Specialist Biomedical Scientist Immunology/Virology

NHS; Carlisle; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in Carlisle is looking for a Specialist Biomedical Scientist in Immunology/Virology. The role involves supervising technical work, training junior staff, and processing patient specimens. Ideal candidates will hold a BSc in biomedical science and HCPC registration. The position offers a salary between £38,682 and £46,580 per year with benefits such as 27 days of holiday and NHS discounts.

Benefits

27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years

Access to NHS discounts

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Registered with HCPC and able to work independently.
• Experience in healthcare sciences in relevant disciplines.
• Able to supervise and train less experienced staff.

Responsibilities

• Carry out & supervise technical and scientific work in the laboratory.
• Ensure prompt processing of patient specimens.
• Responsible for training and development of junior staff.

Skills

Competent in routine laboratory techniques

Effective communication

Supervisory skills

Education

BSc in biomedical science or equivalent

HCPC registration

Postgraduate diploma in specialist biomedical science

Job description

Go back North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Specialist Biomedical Scientist Immunology/Virology

The closing date is 25 September 2025

Specialist Biomedical Scientist, Immunology/Virology Band 6, 37.5 hours per week.. One year fixed term to cover maternity leave

Weekend commitment in place for COVID testing

Based at the Cumberland Infirmary,

Applications are invited from experienced HCPC Registered Biomedical Scientists for the above post. Ideally the post holder will hold an IBMS Specialist Portfolio but evidence of appropriate experience will also be taken into consideration. The post holder will supervise all aspects of scientific and technical work and must have a keen interest in training. The Virology, Immunology and Microbiology departments that make up Infection Sciences are well equipped and are all ISO 15189 accredited. We use Telepath LIMS with ICE electronic requesting and reporting, and Q-Pulse quality management system.

The diagnostic workload is approximately 360,000 virology/immunology tests per year including Covid requests. We use a wide range of automated serological testing across both disciplines including: Cobas e601, Dynex DS2 platform, Diasorin Liaison, Phadia 250 and Phadia 200, Sebia Capillarys and Hydrasys 2 and The Binding Site Optilite. The molecular platforms on site include Cobas 6800, Seegene STARlet and Altona AltoSTAR . We are also a referral centre for Aspergillus, Farmers Lung and Avian precipitin work.

Main duties of the job

Informal visits or enquiries are welcome. Please contact:

Carry out & supervise technical and scientific work in a section of the laboratory under the direction of the biomedical scientist team manager. Ensure prompt processing of patient specimens including analysis, utilising highly complex automated analytical equipment, manual methods, specialist and complex testing. Perform laboratory procedures effectively, rotating through the sections of the department, to provide a comprehensive pathology service as an aid to effective diagnosis and treatment of patients. This post holder must have the aptitude and skills for training as they will be responsible for the training and development of junior staff. They will also work closely with the Infection Sciences Training Officer to mentor staff members in completion of their registration and specialist portfolios.

About us

At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.

Our 5 key principles demonstrate our belief in the delivery of 'safe, high quality care every time':

Being a clinically led organisation

Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust

A positive patient experience every time

A great place to work

Managing our money well

As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.

Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment.Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed.

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligible vacancies

• Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.
• If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.

For candidates applying using a Hotmail account or have strict firewall settings please ensure the following:

• Junk Mail is checked regularly

Disclosure and Barring Service:

On 28 November 2020, the new Disclosure and Barring Service filtering rules will come into effect.

The changes mean that:

• youth cautions, reprimands and final warnings will no longer be subject to automatic disclosure
• the multiple conviction rule has been removed, meaning that if an individual has more than one conviction, regardless of offence type or time passed, each conviction will be considered against the remaining rules individually, rather than being automatically disclosed.

If you are unsure about whether you need to disclose certain criminal record information, free confidential advice may be sought from one of the charity bodies listed below. These bodies can advise you on what you are legally required to declare and may also be able to advise you on how you can disclose criminal record information to a prospective employer and your legal rights when doing so.

Unlock Tel: [phone], email [e-mail] or complete the online form on the Unlock website

The Trust is committed to safeguarding adults and children therefore if the post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended) the successful candidate(s) will be subject to a criminal records check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as follows if applicable to the post:

Standard Check: £18 + Administration cost of £3.85 = £21.85. Deducted at £6.85 from 1st month salary and £5 deducted from salary over following 3 months.

Enhanced Check: £38 + administration cost of £3.90 = £41.90. Deducted at £11.90 from 1st month salary and £10 deducted from salary over following 3 months.

As part of the one of the largest employers in the UK NCIC future employees will have also access to the following benefits.

A lease car may be available for this position; further details will be provided upon appointment if applicable.

27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years

Access to NHS discounts with retailers and leisure companies

EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems

These schemes are subject to availability

Person Specification

Qualifications

• BSc in biomedical science or equivalent
• HCPC registration.
• Postgraduate diploma in specialist biomedical science or equivalent
• Essential IT skills (EITS) or equivalent

Experience

• Healthcare sciences in at least one relevant discipline.
• Specialist role in an appropriate pathology discipline
• Supervision and training of less experienced staff
• NHS role.

Knowledge

• Continuing professional development with portfolio.
• Consolidated development in the chosen discipline.
• Analytical procedures.
• Health & safety legislation and procedures.
• Quality management systems and accreditation requirements.
• Word processing.
• Current requirements for training and career progression
• Equality Issues
• Equality legislation and best practice
• Equality legislation and best practice

Other requirements

• Flexible approach to working unsocial hours including nights, weekends and public holidays.
• Able to travel independently between hospital sites.
• Driving licence

Skills and Aptitudes

• Competent in routine laboratory techniques and troubleshooting
• Ability to analyse, interpret and present routine data, results and concepts
• Supervisory skills.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Good hand-eye coordination.
• Ability to work unsupervised.

Personal Circumstances

• Able to work as part of a team

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.

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

£38,682 to £46,580 a yearpro rata per annum