About this role
Job summary
Are you ready to take your Biomedical Science Career to the next level?
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is looking for an enthusiastic, forward-thinking Senior Biomedical Scientist to lead our Laboratory Antenatal Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia Screening Programme at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
This part-time position balances screening expertise with strategic leadership. Drive the delivery of the Low Prevalence Antenatal Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia Screening Programme.
Stay hands-on by rotating through Haematology, Coagulation and Blood Transfusion.
Empower other staff through training and mentoring
Enjoy supported postgraduate training, management courses and automated testing technology.
Be part of a diverse, friendly team, focussed on patient care
The Haematology Department is a fully UKAS Accredited Medical Laboratory conforming to the latest ISO 15189:2022 Standard. You will step into a robust, high-performing environment with established quality structures.
Work hand-in-hand with our Pathology & Haematology Quality Managers to drive the delivery, operational strategy and excellence of the Screening Programme.
Main duties of the job
Lead the Screening Programme: Responsible for the delivery and operational strategy of the Antenatal Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia Screening Service. This includes writing SOP's, maintaining statistics and submitting data to the National Programme Centre.
Drive Quality & Audits:Manage the Screening Audit programme. You will work closely with the Quality Manager to ensure strict compliance with ISO 15189 standards and provide updates to the Pathology Quality Committee.
Maintain Competency: Stay hands on by rotating through Routine Haematology, Coagulation and Blood Transfusion Departments.
Support 24/7 Operations: Support weekend working in accordance with current staffing requirements.
Team Management & Training: Lead and develop the laboratory Screening Team. You will train staff on all aspects of screening, including audit processes and conduct annual Performance & Development Reviews.
Establish Key Contacts: Meet regularly with the Haematology Quality Manager, Pathology Quality Manager and Laboratory Director to map out Screening Service requirements and feedback on performance
Screening Metrics: Implement improvement projects aimed at optimising the Antenatal Screening Service
About us
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.
The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester
Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.
We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.
Being open and honest
Ensuring people feel cared for
Showing respect to everyone
We are committed to developing a culture of continuous improvement by embedding the principles of our Improvement System.
We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.
DBS Checks and Costs
Any applicants who are offered posts requiring a DBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check (at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in Supporting Information section for more details on DBS checks and costs.
Job description Job responsibilities Job Purpose
Screening Lead
Responsible for the delivery of the Antenatal Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening Programme as directed by the Laboratory Manager.
To manage the day-to-day aspects of the technical elements of the Screening section within the resources available
To monitor and report on Quality and Performance within the Screening section
Senior Biomedical Scientist
Responsible for providing professional leadership and direction for Biomedical Scientists and MLA staff on all sites
To allocate tasks to the scientific staff, including MLAs
Dimensions
Assisting with the day-to-day management of staff working in the Screening section of the department on the WRH site
Key relationships
Laboratory staff, senior and junior medical and nursing staff, National Blood Service staff, GPs, surgery staff, other health care professionals and facilities staff.
Risk Assessment
The job entails working with biological material from patients and some contact with hazardous chemicals.
Also works with display screen equipment.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Principal duties- Screening Lead
1.1 In conjunction with the Haematology Manager, provide a quality Antenatal Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening Service to our users, including production of all relevant documentation and Risk Management Policies.
1.2 Responsible for maintaining statistics and providing an Annual Data return to the Programme Centre.
1.3 Responsible for the submission of quarterly statistics to the Antenatal Screening Committee
1.4 Responsible for maintaining efficient working relationships with all relevant Trust Personnel associated with the Screening Programme.
1.5 Represent the laboratory aspects of the Antenatal Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening Programme at internal and external meetings
1.6 Responsible for maintaining the competency of all staff working in the Screening section
1.7 Act as Lead BMS during external audit assessments of the Antenatal Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening Programme, providing all evidence required to demonstrate compliance with ISO 15189.
