Job summary This is an excellent opportunity for a suitably qualified and experienced Biomedical Scientist to join a large and busy UKAS-accredited laboratory. The Microbiology laboratory is located on the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital site and provides an extensive service to two acute hospitals, smaller local hospitals and to GPs in Gloucestershire and south Worcestershire. The current workload is 380,000 specimens a year. Main duties of the job The department has a well-equipped laboratory offering a comprehensive service including automated urine analysis, molecular diagnostics, liquid TB culture, Virology, Mycology and Andrology. The successful candidate will be reliable, enthusiastic, motivated and forward thinking. They will be able to demonstrate the necessary skills to lead a small technical team within the laboratory, together with specialist technical knowledge in serology and virology services. The post-holder will be part of the departmental senior management team. Candidates must have current HCPC registration and substantial previous experience of working in an NHS Microbiology laboratory at a Specialist BMS level. It is expected that this experience will include a significant amount in a clinical virology or molecular department. You will be expected to participate in the weekend and bank holiday rotas, as required by service needs. About us The Department of Microbiology is based on the GRH hospital site in Gloucester. The laboratory provides an extensive service to the two hospitals and GP surgeries in Gloucestershire. The laboratory has a staff team of about 60 people, including scientific and medical roles. The core working hours are 0830 to 1700, Monday to Friday, but all staff help to provide the services outside core hours. This includes weekend and Bank Holiday working. The department has a long history of training and developing staff in different roles. It is approved as a training laboratory by the Institute of Biomedical Science, and has been accredited by UKAS to the ISO15189 standards. Date posted 17 February 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 7 Salary £46,148 to £52,809 a year per annum Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 318-25-T0144 Job locations Gloucestershire Royal Hospital Great Western Road Gloucester GL1 3NN Job description Job responsibilities Knowledge, Skills & Experience- Postgraduate qualification in Medical Microbiology or Virology, equivalent to MSc level or FIBMS - Registration as a Biomedical Scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) - Substantial experience of working as a Specialist BMS in Microbiology or Virology, including significant periods of working in a clinical virology or molecular department - Specialist training, qualifications and experience in the relevant section(s) - IBMS Specialist Portfolio in Medical Microbiology or Virology, or equivalent experience Technical Roles - To be able to work competently in the virology section, taking overall day-to-day responsibility for the service provided - To maintain a high standard of professional competence and current knowledge of the relevant tests and service, maintaining evidence of continuing professional development - To act as a source of specialist virology advice, providing advice to users and departmental staff where needed - To communicate with users and external stakeholders when needed to ensure quality of service is maintained - To use specialist knowledge to determine the relevant tests to be carried out on samples - To use specialist knowledge in the interpretation of test results and allocation of confirmation or identification tests - To ensure all new equipment and tests are appropriately verified or validated before use on clinical samples - To participate in the procurement of equipment, reagents and consumables relevant to the virology section - To authorise results relevant to the virology section - To ensure the safe handling and reception of samples (including those designated as high-risk) - To ensure all work conforms to the procedures set out in laboratory polices and SOPs - To ensure all work conforms to the standards required by ISO15189 accreditation - To prioritise work, taking into account workload and stated urgency of requests - To be able to use and troubleshoot the equipment used in the section, including providing training on its use - To ensure clinically significant results are notified to the user or Consultant Microbiologist as appropriate, including the telephoning of urgent results directly to users - To notify users of potential delays in reporting results that may impact on patient treatment - To report issues relating to the laboratory environment or building fabric directly to Estates or to the Laboratory Manager, as appropriate - To ensure all quality control tests are performed as required, and to prevent results being reported if QC results indicate a potential performance problem with a test. - To ensure all EQA samples are processed and reported according to laboratory protocols - To compile and communicate a monthly EQA summary report for the section - To ensure stocks of reagents and consumables are used efficiently and without unnecessary wastage. - To liaise with technical and sales staff of relevant suppliers - To undertake or participate in research activities relating to the section Supervisory Duties - To ensure all safety procedures are followed within the laboratory - To be responsible for staff and work allocation within the section - To approve annual leave requests for staff - To investigate Datix / NCR incidents - To record sickness absence and conduct return-to-work interviews - To undertake induction for new staff - To undertake initial discussions with staff regarding poor or below-standard performance in the relevant section(s), referring to the Laboratory Manager where required - To liaise with other senior staff to ensure all sections in the laboratory are adequately covered - To undertake staff appraisals and produce personal development plans for assigned staff - To participate in the recruitment, selection and training of new staff - To be a member of the Senior Staff Management committee and relevant SOP groups - To deputise for the Lab Manager or Deputy Lab Manager, as required - To represent the department in external meetings or conferences as required - To ensure all relevant SOPs, work instructions and bench guides are managed in accordance with the document control policy - To complete risk assessments and COSHH assessments for the virology section - To participate in the departmental audit programme, undertaking audits as required - To collate epidemiology data and produce reports, where