Biomedical Scientist - Reed Talent Solutions : Job Details

Salary & Grade: AfC Band 6 £35,392 - £42,618

UKHSA provides microbiology services through a network of regional laboratories and central reference laboratories. UKHSA commissions its diagnostic Microbiology service for the Yorkshire & Humber region from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT).

As the Biomedical Scientist you will work as part of the UKHSA employed team based in the Leeds Regional Laboratory, providing microbiology support for the laboratory based CDRN surveillance activities. The Leeds Regional Laboratory is the national laboratory for the Clostridium difficile Ribotyping Network (CDRN) in England. UKHSA is currently implementing a plan to introduce new technologies and services, such as Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to the Clostridium difficile services it currently provides. This role will support the Lead Scientist in the CDRN unit in delivering this plan.

You will be required to support the emergency response capability of the Leeds Laboratory should this be required and also to work with colleagues to provide a laboratory liaison service to the Yorkshire & Humber Health Protection teams.

Location

This will be a lab-based role located at Centre for Laboratory Medicine St. James Hospital, Beckett Street, Harehills, Leeds, LS9 7TF.

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*

Working Pattern - Full Time, Part Time, Job Share UKHSA services delivered by the Leeds Regional Laboratory are normally only provided within core office hours (Monday-Friday 8.30am - 5pm). You will not usually be required to work outside of these hours. However, there may be occasions (e.g., outbreaks, pandemics) when UKHSA will require you to work outside these hours (e.g., evenings, weekends, bank holidays) to deliver the required response.

Responsibilities section:

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

• To work as part of the laboratory team, providing a high-quality Clostridium difficile ribotyping service to provide patients and clinicians with the highest level of diagnosis, treatment and surveillance.
• To assist the Lead Scientist in the development and transition to a WGS service for CDRN
• To provide expert technical support for the specialist work undertaken within the laboratory
• To assist in any UKHSA coordinated response or activity of a national/international nature, e.g., a Bioterrorism incident or a major disease outbreak
• To participate in Quality Assurance and Quality Control activities and assist the department in maintaining ISO 15189 accreditation from UKAS (UK Accreditation Service).
• To participate in the provision of out-of-hours services should these be required
• To provide support for any PH initiatives undertaken in Leeds UKHSA
• Responsible for organising and controlling own workload ensuring deadlines are observed and duties performed efficiently.
• To assist in the supervision and training of trainee BMSs or HSSWs and other less experienced BMS staff
• To deputise for Senior BMS staff where appropriate and when necessary.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. For the full list of responsibilities and duties, please see the full job description.

Essential Criteria

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of up to 1250 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:

Essential:

• IBMS Specialist Diploma in Medical Microbiology
• Educated to degree level in an appropriate medical / microbiological/biological science or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in a specialist area e.g. molecular biology
• Registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Biomedical Scientist
• Experience in diagnostic bacteriology and bacterial culture techniques
• Experience of diagnostic molecular biology testing, molecular methods including real time PCR and sequencing
• Recent experience in a diagnostic, reference virology laboratory or genomics laboratory
• Good record keeping, attention to detail
• Experience of working in a regulated environment with quality systems and knowledge of UKAS/ISO
• Experience of using computerised data systems
• Experience of evaluating new techniques/equipment

Desirable:

• MSc or higher qualification in an appropriate medical / microbiological/biological science
• Experience of training staff.
• Experience of working in a health care environment.
• Awareness of a range of Health Services provisions and knowledge of NHS issues

For full job description and further details, please click Apply Now.