Specialist Biomedical Scientist

Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust; City Of London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pathology organization is seeking a Specialist Biomedical Scientist for Point of Care Testing. The role involves overseeing governance, performing audits, and coordinating training for staff on POCT devices. Ideal candidates will have an accredited degree and HCPC registration, alongside experience in Point of Care services. This position offers a dynamic work environment across hospital and community settings.

Benefits

Contributory pension scheme

Generous annual leave entitlement

Ground breaking development opportunities

Qualifications

• Previous experience of working in Point of Care.
• Experience of training and assessing competency in POCT users.
• Ability to perform technical laboratory processes and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine maintenance, calibration and troubleshooting of POCT instruments.
• Coordinate a team of associate practitioners.
• Communicate effectively with staff and team members.

Skills

Quality control

Communication skills

Team coordination

Analytical skills

Troubleshooting

Education

BSc (Hons) IBMS accredited degree

HCPC State registration

Tools

Laboratory Information Systems

POCcelerator

Job description

Overview

The place to work in pathology. We are looking for top talent to join the UK's leading and fastest growing pathology company – a scientific organisation with a clinical purpose. Working in partnership with our service partners, Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospitals, King's College Hospital and Princess Royal University Hospital, we aim to set the standard for the future of pathology.

Job overview

Exciting Opportunity: Band 6 Specialist Biomedical Scientist - Point of Care Testing.

Are you someone who enjoys working with people and thrives in a role that offers variety and impact? Join our dynamic Point of Care Testing (POCT) Team as Specialist Biomedical Scientist, supporting both hospital-based and community healthcare settings. In this role, you'll play a key part in delivering high-quality diagnostic services. You will work with the POCT Manager to oversee governance of the Trust point of care service at GSTT. This will involve writing documents such as SOPs and user guides, as well as performing audits of equipment and service users. You will coordinate a team of associate practitioners to deliver training to Trust staff on the correct use of POCT instruments and interfaces. You\'ll also carry out a range of protocol-driven tasks – some of which may be specialist or complex procedures. You will be familiar with interpretation of internal quality control (IQC) and external quality (EQA) assurance data and will assist service users in troubleshooting to improve performance.

You'll work largely independently, collaborating with other healthcare professionals to support routine Secondary Care procedures in both Primary and Secondary Care environments. Your primary base will be St. Thomas' Hospital, with regular time spent at the Guy's site and visits to Community and Outreach Teams.

Main duties of the job

Technical

• Perform routine maintenance, calibration and first-line troubleshooting of POCT instruments; follow QC, report failures and implement corrective actions; set up equipment and process EQA specimens using automated, semi-automated and manual methods; analyse issues and make judgments; support clinics and labs with installation and training; prepare, store, use reagents; plan workload; validate results for accuracy per protocols; dispose of samples and data per protocols.

Scientific

• Undertake method and instrument evaluation; participate in audits and R&D; stay current via meetings; maintain HCPC registration and CPD.

Clinical

• Interpret first-line results and act per policies: authorise, order follow-ups, add predefined comments, refer for clinical opinion, and notify significant results; provide information to staff and patients; escalate inappropriate requests; participate in clinical audits.

Laboratory Informatics

• Comply with data security policies; use LIS per protocols; maintain database integrity and accuracy.

Administrative

• Keep records to ISO15189/BSQR; report results within turnaround times; support training and supervise staff; handle enquiries, communicate results; manage resources, advise on stock; review policies, COSHH and risk assessments; contribute OPMS data; deputise for the POCT Manager when required.

Working for our organisation

Synnovis is a pathology partnership between SYNLAB UK and Ireland, and the NHS, including sites, Guy\'s & St Thomas\' NHS Foundation Trust and King\'s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to deliver and transform pathology services across South East London. The partnership provides services to 1.7 million people living in South East London, as well as to hundreds of thousands of patients from outside the region who use local healthcare services. It provides diagnostics, testing and digital pathology for hospital trusts, GP services and other healthcare providers. Guy\'s and St Thomas\' Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is a major emergency and specialist teaching Trust with a wide caseload across specialties. You will have a suite of learning opportunities available through The Synnovis Way Development programme, the Scientific Learning and Development Fund and the Synnovis Academy, through which you can receive funding/support for advanced qualifications. Through our Innovation Accelerator Fund, you can apply for finance to get new innovative scientific projects off the ground, and participate with the wider scientific community through symposiums, conferences and other peer group meetings.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Overview

The POCT Specialist Biomedical Scientist plays a vital role in supporting diagnostic services across hospital and community settings. Working within the Synnovis Pathology framework and in collaboration with Guy\'s and St Thomas\' NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT), the post holder ensures the effective operation, maintenance, and quality assurance of point of care testing equipment. This role demands technical proficiency, administrative accuracy, strong communication skills, and a commitment to professional standards and patient care.

