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Job summary

Main area
Microbiology
Grade
Band 5
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (On call rota & weekend working)
Job ref
249-7462431
Employer
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Great Western Hospital
Town
Swindon
Salary
£31,049 - £37,796 per annum pro rata, role comes with 5% RRP uplift
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
02/10/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Biomedical Scientist

Band 5

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a unique organisation, serving as the sole integrated provider in the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire system. Our scope extends beyond boundaries as we oversee adult community services in Swindon and provide acute care from the Great Western Hospital. 

Our 5,500 staff have 1.2m patient contacts a year, with 13,000 operations carried out in our Theatres, around 4,000 babies born, and our emergency attendances are now well over 100,000 per year. Those numbers only tell part of our story about what an exciting time it is to join Great Western Hospitals.

We are cultivating a culture that fosters our ambitions, prioritising equality, diversion, inclusion, wellbeing, and leadership. We aim to create an environment where every member of our team can truly thrive.

The Trust is a Disability Confident Employer; all applicants who have a disability can opt to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme, which means that, providing they meet the minimum essential criteria for the post, they will be offered an interview. We are also proudly accredited as a Veteran Aware organisation and have signed The Armed Forces Covenant.

If we receive a high volume of applications, we may close adverts prior to the published closing date. Therefore, we advise you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

Job overview

We are looking for a Band 5 Biomedical Scientist to join our Microbiology Team on a full time basis.

Biomedical Scientists (BMS) are an integral part of the laboratory team responsible for the diagnosis of infection and disease processes by the application of latest scientific knowledge, coupled with the most up to date scientific methods and use of traditional methods where required.  BMS carry out, and interpret the results of, laboratory tests on biomedical samples that will aid clinical staff in the diagnoses of illness and evaluate the effectiveness of treatment.  Further professional development will be expected, as the post holder works towards a Specialist Diploma in Medical Microbiology.

Main duties of the job

  1. To interpret clinical details and patient demographic data for the allocation of tests to samples.
  2. To process biomedical samples using various techniques with a high degree of competency in accordance with standard operating procedures, providing accurate and timely appropriate results.
  3. To accurately interpret and report timely complex analytical results, and authorise Microbiology reports according to laboratory policy.
  4. To communicate effectively test results by telephone, printed report or electronic report, deal with telephone enquiries, and provide technical advice to laboratory users.
  5. To be able to make decisions regarding the quality of specimens and the validity of test data and ensure any anomalies / errors are reported to Senior BMS staff as soon as possible.
  6. To use complex and technical laboratory equipment in the course of their duties including maintenance and troubleshooting of the equipment.

Working for our organisation

“Our STAR values – Service, Teamwork, Ambition and Respect – are a golden thread running through everything we do. These values serve as a guiding principle, driving us towards our vision of delivering great joined up services to our local community. Whether at home, in the community, or within the hospital, our goal is to empower individuals to lead independent and healthier lives.”

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

  1. At all times to act in accordance with and adhere to laboratory and Trust procedures and protocols.
  2. To work under the direction of Senior BMS staff in the provision of a diagnostic Microbiology service, working within departmental guidelines and safety policies.
  3. To be responsible for health and safety issues pertinent to diagnostic laboratory work, adhering to all Trust and laboratory employment Health and Safety policies and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations.
  4. To rotate (after suitable training and competency verification) through all sections of the Bacteriology department.
  5. To participate in rotas covering Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday mornings as required.
  6. To participate in the out-of-hours service in a lone worker situation.
  7. To participate in mandatory training requirements of the Trust and attend training sessions, educational meetings and laboratory meetings as appropriate.
  8. To participate in annual joint review in accordance with the Trust appraisal policy.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • HCPC registered
  • BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science (Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) approved) or equivalent.
Desirable criteria
  • Working towards IBMS Specialist diploma in Medical Microbiology.

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working in all areas of a Medical Microbiology laboratory in a NHS Laboratory
Desirable criteria
  • Post-HCPC Registration experience of working in all areas of a Medical Microbiology laboratory.
  • Experience of working on-call in a lone worker situation

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDisability confident leaderInvestors in People: Goldhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/kickstart-scheme-employer-resources/kickstart-scheme-brand-guidelinesStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Christopher Frearson
Job title
Acting Laboratory Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01793 604798
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