1.8 Attend Laboratory meetings and present Quality and Performance updates in the Screening section
1.9 Responsible for producing SOPs, COSSH assessments and laboratory forms and ensuring they are kept up to date.
1.10 Produce and maintain documentation required for UKAS ISO15189 accreditation.
1.11 Liaise with the Laboratory Manager and Quality Manager regularly to ensure all matters relating to UKAS ISO15189 compliance within the Antenatal Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening Programme are addressed
1.12 Prepare reports for Management Review of Screening Services
1.13 Attend Staff Meetings to report on Screening issues
1.14 Responsible as part of the Procurement Team, for the choice and implementation of new equipment into the Screening Section, including production of User Specifications in conjunction with the Laboratory Manager.
1.15 Maintain all equipment and liaise with suppliers regarding issues and call out service engineers when appropriate for troubleshooting.
1.16 Responsible for the introduction and development of new techniques within the Screening Section
1.17 Make appointments and regularly keep up to date with Company Representatives
2. Senior Biomedical Scientist
2.1 Review and rewrite departmental SOPs
2.2 Conduct audits and produce audit reports. Record non-conformances
2.3 Investigate errors and perform root cause analysis. Implement corrective actions
2.4 Monitor receipt of EQA Trials and ensure timely analysis
2.5 Assess staff performance
2.6 Operational responsibility for execution of assigned tasks
2.7 Escalate critical non-conformances, systemic failures or risks to patient safety to the Quality Manager
2.8 Write Validation/Verification plans and collate statistics
2.9 Conduct and sign off staff competencies
2.10 Foster a positive, inclusive team environment and address workplace stress or conflict
3. General Duties
3.1 Take telephone enquiries from Doctors, Nurses, other Ward staff, GP surgeries, staff from other Hospitals, and any other outside sources.
Give results and advice, if appropriate or transfer or seek advice.
3.2 Be involved in the recruitment and selection of staff and sit on interview panels if required.
3.3 Review test results from analysers and authorise if appropriate, or pass for further tests or review by Consultant Haematologists.
3.4 Be able to perform routine investigations in Haematology, Coagulation and Blood Transfusion and be prepared to undertake duties in these sections of the Department as required.
3.5 Be able to perform microscopic examination of stained blood films, report findings, and then authorise results or pass to Consultant Haematologists.
3.6 Input Patient ID and test request data onto the Laboratory IT system.
3.7 Liaise with departmental IT Specialist BMS on all issues relating to the development of WinPath BHI requirements to ensure full functionality as described in SOPs for Screening & Audit
3.8 Participate in the departmental 24-7 shift rota.
This involves the following
To be able to work alone without supervision.
To be able to take control of any Health and Safety event that may take place out of hours.
To be able to authorise results as they are available to enable them to be reported electronically to wards and departments.
To be able to advise Doctors and ward staff if needed.
To monitor the quality of the service
Ability to respond to the Trust Major Incident Policy.
To maintain competency, understand all working practices and comply with the requirements of HCPC Registration, it is expected that this post will also require regular working on the bench and rotating through Haematology, Coagulation, & Blood Transfusion, in addition to Haemoglobinopathy Screening.
There will also be a requirement to support the 24-7 service, in line with other Senior BMSs as required, depending on staffing levels.
4. Education and Training
4.1 Attend training courses for new equipment introduced into the Screening and Manual Haematology sections
4.2 Undertake Management Training Courses for personal development
4.3 Attend NEQAS meetings and Seminars to keep up-to date with current trends and developments
4.4 Train staff within the department on all matters related to Screening and Manual Haematology
5. Management
5.1 Participate in Departmental management and planning.
5.2 Attend Senior, Laboratory and Quality Management meetings and contribute to Management Reviews
5.3 Lead, develop and support the laboratory Haemoglobinopathy Screening team, and organise regular meetings to brief the team on related issues
