Specialist Biomedical Scientist

Northumbria Healthcare Nhs Foundation Trust; North East; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The post holder will work as a Biomedical Scientist in Microbiology across bacteriology, serology, molecular, mycology and parasitology at North Tyneside Hospital.

You will work across all sections, provide professional leadership, training and supervision, and contribute to a high quality microbiology service within a 24/7 framework. Band 6 pay is via Agenda for Change (£39,959–£48,117 pro rata per annum).

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences (IBMS accredited).
• IBMS Certificate of Competence (or equivalent) with HCPC registration as a Biomedical Scientist.
• Evidence of CPD.
• IBMS Specialist Diploma in a specialty relevant to the post, or demonstrate equivalent additional professional development, training and education with appropriate post registration experience.

Responsibilities

• Carry out laboratory investigations and report results, maintaining records.
• Produce, maintain and implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Participate in the department's 24/7 service provision, as required.
• Supervise, train and teach staff and contribute to the department's training plan.
• Ensure safe working practices and compliance with policies.

Education

BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences (or equivalent)

IBMS Certificate of Competence (or equivalent)

Evidence of CPD

IBMS Specialist Diploma in a specialty relevant to the post

Job description

Job summary

We are looking for enthusiastic motivated individuals to work in our busy, UKAS accredited laboratory. You can be newly qualified or experienced in Microbiology, as your banding will reflect this. The posts will be based at North Tyneside Hospital and there is a requirement to participate in our 24/7 service provision, which covers the full 24 hour period, Monday to Sunday, including all bank holidays. ANNEX 21: Applicants who do not yet meet the full Band 6 criteria may be appointed under Annex 21 arrangements, with automatic progression to Band 6 on successful completion of the required qualification.

Period of Training

Pay

• More than 3 years from completion of training: 60% of the pay band maximum
• More than 2 but less than 3 years prior to completion of training: 65% of the pay band maximum
• More than one but less than 2 years prior to completion of training: 70% of the pay band maximum
• Up to 12 months to completion of training: 75% of the pay band maximum

Please note we reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the closing date once the required number of suitable applications have been received.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will carry out the role of a Biomedical Scientist in Microbiology and will rotate through all sections of the laboratory including bacteriology, serology, molecular, mycology and parasitology.

You will perform all designated duties in accordance with local standard operating procedures (SOPs), and perform and interpret routine and specialist biomedical investigations autonomously, following required training and competency assessment. You will provide high quality patient results efficiently, and within the given turnaround times under the supervision of senior staff. You will need to provide professional leadership to Training Biomedical Scientists, Healthcare Science Associates, Medical Laboratory Assistants, and provide technical advice to clinicians as to the appropriateness of tests and timescales.

Please note that appropriate training will be given depending on the successful applicants qualifications and previous experience.

About us

We manage three major locality hospitals at North Tyneside, Wansbeck and Hexham, plus a number of smaller community hospitals and clinics from Tynemouth to Berwick on Tweed, in addition to our state-of-the-art Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, the first of its kind in England. We also care for people in their homes and provide services from facilities in local communities such as health centers. We give people greater choice and control over their care to help them to live independently at home and avoid hospital admission where appropriate. High quality patient care is at the heart of everything we do and we strive to ensure every single patient and service user has an exceptional experience with us. We have one of the most extensive patient experience programmes of any trust in England.

Details

Date posted: 14 October 2026

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 6

Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year pro rata per annum

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number: 319-8077473JA-A

Job locations: North Tyneside General Hospital, Rake Lane, North Shields, NE29 8NH, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

The post holder will perform scientific and technical duties as required, within the post-holders training and competence.

Scientific / Technical

• Carry out all laboratory investigations and analyses, including reporting results, maintaining appropriate records and documentation.
• Assist with the production, maintenance and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Participate in the department's 24/7 service provision, as required.
• Undertake quality control procedures and examine quality control results to identify poor performance and initiate appropriate corrective and preventative action.
• Participate in the operation and routine maintenance of equipment. The laboratory has a number of diagnostic systems, including WASP, Vitek II XL, Vitek MS Prime, BD BacTec, Panther Plus and Fusion, GeneXpert, BioFire TORCH, VIDAS3, Cobas, DS2, Liaison XL, and Seegene.
• Ensure that your personal work activity is managed to make effective use of time and maintain a sufficient supply of laboratory consumables, reagents and equipment.
• Ensure the competent and efficient use of digital data management systems, including Clinisys Winpath and Q-pulse.
• Assist in the supervision, training and teaching of staff and contribute to the department's training plan.
• Maintain a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) portfolio and undertake training, courses and other activities to satisfy HCPC requirements.
• Assist with the development, evaluation, verification and implementation of new methods and technologies.
• Ensure that safe working practices are followed in accordance with the departmental Health and Safety Policy and risk assessments.
• Be aware of and adhere to Trust's policies, including those relating to sickness absence, health and safety, discipline, grievance, and performance.
• Ensure compliance with all mandatory requirements including patient confidentiality and the Data Protection Act.
• Work flexibly and undertake other duties compatible with your work grade as required.

General duties

• To participate in the provision of a high quality Microbiology service that meets UKAS standards.
• Assist the department with continuous improvement including audit.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Professional Registration

Essential

• BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences (or equivalent) accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS)
• IBMS Certificate of Competence (or equivalent) with HCPC registration as a Biomedical Scientist
• Evidence of CPD
• IBMS Specialist Diploma in a specialty relevant to the post, or demonstrate equivalent additional professional development, training and education with appropriate relevant post registration experience.

Desirable

• MSc Biomedical Sciences or relevant postgraduate qualification (or working towards)

Experience

Essential

• In-depth theoretical and practical specialist knowledge in a pathology discipline obtained post registration
• Knowledge equivalent to postgraduate diploma level through specialist training and CPD
• Application of specialist theoretical and practical knowledge within own pathology discipline

Desirable

• Experience in an NHS pathology laboratory
• Experience in training

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name: Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address: North Tyneside General Hospital, Rake Lane, North Shields, NE29 8NH, United Kingdom

Employer's website: https://www.northumbria.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact: Senior Biomedical Scientist - Microbiology, Annie Ward, [e-mail], 01912932528

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