Job summary

This is an excellent opportunity for a suitably qualified and experienced Biomedical Scientist to join a large and busy UKAS-accredited laboratory.

The Microbiology laboratory is located on the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital site and provides an extensive service to two acute hospitals, smaller local hospitals and to GPs in Gloucestershire and south Worcestershire. The current workload is 380,000 specimens a year.

The successful candidate will be reliable, enthusiastic, motivated and forward thinking. They will be able to demonstrate the necessary skills to lead a technical team within the laboratory, together with specialist technical knowledge in bacteriology and/or virology services.

Candidates must have current HCPC registration and substantial years previous experience of working in an NHS Microbiology laboratory at a Specialist BMS level. Previous experience of managing health and safety within a clinical microbiology laboratory would be an advantage.

The post-holder will be part of the departmental senior management team and will fulfil the role of Safety Officer for the department

Main duties of the job

The department has a well-equipped laboratory offering a comprehensive service including automated urine analysis, molecular diagnostics, liquid TB culture, Virology, Mycology and Andrology.

The successful candidate will be reliable, enthusiastic, motivated and forward thinking. They will demonstrate good interpersonal skills and must be a team player. Candidates must have current HCPC registration and substantial years previous experience of working in an NHS Microbiology laboratory at a Specialist BMS level. Previous experience of managing health and safety within a clinical microbiology laboratory would be an advantage.

The post-holder will be part of the departmental senior management team and will fulfil the role of Safety Officer for the department

You will be expected to participate in the weekend, bank holiday and on-call rotas as required by service needs.

About us

The Department of Microbiology is based on the GRH hospital site in Gloucester. The laboratory provides an extensive service to the two hospitals and GP surgeries in Gloucestershire. The laboratory has a staff team of about 60 people, including scientific and medical roles. The core working hours are 0830 to 1700, Monday to Friday, but all staff help to provide the services outside core hours. This includes weekend and Bank Holiday working.

The department has a long history of training and developing staff in different roles. It is approved as a training laboratory by the Institute of Biomedical Science, and has been accredited by UKAS to the ISO15189 standards.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Postgraduate qualification in Medical Microbiology or Virology, equivalent to masters level or FIBMS

Registration as a Biomedical Scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Substantial years experience of working as a Specialist BMS in Microbiology or Virology

Specialist training, qualifications and experience in the relevant section(s)

IBMS Specialist Portfolio in Medical Microbiology, or equivalent experience

Experience of managing safety within a clinical laboratory (ideally at CL3 level)

IOSH or NEBOSH certificate in workplace safety

Technical Duties

To be able to work competently in the relevant section(s), taking overall day-to-day responsibility for the service provided

To maintain a high standard of professional competence and current knowledge of the relevant tests and service, maintaining evidence of continuing professional development

To act as a source of specialist advice for the relevant section(s), providing advice to users and departmental staff where needed

To communicate with users and external stakeholders when needed to ensure quality of service is maintained

To use specialist knowledge to determine the relevant tests to be carried out on samples

To use specialist knowledge in the interpretation of test results and allocation of confirmation or identification tests

To ensure all new equipment and tests are appropriately verified or validated before use on clinical samples

To participate in the procurement of equipment, reagents and consumables relevant to the section(s)

To authorise results relevant to the section(s)

To ensure the safe handling and reception of samples (including those designated as high-risk)

To ensure all work conforms to the procedures set out in laboratory polices and SOPs

To ensure all work conforms to the standards required by ISO15189 accreditation

To prioritise work, taking into account workload and stated urgency of requests

To be able to use and troubleshoot the equipment used in the relevant section(s), including providing training on its use

To ensure clinically significant results are notified to the user or Consultant Microbiologist as appropriate, including the telephoning of urgent results directly to users

To notify users of potential delays in reporting results that may impact on patient treatment

To report issues relating to the laboratory environment or building fabric directly to Estates or to the Laboratory Manager, as appropriate

To ensure all quality control tests are performed as required, and to prevent results being reported if QC results indicate a potential performance problem with a test.

To ensure all EQA samples are processed and reported according to laboratory protocols

To compile and communicate a monthly EQA summary report for the relevant section(s)

To ensure stocks of reagents and consumables are used efficiently and without unnecessary wastage.

To liaise with technical and sales staff of relevant suppliers

To undertake or participate in research activities relating to the section(s)

Supervisory Duties

To ensure all safety procedures are followed within the laboratory

To be responsible for staff and work allocation within the section(s)

To approve annual leave requests for staff

To investigate Datix / NCR incidents

To record sickness absence and conduct return-to-work interviews

To undertake induction for new staff

To undertake initial discussions with staff regarding poor or below-standard performance in the relevant section(s), referring to the Laboratory Manager where required

To liaise with other senior staff to ensure all sections in the laboratory are adequately covered

To undertake staff appraisals and produce personal development plans for assigned staff

To participate in the recruitment, selection and training of new staff

To be a member of the Senior Staff Management committee and relevant SOP groups

To deputise for the Lab Manager or Deputy Lab Manager, as required

To represent the department in external meetings or conferences as required

To ensure all relevant SOPs, work instructions and bench guides are managed in accordance with the document control policy

To complete risk assessments and COSHH assessments for the relevant section(s)

To participate in the departmental audit programme, undertaking audits as required

To collate epidemiology data and produce reports relevant to the section(s), where required

To participate in the selection and approval of reference laboratories

To participate in the departmental competency programme, undertaking competency assessments for the relevant section(s)

Safety Officer

To ensure the department maintains safe systems and procedures for the provision of microbiological services, including those at CL3 level

To ensure all safety inspections for equipment and facilities are completed within the required timeframes.

To act as the lead liaison for HSE inspections

To review and update all H&S documentation and procedures, including risk assessments

To act as a source of advice and expert knowledge on matters of health and safety, both within the department and externally

To ensure all new staff have a completed safety induction

To ensure all safety training is completed according to an annual training plan

To ensure the laboratory safety audits are completed according to the schedule

To ensure findings from safety audits and external inspections are completed and closed

To undertake relevant personal development required for the role. This includes attending a 5-day training course on the management of CL3 laboratories.

To undertake investigations relating to RIDDOR incidents and other safety-related incidents in the department.

To attend the Pathology H&S Group meeting

To chair quarterly safety team meetings

To provide training and guidance to staff on matters of health and safety

To assess new equipment and services for appropriate control measures

To assess new and emerging infections for impact on laboratory control measures and risk assessments. This may include acting as a point of contact for Trust responses to outbreaks.

To liaise with the Occupational Health team to ensure that all vaccination records are maintained and annual surveillance exercises are completed.

Person Specification

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

• Current HCPC registration as a Biomedical Scientist
• Previous experience (substantial years) of working in a UK diagnostic microbiology laboratory at Specialist BMS level
• Evidence of knowledge to Masters or FIBMS level in Microbiology or Virology
• Proven bench skills and demonstrable knowledge of current developments within microbiology
• Previous experience of supervising a bench / section in the laboratory
• Knowledge and experience of ISO15189 accreditation
• Knowledge of key risk factors and control measures relating to safety within a clinical microbiology laboratory

Desirable

• Previous experience of managing health and safety in a clinical microbiology laboratory
• IOSH or NEBOSH certificate in Workplace Safety

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

318-23-T0140