Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached JD & Person Specification for full details

Key responsibilities

Technical, Analytical & Quality Assurance Duties

·         Perform a range of routine and specialist Biochemistry and Haematology analyses, supporting HCPC-registered Biomedical Scientists (BMS).

·         Assist in both Non-Automated and Core/Automated laboratories, ensuring smooth workflow and adherence to quality standards.

·         Undertake specialist manual and semi-automated procedures under BMS supervision.

·         Conduct routine calibrations, internal quality control (IQC), and acceptance testing on analytical equipment, ensuring compliance with laboratory protocols.

·         Identify and act on pre-analytical errors (e.g., incorrect barcodes, short samples, wrong sample types) to maintain sample integrity.

·         Prepare and load patient samples onto automated analysers, ensuring adherence to safety and quality standards.

·         Accurately collate, enter, and validate patient demographics and test data within the laboratory IT system.

·         Perform basic troubleshooting, maintenance, and minor repairs on analytical and specialist laboratory equipment.

·         Escalate complex equipment failures or analytical system breakdowns to senior staff or service engineers as necessary.

• Ensure the timely completion of routine and specialist biochemistry analyses, maintaining efficiency and accuracy.

Equipment Maintenance & Troubleshooting

·         Maintain complex analytical equipment in optimal working condition, taking remedial action when technical failures occur.

·         Perform basic and complex maintenance procedures on laboratory instruments, ensuring continuous functionality.

• Use remote monitoring software (e.g., RapidLink) to track and manage Point of Care Testing (POCT) devices in clinical settings.

Stock & Consumable Management

·         Monitor and manage laboratory stock, including reagents and consumables, using stock control software.

·         Conduct acceptance testing of incoming stock to verify compliance with laboratory quality standards.

• Ensure specialist items or supplies are available for specific investigations as requested by service users.

Communication & Collaboration

·         Maintain professional and empathetic communication with colleagues, clinicians, and external service users.

·         Overcome technical, clinical, and linguistic barriers to ensure effective communication of laboratory results and advice.

·         Provide guidance on specimen requirements, appropriate investigations, test suitability, collection timing, and turnaround times.

• Direct requests for technical assistance from external laboratories to the appropriate HCPC-registered Biomedical Scientist

Shift Work & Cross-Site Flexibility

·         Rotate across Aintree, Broadgreen, and Royal Liverpool sites to support service continuity.

·         Work a 24/7/365 shift pattern, including nights, weekends, and public holidays, ensuring continuous laboratory operations.

Knowledge & Professional Development

• Engage in ongoing professional development, including training sessions, lectures, study days, and workshops.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of laboratory policies, IT systems, and industry developments to enhance competency.
• Ensure compliance with ISO 15189 accreditation requirements, SOPs, and best practices.
• Work independently with minimal supervision, adhering to all relevant protocols and guidelines 

Advice, Guidance & Interpersonal Skills

·         Maintain professional and empathetic communication when liaising with colleagues, healthcare professionals, and external organisations.

·         Use effective communication skills to overcome technical, clinical, and linguistic barriers, ensuring clear understanding among all service users.

·         Report laboratory results to clinicians and service users in a timely, accurate, and professional manner.

·         Provide specialist advice on specimen requirements, appropriate investigations, test suitability, collection timing, and expected turnaround times.

·         Direct requests for assistance from external laboratories experiencing equipment failures to HCPC-registered Biomedical Scientists for further support. 

Scientific & Technical Responsibilities

• Receive, assess, and prioritise samples upon arrival, ensuring urgent, clinic, and labile specimens are processed appropriately.
• Evaluate the suitability of submitted samples, using professional judgment to reject unsuitable specimens and document reasons for rejection in the laboratory information system (LIMS).
• Refer problematic specimens to a Clinical Biochemist or Senior Biomedical Scientist for further assessment when necessary.
• Accurately and efficiently enter patient demographics and test requests into the laboratory IT system, ensuring data integrity.
• Demonstrate knowledge of medical terminology and abbreviations to ensure accurate clinical information entry.
• Use the laboratory IT system to retrieve set lists, track specimens, and respond to general telephone inquiries from hospital departments, GP surgeries, and external healthcare providers.
• Ensure the timely and accurate distribution of laboratory reports to hospital wards, departments, GP practices, and external healthcare facilities.
• Scan and archive request forms electronically for secure storage and future reference
• Assist in archiving and storing completed specimens, ensuring traceability and compliance with storage protocols.
• Use LIMS and specimen tracking databases to locate archived specimens for additional testing or retrospective analysis.
• Maintain accurate records for fridge/freezer temperature monitoring, reagent inventory, and stock control to ensure operational efficiency.
• Defrost laboratory refrigerators and freezers as part of routine maintenance.
• Prepare calibrators, quality control materials, and reagents for use in laboratory assays.
• Perform basic maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of Point of Care Testing (POCT) devices used in clinical areas.
• Use remote monitoring software (e.g., RapidLink) to track and control ward-based POCT analysers, ensuring optimal performance 

For further details / informal visits contact:

Name

Peter Reid

Job title

Chemistry Laboratory Manager

Email address

[email protected]

Telephone number

0151 529 2851

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

 Maximum score 2

• 2 A Levels/BTEC in science based subjects and demonstrable experience of working in a clinical laboratory OR a HNC in a science based subject OR proven equivalent practical experience in a UK clinical laboratory

Experience

Essential criteria

 Maximum score 2

• Knowledge of biomedical tests

Desirable criteria

 Maximum score 6

• Practical experience in a UK clinical laboratory
• Knowledge of medical terminologies.
• Familiar with use of basic laboratory equipment eg. pH meter, centrifuge etc

Knowledge

Desirable criteria

 Maximum score 4

• Health and safety awareness
• Understands the role of medical laboratories