Job vacancy: Biomedical Scientist, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton

Job summary

Main area: Haematology
Grade: NHS AfC: Band 6
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 282-SA1414

Employer: The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Royal Marsden Sutton
Town: Sutton
Salary: £45,953 - £54,254 per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 04/05/2026 23:59

Biomedical Scientist

NHS AfC: Band 6

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification:

Haematology Laboratory

• Sample reception: receipt and checking of samples against request forms, liaising with ward staff where there are doubts or errors, assigning High Risk samples to an appropriate containment area and dealing with leaking / damaged samples, centrifugation of specimens when necessary

• Data entry: assignment of sequential numbers to samples and attaching bar code labels; logging incoming specimen requests onto the HIS

• FBC Analyser preparation: daily start up 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, run tri-level controls, check results within limits, liaising with supervisor for remedial action if necessary. Monitor analyser continuously throughout the day, running additional control samples as necessary.

• Analyser processes: Loading specimens into racks, selecting appropriate tests on analyser software and starting analyser processing

About the Role
As a Band 6 Biomedical Scientist, you will be responsible for providing a safe, efficient and high‑quality analytical service across Haematology and Blood Transfusion. You will rotate through all sections of the department and will frequently work independently, including taking sole responsibility for laboratory duties when senior staff are not present.
The role includes hands‑on analytical work, technical validation of results, blood film morphology, equipment maintenance, quality control, and support of trainee staff. Following appropriate training, you will be expected to participate in the on‑call rota, working alone and unsupervised to deliver a full investigative service.

Key Responsibilities
Technical & Analytical

• Perform routine and specialist testing across Haematology, Coagulation and Blood Transfusion.

• Prepare, operate and monitor analysers, ensuring IQC is within acceptable limits.

• Validate and authorise results, comparing with historical data and clinical context.

• Examine and interpret blood films, identifying abnormal cellular morphology and escalating complex findings appropriately.

• Perform manual procedures including D dimers, sickle testing and antibody investigations.

Blood Transfusion

• Carry out ABO/RhD grouping, antibody screening and identification, DATs and phenotyping.

• Select, prepare and issue blood components in line with national and local policies.

• Manage urgent and complex transfusion requests, prioritising workload appropriately.

• Support stock control and minimisation of blood product wastage.
Quality & Governance

• Ensure compliance with SOPs, UKAS ISO 15189 standards, MHRA and Trust policies.

• Perform daily equipment maintenance and ensure documentation is completed accurately.

• Review SOPs and escalate discrepancies or proposed updates to senior staff.

• Participate in audits, incident reporting and corrective action processes.

Training & Service Development

• Support the training and supervision of trainee and junior staff.

• Participate in ongoing CPD, appraisal and competency assessments.

• Contribute to service improvement initiatives and validation of new equipment or methodologies.

Laboratory Environment & Equipment
Our laboratories operate routine services from 08:00 to midnight, Monday to Friday, and are equipped with:

• Sysmex XN3100

• CS2500

• Epic Beaker DHR

• BioRad IH 500 (Blood Transfusion)

• Haemonetics Safetrace LIMS

The department maintains full UKAS Accreditation.

About You

We are seeking candidates who can demonstrate:
Essential

• HCPC registration as a Biomedical Scientist

• Degree level qualification (or equivalent) in Biomedical Science

• Experience working across Haematology and Blood Transfusion

• Sound understanding of IQC, EQA, quality systems and laboratory health & safety

• Ability to work independently, manage workload and make technical decisions

• Strong communication, organisational and team working skills

Desirable

• Evidence of post registration or specialist study
• Experience supporting training of junior staff
• Experience working in an ISO 15189 accredited laboratory

What We Offer

• A supportive, specialist oncology environment
• Strong commitment to CPD, training and career development
• Exposure to complex and varied diagnostic work
• Opportunities to contribute to service innovation and improvement

Person specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential criteria

HCPC Registration
Evidence of ongoing professional development
Diploma or Degree level study (or equivalent)

Desirable criteria

Evidence of post registration study

Experience

Essential criteria

Experience of working in all areas of relevant diagnostic laboratory
Able to understand / follow SOPs
Able to technically validate laboratory results
Full understanding of EQA & IQC and their implications
Full understanding of laboratory H&S procedures

Desirable criteria

Able to perform basic training

Skills Abilities/knowledge

Essential criteria

Evidence of effective interpersonal skills
Evidence of working well in a team and independently
Ability to perform complex scientific calculations and data analysis
Computer Literacy (eg: Microsoft Word and Outlook)
Good judgement, analytical, perceptive, eye for detail

Desirable criteria

Self-confident, contributes to laboratory meetings

The Royal Marsden values diversity and is committed to the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority groups. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are working to create a workplace that enables all staff to reach their full potential. We are committed to this because we know that greater diversity and inclusion will lead to an even greater positive impact for the people we serve.

Due to the high volumes of applications we receive, we reserve the right to close any adverts before the published closing date once we have received a sufficient number of applications. We advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment. Please ensure your information is accurate to avoid errors with processing your application

All applicants will be contacted by email to the address supplied on your application. Applicants are advised to check their email accounts regularly and to ensure that email filters are set to allow our emails.

Flu Vaccination – What We Expect of our Staff

At The Royal Marsden we have an immune compromised patient population who we must protect as much as we can against the flu virus. Each year, seasonal flu affects thousands of people in the UK. Occurring mainly in winter, it is an infectious respiratory disease capable of producing symptoms ranging from those similar to a common cold, through to very severe or even fatal disease.

The wellbeing of our staff and patients is of the upmost importance to us, and it is the expectation of The Royal Marsden that all patient-facing staff have an annual flu vaccination, provided free of charge by the Trust.