Point of Care Testing Biomedical Support Worker - Higher Level (XR03)

NHS; Leeds; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity for a Biomedical Support Worker (Higher Level) with the NHS in Leeds. You will support the Point of Care Testing team, ensuring high-quality results while being engaged in diverse responsibilities including training, troubleshooting, and maintenance of medical testing equipment. Ideal candidates should have GCSEs, good IT skills, and preferably experience in a laboratory or POCT environment.

Qualifications

• GCSE qualifications in Maths & English required.
• Good numeracy and communication skills.
• Experience in laboratory or POCT setting desirable.

Responsibilities

• Support the POCT service and maintain POCT equipment.
• Provide training and quality assurance for POCT users.
• Work autonomously and troubleshoot equipment.

Skills

Communication

IT proficiency

Customer service

Manual handling

Autonomy

Education

GCSE qualifications or equivalent

A level standard or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Point of Care Testing Biomedical Support Worker - Higher Level (XR03)

Anexciting opportunity has arisen for a Biomedical Support Worker (HigherLevel) to join our professional and friendly Point of Care Team (POCT). BloodSciences is part of one of the largest Pathology departments in the UK, andoffers a comprehensive POCT service to Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust andalso in the community. The POCT service provides support for analyticaltesting at or near the site of patient care.

Expected ShortlistingDate

15/07/2025

Planned InterviewDate

22/07/2025

Main duties of the job

Thesuccessful candidate will report to the POCT Team Leaders and the POCTCoordinator/Specialist Biomedical Scientist, participate in all aspects ofthe POCT service. This includes providing and documenting training, qualityassurance and troubleshooting support to POCT users, using IT skills toconnect and virtually monitor devices, ensuring the delivery of high qualityresults in a POCT setting.

GCSEqualifications or equivalent (including Maths & English) are arequirement of this role. Prior experience of laboratory work, or of POCTservices would be desirable, but not essential as all required training willbe provided. Experience of customer services, record keeping, and ITproficiency - including MS Office/Excel and data communications would also bebeneficial. As a minimum, all applicants should have a good knowledge of POCTand the role of the POCT team, both within the hospital setting and in thecommunity.

Weencourage all candidates to make contact with us to discuss the role(s) andwe can offer informal visits to our laboratories for interested candidates.Please contact:

EmmaBaddams, POCT Coordinator on 0113 2069414 or email [e-mail]

About us

TheBlood Sciences department at LTHT operates across two large universityteaching hospitals in the Leeds Metropolitan area, along with Satellite unitsat Chapel Allerton, Seacroft and Wharfedale. POCT services are expanding allthe time and will continue to do so in line with wider NHS strategy. The POCTservice recently moved into our new £30m Centre for Laboratory Medicinebuilding (on the St. Jamess University Hospital site), which offers afantastic new working environment for our staff. The POCT service currentlysupports 40 blood gas analysers, around 300 glucose meters, 70 urinalysisanalysers, and much more (including Flu and Covid analysers). The field ofPOCT is rapidly expanding, and currently includes tests within theBiochemistry, Haematology, and Microbiology specialisms, with exciting newprojects currently underway.

LeedsTeaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk'members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job advertsare subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or removeadverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in theshortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while thisprocess is completed, and contact the named contact if you have anyquestions.

Job responsibilities

ThePoint-of-Care Testing (POCT) service covers medical testing at or near thesite of patient care by specially trained healthcare professionals. The goalof POCT is to collect the specimen and obtain accurate results in a veryshort period at or near the location of the patient.

POCTcan be carried out in a wide range of settings; in primary care, hospitals,the community, and secondary care, supporting the delivery of the right carein the right place at the right time.

ThePOCT team is responsible for looking after point of care equipment across theTrust, providing routine maintenance and External Quality Assurance (EQA) forall POCT equipment within the hospital, as well as some community andsatellite units. (Some EQA testing is carried out by the POCT team, whereasother EQA samples are distributed to departments and must be analysed bytrained operators). The POCT team is responsible for coordinating InternalQuality Control (IQC) for POCT equipment within the trust.

ThePOCT Higher Level Biomedical Support Worker is required:

To perform a range of routine andnon-routine tasks within POCT for example carrying out routine diagnostictests or equipment support activities

To follow set procedures for areaof work; advice generally available from POCT Team Leader/POCT Co-ordinator

May be required to updateinformation systems for example patient test requests, records

To work autonomously - the postholder participates in the maintenance, staff training and documentation ofPOCT equipment under the guidance of the POCT Team Leader/Co-ordinator

To work as directed with theclinical end users to resolve errors and result discrepancies, and to providefeedback both to the POCT team and Trust Managers - this may include remotesites e.g. Chapel Allerton or Wharfedale.

To be involved in routinemaintenance and able to assess whether equipment is fit for purpose based onSOPs and personal findings

To achieve and maintain competencyin relevant technical and analytical aspects of service area.

Forfull details please refer to the attached job description.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• GCSE qualifications or equivalent (inc Maths & English)
• Good numeracy and communication skills
• Educated to A level standard, or equivalent

Skills and Behaviours

• Able to work autonomously and use own initiative
• Able to prioritise workload to meet set deadlines
• An aptitude for using and testing technical equipment
• Ability to demonstrate equipment to others correctly for use
• Able to travel between and off-sites (including community locations)
• Manual handling - able to lift and move weights of up to 30kg
• Advanced knowledge or experience using Microsoft Excel
• Driving license
• Experience of supervising others

Experience

• Experience of working in a laboratory
• Experience of working in a POCT setting
• Experience in an administration/co-ordination role
• Experience of delivering training to groups/clinical staff

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.

£24,937 to £26,598 a yearsubject to the pay award