confirmed

The JD & PS are currently under AfC review and are subject to change

Main duties of the job

Specialist Biomedical Scientists will act as experienced specialists who generally work without guidance or supervision to complete delegated tasks involved in the delivery of a clinical pathology service that enables a high standard of patient care. Those who satisfy competency assessments may work as an autonomous practitioner to provide a 24-hour pathology service for the Trust. The successful applicant will be expected to take a full part in any out of hours service agreed by the Trust.

Specialist BMSs carry out analyses on blood, body fluids, tissues and cells to determine the presence or absence of disease; this enables diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of the effectiveness of treatment. Biomedical Scientists also carry out population screening for inherited or malignant disorders.

Working for our organisation

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is the only acute Trust in Cheshire and Merseyside, and one of the few in the entire country, to achieve the title of OUTSTANDING, rated by the Care Quality Commission.

We provide a full range of acute adult and children services to our local population of circa 360,000 and provide tertiary services across a much wider area in the North West, North Wales and Isle of Man. We are a Major Trauma Unit and the Mersey Regional Burns Unit.

Our '5 Star Patient Care' strategy is at the heart of all that we do; supporting our vision to provide world class services for all our patients by getting it right for every patient, every time.

• Acute Trust of the Year – HSJ Awards November 2019
• Trust rates Outstanding by the CQC – Inspection August 2018
• Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers and Health Service Journal)
• Best acute Trust in England for quality of care for the 3 rd year running (NHS Staff Survey)

In the NHS Staff Survey 2020 the Trust scored the highest marks in the following areas;

• Quality of care
• Support from managers

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

KEY DUTIES

The following duties will be performed after supervised training with a registered Biomedical Scientist. All duties must be performed and comply with agreed departmental policies and procedures.

Technical

• Undertake manual, semi-automated and fully automated laboratory investigations on a rotational basis through all sections within the department as required.
• Follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and participate in the regular review and update of SOPs.
• Ensure that equipment is used in accordance with Departmental policies and suppliers instructions.
• Undertake routine and more complex maintenance on laboratory instruments, carry out appropriate internal maintenance procedures and maintain maintenance records.
• Plan and organise a workload which can be varied and complex. This involves completion of on-going work, together with new work, which can be interspersed with urgent specimens. These activities are required to meet the demands of the department
• Undertake technical validation of the complex results from laboratory investigations ensuring accuracy and precision as specified by laboratory protocols.
• Measure and monitor the accuracy and precision of laboratory investigations using appropriate quality control procedures.
• Carry out corrective action or inform senior staff when the quality control procedures indicate loss of performance.
• Prepare reagents required for analysers and manual laboratory investigations and to record reagent batch numbers and maintain a reagent audit trail.
• Report any instance or event which may cause a service delivery failure to the Senior Biomedical Scientists.
• Record and monitor data from non-analytical equipment e.g. water purity from water systems, decontamination records for centrifuges, fridge and freezer temperatures etc.

Scientific

• Undertake method and laboratory instrument evaluation as directed by senior laboratory staff.
• Take appropriate action should the quality assurance systems be outside acceptable limits.
• Perform External Quality Control and be aware of the external QC performance for the section.
• Carry out the agreed internal quality control procedures associated with any specific procedure.
• Perform internal quality control checks, as directed by a senior member of staff, on work performed elsewhere within the laboratory.

Use interpretative skills to determine accurately the clinical significance of results of laboratory tests, for example, by:

• Preparing, examining and reporting of specimens which require highly developed physical skills requiring a high degree of hand/eye co-ordination.
• Performing molecular diagnostic tests
• Microscopy: reporting Gram films (presence of bacteria and cells), Cerebro Spinal Fluid and Urines (presence of infection indicators), Faeces (presence of parasites)
• Interpret diagnostic laboratory results and take appropriate actions i.e.
• Authorisation of results
• Adding technical comments
• Making decisions for further testing
• Referring results for a second opinion
• Informing the requestor/medical staff of clinically significant results so appropriate action may be taken.

Communication

• Communicate results verbally to persons authorised to receive them in a clear and concise manner following appropriate policies and procedures.
• Provide advice and information to laboratory, ward, GP staff and patients regarding samples and sample handling including information on appropriate tests and collection conditions for in-house, referred and infrequently requested tests.
• Deal with result queries where information may be conflicting and difficult to understand.
• Book patients for Infertility investigations, requiring tact and sensitivity.
• Communicate any relevant information to laboratory colleagues within the section and inform effectively at hand over.
• Actively participate in departmental meetings, team briefings, educational and audit meetings as appropriate.
• Bring to the attention of Microbiology Consultant staff any result or finding that, either according to relevant SOPs or according to the experience and judgment of the BMS, may require urgent clinical intervention.
• Bring to the attention of Infection Control staff any results or findings that may require their specialist input, according to relevant SOPs or according to the experience and judgment of the BMS.

