Specialist Biomedical Scientist - Bacteriology IT and Quality Support

UK Health Security Agency; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A government health agency in Birmingham is seeking a qualified individual to provide IT support for Infection Sciences laboratories. The role involves microbiological analysis, maintaining laboratory information systems, and ensuring compliance with health protocols. Candidates should have bacteriology or virology experience and hold state registration with HCPC. The position offers opportunities for training, leadership, and involvement in significant health initiatives.

Benefits

Learning and development opportunities

Flexible working options

NHS pension scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in bacteriology, virology, antimicrobial, or mycology reference.
• Ability to train and supervise less qualified staff.
• Good accuracy and interpretative skills at bench level.

Responsibilities

• Provide IT support for Infection Sciences laboratories.
• Maintain and improve laboratory IT systems.
• Ensure compliance with IT policies and procedures.

Skills

Microbiological knowledge

Communication skills

Leadership abilities

IT knowledge

Quality management systems

Education

State registration with Health Professions Council (HCPC)

IBMS Specialist Portfolio or equivalent experience

Tools

Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)

Common IT programs

Job description

Role Overview

The laboratory in Bristol is situated within the Severn Pathology suite of laboratories at North Bristol NHS Trust Southmead site. The service is delivered by collaboration between North Bristol NHS Trust and UKHSA. The laboratory also has management input into a hot lab and near patient testing initiatives in University Hospitals Bristol. The laboratory receives more than 1 million specimens a year from a large number of clinical specialties across the Bristol and Bath hospital trusts, primary care, as well as referred specimens from the wider Southwest region and beyond, which contribute to an interesting and varied workload with a continuous assay review and development program.

Responsibilities

• Provide IT support for the Infection Sciences laboratories incorporating Bacteriology, Virology, Antimicrobial reference and Mycology reference.
• Provide support and direction to IT project work within Infection Sciences and assist with IT activities arising from either collaborating partner.
• Work as part of the laboratory team, providing a high level of microbiological analysis in order to provide patients with the highest level of diagnosis and treatment.
• Be responsible for the efficient day‑to‑day running of an area in a section of the laboratory, to be able to rotate through a different section in the laboratory and to supervise, and train other less experienced and qualified staff.
• Assist in any UKHSA co‑ordinated response or activity of a national/ international nature e.g. a Bioterrorism incident or a major disease outbreak e.g. SARS.
• Participate in on call services as necessary.
• Assist with the maintenance and improvement of current LIMS‑Winpath Enterprise for the Bacteriology section of the Infection Sciences laboratory and provide support to other areas of IS as required including hardware troubleshooting/deployment.
• Assist with the maintenance/development/configuration of upstream/downstream systems (OCS etc.) in conjunction with service users.
• Troubleshoot and triage problems with WPE, report problems that cannot be solved in house to Clinisys and any changes needed.
• Support client‑side liaison with and between Clinisys and BD to interface Kiestra.
• Support and undertake IT project work as required (e.g. LIMS alterations/interface development and deployment; third‑party software roll‑out within Infection Sciences).
• Ensure compliance with IT policies and procedures within Infection Sciences and users as required.
• Support external customer projects requiring IT support/re‑configuration/deployment e.g. EPR upgrade/maintenance.
• Assist with the training of laboratory staff on relevant systems.
• Assist with LIMS queries from external companies – e.g. laboratory equipment provider.
• Assist the senior staff in the monitoring of the performance of less qualified staff through training, auditing and deputising for SEO grade staff on occasion.
• Be aware of the wellbeing of less qualified staff (AO and EO).
• Read and interpret cultures and determine the antibiotic susceptibility and identification of microorganisms.
• Be aware of anomalous results, recognising these when they occur and reporting them appropriately.
• Adhere to laboratory SOPs.
• Organise the work of the allocated area in the laboratory and keep up to date with SOP changes.
• Maintain a high standard of professional competence in the performance of all tests and investigations carried out in the Laboratory.
• Maintain a high standard of technical skill.
• Ensure important or unusual results are drawn to the attention of senior staff and/or medical staff, and to report complaints and anomalies as soon as possible.
• Deputise for more senior staff (SEO grade) as required.
• Ensure consumable supplies within the area of responsibility are maintained and record batch numbers and QC data as required.
• Ensure a sound knowledge of the laboratory IT system, perform data entry, specimen and result enquiry and entry of results.
• Be competent to work, in rotation, in Bacteriology sections and be flexible in regularly covering vacancies in other sections.
• Demonstrate a good understanding of basic microbiology, maintain and develop scientific knowledge, and undertake further training as necessary.
• Take responsibility for equipment and automated processors, identifying any problems, troubleshooting and bringing them to the attention of senior staff.
• Communicate effectively with all members of the Infection Sciences team and other health‑care professionals as appropriate.
• Ensure the agreed quality standards of service are maintained.
• Respond accordingly to changes in laboratory protocols.
• Interpret and report on routine and specialist Bacteriology laboratory tests, in accordance with laboratory protocols.
• Liaise with medical, scientific and senior BMS staff in all matters relating to the diagnosis of infection.
• Perform and monitor quality control tests, record results and bring any anomalies to the attention of Senior BMS staff as soon as practicable.
• Assist with research and/or audit projects where appropriate.
• Assist in the production and dissemination of laboratory reports, data and statistics, including issuing preliminary results by phone or computer and observing priorities of reports.
• Process, report and interpret NEQAS samples in accordance with SOPs.
• Attend mandatory fire, manual handling training etc.
• Observe the immunisation policy of the laboratory.
• Report any accidents to a senior member of staff.
• Ensure work on all samples and cultures is performed at the appropriate containment level.
• Update knowledge by attending relevant courses and reading current textbooks and journals.
• Use equipment in a safe and responsible manner.

