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Job summary

Main area
Clinical Biochemistry
Grade
Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
249-7527074
Employer
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Great Western Hospital
Town
Swindon
Salary
£38,682 - £46,580 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
03/11/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Specialist Biomedical Scientist

Band 6

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a unique organisation, serving as the sole integrated provider in the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire system. Our scope extends beyond boundaries as we oversee adult community services in Swindon and provide acute care from the Great Western Hospital. 

Our 5,500 staff have 1.2m patient contacts a year, with 13,000 operations carried out in our Theatres, around 4,000 babies born, and our emergency attendances are now well over 100,000 per year. Those numbers only tell part of our story about what an exciting time it is to join Great Western Hospitals.

We are cultivating a culture that fosters our ambitions, prioritising equality, diversion, inclusion, wellbeing, and leadership. We aim to create an environment where every member of our team can truly thrive.

The Trust is a Disability Confident Employer; all applicants who have a disability can opt to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme, which means that, providing they meet the minimum essential criteria for the post, they will be offered an interview. We are also proudly accredited as a Veteran Aware organisation and have signed The Armed Forces Covenant.

If we receive a high volume of applications, we may close adverts prior to the published closing date. Therefore, we advise you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

Job overview

This role is an opportunity for an experienced, well-motivated Biomedical Scientist  with Health and Care Professionals Council registration to join the Great Western Hospitals Chemical Pathology section within Blood Sciences department.

The post holder will join a team of dedicated professionals working to deliver high quality test results and excellent care to patients across Swindon and the surrounding area. The Great Western Hospitals Blood Science department handles over 6 million test requests per year and offers a large repertoire of tests for our patients.

The post holder will be expected to work at a competence level equivalent to the Institute of Biomedical Scientists Specialist Portfolio in Clinical Chemistry and contribute to the effective running of the Chemical Pathology department by performing equipment maintenance, quality controls and troubleshooting procedures. The laboratory operates a quality management system (QMS) which all staff members engage with to ensure all processes are followed according to SOPs and documented according to the departmental policies.

 

Main duties of the job

The Chemical Pathology department performs analysis of a variety of clinical biochemistry tests through the automated equipment. This is currently provided by Beckman-Coulter and consists of two sets of DxI 800 analysers linked to DxC AU 700 analysers via a Powerlink and a single stand alone DxC AU 700. The department also provides services for xanthochromia, drugs of abuse analysis and HbA1c in a dedicated area of the lab.

Senior Biomedical Scientists support this role and other BMS roles in the department.

There is a requirement for out of hours shift cover, including lates, nights and weekend shifts. This is distributed to all staff via a rota.

An MSc in biomedical sciences or clinical biochemistry or similar may be an advantage.

Working for our organisation

Our STAR values – Service, Teamwork, Ambition and Respect – are a golden thread running through everything we do. These values serve as a guiding principle, driving us towards our vision of delivering great joined up services to our local community. Whether at home, in the community, or within the hospital, our goal is to empower individuals to lead independent and healthier lives.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To act as a State Registered Biomedical Scientist (BMS) who provides a comprehensive range of scientific and diagnostic services throughout the Chemical Pathology department.

To perform automated and manual laboratory procedures of varying complexity in accordance with Standard operating procedures (SOPs).

To contribute to the departmental out-of-hours shift rota and have a flexible approach to hours of employment, according to individual contract.

To liaise with a wide range of staff groups, both internal and external to the department

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • IBMS accredited Biomedical Sciences degree (or equivalent approved by the IBMS)
  • HCPC registration as a biomedical scientist
  • Specialist portfolio in Biochemistry
Desirable criteria
  • Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences or related subject (or equivalent)
  • Health and Safety training
  • Quality management training

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Significant experience working in a clinical laboratory in biochemistry
Desirable criteria
  • Demonstratable experience working within an NHS laboratory environment
  • Demonstratable experience leading staff
  • Demonstratable experience working within a quality team or with quality related tasks
  • Demonstratable experience of the GWH Chemical Pathology workflow processes

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDisability confident leaderInvestors in People: Goldhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/kickstart-scheme-employer-resources/kickstart-scheme-brand-guidelinesStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Kirk Allott
Job title
Blood Science Laboratory manager
Email address
[email protected]
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