Deputy Lead Biomedical Scientist/Automation Lead

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Governance

• To ensure compliance with the Trust Clinical Governance policies.
• Conduct and participate in audit processes, clinical trials, research and development projects, as required by the Head of Service / Consultant Medical staff.
• To assist in the management, implementation and monitoring of Quality Assurance and Quality Control activities, and assist the department in maintaining UKAS accreditation to ISO15189
• To act as departmental quality officer, liaising with quality
• Investigate clinical and non-clinical incidents in relation to the department and reports to the laboratory manager in accordance with Trust and UKHSA incident reporting policy.
• To implement and ensure safe working environment for staff and visitors ensuring compliance with local and national Safety policies and fire regulations.

Management

• Responsible for the operational functions of the bacteriology department liaising with other departmental managers in accordance with UKHSA and laboratory policies and procedures.
• Evaluation of capital equipment and tenders, making recommendations to the laboratory manager based upon requirements for additional resources and new developments.
• To ensure adequate care, maintenance and security of laboratory premises and equipment.
• Troubleshoot, repair and maintain specialist instrumentation to ensure optimal operation and to make minor adjustments as required. This includes coordinating with company engineers to maximize the correct operation of essential equipment.
• To monitor and maintain appropriate stock levels and facilitate deliveries.
• As a member of the laboratory management team take an active role in the recruitment, interviewing, selection and induction of new staff.
• To assist the Laboratory Manager with complaints, grievances, capability and minor disciplinary issues. .
• Monitor and report staff attendance and sickness and allocate annual leave ensuring appropriate cover is maintained.
• To assist in the organisation of and to perform staff appraisals.
• To ensure that all work is undertaken in accordance with agreed protocols and deal with and resolve problems as they arise and report them to the senior management team.
• To implement, develop, compile, review and maintain laboratory protocols and policies in accordance with ISO15189:2022standards.
• Review complex or markedly abnormal results together with other relevant pathology staff and technically validate the final report.

Leadership

• To deputise in the absence of the laboratory manager.
• To provide professional and managerial leadership in the department and demonstrate a positive attitude to the work of the laboratory and other members of the team.
• To encourage good staff relationships and develop good communication channels to all levels of staff within and outside the department.
• To lead the laboratory team in transformational change as part of the automation refresh

Finance

• Act as designated signatory for procurement of laboratory consumables and minor equipment.

Education and Development

• Undertake on-going training and development and update Professional Development Plan, as required by the Laboratory Manager keeping up to date with advances in medical microbiology.
• To organise and coordinate the supervision, monitoring of training and development of assessment of competence and continuing professional development within the department of: Biomedical Scientists and Medical Laboratory Assistants in line with local, regional and national professional initiatives.
• To organise laboratory training of Medical Staff, Nursing staff and students.

Clinical Bacteriology

• To exercise judgment and interpretation to validate and authorise results and generate laboratory reports in accordance with departmental policies and procedures. The validation process includes analytical and clinical validity.
• To ensure data integrity when entering demographics and results into the laboratory information system.
• To ensure prompt notification or referral of unusual and urgent results to Consultant Microbiologist or Infection Control team as appropriate.
• To report by telephone urgent results to medical or nursing staff, GPs and other hospitals.
• To assist and supervise sample preparation, processing bodily fluids and materials, including high-risk specimens and reagent preparation following standard protocols.
• To be responsible for analysis of biological samples involving more complex / specialist investigations requiring a high level of skill and knowledge.
• Analysis of microbiological cultures to identify and differentiate microbial pathogens.

Essential criteria

• MSc or equivalent qualification in Biomedical Science
• State registration with HCPC as a biomedical scientist 
• Significant postgraduate practical, technical and theoretical experience in Medical Microbiology and Medical Laboratory Sciences
• Extensive knowledge and expertise in various managerial fields, including finance, HR, business, project management, planning, leadership, procurement etc., gained both by qualifications and lengthy experience.
• In depth working knowledge and competency in laboratory bench areas, as appropriate.
• Extensive knowledge of specialist areas, acquired through post graduate diploma or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience to master’s level equivalent
• Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development
• Member of relevant professional body
• Provide and receive highly complex, sensitive and contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups.
• Plans and organises a broad range of complex activities, formulating and adjusting plans to reflect changing circumstances.
• Good use of available information sources to enable efficient and effective planning
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight and often changing deadlines
• Ability to carry out procurements for highly detailed, high value contracts that require analysis, comparison and assessment.

Selection Process Details (Competency based)

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.

Stage 1: Application & Sift 

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 13 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a: 

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1500 word supporting statement. 

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria. 

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V –please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible). Please do not email us your CV.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500. 

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we may longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria 
• Meets some essential criteria 
• Meets no essential criteria 

If used, the pile that “meets ALL essential criteria’ will proceed to shortlisting.  

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we may conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:

• State registration with HCPC as a biomedical scientist.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview - Competency Based

You will be invited to a single face to face interview. If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview. 

Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview  

Interviews dates to be confirmed.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. 

Eligibility Criteria

External: Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants)

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a baseline disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Counter-Terrorist Check (CTC)

You will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Location

This role is being offered as office/lab based at our site in Westbury On Trym, Bristol. Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.

Salary Information

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.