Specialist BMS

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Oxford; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a State Registered Biomedical Scientist to deliver a comprehensive range of diagnostic services across Clinical Biochemistry. The role involves liaising with hospital clinicians, GPs and service users, with autonomy within professional boundaries.

The post includes troubleshooting, quality assurance, and contributing to out-of-hours coverage across three laboratory sites. HCPC registration and IBMS qualifications are preferred.

Qualifications

• State Registration with HCPC and current registration status.
• Competence level equivalent to Specialist Portfolio in Clinical Chemistry.
• Willingness to contribute to out-of-hours service.

Responsibilities

• Perform automated and manual laboratory procedures across sections.
• Verify and validate results and ensure accuracy.
• Liaise with clinicians, patients and service users as required.
• Staff laboratories within the Trust as needed.
• Assist with training of junior colleagues and Trainee BMSs.

Skills

State Registration

Biomedical Scientist

Laboratory procedures

Quality assurance

Education

IBMS Diploma (Clinical Biochemistry/Biomedical Science)

Tools

Laboratory IT systems

Automated analyzers

Job description

• The post holder will act as a State Registered Biomedical Scientist (BMS) who provides a comprehensive range of scientific and diagnostic services throughout all sections of the Department, as an aid/basis for diagnosis.
• Services are provided to hospital clinicians and general practitioners and the post holder is required to liaise with these, other healthcare professionals, patients and their representatives.
• The post holder will be required to perform automated and manual laboratory procedures of varying complexity some of which require a high degree of skill and experience.
• The post holder will exercise autonomy within professional and managerial boundaries and will be required to verify and validate completed work.
• In addition, the BMS will be required to staff all laboratories within the Trust as and when required.
• The work may include some weekend and evening or night duties, which requires a flexible approach to the hours of employment, according to individual contract, Analyses of potentially infectious samples using a range of highly specialised laboratory procedures, by either manual or automated techniques, to produce results of a quality consistent with excellent patient care. Undertakes these duties in all areas of Clinical Biochemistry.
• Ensures efficient use and maintenance of resources, is aware of stock levels and rotation, storage conditions, batch numbers and expiry dates, thus ensuring the viability of the reagents used.
• Exercises own initiative and works in co-operation with other staff members to ensure that the workload is processed in a timely and efficient manner.
• Is fully conversant with departmental policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), ensuring that personal performance complies with ISO 15189 and other professional standards.
• Carries out troubleshooting and preventative maintenance on highly complex automated systems. Ensures appropriate records are kept and liaises with service engineers where appropriate.
• Matches samples with request forms and inputs patient and test information into the laboratory computer system, requiring complete accuracy.

Analytical and Interpretative Responsibilities

• Exercises individual skills through the observation and interpretation of clinical material or data, which may include therapeutic drug monitoring.
• Completes the work process by the verification and validation of results and report generation. This involves the interpretation of clinical data and requires in-depth theoretical knowledge.

Role Responsibilities

• Practices in accordance with the professional, ethical and legal codes of the Health Professions Council and the Trust's protocols and guidelines. Is accountable for own practice and maintenance of State Registration status.
• Develops own skills, taking responsibility for Continuing Professional Development and performance.
• Complies with the requirements of internal and external/national quality assurance schemes.
• Demonstrates proficiency in the assessment, planning and prioritisation of tasks.
• Communicates effectively with other staff groups, both internal and external. To include healthcare professionals, patients and their representatives, external agencies, commercial suppliers, service engineers and visitors to the laboratory.
• Provides and receives complex scientific and clinical information to and from colleagues and service users. Is aware of barriers to understanding and is able to present information accordingly.
• Provides and receives sensitive information to and from patients and their representatives where empathic and re‑assurance skills are required. May include notification of adverse events.
• Displays and maintains a working knowledge of laboratory IT relevant to section.

Teaching, Training and Research Responsibilities

• Participates in the supervision and training of Trainee BMSs, support staff and clinical staff where required. The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions. HCPC registration.
• IBMS postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Biochemistry/Biomedical Science or equivalent knowledge.

Desirable criteria

• Membership of IBMS CPD scheme or equivalent., Knowledge of the all basic techniques within Clinical Biochemistry.
• Demonstrable post HCPC registration experience in a diagnostic laboratory.

Desirable criteria

• Previous experience with equipment in use at OUH, Ability to work under pressure and prioritise competing workload.
• Practical analytical skills. Accurate, methodical and well organised.
• Good communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to mentor and impart knowledge to junior colleagues.

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of IT architecture in the running of complex analytical equipment and Laboratory Information Systems, Strong team member. Reliable and trustworthy.
• Prepared to work with biological materials and a variety of sample types.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of On call/Shift working including out of hours. Flexible approach to hours of work including night shift., You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.

The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury. Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family.

Applications are invited from well‑motivated Biomedical Scientists who have Health Professions Council State Registration to work in the Department of Clinical Biochemistry of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Applicants will need to demonstrate the ability to work at a competence level equivalent with the Specialist Portfolio in Clinical Chemistry. The Department, which is one of the largest Clinical Biochemistry Departments in the country, processes over 8 million tests per annum with a repertoire covering all areas including Biochemistry screening programmes for the Thames Valley. Successful candidates will be required to contribute to the laboratory out of hours system and work at all three laboratory sites, The John Radcliffe and Churchill hospitals in Oxford and the Horton Hospital in Banbury.

Sexual Safety Charter: In 2023 NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to the ten core principles Oxford University Hospitals promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury. Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family.