Job summary Undertake routine and non-routine tests or activities as identified by individual laboratories, up to but not including the point of clinical validation. Responsible for monitoring and performing daily, weekly and monthly maintenance of laboratory equipment. Perform quality control as appropriate and report any out of consensus results to registered BMS staff. Use scientific knowledge to recognise and check incorrect or abnormal results. Perform basic troubleshooting tasks on laboratory equipment. Participate in a roster to provide out-of-hours service. Main duties of the job The post holder will be a part of a team of Biomedical Scientists and Biomedical support workers delivering a high-quality Pathology service 24/7. The post holder will participate in all quality activities and be expected to attend departmental meetings on a regular basis. The post holder will be required to train/teach staff of all grades within the scope of their competencies. The post holder will be required to undertake their responsibilities within any of the sections of Pathology to comply with national standards e.g. ISO15189, MHRA, HTA About us Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire. Our Excellence Values Compassion Accountability Respect Integrity Courage We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities. The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals. We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative. We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds.This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals. Date posted 21 January 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 4 Salary £26,530 to £29,114 a year Dependent on experience Contract Bank Working pattern Part-time Reference number 265-6903726 Job locations Northampton General Hospital Cliftonville Northampton NN1 5BD Job description Job responsibilities Communication Communicate in a manner that is consistent with legislation policies and procedures. Communicate effectively with all members of the Pathology staff, clinicians and visitors to the department. Improve communication by the use of communication skills. Be aware of possible barriers to communication and how to overcome them. Deal sensitively with patient/ clinician enquiries in stressful situations. Ensure confidentiality of all written verbal and electronic information. Keep accurate and complete records in line with legislation, policies and procedures. Provide approved departmental information and advice to other healthcare professionals, patients and the public, referring on appropriate specialist request for information outside their area of responsibility. Be able to use all relevant forms of communication. Attend and participate in departmental meetings. Personal and People Development Take responsibility for own personal development and take an active part in learning opportunities. A portfolio must be maintained to demonstrate:- How the post holder is applying skills and knowledge in relation to their KSF outline. To record that the post holder is keeping up to date with current scientific and technical developments including participation in scientific meetings as appropriate. Be required to have achieved the appropriate qualification, e.g Foundation Degree in Healthcare Science. Be required to assist in the training and development of Biomedical Support Workers, in the procedures for which the post holder is responsible. Attend all Mandatory and role specific training. Health Safety and Security Comply with the policies and procedures of Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust. Observe and adhere to local and national risk management and Health and safety policies. Safely handle potentially infectious blood, faeces, other body tissue and hazardous chemicals on a daily basis. Keep the workbenches clean and tidy. Service Improvement Maintain a flexible approach to the post in order to rapidly assimilate changes in workload, patterns and requirements. Alert their line manager when users of the service are adversely affected. Participate in audit and other service evaluation when required. Comment on any proposed changes to own work area when required. Quality Comply with good work practices in accordance with the standards of UKAS and the Health Protection Agency. Measure and monitor the accuracy and imprecision of laboratory investigations using appropriate quality control procedures. Undertake appropriate validation as directed by Senior BMS. Be able to cope with unpredictable workload and maintain quality. Recognise and then take corrective action when quality control or assurance procedures indicate loss of performance of the laboratory instruments or methods reporting any out of consensus results to registered BMS staff. Monitor performance of biomedical support workers if required Equality & Diversity Treat everyone associated with Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust with dignity, courtesy and respect. Be aware of and act in accordance with legislation and policies. Recognise and report behaviour that undermines equality and diversity. Biomedical Investigation Be able to interpret and follow standard operating procedures. Perform biomedical investigations to the point of technical validation as specified by the Senior BMS including:- Automated techniques Semi automated techniques Manual techniques Be responsible for stock control of reagents and other consumables. Be responsible for resolving outstanding work lists. Be responsible retrieving retrospective specimens. Check and confirm the identify and quality of specimens/samples at all relevant stages in line with established procedures and protocols including the checking of anomalous or abnormal results. Handle and deal with specimens/samples in a way which:- is consistent with the indicated degree of risk or urgency. maintains the required quality and integrity. maintains their unique identification and their links to relevant records/documentation. is appropriate to the nature and stage of the investigation. Assess the process and outcomes of investigations using the correct quality control criteria referring anomalous results to the biomedical scientist staff. Store and prepare and use reagents according to manufacturers instructions. Participate in the introduction of new methods in the laboratory. Refer to biomedical scientist staff in the case of incidents which put health and safety or the quality of specimens at risk. Comply with legislation, policies and procedures. Equipment Responsible for monitoring and performing daily, weekly and monthly maintenance of laboratory equipment, ensuring that logs are completed. Check the safety and functioning of all equipment. Perform simple troubleshooting and report malfunctions to BMS staff. Participate in the introduction of new equipment or methods to the department. Contribute to method and laboratory instrument evaluation as directed. Assist in the resolution of equipment or method failures, which may include dismantling instruments to carry out simple repairs. Be able to use the sample tracking systems and store samples appropriately. Information Collection & analysis Comply with local and national policies for the safe, secure and confidential processing, and storage of patient and other laboratory information. Use the Laboratory and appropriate Trust Information System according to the authorised protocols. Enter patient demographics and technical laboratory data onto the Laboratory Information System. Collect and collate data/information effectively and to time, using set systems and consistent with legislation, policies and procedures. Be able to monitor the temperature monitoring system and act appropriately on temperature excursions. Stock control of reagents and other consumables. Confirm that the data/information meets pre-set quality criteria. Maintain the integrity of data/information