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Job summary

Main area
Microbiology
Grade
Band 3
Contract
Fixed term: 5 months (October 2025 - March 2026)
Hours
Part time - 18.75 hours per week
Job ref
249-7511810
Employer
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Great Western Hospital
Town
Swindon
Salary
£24,937 - £26,598 per annum pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
17/10/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Biomedical Support Worker (Point of Care Testing Coordinator)

Band 3

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

At the time of advertising, this role does not meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. For this reason, we are unable to sponsor anyone for a skilled worker visa for this role.

We are happy to accept applications from candidates who can prove their right to work in the UK or via alternative visa routes. Such applications will be considered alongside all other applications.

Hours: 18.75 per week
 
We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Biomedical Support Worker (Band 3) to join our team on a part-time, fixed-term basis. The successful candidate will support the delivery of high-quality diagnostic testing by overseeing the hospital's Point of Care Testing (POCT) platforms, with a primary focus on Abbott ID NOW and Cepheid GeneXpert systems.
This role will involve performing routine maintenance, quality assurance (QA), and documentation tasks to ensure POCT devices are functioning optimally and producing consistent, reliable results across hospital departments.

 

Main duties of the job

  • Support the day-to-day operation and oversight of POCT devices across the hospital, including Abbott ID NOW and Cepheid GeneXpert platforms.
  • Perform regular maintenance and quality control checks in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) and manufacturer guidelines.
  • Ensure internal and external quality assurance measures are adhered to and documented accurately.
  • Assist in troubleshooting device or testing issues and escalate concerns to senior scientific staff when required.
  • Monitor and maintain POCT documentation, including logs of maintenance, QC, and staff training records.
  • Work closely with clinical and laboratory staff to ensure best practice and compliance with governance standards.
  • Support the POCT coordinator or lead Biomedical Scientist with audits and data collection.

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

  • At all times to act in accordance with and adhere to laboratory and Trust procedures and protocols.
  • Where appropriate to support (after suitable training and competency testing) through all sections of the Microbiology department. 
  • To use personal protective equipment as required by the laboratory’s health and safety procedures.
  • To carry out the pre analytical processing of samples received into the laboratory. 
  • To process clinical specimens for Bacteriological culture. 
  • To undertake the referral of specimens to reference laboratories. 
  • To undertake housekeeping tasks including the disposal of laboratory waste and operation of autoclave sterilisers. 
  •  After suitable training, to carry out basic maintenance and operation of laboratory equipment. 
  • To participate in mandatory training requirements of the Trust and attend training sessions and educational meetings as appropriate.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Grades 9-4 (A*-C) at GCSE or Equivalent
Desirable criteria
  • Qualification in Clinical Laboratory Support or IT/Keyboard skills (NVQ 3 level) or equivalent.
  • Evidence of training in Health & Safety and Quality.
  • Evidence of training in Customer Service.

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working in a busy, high throughput environment.
  • Previous experience working in a healthcare/NHS environment.
Desirable criteria
  • Previous experience working in a pathology laboratory.
  • Familiarity with POCT platforms, especially Abbott ID NOW and/or Cepheid GeneXpert

Knowledge and Skills

Essential criteria
  • Principles in a healthcare or laboratory setting.
  • Basic computer literacy and confidence with electronic data entry.
Desirable criteria
  • Knowledge of infection control and clinical governance procedures.
  • Good understanding of quality assurance.

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

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Summer D'Kadik
Job title
Acting Deputy Laboratory Manager
Email address
s.d'[email protected]
Telephone number
01793 604798
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