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Job summary

Main area
Immunology
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 6
Contract
Permanent: Commitment to weekend working
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Job share
75 hours per week (Commitment to early/late shifts and weekend working on a rotational basis)
Job ref
262-A-24-6378621
Employer
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Cumberland Infirmary
Town
Carlisle
Salary
£35,392 - £42,618 per annum pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
18/07/2024 23:59

Employer heading

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust logo

Specialist Biomedical Scientist, Immunology/Virology

NHS AfC: Band 6

Job overview

Specialist Biomedical Scientist, Immunology/Virology  Band 6,  up to 75.00 hours per week.

Weekend commitment in place for COVID testing

Based at the Cumberland Infirmary, 

Applications are invited from experienced HCPC Registered Biomedical Scientists for the above post. Ideally the post holder will hold an IBMS Specialist Portfolio but evidence of appropriate experience will also be taken into consideration. The post holder will supervise all aspects of scientific and technical work and must have a keen interest in training.  The Virology, Immunology and Microbiology departments that make up Infection Sciences are well equipped and are all ISO 15189 accredited. We use Telepath LIMS with ICE electronic requesting and reporting, and Q-Pulse quality management system.

The diagnostic workload is approximately 360,000 virology/immunology tests per year including Covid requests. We use a wide range of automated serological testing across both disciplines including: Cobas e601, Dynex DS2 platform, Diasorin Liaison, Phadia 250 and Phadia 200, Sebia Capillarys and Hydrasys 2 and The Binding Site Optilite. The molecular platforms on site include Cobas 6800, Seegene STARlet and  Altona AltoSTAR . We are also a referral centre for Aspergillus, Farmers Lung and Avian precipitin work.

Main duties of the job

Informal visits or enquiries are welcome. Please contact:

[email protected]

Carry out & supervise technical and scientific work in a section of the laboratory under the direction of the biomedical scientist team manager. Ensure prompt processing of patient specimens including analysis, utilising highly complex automated analytical equipment, manual methods, specialist and complex testing. Perform laboratory procedures effectively, rotating through the sections of the department, to provide a comprehensive pathology service as an aid to effective diagnosis and treatment of patients. This post holder must have the aptitude and skills for training as they will be responsible for the training and development of junior staff. They will also work closely with the Infection Sciences Training Officer to mentor staff members in completion of their registration and specialist portfolios.

Working for our organisation

At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria.  The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.

 

Our 5 key principles demonstrate our belief in the delivery of ‘safe, high quality care every time’:

·         Being a clinically led organisation

·         Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust

·         A positive patient experience every time

·         A great place to work

·         Managing our money well

 

As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.

 

Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

 

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL).  Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed.

 

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

 

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligible vacancies

  • Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.
  • If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Important Information

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.

For candidates applying using a Hotmail account or have strict firewall settings please ensure the following:

  • Junk Mail is checked regularly

Disclosure and Barring Service:

On 28 November 2020, the new Disclosure and Barring Service filtering rules will come into effect.

The changes mean that:                  

  • youth cautions, reprimands and final warnings will no longer be subject to automatic disclosure
  • the multiple conviction rule has been removed, meaning that if an individual has more than one conviction, regardless of offence type or time passed, each conviction will be considered against the remaining rules individually, rather than being automatically disclosed.

If you are unsure about whether you need to disclose certain criminal record information, free confidential advice may be sought from one of the charity bodies listed below. These bodies can advise you on what you are legally required to declare and may also be able to advise you on how you can disclose criminal record information to a prospective employer and your legal rights when doing so.

Nacro – Tel: 0300 123 1999, or email: [email protected]

Unlock – Tel: 01634 247350, email [email protected] or complete the online form on the Unlock website

The Trust is committed to safeguarding adults and children therefore if the post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended) the successful candidate(s) will be subject to a criminal records check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as follows if applicable to the post:

 

Standard Check: £18 + Administration cost of £3.85 = £21.85. Deducted at £6.85 from 1st month salary and £5 deducted from salary over following 3 months.

Enhanced Check: £38 + administration cost of £3.90 = £41.90. Deducted at £11.90 from 1st month salary and £10 deducted from salary over following 3 months.

As part of the one of the largest employers in the UK NCIC future employees will have also access to the following benefits.

A lease car may be available for this position; further details will be provided upon appointment if applicable.

27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years

Flexible working Scheme

Excellent opportunities for development

Competitive NHS Pension scheme

Access to NHS discounts with retailers and leisure companies

EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems

These schemes are subject to availability

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • BSc in biomedical science or equivalent
  • HCPC registration.
  • Postgraduate diploma in specialist biomedical science or equivalent
Desirable criteria
  • Essential IT skills (EITS) or equivalent

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Healthcare sciences in at least one relevant discipline.
  • Specialist role in an appropriate pathology discipline
Desirable criteria
  • Supervision and training of less experienced staff
  • NHS role.

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Continuing professional development with portfolio.
  • Consolidated development in the chosen discipline.
  • Analytical procedures.
  • Health & safety legislation and procedures.
  • Quality management systems and accreditation requirements.
  • Word processing.
  • Current requirements for training and career progression
  • Equality Issues
Desirable criteria
  • Equality legislation and best practice
  • Equality legislation and best practice

Other requirements

Essential criteria
  • Flexible approach to working unsocial hours including nights, weekends and public holidays.
  • Able to travel independently between hospital sites.
Desirable criteria
  • Driving licence

Skills and Aptitudes

Essential criteria
  • Competent in routine laboratory techniques and troubleshooting
  • Ability to analyse, interpret and present routine data, results and concepts
  • Supervisory skills.
  • Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Good hand-eye coordination.
  • Ability to work unsupervised.

Personal Circumstances

Essential criteria
  • Able to work as part of a team

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Mindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerBetter Health - SilverFair Train Silver StandardStep into health

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Gail Wager
Job title
Infection Sciences Operational Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01228 814333
Additional information

Garren Scott garren,[email protected]

Caitlin Singleton [email protected]

Melissa Blaylock [email protected]

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