NHS

Biomedical Scientist


Pay29,970.00 - 36,483.00 / year
LocationDarlington/England
Employment typeFull-Time

This job is now closed

  • Job Description

      Req#: C9439-2425-1434?language=en&page=662&sort=publicationDateDesc

      Job summary

      We are looking for a full time permanent BMS in Haematology and Blood Transfusion at CDDFT in our very busy Department of Blood Sciences which processes 1500-2000 samples per site each day.

      Nominal Base will be Darlington Memorial Hospital but you will be expected to travel to and work at the other sites within the Trust if required. Blood sciences at CDDFT is a very busy laboratory with much to offer the successful candidate. You will be a proactive member of the Blood Sciences Team, excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential as is the ability to work within a team processing a high workload of specimens. You should have great multi-tasking ability, have excellent organisational skills and attention to detail and be able to appropriately prioritise urgent work.

      The job description is generic for all Blood Sciences BMS staff and all necessary training will be provided but evidence and experience in a UK laboratory in Haematology and Transfusion or Biochemistry is preferred. APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE THAT RELEVANT EXPERIENCE SHOULD HAVE BEEN OBTAINED WITHIN THE LAST THREE YEARS.

      Main duties of the job

      Main tasks include:

      Maintaining and running automated analysers in accordance with laboratory protocols, performing QC. Investigating and troubleshooting QC failures and spurious test results.

      Performing manual tests and staining and recording the results

      Booking patient samples on to the Laboratory Computer System and ensuring the correct test requests are inputted. Centrifuging samples.

      Authorising results and forwarding abnormals to Consultant Haematologists as required

      Examining blood smears under the microscope and performing manual differential counts as needed

      Managing pending test lists, prioritising urgent work to meet turnaround times

      Performing blood groups and identifying antibodies, crossmatching Blood and products for patients, managing blood stocks

      Answering telephone queries and liaising with other Trust staff and the general public.

      Stock control including ordering, receiving and receipting deliveries, documenting and organising batches of reagents and performing verification tasks

      Assist in the training and competency assessment of new Band 4

      Please refer to the Job Description and Personal Specification for full details.

      About us

      If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager

      You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks

      We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

      We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented

      Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents

      Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success

      For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

      From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two years of experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to consider sponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria and have a current visa expiring within 3 months)

      Date posted

      10 April 2025

      Pay scheme

      Agenda for change

      Band

      Band 5

      Salary

      £29,970 to £36,483 a year per annum, pro rata

      Contract

      Permanent

      Working pattern

      Full-time

      Reference number

      C9439-2425-1434

      Job locations

      Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust

      Hollyhurst Road

      Darlington

      County Durham

      DL3 6HX


      Job description

      Job responsibilities

      The Blood Sciences Department is UKAS accredited and part of your role will be to complete all required quality documentation including training, competency and CPD.

      You must be an HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist, have an IBMS accredited BSc in Biomedical Science or equivalent.

      Candidates working towards HCPC registration will be considered. Candidates must be able to provide documentary relevant CPD evidence in support of their application at interview.

      The main automation in Haematology is changing in 2025 to Siemens Hema analysers and stainers, Coagulation ACL TOPS 550 analysers and Blood Transfusion to Ortho automated technology. The LIMS is provided by Clinisys Winpath.

      Experience of the above is advantageous but not essential as all necessary training will be provided.

      Main Specialist BMS tasks are

      Performing complex analyses

      Authorising results, reflexing tests as required, referring abnormals to Consultants.

      Ensuring analysers maintained, calibrated and quality controlled and troubleshooting any issues

      Performing Blood groups and antibody identifcation and crossmatching by both manual and automated techniques.

      Providing Blood and products in a timely manner in emergency situations, you must be able to prioritise, multi-task, keep calm and have excellent communiation skills in emergency scenarios.

      Managing blood and blood product stock

      Training and supervising Band 4 staff

      The department operates a 24/7 shift system covering dayshifts, late shifts, nightshifts weekends and Bank Holidays which the successful applicant must participate in. There is currently one BMS covering Haem/BT on each site after 2030 and at weekends.

      Cross-site cover will be required at the other sites to meet the needs of the service.

      Job description

      Job responsibilities

      The Blood Sciences Department is UKAS accredited and part of your role will be to complete all required quality documentation including training, competency and CPD.

      You must be an HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist, have an IBMS accredited BSc in Biomedical Science or equivalent.

      Candidates working towards HCPC registration will be considered. Candidates must be able to provide documentary relevant CPD evidence in support of their application at interview.

      The main automation in Haematology is changing in 2025 to Siemens Hema analysers and stainers, Coagulation ACL TOPS 550 analysers and Blood Transfusion to Ortho automated technology. The LIMS is provided by Clinisys Winpath.

      Experience of the above is advantageous but not essential as all necessary training will be provided.

      Main Specialist BMS tasks are

      Performing complex analyses

      Authorising results, reflexing tests as required, referring abnormals to Consultants.

      Ensuring analysers maintained, calibrated and quality controlled and troubleshooting any issues

      Performing Blood groups and antibody identifcation and crossmatching by both manual and automated techniques.

      Providing Blood and products in a timely manner in emergency situations, you must be able to prioritise, multi-task, keep calm and have excellent communiation skills in emergency scenarios.

      Managing blood and blood product stock

      Training and supervising Band 4 staff

      The department operates a 24/7 shift system covering dayshifts, late shifts, nightshifts weekends and Bank Holidays which the successful applicant must participate in. There is currently one BMS covering Haem/BT on each site after 2030 and at weekends.

      Cross-site cover will be required at the other sites to meet the needs of the service.

      Person Specification

      Special Skills & Knowledge

      Essential

      • Organise own work activites
      • Prioritisation of duties
      • Communication
      • Medical / Scientific terminology
      • Numerical : Calculations etc
      • Manual dexterity, Tests and analysers
      • Precise and accurate work performance

      Special Requirements

      Essential

      • Able to travel across trust sites to meet the requirements of the post
      • Shift work
      • Out of hours work

      Qualifications

      Essential

      • BSc Biomedical Sciences

      Desirable

      • Computer literate
      • ECDL
      • Working towards the specialist diploma
      • Science / English / Math A-levels

      Experience

      Essential

      • Relevant laboratory experience

      Statutory Registration

      Essential

      • HCPC registered
      Person Specification

      Special Skills & Knowledge

      Essential

      • Organise own work activites
      • Prioritisation of duties
      • Communication
      • Medical / Scientific terminology
      • Numerical : Calculations etc
      • Manual dexterity, Tests and analysers
      • Precise and accurate work performance

      Special Requirements

      Essential

      • Able to travel across trust sites to meet the requirements of the post
      • Shift work
      • Out of hours work

      Qualifications

      Essential

      • BSc Biomedical Sciences

      Desirable

      • Computer literate
      • ECDL
      • Working towards the specialist diploma
      • Science / English / Math A-levels

      Experience

      Essential

      • Relevant laboratory experience

      Statutory Registration

      Essential

      • HCPC registered

      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.

      UK Registration

      Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

      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.

      UK Registration

      Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

      Employer details

      Employer name

      County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

      Address

      Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust

      Hollyhurst Road

      Darlington

      County Durham

      DL3 6HX


      Employer's website

      https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

      Employer details

      Employer name

      County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

      Address

      Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust

      Hollyhurst Road

      Darlington

      County Durham

      DL3 6HX


      Employer's website

      https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

  • About the company

      National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.