Specialist Biomedical Scientist Immunology/Virology

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust; Carlisle; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional health service provider in Carlisle is seeking a Specialist Biomedical Scientist in Immunology/Virology on a one-year fixed term contract. The ideal candidate will have HCPC registration and a postgraduate diploma in biomedical science, alongside experience in the healthcare sciences. You will supervise lab work and ensure the quality of testing processes. A flexible approach to unsocial hours, including weekend work, is required.

Benefits

27-day holiday scheme

Flexible working Scheme

NHS Pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Experience in healthcare sciences is required, especially in pathology.
• Must have ability to supervise and train junior staff.
• Continuing professional development portfolio is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Supervise technical and scientific work in the lab.
• Process patient specimens efficiently.
• Mentor staff members for registration and portfolios.

Skills

Healthcare sciences

Supervisory skills

Effective communication

Education

BSc in biomedical science or equivalent

HCPC registration

Postgraduate diploma in specialist biomedical science or equivalent

Tools

Telepath LIMS

Q-Pulse quality management system

Job description

Job summary

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:
[e-mail]

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 description

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.

Important Information

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.

Nacro Tel: [phone], or email: [e-mail]

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
• Flexible working Scheme
• Excellent opportunities for development
• Competitive NHS Pension scheme
• 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

Supervision and Training sections, etc., are included in the attached specification.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc in biomedical science or equivalent
• HCPC registration
• Postgraduate diploma in specialist biomedical science or equivalent

Desirable

• Essential IT skills (EITS) or equivalent

Experience

Essential

• Healthcare sciences in at least one relevant discipline.
• Specialist role in an appropriate pathology discipline

Desirable

• Supervision and training of less experienced staff
• NHS role.

Knowledge

Essential

• 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

Desirable

• Equality legislation and best practice
• Equality legislation and best practice

Other requirements

Essential

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

Desirable

• Driving licence

Skills and Aptitudes

Essential

• 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

Essential

• Able to work as part of a team

Disclosure and Sponsorship

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
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the.

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

Employer details

Employer name
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address
Cumberland Infirmary
Newtown Road
Carlisle
CA2 7HY

Employer's website