About this role
Job summary
An opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join the Point of Care Testing (POCT) team based at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Although this post is primarily based at Blackpool Victoria Hospital the successful candidate may be expected to carry out work at other sites when required.
This is an exciting opportunity to take on a role that has been developed as part of the ongoing Trust POCT improvement initiative. We are looking for an individual on a full time basis who has experience working within a Pathology Laboratory or working with POCT devices and methods in a Healthcare setting.
Suitable candidates will require a relevant professional/scientific qualification to degree level or higher, current registration with HCPC and a Post Graduate Diploma (IBMS Specialist portfolio or equivalent).
The intended working hours for this position are 8:30am-4:30pm.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work as part of the Departmental and Multidisciplinary Teams maintaining good lines of communication and promoting a strong commitment to the department. The principal duty of the post holder will be to provide first line support to operators and departments that use point of care testing (POCT) equipment in order to facilitate safe POCT practice throughout the Trust whilst monitoring and facilitating the correct functioning of all POCT devices. The post holder will also oversee the activity of Support Workers and Associate Practitioners within the POCT Team. Additional duties will be undertaken as directed by the Point of Care Testing Lead in consultation with the post holder.
About us
As a teaching hospital and an organisation committed to continuous learning, we offer a broad range of education and training to staff and students/trainees/other learners. All post holders are expected to fulfil mandatory training requirements, engage in continuous learning and support education and training of others commensurate to their role.
Our Point of Care Testing (POCT) team is a small, friendly, and approachable group dedicated to supporting operators across the organisation. We work closely with clinical teams to ensure POCT equipment is used safely, effectively, and in line with quality standards. From training and competency assessment to troubleshooting, quality assurance, and day-to-day advice, we provide practical support that helps staff deliver timely and reliable patient care. Our collaborative approach ensures operators feel confident, supported, and valued whenever they need assistance. This is an exciting time to join an evolving team which is now part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Pathology Service.
Job description Job responsibilities
Please also refer to the attached job description for full details.
Summary of Main Duties and Responsibilities
To liaise and work with all members of the POCT team and support the services across the client (Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) sites.
To monitor and plan own workload.
To participate in meetings related to POCT e.g. POCT Team huddles and services review meetings, liaison with Ward Managers / Key Trainers, POCT Group.
To provide training sessions to end-users within various departments at the client site to promote safe and effective patient care in relation to POCT.
To facilitate safe POCT practice by educating and promoting end-user compliance with POCT Standard Operating Procedures. To facilitate safe POCT practice by educating and promoting end-user compliance with POCT Standard Operating Procedures. To monitor performance of POCT devices and facilitate correct functioning by undertaking minor maintenance and troubleshooting procedures. To implement new equipment via change control prior to routine use.
To monitor POCT standards via audit and evidence-based practice and implement lessons learned.
To monitor POCT analyser performance via Internal quality control (IQC) and External Quality Assurance (EQA) which may include manipulation of material and use of fine tools including pipettes.
To participate in the validation and verification of new POCT equipment or retrospective verification of POCT equipment already in use.
To participate in the testing and evaluation of new or prospective POCT equipment.
To support the implementation of the policies and procedures authorised and ratified by the Medical Devices Steering Committee. To promote POCT quality and safety regulations and directives enabling the Trust to meet the requirements of: MHRA guidelines, ISO15189 standards and other relevant standards (e.g. CQC).
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education Essential
Relevant professional/scientific qualification to degree level or higher Current registration with HCPC Post graduate Diploma (IBMS Specialist portfolio or equivalent) Evidence of continuing professional development / professional portfolio
Desirable
Working towards further professional / developmental qualification
Knowledge & Experience Essential
Significant demonstrable evidence of practice as a qualified biomedical scientist / equivalent healthcare professional Portfolio of evidence in achievements in practice and education Experience of manual and automated (POCT) techniques Supervision of trainee staff and medical laboratory assistants or healthcare assistants
Desirable
Knowledge of local and national issues affecting POCT services Knowledge of MHRA standards on POCT UKAS standards on POCT (ISO 15189:2022) Experience within improvement projects Teaching or lecturing in both internal and external locations Incident review Handling complaints and queries Experience of change management and/or action planning Experience working within disciplines of pathology Experience of client / customer liaison
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 UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
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. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address Blackpool Victoria Hospital
Whinney Heys Rd
Blackpool
FY3 8NR
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.lancsteachinghospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)