Biomedical Scientist - Haematology/Transfusion

The department welcomes applications from experienced Biomedical Scientists. The candidate must have, minimum 3 to 4 year experience of working within a Haematology/Transfusion laboratory.

Please note that if you are successful for interview you will need to show evidence of starting the specialist portfolio and completing this within a two year time frame. Once this has been completed you will move to a Band 6.

The position is full-time, with shift working, based on a 10 week shift pattern. Out of hours pay is at AfC rates.

Duties will include processing of samples (testing/resulting), use and maintenance of equipment, general housekeeping. The candidate will be required to complete all departmental training competency assessments and contribute to the effective working of the department.

The Haematology/Transfusion Department at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust is part of the Blood Sciences laboratory and operates on two sites; these are at the Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital and Burnley General Teaching Hospital.

The main site is the Royal Blackburn Hospital, which is equipped with 4 Advia 2120 analysers and 2 IL TOPS 550s. Transfusion is provided by Grifols Eflexis analysers. Additionally the department has TOSOH G11 for Haemoglobinopathy Screening.

The laboratory at Burnley has mirrored equipment.

The department is UKAS/MHRA accredited.

At East Lancashire Hospitals Trust, our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, ,personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 7,000 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work.

The post holder is an experienced specialist Health Care Professions Council Registered Biomedical Scientist who provides a continuous and comprehensive blood science service as an aid to effective diagnosis and treatment. The post entails confirmation of the analytical and technical validity of investigations, liaising with clinical and blood science staff to ensure diagnostically abnormal results are urgently acted upon.
Where undertaken, staff committing to working unsocial hours will have significantly different working patterns and responsibilities to routine core hours. This is because these staff operate and communicate as a lone front line self-governing service provider and assume first line responsibility.

MAIN DUTIES:
o Provide a rapid, reliable and efficient service by performing a comprehensive range of routine and specialized analyses.

o Perform investigations and analytical techniques unsupervised whilst organizing own work tasks, normally under the direction of a Section Leader.

o The post holder is required to rotate through all the sections of the department including specimen reception.

o Apply the approved Standard Operating Procedures used in the Department.

o Assist in the development of Standard Operating Procedures, and recommend improvements and amendments as necessary.

o Perform complex manual and automated analytical investigations requiring specialist skills.

o Operate complex, high value analytical equipment without supervision.

o Maintain, troubleshoot and repair faults in complex laboratory instruments, ensuring essential services are maintained in the event of technical failure.

o Prepare reagents, control materials and calibrators with a high degree of accuracy and precision.

o Required to work with hazardous and noxious chemicals, and with frequent exposure to uncontained body substances.

o Check reliability of results to ensure accuracy and precision by applying quality assurance statistical criteria.

o Interpretation of results requiring subjective judgement and analytical expertise.

o Recognise grossly abnormal and life threatening results.

o Validate and report test results in a timely fashion so that they may be acted on as necessary by clinicians.

o Provide technical interpretation and comment on validity of results.

o Maintain accurate and detailed records of patient results, quality control data and calculations.

o Participate in departmental audit and internal / external Quality Assurance programs.

o Work with laboratory and Trust information systems.

o Maintain, troubleshoot and repair faults with laboratory point of care equipment in clinical areas and liaise with service engineers and ward staff as required.

o Supervision of MLA and Trainee BMS staff.

o Assist in the department’s stock control procedures.

o Adhere to the departmental Quality management systems.

o General clerical and administrative tasks.

o Selection, matching and timely issuing of correct blood products in response to medical prescription,

o Maintain adequate supplies of all blood products, liaising with Blood Transfusion Service and other outside agencies.

o Maintain an accurate audit trail of the fate of all blood products.

o Ensure that blood products are stored in compliance with National Guidelines