Main Responsibilities

Technical Duties

• Perform routine operative and preventative maintenance on POCT instruments and analysers.
• Undertake first-line calibration and basic troubleshooting of analytical equipment.
• Ensure quality control procedures are followed; take corrective action and report failures to senior staff.
• Safely set up equipment for use by others and support clinics with installation and training.
• Process EQA specimens using automated, semi-automated, and manual methods.
• Analyse straightforward scientific and technical issues, evaluating options and making informed decisions.
• File samples according to protocol and maintain accurate records.

Administrative Duties

• Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) and contribute to their regular review and updates.
• Maintain accurate and compliant records for UKAS accreditation.
• Manage stock levels of reagents, consumables, and stationery to ensure uninterrupted service.
• Liaise with GP surgeries, hospital clinics, and other departments to support POCT operations.
• Assist with procurement processes, including logging and filing delivery documentation.
• Ensure timely reporting of results through effective work file management.
• Support EQA schemes by distributing samples, collecting data, and collating results.
• Contribute to Operational Performance Management Systems (OPMS) by collecting and entering relevant data.

Communication Responsibilities

• Communicate effectively with staff and team members, adapting methods to meet individual needs.
• Act as the first point of contact for complaints and queries related to POCT services.
• Liaise with Trust staff to address training and equipment enquiries promptly and professionally.

Supervisory & Training Responsibilities

• Implement new policies and propose changes within Synnovis and community-based POCT areas.
• Deliver POCT training to GSTT staff, including conducting workplace assessments.
• Provide instruction on POCT procedures to healthcare professionals as directed by the POCT Biomedical Scientists.
• Participate in audits of POCT processes across hospital and community settings.
• Promote effective teamwork and maintain positive working relationships with all staff.

Generic Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with local and national policies for the secure and confidential handling of patient and laboratory data, in line with SOPs and Synnovis quality standards.
• Organize daily tasks independently and prioritize urgent duties.
• Proactively escalate issues that may impact service delivery to senior colleagues at Synnovis and GSTT.
• Collaborate with community healthcare providers to deliver high-quality care.
• Uphold principles of equality and fairness in all professional interactions.
• Provide practical training in procedures to new staff within own area.
• Maintain and promote the professional image of Synnovis Pathology.
• Undertake initial training and competency assessments as required.
• Maintain knowledge and skills through participation in the annual appraisal cycle.
• Adhere to health and safety policies and complete all mandatory and statutory training as directed.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• BSc (Hons) IBMS accredited degree or equivalent.
• HCPC State registration as a Biomedical Scientist.
• IBMS Specialist Portfolio or equivalent experience.

Desirable criteria

• Master\'s degree in Biomedical Science or equivalent qualification.

Experience

Essential criteria

• Previous experience of working in Point of Care.
• Experience of training and assessing competency in POCT users.
• Experience in writing documents and presenting information to a wide audience.
• Analysing, interpreting and technical validation of routine, complex and specialist results.
• Experience with the introduction of new equipment into a laboratory or POCT environment.

Desirable criteria

• Experience in customer liaison e.g. good telephone skills.
• Experience of using Laboratory Information Systems including POCcelerator, GemWeb, Novanet, BioConnect and EPIC.

Skills & Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Demonstrable knowledge and application of quality systems, with reference to ISO/UKAS standards.
• Ability to perform technical laboratory processes and procedures, use precision equipment and troubleshoot.
• Competent at communicating verbally and in writing with colleagues and clinical staff and able to compile reports for service meetings.

Desirable criteria

• Show good leadership qualities with experience of coaching, coordinating and supervising a team.
• Experience in audit preparation and participation.

Applications are welcomed from applicants with a disability. We can make reasonable adjustments and offer support and advice in a variety of ways throughout the application process. All applicants are welcome to apply regardless of age, disability, gender, marital status, race, nationality or ethnic origin, religion, or sexual orientation. Equality of opportunity is our policy.

Our Bank workers enjoy competitive market rates and flexible contract assignments across all of our sites, dependent on your availability and location.

For our Permanent workforce we offer a competitive benefits package.

All employees are entitled to:

• Contributory pension scheme
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Ground breaking development opportunities

Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. All employees have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in the course of their daily duties and for ensuring that they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.

Please apply for this post on-line. If you have problems with using the online process, or need any assistance, please email [e-mail]

Your e-mail address is important to us. We communicate to all job applicants via the e-mail address which has been provided on the application form. Please ensure that you check your e-mail on a regular basis.

Due to the high volumes of applications we receive, we reserve the right to close any adverts before the published closing date once we have received a sufficient number of applications.

If you decide to apply for this post but do not hear back from us within three weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been short-listed on this occasion.

Thank you for your interest in Synnovis.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Documents to download

• Job Description (PDF, 448.4KB)
• Lab Profile (PDF, 176.8KB)