required - To participate in the selection and approval of reference laboratories - To participate in the departmental competency programme, undertaking competency assessments for the section Job description Job responsibilities Knowledge, Skills & Experience- Postgraduate qualification in Medical Microbiology or Virology, equivalent to MSc level or FIBMS - Registration as a Biomedical Scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) - Substantial experience of working as a Specialist BMS in Microbiology or Virology, including significant periods of working in a clinical virology or molecular department - Specialist training, qualifications and experience in the relevant section(s) - IBMS Specialist Portfolio in Medical Microbiology or Virology, or equivalent experience Technical Roles - To be able to work competently in the virology section, taking overall day-to-day responsibility for the service provided - To maintain a high standard of professional competence and current knowledge of the relevant tests and service, maintaining evidence of continuing professional development - To act as a source of specialist virology advice, providing advice to users and departmental staff where needed - To communicate with users and external stakeholders when needed to ensure quality of service is maintained - To use specialist knowledge to determine the relevant tests to be carried out on samples - To use specialist knowledge in the interpretation of test results and allocation of confirmation or identification tests - To ensure all new equipment and tests are appropriately verified or validated before use on clinical samples - To participate in the procurement of equipment, reagents and consumables relevant to the virology section - To authorise results relevant to the virology section - To ensure the safe handling and reception of samples (including those designated as high-risk) - To ensure all work conforms to the procedures set out in laboratory polices and SOPs - To ensure all work conforms to the standards required by ISO15189 accreditation - To prioritise work, taking into account workload and stated urgency of requests - To be able to use and troubleshoot the equipment used in the section, including providing training on its use - To ensure clinically significant results are notified to the user or Consultant Microbiologist as appropriate, including the telephoning of urgent results directly to users - To notify users of potential delays in reporting results that may impact on patient treatment - To report issues relating to the laboratory environment or building fabric directly to Estates or to the Laboratory Manager, as appropriate - To ensure all quality control tests are performed as required, and to prevent results being reported if QC results indicate a potential performance problem with a test. - To ensure all EQA samples are processed and reported according to laboratory protocols - To compile and communicate a monthly EQA summary report for the section - To ensure stocks of reagents and consumables are used efficiently and without unnecessary wastage. - To liaise with technical and sales staff of relevant suppliers - To undertake or participate in research activities relating to the section Supervisory Duties - To ensure all safety procedures are followed within the laboratory - To be responsible for staff and work allocation within the section - To approve annual leave requests for staff - To investigate Datix / NCR incidents - To record sickness absence and conduct return-to-work interviews - To undertake induction for new staff - To undertake initial discussions with staff regarding poor or below-standard performance in the relevant section(s), referring to the Laboratory Manager where required - To liaise with other senior staff to ensure all sections in the laboratory are adequately covered - To undertake staff appraisals and produce personal development plans for assigned staff - To participate in the recruitment, selection and training of new staff - To be a member of the Senior Staff Management committee and relevant SOP groups - To deputise for the Lab Manager or Deputy Lab Manager, as required - To represent the department in external meetings or conferences as required - To ensure all relevant SOPs, work instructions and bench guides are managed in accordance with the document control policy - To complete risk assessments and COSHH assessments for the virology section - To participate in the departmental audit programme, undertaking audits as required - To collate epidemiology data and produce reports, where required - To participate in the selection and approval of reference laboratories - To participate in the departmental competency programme, undertaking competency assessments for the section Person Specification Qualifications / Experience Essential BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Science (or equivalent qualification) Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (Biomedical Scientist) Postgraduate qualification equivalent to MSc or FIBMS Previous substantial experience of working in a UK diagnostic microbiology / virology laboratory at Specialist BMS level Proven bench skills and demonstrable knowledge of current developments within virology Knowledge and experience of ISO15189 quality standards and accreditation process Demonstrate a commitment to service improvement and innovative practice Experience of supervising a bench / section in the laboratory Demonstrate good communication skills Desirable Experience of managing change projects in a clinical laboratory Experience of working in a molecular microbiology laboratory Person Specification Qualifications / Experience Essential BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Science (or equivalent qualification) Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (Biomedical Scientist) Postgraduate qualification equivalent to MSc or FIBMS Previous substantial experience of working in a UK diagnostic microbiology / virology laboratory at Specialist BMS level Proven bench skills and demonstrable knowledge of current developments within virology Knowledge and experience of ISO15189 quality standards and accreditation process Demonstrate a commitment to service improvement and innovative practice Experience of supervising a bench / section in the laboratory Demonstrate good communication skills Desirable Experience of managing change projects in a clinical laboratory Experience of working in a molecular microbiology laboratory Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Address Gloucestershire Royal Hospital Great Western Road Gloucester GL1 3NN Employer's website https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)