Specialist Biomedical Scientist

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The department of Microbiology and Virology plays a pivotal role in the provision of diagnostic services, which are essential for the delivery of high quality clinical care, both within the Trust and in Primary Care.

The post holder will act as an experienced and specialist registered Biomedical Scientist to provide comprehensive service as an aid to effective diagnosis and treatment. They will confirm analytical and technical validity of investigations, liaising with medical staff to ensure diagnostically abnormal results are acted upon urgently.

Responsibilities:

• The post holder will rotate through different sections of Microbiology and Virology as required.
• Perform analytical and other laboratory work as directed by senior staff with Microbiology and Virology.
• Ensure data integrity when entering patient demographics and results into the laboratory information system.
• Perform microscopical examinations on a variety of samples, identifying any abnormal results and taking appropriate actions.
• Use judgement and specialist knowledge to decide on possible significant pathogens, identify micro-organisms, perform antibiotic susceptibility tests, validate and report results, add interpretive comments and initiate any further tests that may be required.
• Process blood and serum samples by automated or manual methods, analysing and reporting results and interpretive comments.
• To bring any significant or aberrant results to the attention of the departmental senior staff, Medical staff and Infection Prevention & Control Nurses as appropriate.
• To provide technical advice to Medical and Infection Prevention & Control staff regarding the results obtained.
• Operate subject to manufacturers constraints and laboratory policy, instrument and analysers in the laboratory.
• Troubleshoot, repair and maintain instruments for correct operation, keeping equipment in optimal condition for use, making adjustments as necessary.
• Participate in the department Quality Assurance programmes and to report any non-compliant events to a senior member of staff.
• Adhere to department and Trust Health and Safety policies (including COSHH, Risk assessments and Standard Operating Procedures) and to report any non-compliances.
• Maintain an up to date relevant knowledge of the technical aspects of the laboratory.
• Continually improve service by, when necessary, contributing to the development of SOPs or undertaking evaluations.
• In the absence of the Section Leader supervise work of the section.
• Assist Section Leaders in organisation of work within a subsection of microbiology and virology.
• In the absence of the Section Leader ensure adequate stock of reagents and consumables.
• Supervise, teach and train students, unqualified staff, Specialist Registrars or visitors, and to cover for absent colleagues.
• Participate in relevant audit under the supervision and of guidance of Advanced Biomedical Scientist.
• Participate in Microbiology ‘on-call’ rotas when sufficiently trained. The post holder will be required to provide cover for Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday duties in the department.

Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.