Job overview

Southwest Pathology Services (SPS) is seeking a highly motivated and organised individual, with HCPC registration and IBMS Specialist Portfolio to join our friendly Microbiology team. Applicants can earn up to £48,117 per annum depending on qualifications and experience and subject to agreement, may be entitled to a £10,000 welcome bonus.

You will be based within the Infectious Sciences laboratory (including Bacteriology, Parasitology, Virology, Molecular and Mycology), there will be a requirement to rotate within all areas, subject to completion of suitable training. There is also an expectation that you will participate in the out-of-hours on-call service, weekend working on rotation and bank holiday rotas. 

Our team at SPS have been fundamental to the principle of making a positive difference to healthcare in Somerset for over a decade.  We hold ISO15189 UKAS accreditation and are an HCPC approved training Laboratory for both IBMS Registration and Specialist Portfolios.

Please note that, in line with current UK visa sponsorship salary requirements, the minimum salary threshold for a Biomedical Scientist role is £45,900. Therefore, applicants requiring visa sponsorship will  need to be appointed at the top of the NHS Band 6 pay scale to meet eligibility criteria.

Main duties of the job

• To perform and interpret routine and specialist Biomedical investigations autonomously to provide patients results within agreed quality standards of service delivery and turnaround times under the supervision of senior staff.
• Work independently, implement and propose changes to procedures for own work area.
• Act as the lead specialist for a designated area within Infection Sciences, such as Quality Management, Health & Safety, Information Technology, or a specific technical discipline, providing expert oversight, driving service development, and ensuring compliance with relevant standards and policies.
• To continue with personal development through academic and/or practical experience.
• To provide professional leadership and training to Basic Grade, Trainee BMS, Associate Practitioners (equivalent grades) and Medical Laboratory Assistants.
• To maintain the standards of conduct required by the Health Professions Council to practice as a registered Biomedical Scientist.
• To provide technical advice to clinicians as to the appropriateness of tests and timescales.
• To assist and carry out duties as directed in Health and Safety, audit, training, incident reporting and quality assurance/quality control

Working for our organisation

Formed in 2012, Southwest Pathology Services (SPS) is a joint venture between SYNLAB UK & Ireland and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. The partnership serves a population of around 500,000 and delivers services to the Trust and more than 100 GP practices, delivering on over 9 million tests annually.  The department  is an IBMS accredited training laboratory and has full UKAS accreditation.

Originally, there was a single site at each hospital with both undertaking similar urgent and non-urgent tests. There is a well developed central ‘hub’ laboratory in Taunton with an ‘essential services laboratory’ at Musgrove Park Hospital and Yeovil District Hospital to provide urgent testing.

The department have regular continual professional development seminars and as part of HCPC registration be expected to maintain an up to date CPD portfolio.  There is a healthy training budget to allow local/distant attendance at Congress/seminars/symposiums. We are committed to investing in our people, offering excellent development opportunities, supported training, and clear career progression pathways to help you achieve your full potential.

All staff commencing on SYNLAB Hospital terms and conditions are subject to a 3 month probationary period and may be entitled to a welcome bonus of £10,000.