Biomedical Scientist

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

At Synnovis, we are currently shaping the future of pathology services by creating a world-leading Hub and Spoke pathology network with our NHS partners. A large part of this modernisation will involve moving 70% of our services to a purpose built, state of the art Hub laboratory in the heart of London. For now, the job you are applying for will be based at one of our hospital sites however, from 1 April 2024 our people and services start to move to our Hub laboratory in Blackfriars, Southwark, SE1, with some work remaining in refurbished essential services laboratories across our hospital network, focusing on the rapid turnover of urgent tests. Please do ask your recruiting manager if you wish to find out more.

Duties and Responsibilities

1.     Technical

a.         To safely handle, use or dispose of blood, urine, other body tissue, hazardous and or radioactive chemicals.

b.         To perform manual, semi-automated and fully-automated laboratory investigations, in all sections of the laboratory.

c.          To undertake preventative maintenance on laboratory instruments and equipment prior to them being used for patient investigations.

d.         To carry out first line equipment and method troubleshooting, advise line manager of situations requiring further action.

e.         To prepare store and use reagents required for laboratory investigations.

f.           To measure and monitor the accuracy and imprecision of laboratory investigations using appropriate quality control procedures.

g.         To undertake technical validation of the results from laboratory investigations to ensure accuracy and precision as specified by laboratory protocols and quality procedures.

h.         To undertake preliminary fault finding and corrective action when the quality control procedures indicate loss of performance.

i.           To report to the Section Manager any instance or event which may cause a service delivery failure, or a delay to reporting of results.

2.     Scientific

a.         To undertake method and laboratory instrument evaluation as directed by the Section Manager.

b.         To participate in research and development as directed by the Section Manager/Consultant Clinical Scientist.

c.          To keep up to date with current scientific and technical developments including through participation in scientific meetings if appropriate.

3.     Clinical

a.         To interpret first line laboratory results and take appropriate actions in line with laboratory policies and procedures e.g. validation of results, ordering relevant follow-up laboratory procedures, adding technical and approved pre-defined clinically relevant comments, referring results for clinical interpretation or opinion, informing the requestor of clinically significant result.

b.         Provide approved departmental information and advice to other healthcare professionals, and to refer on to appropriate specialists requests for information outside of their area of responsibility. 

4.     Quality Assurance

a.         Maintain the quality assurance procedures of the department. Measure and monitor the accuracy and imprecision of laboratory investigations using appropriate quality control procedures.

b.         To carry out audits to highlight deficiencies in the pre-examination, examination and post-examination processes, as required by the Section Manager / Quality Manager.

c.         To meet the target turnaround times of laboratory investigations and act on information to improve the service provided. To communicate effectively if TAT will be breached.

d.         To participate in audits of the Quality Management System (QMS).

e.         Keep up to date with all tasks required on the QMS system (Q-Pulse).

f.           To adopt a culture of continuous improvement.

g.         To highlight any aspects of the service for which there are concerns about quality.

h.         To make suggestions for improvement.

5.     Risk Management/Health and Safety

a.     Work within the Departmental Health and Safety Code of practice. Awareness of hazards inherent in the laboratory and use of adequate precautions at all times, including the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) provided by the employer.

b.     To report any adverse incidents as set out in Synnovis’s Adverse Incident Policy.

c.     Maintain laboratory equipment in a safe clean working condition. Perform equipment maintenance schedules as outlined in relevant SOPs. Decontaminate equipment prior to servicing by an engineer issue ‘permit to work’ certificates. As per the rota log waterbath temperatures daily and fume cupboards weekly.

d.     To participate in the review of policies and procedures, COSHH and workplace risk assessments.

6.     Continuing Professional Development

a.     Develop knowledge of the significance of medical laboratory work in order to offer the best possible service to the user.

b.     Understand your own role and be aware of the management structure of the department.

c.     Contribute to service initiatives within the laboratory setting.

7.     Laboratory Informatics

a.     To raise / report any technical issues with data flow with the Section Manager and the Applications Management Systems Team on Service Now. 

b.     Information Governance: To comply with local and national policies for the safe, secure and confidential processing, and storage of patient and other laboratory information.

c.     To use the Laboratory Information System (EPIC / Beaker) according to the authorised protocols.

d.     To maintain the integrity and accuracy of laboratory databases.

8.     Staff Training

a.     To support and participate in staff training and development.

b.     To participate in the supervision of the work and performance monitoring of trainee Biomedical Scientists, Medical Laboratory Assistants and students, in the procedures for which the post holder is responsible.

9.     Administrative

a.     To ensure that records are kept up to date and stored safely to ensure compliance with good work practices required for the standards of United Kingdom Accreditation Service [UKAS ISO15189 (2012)].

b.     To ensure that results are reported within the agreed turnaround time, and to take appropriate action, for example communicating appropriately with colleagues and managers, should there be impediments to this.

c.     To accurately and diligently adhere to the stock management policy.

d.     To ensure departmental resources are used efficiently with minimum wastage.

10.   General

a.         To comply with the policies and procedures of Synnovis and King’s College Hospital NHS Trust.

b.         To keep the workplace and workbenches clean and tidy.

c.          To maintain good work relations with all members of staff, and to promote effective teamwork.

d.         To treat everyone with courtesy and respect.

e.         To observe national and local guidance on patient and commercial confidentiality.

f.           To ensure compliance with all local and national standards of work practice e.g. UKAS.

g.         To maintain and promote the professional image of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Synnovis.

Synnovis is a pathology partnership between SYNLAB UK and Ireland, and the NHS, including sites, Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to deliver and transform pathology services across South East London.

The partnership provides services to 1.7 million people living in South East London, as well as to hundreds of thousands of patients from outside the region who use local healthcare services.

The partnership provides diagnostics, testing and digital pathology for hospital trusts, GP services and other healthcare providers.

King’s College Hospital Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts in specialist teaching. King’s has various divisions including Neurosciences, Haematology, Cancer and Cardiovascular sciences, where there are unlimited opportunities to develop and perfect your career.

Over the last 170 years, King’s has delivered nothing but world class service to all its patients from deprived communities as well as some of the wealthiest in London.