Other Duties

• Maintain appropriate stock levels within the section following appropriate policies and procedures under the direction of the section leader.
• Ensure that equipment is used in accordance with departmental policies and supplier’s instructions and is maintained correctly. Notify equipment/general building fitting failures to the appropriate senior member of staff.
• Take appropriate action if there is a spillage of body fluids or hazardous chemicals in order to minimise the risk to staff and public.
• All staff have a responsibility to report any risks, clinical and non-clinical accidents and incidents/potential incidents promptly and to co-operate with any investigations undertaken.
• Understand and be aware of and act in accordance with all appropriate National and Trust Health & Safety policies, COSHH regulations and should be aware of the trained first aiders within the department.
• Observe the immunisation policy of the Laboratory/Trust.

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain Registration with Health Care Professions Council. (HCPC).
• Adhere to the codes of conduct expected by the HCPC and the Institute of Biomedical Sciences.
• Demonstrate competency in order to work autonomously on a 24/7 pattern and maintain expertise necessary to carry out specialised procedures during rotation through the laboratory.
• Keep the workplace and work benches clean and tidy.
• Maintain good working relations with all members or staff and to promote effective teamwork.
• Maintain and promote the professional image of the Pathology, STHK and SOHT.
• Maintain an up to date and current continuing professional development (CPD) portfolio and to maintain knowledge of professional and scientific advances and developments providing suggestions for implementation as appropriate.
• Attend educational and training courses either for personal development or as required by the department.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Comply with the local and national policies for safe, secure and confidential processing and storage of patient and other laboratory information.
• Use the Pathology Computer Systems according to the authorised protocols.
• Enter own results and those obtained by others into the Pathology Computer System.
• Check and correct if necessary, information input by other laboratory staff.
• Maintain the integrity and accuracy of laboratory databases.
• Use Trust wide IT systems as appropriate following trust policies, guidelines and procedures.
• Assist in the audit of data held on the pathology laboratory information system.
• Ensure that records are kept up to date and stored safely to ensure compliance with good work practices required for the standards of UKAS ISO:15189
• Comply with good laboratory practices required for the standards of UKAS ISO:15189 including Health and Safety.
• Undertake work file management to ensure that reporting of results are carried out in a timely fashion.

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES

• Assist the Senior Biomedical Scientists with training, development and competence assessment of trainee Biomedical Scientists, Medical Laboratory Assistants and locum staff.
• Assist the Senior Biomedical Scientists with the training of Junior Microbiology Medical staff in Microbiological techniques.
• Assist the Senior Biomedical Scientists with the supervision of Medical Laboratory Assistants and Trainee Biomedical Scientists.
• Act as mentors for Trainee Biomedical Scientists.
• Occasionally, act as a delegate to external educational events and then to present at a Microbiology Educational Meeting.

RESEARCH & AUDIT

• Participate in clinical and non-clinical audit, trials, research and development as directed by departmental management.
• Participate in internal and external safety audits as appropriate.

Person specification

Our Values

• We are Kind
• We are Open
• We are Inclusive

Qualifications

• Registration with Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• A recognised Biomedical Science degree or equivalent with honours which is acceptable to the HCPC
• PgD Biomedical Sciences or equivalent experience
• Membership of the Institute of Biomedical Science

Knowledge & Experience

• Detailed working knowledge of laboratory information and management computer systems and standard IT packages eg word processing and spreadsheets
• Sufficient number of years post qualification experience
• Understands theoretical and practical laboratory procedures
• Ability to organise own workload and that of junior staff
• Evidence of CPD
• Ability to work within all areas of the department
• Exhibit competency to work alone out of core hours

Skills

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Good organisational skills
• Ability to work flexibly
• Ability to work with minimal supervision
• Willing and able to learn new skills
• Ability to use initiative
• Highly developed technical skills
• Understands quality control procedures
• Ability to work alone to provide 24/7 cover

Thank you for considering an application to work for Mersey West Lancashire NHS Trust. MWL is an exciting and forward-thinking NHS Trust who are one of the best places to work for in England.

Given sometimes we receive a high volume of applications to work for us, please be aware, that we may close a vacancy earlier than stated should a sufficient number of applications be received from which a shortlist can be confirmed. Therefore, you are advised to apply at your earliest convenience.

The Trust may contact you during the recruitment process for your feedback on your experience. We always aim for continuous improvement in our practice.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

We actively cultivate a professional environment of fairness, equality, dignity, and respect for all individuals. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and value the unique skills, perspective and experience you bring. We are grounded in the belief that diversity enhances our collective strength, fostering innovation and excellence within our workforce. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we commit to offering an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form.

If you are having difficulty completing an online application, or require any disability reasonable adjustments, to the application process, please contact [e-mail]

We also commit to offering an interview to all armed forces veterans who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form.

The Trust operates anonymous shortlisting where no personal information about you, including your name or personal details are shared with the recruiting manager. No equality information is shared at any time during the recruitment process with the recruiting manager or other people involved in the decision-making process.

The equality monitoring information you provide is used in the following situations: to review our recruitment practices; where a job is limited to a specific person to verify their eligibility to apply; and to offer disability reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process.
Certificate of Sponsorship

Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa, please click here to check your eligibility before applying for this post as we may be unable to provide sponsorship.

eVisa Update
For successful candidates on selected work and study visa routes, who have completed and paid for their applications will no longer receive a visa vignette in passport as evidence of their permission to enter the UK.
Instead, you will be issued with an eVisa only, which is accessed by creating a UKVI account.
Before travelling to the UK, we advise applicants to:

• Understand how to generate an eVisa share code

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

If this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and B