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Job summary

Main area
Microbiology
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 6
Contract
Fixed term: 7 months (Contract to end on 31/03/2026)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
249-7362971
Employer
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
The Great Western Hospital
Town
Swindon
Salary
£38,682 - £46,580 per annum pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
18/09/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Specialist Biomedical Scientist

NHS AfC: 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

We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Band 6 Biomedical Scientist to join our Microbiology team on a fixed-term basis until 31st March 2026.

This role is a unique opportunity to contribute to a service undergoing significant digital and workflow transformation. You will play an active part in supporting day-to-day diagnostic services while also contributing to the development and implementation of improved electronic systems and microbiology processes.

This post is ideal for a Biomedical Scientist who enjoys hands-on laboratory work but is also interested in supporting change, quality improvement, and the future of digital diagnostics.

Main duties of the job

  • Perform complex microbiological investigations and validations in accordance with laboratory SOPs and national standards

  • Ensure timely and accurate processing of clinical samples, including culture, microscopy, molecular, and serological techniques

  • Supervise and support junior staff, including Band 5 BMS and trainees, as part of a collaborative team

  • Contribute to quality assurance, audit, and service development initiatives

  • Participate in the validation of new equipment, test methods, and workflows

  • Support electronic requesting and digital transformation projects in the department

  • Maintain compliance with ISO 15189 and UKAS accreditation standards

  • Liaise with clinical and infection prevention teams to ensure optimal service delivery

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.

We are a forward-thinking service embracing digital improvements, including electronic requesting, LIMS development, and analyser connectivity. This fixed-term role is part of a programme of modernisation that will strengthen diagnostic pathways and improve patient care. You will have the opportunity to develop your skills and be part of shaping the future of Microbiology services in our Trust.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You’ll be joining a friendly and supportive Microbiology team within a wider, multidisciplinary Pathology department committed to quality, safety, and innovation.

This is a fixed-term Band 6 role until 31/03/2026, providing both operational support to the Microbiology laboratory and active involvement in service improvement initiatives.

You will be responsible for delivering a high-quality diagnostic microbiology service, including:

  • Independently performing and authorising microbiological investigations

  • Supporting day-to-day lab organisation, workflow management, and infection control priorities

  • Participating in quality management and ensuring traceability, accuracy, and compliance

  • Training and mentoring less experienced staff and supporting CPD activity within the team

  • Assisting in the review and modernisation of microbiology practices, including contributions to SOPs and verification studies

  • Taking part in data quality reviews and changes related to electronic requesting and LIMS

  • Collaborating with clinical teams to support antimicrobial stewardship and timely clinical decision-making

You will work closely with the Band 7 and Consultant staff to ensure that the service meets the demands of the Trust and continues to deliver safe, effective, and responsive microbiology diagnostics.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • HCPC Registered Biomedical Scientist
  • Evidence of CPD
  • Progression of IBMS Specialist portfolio
Desirable criteria
  • MSc Medical Microbiology (or equivalent experience/qualification)
  • Progression or recent Completion of IBMS Specialist portfolio
  • Training in virology/molecular techniques
  • Training in matters relating to quality or health & safety.

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Specialist knowledge in medical microbiology gained from extensive experience in an NHS laboratory
  • Lone worker experience e.g. on call
  • Supervisory experience
  • Experience of document control and writing technical documents
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of staff training
  • Experience of verifying new methods

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
Graeme Getty
Job title
Pathology IT Manager
Email address
[email protected]
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