Job overview

Are you an experienced Specialist Biomedical Scientist looking to broaden your specialist knowledge, work with advanced diagnostic technology and make a meaningful contribution to patient care?

Southwest Pathology Services (SPS) is seeking a highly motivated and organised Biomedical Scientist, with HCPC registration and IBMS Specialist Portfolio to join our friendly Infection Sciences team. You will join an established Infection Sciences team at our Taunton hub laboratory, where your expertise will contribute to the diagnosis and management of infections across Somerset.  Applicants can earn up to £48,117 per annum depending on qualifications and experience. You will be eligible for a Wellbeing Allowance of £1,500 per annum, designed to support your personal and professional well-being. We may also be able to offer relocation expense support for candidates who hold an IBMS Specialist Portfolio in the UK, subject to eligibility and approval.

If you have gained your experience outside the UK, we would be pleased to consider your application where you can demonstrate the appropriate level of specialist experience and meet the relevant HCPC registration and role requirements. We can also consider visa sponsorship for candidates who meet the applicable eligibility criteria.

SYNLAB UK & Ireland has a strong track record of working in partnership with the NHS to enhance pathology services through successful joint ventures, including SPS.
For over 10 years, SPS has supported healthcare improvement across Somerset. We hold ISO15189 UKAS accreditation and are an HCPC-approved laboratory for IBMS Registration and Specialist Portfolio training.

SYNLAB has a strong commitment to investment in both people and services. The laboratory has one of the first new generation KiestrA automated platforms in the UK, with over 40 staff processing 400,000 samples per year.

You will be based within the Infection Sciences laboratory (including Bacteriology, Parasitology, Virology, Molecular and Mycology), at the Hub laboratory site in Taunton. The successful candidate will be expected to undertake a rotational role across all sections of the department, following successful completion of the required training and competency assessments. As part of the delivery of a seven-day service, the postholder will participate in weekend, bank holiday and on-call rotas, which attract enhanced rates of pay.

Main duties of the job

Key responsibilities include:

• 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 50 GP practices, delivering on over 11 million tests annually.  The department is an IBMS accredited training laboratory and has full UKAS accreditation.

A well-established central ‘Hub’ laboratory is based in Taunton, supported by Essential Service Laboratories at Musgrove Park Hospital and Yeovil District Hospital to provide urgent testing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

SPS promotes continuous professional development through regular seminars, and as part of HCPC registration, staff are 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.

We offer a comprehensive training budget to support career development, providing the resources and opportunities needed for professional growth.

Applications are welcomed from applicants with a disability. We can make reasonable adjustments and offer support and advice in a variety of ways throughout the application process. All applicants are welcome to apply regardless of age, disability, gender, marital status, race, nationality or ethnic origin, religion, or sexual orientation. Equality of opportunity is our policy.

Our Bank workers enjoy competitive market rates and flexible contract assignments across all of our sites, dependent on your availability and location.

 

For our Permanent workforce we offer a competitive benefits package.

All employees are entitled to:

Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. All employees have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in the course of their daily duties and for ensuring that they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.

Please apply for this post on-line. If you have problems with using the online process, or need any assistance, please email

Your e-mail address is important to us. We communicate to all job applicants via the e-mail address which has been provided on the application form. Please ensure that you check your e-mail on a regular basis.

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.

If you decide to apply for this post but do not hear back from us within three weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been short-listed on this occasion.

 

Thank you for your interest in SYNLAB.