using agreed procedures. Report the data/information clearly in the required format at the time agreed. People Management Plan and prioritise own work to meet deadlines. Supervise and allocate work to Biomedical Support Workers. Report poor performance to Biomedical Scientist staff Job description Job responsibilities Communication Communicate in a manner that is consistent with legislation policies and procedures. Communicate effectively with all members of the Pathology staff, clinicians and visitors to the department. Improve communication by the use of communication skills. Be aware of possible barriers to communication and how to overcome them. Deal sensitively with patient/ clinician enquiries in stressful situations. Ensure confidentiality of all written verbal and electronic information. Keep accurate and complete records in line with legislation, policies and procedures. Provide approved departmental information and advice to other healthcare professionals, patients and the public, referring on appropriate specialist request for information outside their area of responsibility. Be able to use all relevant forms of communication. Attend and participate in departmental meetings. Personal and People Development Take responsibility for own personal development and take an active part in learning opportunities. A portfolio must be maintained to demonstrate:- How the post holder is applying skills and knowledge in relation to their KSF outline. To record that the post holder is keeping up to date with current scientific and technical developments including participation in scientific meetings as appropriate. Be required to have achieved the appropriate qualification, e.g Foundation Degree in Healthcare Science. Be required to assist in the training and development of Biomedical Support Workers, in the procedures for which the post holder is responsible. Attend all Mandatory and role specific training. Health Safety and Security Comply with the policies and procedures of Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust. Observe and adhere to local and national risk management and Health and safety policies. Safely handle potentially infectious blood, faeces, other body tissue and hazardous chemicals on a daily basis. Keep the workbenches clean and tidy. Service Improvement Maintain a flexible approach to the post in order to rapidly assimilate changes in workload, patterns and requirements. Alert their line manager when users of the service are adversely affected. Participate in audit and other service evaluation when required. Comment on any proposed changes to own work area when required. Quality Comply with good work practices in accordance with the standards of UKAS and the Health Protection Agency. Measure and monitor the accuracy and imprecision of laboratory investigations using appropriate quality control procedures. Undertake appropriate validation as directed by Senior BMS. Be able to cope with unpredictable workload and maintain quality. Recognise and then take corrective action when quality control or assurance procedures indicate loss of performance of the laboratory instruments or methods reporting any out of consensus results to registered BMS staff. Monitor performance of biomedical support workers if required Equality & Diversity Treat everyone associated with Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust with dignity, courtesy and respect. Be aware of and act in accordance with legislation and policies. Recognise and report behaviour that undermines equality and diversity. Biomedical Investigation Be able to interpret and follow standard operating procedures. Perform biomedical investigations to the point of technical validation as specified by the Senior BMS including:- Automated techniques Semi automated techniques Manual techniques Be responsible for stock control of reagents and other consumables. Be responsible for resolving outstanding work lists. Be responsible retrieving retrospective specimens. Check and confirm the identify and quality of specimens/samples at all relevant stages in line with established procedures and protocols including the checking of anomalous or abnormal results. Handle and deal with specimens/samples in a way which:- is consistent with the indicated degree of risk or urgency. maintains the required quality and integrity. maintains their unique identification and their links to relevant records/documentation. is appropriate to the nature and stage of the investigation. Assess the process and outcomes of investigations using the correct quality control criteria referring anomalous results to the biomedical scientist staff. Store and prepare and use reagents according to manufacturers instructions. Participate in the introduction of new methods in the laboratory. Refer to biomedical scientist staff in the case of incidents which put health and safety or the quality of specimens at risk. Comply with legislation, policies and procedures. Equipment Responsible for monitoring and performing daily, weekly and monthly maintenance of laboratory equipment, ensuring that logs are completed. Check the safety and functioning of all equipment. Perform simple troubleshooting and report malfunctions to BMS staff. Participate in the introduction of new equipment or methods to the department. Contribute to method and laboratory instrument evaluation as directed. Assist in the resolution of equipment or method failures, which may include dismantling instruments to carry out simple repairs. Be able to use the sample tracking systems and store samples appropriately. Information Collection & analysis Comply with local and national policies for the safe, secure and confidential processing, and storage of patient and other laboratory information. Use the Laboratory and appropriate Trust Information System according to the authorised protocols. Enter patient demographics and technical laboratory data onto the Laboratory Information System. Collect and collate data/information effectively and to time, using set systems and consistent with legislation, policies and procedures. Be able to monitor the temperature monitoring system and act appropriately on temperature excursions. Stock control of reagents and other consumables. Confirm that the data/information meets pre-set quality criteria. Maintain the integrity of data/information using agreed procedures. Report the data/information clearly in the required format at the time agreed. People Management Plan and prioritise own work to meet deadlines. Supervise and allocate work to Biomedical Support Workers. Report poor performance to Biomedical Scientist staff Person Specification Educations, Training and Qualifications Essential Minimum of Foundation degree in Healthcare Science or equivalent e.g. IBMS Certificate of Competence level 1. GSCE's in Mathematics and English. Knowledge and Experience Essential Working experience in the relevant NHS Pathology discipline. Working on analytical platforms. Understanding of quality indices. Desirable Experience of co-ordinating day to day laboratory activities. Experience of listed current platforms in use. Person Specification Educations, Training and Qualifications Essential Minimum of Foundation degree in Healthcare Science or equivalent e.g. IBMS Certificate of Competence level 1. GSCE's in Mathematics and English. Knowledge and Experience Essential Working experience in the relevant NHS Pathology discipline. Working on analytical platforms. Understanding of quality indices. Desirable Experience of co-ordinating day to day laboratory activities. Experience of listed current platforms in use. 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). Employer details Employer name Northampton General Hospital Address Northampton General Hospital Cliftonville Northampton NN1 5BD Employer's website https://www.northamptongeneral.nhs.uk/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)