Job summary
- Main area
- Haematology
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 282-SA1339
- Employer
- The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- The Royal Marsden Hospital
- Town
- Chelsea
- Salary
- £56,276 - £63,176 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 16/03/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Blood Transfusion Senior BMS
NHS AfC: Band 7
Job overview
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist oncology centre split across three sites: two in London (Chelsea and Cavendish Square) and the other at Sutton in Surrey. We have a vacancy for an experienced, enthusiastic and service focused senior BMS to work in Haematology and Blood Transfusion, taking responsibility for the Blood Transfusion section at the Chelsea site.
As a senior member of the departmental team, you will have a lead role in training, quality assurance, and the day to day running of the BT laboratory. Applicants must be experienced in handling day-to-day issues, demonstrate expert serological knowledge and be capable of interacting with a diverse team across the wider hospital blood transfusion environment. Experience using Safetrace Tx LIMS and EPIC DHR systems is highly desirable.
The laboratories are equipped with Sysmex XN3100s and a CS2500 interfaced to Epic Beaker DHR. The transfusion section has BioRad IH-500 analysers and Haemonetics Safetrace Tx LIMS. The department carries full UKAS Accreditation.
To arrange an informal visit or for further details, contact Paul Wadham on 0207 808 2606.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be responsible for supervising staff during the day to day operation of the department and performing analytical work. The post holder will lead the development of the quality system ensuring the laboratory complies with ISO15189 accreditation standard and MHRA requirements.
The key working relationships will be with staff in Haematology, but the post holder will be expected to liaise with staff throughout Pathology and the Trust. There will be frequent occasions when the postholder takes sole responsibility for work, for example when no Lead is present.
Working for our organisation
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading cancer centre. Our role is to offer our patients the best cancer care available anywhere in the world, and to continue to make a global contribution to finding better ways of diagnosing and treating cancer. We employ over 4,500 staff in a diverse range of careers including nursing, medical, science, radiography, pharmacy, occupational therapy, finance and administrative services. We have two hospitals – one in Chelsea, London, and one in Sutton, Surrey – as well as a Medical Daycare Unit in Kingston Hospital.
At The Royal Marsden, we deal with cancer every day, so we understand how valuable life is. When people entrust their lives to us, they have the right to demand the very best. That's why the pursuit of excellence lies at the heart of everything we do.
At the heart of the hospital is our dedicated team. We offer a stimulating and dynamic working environment, a wide range of staff benefits, learning and development opportunities and clear career pathways. There are opportunities to work flexibly across a range of areas and specialities and we welcome flexible working requests from point of hire to support employees work life balance. We are looking for employees who aspire to excellence, share our values and can play a crucial role in our on-going achievements.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For further information please refer to the Job Description & Person Specification.
• To support the strategic direction of the department and collaborate with the lead on new projects.
• To be able to demonstrate advance theoretical and scientific knowledge for instrumentation and methods.
• To support management and the BT lead in performance related matters, ensuring all technical aspects are performed to the expected standards.
• Lead on monitoring blood traceability, produce monthly reports on compliance with MHRA standards for traceability
• To monitor TAT and staff productivity making sure resources are being used efficiently and that KPI are maintained.
• Selecting suitable blood for transfusion (Blood Group compatible, and compliant with any special requirements such as CMV-negative, Irradiated or presence of any atypical antibodies), carrying out manual compatibility checking procedure including subjective interpretation of results
• Carrying out complex identification of atypical antibodies in patient samples
• FBC Analyser preparation: daily startup of analyser, check background counts within limits, run controls, check within limits, liaise with supervisor for remedial action if necessary. Monitor analyser continuously throughout the day, running control samples as necessary.
• Coagulation Analyser preparation: daily reconstitution of reagents, running bi-level controls, checking within limits, liaise with supervisor for remedial action if necessary. Monitor analyser continuously throughout the day, running control samples as necessary.
• Review of external quality assurance reports and take corrective actions to ensure acceptable performance.
Person specification
Education/Qualifications
Desirable criteria
- Evidence of post registration study
- Evidence of training related to specific area or instrument(s)
- BBTS exam
Education/Qualifications
Essential criteria
- HCPC Registration
- MSc or higher specialist diploma level experience
- Evidence of ongoing professional development
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working in all areas of relevant diagnostic laboratory
- Able to work to deadlines
- Able to write / review SOPs and documents
- Able to technically validate laboratory results
- Full understanding of EQA & IQC and their implications
- Full understanding of laboratory H&S procedures
- General understanding of all aspects of quality management
- Knowledge and understanding of ISO15189 standard
- Able to perform staff training
- Ability to write, perform and analyse audits
- Experience in LIMS/IT solution implementation, testing and development
Desirable criteria
- Ability to introduce new systems/equipment
- Experience and understanding of BSQR requirements and inspection processes
Skills Abilities/knowledge
Essential criteria
- Evidence of effective interpersonal skills
- Evidence of working well in a team
- Flexible approach to work, can deal with unexpected situations
- Ability to demonstrate self-motivation
- Ability to make decisions, organise and prioritise
- Evidence of commitment to customer care initiatives
- Knowledge and understanding of quality issues
- Able to work unsupervised and to supervise others
- Ability to perform complex scientific calculations and data analysis
- Good judgement, analytical, perceptive, eye for detail
- Understanding of relationship between laboratory investigations and clinical practice
Desirable criteria
- Self confident, able to contribute to lab meetings
- Ability to review anomalous / unexpected findings and take further appropriate action
- Motivates staff / team
Other
Essential criteria
- Flexibility to meet the needs of the service (e.g. on-call, shift work)
- Able to be flexible to meet the needs of the role
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Paul Wadham
- Job title
- Lab Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
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