Qualifications and Essential Criteria

• Bacteriology, Virology, Antimicrobial or Mycology reference experience and a high level of theoretical and practical microbiological knowledge.
• State registration with Health Professions Council (HCPC) and evidence of continuing professional development (CPD).
• IBMS Specialist Portfolio or equivalent relevant experience.
• Knowledge of common IT programmes, good keyboard skills and an excellent understanding of the IT security policies and procedures of both collaborating partners.
• Knowledge of quality management systems and accreditation with experience in incident and audit closure ISO 15189:2022.
• Good accuracy and interpretative skills at bench level.
• Ability to communicate well with staff at all levels and to provide judgement on a range of complex problems.
• Ability to plan day-to-day organisation of relevant areas.
• Ability to organise less qualified staff and demonstrate skills in leadership.
• Ability to train less qualified and less experienced staff.
• Communicate complex and sensitive information with peers and senior staff.
• An understanding of a commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
• Knowledge and experience of Infection Sciences LIMS implementation, training delivery and client‑side interface development (desirable).
• Knowledge of client‑side interface development and deployment (desirable).

Application Process

• Application form – ‘Employer/ Activity history’ section.
• 1250‑word supporting statement (healthjobs UK word limit 1500, maximum 1250 words).
• Longlisting: in the event of a large number of applications, shortlisting into three categories – meets all essential criteria, meets some essential criteria, meets none; only those who meet ALL essential criteria will advance.
• Stage 2 – Interview, competency‑based, face‑to‑face or remote if exceptional circumstances.
• Security checks – criminal record check, counter‑terrorist check, baseline personnel security standard.
• Nationality – UK nationals, Republic of Ireland nationals, Commonwealth nationals with right to work, EU/EFTA nationals with settled or pre‑settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, Turkish nationals and certain family members, individuals with limited or indefinite leave to remain eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020, and others listed.

Benefits and Working Environment

• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• Flexible working options.
• Culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• Recruitment under Agenda for Change (AFC) terms – NHS pension scheme enrolment, salary scale minimum for the grade with flexibility for existing higher salary.
• Employer contribution of 28.97% to the NHS pension scheme.