5.4 Liaise with and brief Specialist BMSs in Screening and to attend meetings in your absence
5.5 Participate in the selection, recruitment and induction of new staff.
5.6 Perform any other duties deemed reasonable and necessary by the Laboratory
Manager
5.7 Provide cover for the Quality Manager and other Section Leads in their absence.
5.8 Conduct annual Performance and Development Reviews with BMS and MLA staff.
6. Professional
6.1 Always maintain a professional attitude.
6.2 Be aware of personal and professional development. Attend courses and conferences as recommended and approved.
6.3 Participates in own annual Performance and Development Review.
6.4 Comply with Trust policies.
7. Manual Handling
7.1 The job may entail lifting moderately heavy reagent containers.
DEPUTISING DUTIES
Please refer to individual Senior Staff contingency plans for details on requirements for skill and knowledge to perform any other specific duties.
The plans will outline the responsibility for adopting any other duties and the extent to which these are shared.
QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE
Registered Biomedical Scientist with the Health Care Professions Council
FIBMS/ MSc in Biomedical Sciences or IBMS Higher Specialist Diploma in Haematology
Extensive experience in all aspects of Haemoglobinopathy Screening and General Haematology
TRAINING
Training will be given to enable the above duties to be carried out efficiently.
Participation in the IBMS CPD scheme is encouraged
All mandatory training specific to the Department and Trust will be provided and must be kept up to date.
Post-graduate training will be supported as necessary to enable compliance with the qualifications required for this post. In some cases, this may not be funded by the Trust.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Registered Biomedical Scientist with the Healthcare Professions Council (HCPC) Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Science (FIBMS), an MSc in Biomedical Sciences or an IBMS Higher Specialist Diploma in Haematology Extensive experience in all aspects of Haemoglobinopathy Screening and General Haematology
Desirable
Active participation in IBMS CPD Completion of a Management Training Course for personal and leadership development Regular attendance at meetings and seminars to stay updated on current trends and developments
Experience Essential
Extensive experience in all aspects of Haemoglobinopathy Screening Extensive experience in general Haematology practices Proven ability to perform routine laboratory investigations in Haematology, Coagulation and Blood Transfusion Competency in performing microscopic examinations of stained blood films and reporting the findings
Desirable
Experience conducting Performance and Development Reviews with BMS and MLA staff Prior experience of sitting on interview panels and participating in the selection and induction of new laboratory staff Experience conducting internal and external audits Familiarity with producing documentation and evidence to comply with ISO 15189 standards Experience contributing to a procurement team and implementing new laboratory instrumentation Practical experience using Laboratory Information Management Systems, specifically Winpath Enterprise
Personal Qualities Essential
Self-motivation with a high level of personal drive and initiative Ability to work confidently and completely unsupervised Responsibility and willingness to take ultimate accountability for the screening section Capacity to maintain professionalism in a high-pressure environment Commitment to maintaining absolute patient confidentiality Flexibility to rotate across hospital sites Ability to handle staff conflicts Capable of taking control of Health & Safety incidents Supportive approach to mentoring staff
Desirable
Forward thinking Strong personal commitment to ongoing professional development Openness and enthusiasm towards embracing new ideas and change Natural ability to motivate and develop others Approachable and supportive Fair and objective Strong attention to detail and desire to investigate Calm under pressure, especially during unexpected operational changes
Knowledge and Skills Essential
Interpreting and giving technical advice on screening results, especially regarding abnormal haemoglobins Problem-solving complex equipment malfunctions and technical issues within the laboratory In-depth knowledge of NEQAS Trials and IQC protocols In-depth knowledge of ISO15189 Accreditation requirements Resource Management and maintaining cost-effective operations Maintaining professional standards within a high-pressure environment Demonstrating high personal motivation and the ability to work completely unsupervised Prioritising high workloads whilst balancing administrative and management deadlines
Desirable
Advanced skills in IT troubleshooting Knowledge of writing User Specifications for new equipment Skills to validate, test and implement new equipment Knowledge of writing audits Skills to perform Root Cause Analysis Knowledge of conducting Risk Assessments Skills to design training programmes and deliver practical training
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.
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 Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Address Charles Hastings Way
Worcester
Worcestershire
WR5 1DD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)