Specialist Biomedical Scientist, Biochemistry

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust; Blackburn; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Blackburn seeks a Specialist Biomedical Scientist in Biochemistry. The role involves providing a comprehensive blood science service, performing a variety of analyses, and maintaining laboratory equipment. Candidates should have HCPC registration and experience in NHS Biochemistry laboratories. This position requires shift work and effective knowledge of biochemistry techniques.

Qualifications

• HCPC registration as a Biochemistry Biomedical Scientist.
• Post H.C.P.C. registration experience in NHS Biochemistry laboratories.
• Experience in supervision of staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide a comprehensive range of routine and specialized analyses.
• Validate and report test results in a timely fashion.
• Maintain, troubleshoot and repair laboratory instruments.

Skills

Biochemistry Techniques

Computer Applications

Quality Assurance

Education

IBMS-approved Honours Degree in Biochemistry

HCPC registration

Tools

Analytical Equipment

Job description

Specialist Biomedical Scientist, Biochemistry

Based within Blood Sciences, you will be working in the Biochemistry departments at both the Blackburn and Burnley laboratory sites, processing samples received from the Hospitals and General Practitioners. This is an area which can be very busy and requires precise working, under time pressures. You will work shifts covering over 24 hours 7 days per week.

The departments current main automated equipment is Siemens Atellica solution, including full Aptio tracking in Blood Sciences.

Main duties of the job

The post holder is an experienced, specialist Health Professions Council Registered Biomedical Scientist who provides a continuous and comprehensive blood science service, as an aid to effective diagnosis and treatment. The post entails analytical investigation, and confirmation of the analytical and technical validity of those investigations, liaising with clinical and blood science staff to ensure diagnostically abnormal results are urgently acted upon.

This post includes working shifts covering over 24 hours 7 days per week and staff will have significantly different working patterns and responsibilities to routine core hours. This is because these staff operate and communicate as a lone front line self-governing service provider and assume first line responsibility.

About us

We have a tight knit team in Biochemistry with a strong work ethic where everyone knows their role. We process around 4,500 requests per day and have over thirty people working in the Biochemistry department.

On 1st February 2026, Pathology services for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust will come together to form the Lancashire and South Cumbria Single Pathology Service.

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will be the Lead Provider of the service and the employer of colleagues working within the service, across sites.

If you are successful in your application, and commence work prior to 1st February 2026, your employment will transfer to Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on 1st February 2026 under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations, 2006. There will be no impact for your job role, terms and conditions of employment or location of work.

If you are successful in your application, and commence work after 1st February 2026, your employer will be Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Job responsibilities

• Provide a rapid, reliable and efficient service by performing a comprehensive range of routine and specialized analyses.
• Perform investigations and analytical techniques unsupervised whilst organizing own work tasks, normally under the direction of a Senior Biomedical Scientist.
• The post holder is required to rotate through all the sections of the department including specimen reception.
• Apply the approved Standard Operating Procedures used in the Department.
• Assist in the development of Standard Operating Procedures, and recommend improvements and amendments as necessary.
• Perform complex manual and automated analytical investigations requiring specialist skills.
• Operate complex, high value analytical equipment without supervision.
• Maintain, troubleshoot and repair faults in complex laboratory instruments, ensuring essential services are maintained in the event of technical failure.
• Prepare reagents, control materials and calibrators with a high degree of accuracy and precision.
• Required to work with hazardous and noxious chemicals, and with frequent exposure to uncontained body substances.
• Check reliability of results to ensure accuracy and precision by applying quality assurance statistical criteria.
• Interpretation of results requiring subjective judgement and analytical expertise.
• Recognise grossly abnormal and life threatening results.
• Validate and report test results in a timely fashion so that they may be acted on as necessary by clinicians.
• Provide technical interpretation and comment on validity of results.
• Maintain accurate and detailed records of patient results, quality control data and calculations.
• Participate in departmental audit and internal / external Quality Assurance programmes.
• Work with laboratory and Trust information systems.
• Maintain, troubleshoot and repair faults with laboratory point of care equipment in clinical areas and liaise with service engineers and ward staff as required.
• Supervision of MLA, AP and Trainee BMS staff.
• Assist in the departments stock control procedures.
• Adhere to the departmental Quality management systems.
• General clerical and administrative tasks.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Attained HCPC registration as a Biochemistry Biomedical Scientist by following an IBMS-approved Honours Degree (or HNC for staff registered before 1994) and training in a NHS Biochemistry laboratory. Plus, IBMS Specialist Portfolio in Biochemistry or equivalent post graduate qualification.

Experience

• Post H.C.P.C. registration experience in NHS Biochemistry laboratories
• Experience of 'lone working' in an on-call/shift/out of normal hours/emergency environment

Knowledge & Skills

• Comprehensive knowledge of, and skills in the application of Biochemistry Techniques and procedures.
• Experienced in working with common computer applications.
• Effective knowledge of legislation and regulation relating to relevant safety and quality standards
• Experience in the supervision of staff at various grades

Personal Attributes

• Willing to adapt to the changing needs of the service.
• Willingness to participate in out of hours shift rota essential for the post
• Able to use initiative, and work without close supervision.

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.