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Job summary

Main area
Pathology
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 5
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to friday)
Job ref
249-7357591
Employer
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation trust
Town
Swindon
Salary
£31,049 - £37,796 per annum pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
15/08/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Band 5 Biomedical Scientist - Quality Support (Pan Pathology)

NHS AfC: 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 seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Biomedical Scientist with a keen eye for detail and a strong commitment to patient safety to join our Pathology team. 

In this role, you  will work closely with the Pathology Quality & Customer Engagement manager and multidisciplinary laboratory teams to support the delivery of a robust, effective Quality Management System in accordance with accreditation and regulatory bodies and Trust governance requirements.

Using your laboratory experience you will play a vital role in supporting the teams across Pathology to ensure that the the department continues to provide safe, accurate and timely diagnostic services.

 

 

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate  will participate in a range of quality tasks including auditing,  risk assessing processes across Pathology, investigation and review of non-conformances and supporting  the management of  controlled documents. 

You will promote a strong culture of continuous improvement, co-ordinate essential training to laboratory staff and support accreditation readiness across microbiology, haematology, biochemistry and cellular pathology laboratory disciplines.  Your work will help to underpin the quality and care delivered to our patients. 

With a strong appreciation for data, you will contribute to the monitoring and reporting of quality performance indicators.  

As a biomedical scientist  you will undergo appropriate teaching and training as directed and as necessary in order to maintain HCPC registration and to maintain suitable records of all training activities undertaken.

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

The successful candidate will thrive on organisation, believe in doing things right and be keen to be part of a forward thinking service that values improvement, accountability and professional development.  Duties include:

1.  To engage with the departmental quality management system to ensure the laboratory standards of operation are consistent with UKAS15189 accreditation standards

2.    Work in accordance with departmental standard operating procedure documentation (SOPs)

3.    To gain an understanding of how the clinical laboratories operate and gain knowledge of tasks required to maintain an efficient workflow of patient samples within the department

4. To support the Pathology Quality Manager and the Laboratory Management Team in ensuring Quality and Governance requirements are adhered to on a day-to-day basis such as control and maintenance of documentation ensuring regular review of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s, policies and quality documents)

5.  To provide input into reports and to attend Quality Management meetings and Management Reviews when required

6.  To support the Quality Manager and Laboratory Management team in the preparation of UKAS/ MHRA/ HTA surveillance visits

8.  To conduct audits as required and assist in monitoring progress of departmental audits and closure of related findings

9.  To assist in the management and investigation of incidents as required

10. To assist in the collection of data for quality and key performance     indicators

13. To assist the Quality Manager in planning, co-ordination and delivery of training in quality management to promote awareness of quality procedures, policies and continuous improvement  across  the service

14. To provide guidance to Pathology staff regarding QMS and           compliance requirements

15. To maintain professional competency, skills and develop knowledge of  quality management as required ensuring activities are recorded accurately and evidence available when necessary

16. To understand the importance of the laboratory service and how it  contributes to the provision of outstanding care for patients

Person specification

Education, Qualifications and Training

Essential criteria
  • Degree level qualification and / or equivalent knowledge and experience
  • Evidence of ongoing continuing professional development
Desirable criteria
  • IBMS accredited degree
  • HCPC Registered Biomedical Scientist
  • Previous quality training evidenced

Experience

Essential criteria
  • • Experience of modern laboratory techniques and good knowledge of current professional issues.
  • • Experience of using Quality management systems and procedures such as carrying out audits, error logging through non-conformance reports and reviewing SOP’s/ Policies and risk assessments
  • • Understanding of requirements for UKAS surveillance visit preparation and follow up
Desirable criteria
  • Knowledge of the ISO 15189:2022 standard
  • Experience of UKAS or other regulatory surveillance visits

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

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
Trudi Carey
Job title
Pathology Quality and Customer Engagement Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01793 605013
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