Specialist Biomedical Scientist

This role is being offered as lab working based at Leeds, Centre for Laboratory Medicine, St James University Hospital. Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.

UKHSA provides microbiology services through a network of regional laboratories and central reference laboratories. UKHSA commissions its diagnostic Microbiology service for the Yorkshire & Humber region from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT).

The post holder will be work as part of the UKHSA employed team based in the Leeds Regional Laboratory at the Centre for Laboratory Medicine at the St James University Hospital, providing microbiology support for the laboratory based CDRN surveillance activities. The Leeds Regional Laboratory is the national laboratory for the Clostridium difficile Ribotyping Network (CDRN) in England. UKHSA is currently implementing a plan to introduce new technologies and services, such as Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to the Clostridium difficile services it currently provides.

This role will support the Lead Scientist in the CDRN unit in delivering this plan.

The post holder will be required to support the emergency response capability of the Leeds Laboratory should this be required and also to work with colleagues to provide a laboratory liaison service to the Yorkshire & Humber Health Protection teams.

The successful candidate will be educated to degree level (as described in the essential criteria). An IBMS Specialist Diploma in Medical Microbiology is essential (please note that this is not covered by HCPC registration or a higher degree). The successful candidate must also have experience in diagnostic bacteriology, bacterial culture techniques and experience of diagnostic molecular biology testing.

• To work as part of the laboratory team, providing a high-quality Clostridium difficile ribotyping service to provide patients and clinicians with the highest level of diagnosis, treatment and surveillance.
• To assist the Lead Scientist in the development and transition to a whole genome sequencing (WGS) service for CDRN
• To provide expert technical support for the specialist work undertaken within the laboratory in accordance with UKHSA and laboratory policies and procedures
• The post holder would be expected to assist in any UKHSA coordinated response or activity of a national/international nature, e.g., a Bioterrorism incident or a major disease outbreak.
• To participate in Quality Assurance and Quality Control activities and assist the department in maintaining ISO 15189 accreditation from UKAS (UK Accreditation Service).
• To participate in the provision of out-of-hours services should these be required
• To provide support for any PH initiatives undertaken in Leeds UKHSA
• Responsible for organising and controlling own workload ensuring deadlines are observed and duties performed efficiently.
• Provide cover as directed by Line Manager for other members of the team in their absence and assist with their workloads as necessary.
• Act independently on day-to-day issues and to use own judgement within the autonomy and limitations of the post

• Educated to degree level in an appropriate medical / microbiological / biological science or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in a specialist area e.g., molecular biology
• IBMS Specialist Diploma in Medical Microbiology
• Registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Biomedical Scientist
• Experience in diagnostic bacteriology and bacterial culture techniques
• Experience of diagnostic molecular biology testing, molecular methods including real time PCR and sequencing
• Experience of working in a regulated environment with quality systems and knowledge of UKAS/ISO
• Experience of evaluating new techniques/equipment
• MSc or higher qualification in an appropriate medical / microbiological / biological science
• Experience of training staff.
• Ability to work effectively as part of the Microbiology out-of-hours team if required as part of a national public health response
• Awareness of a range of Health Services provisions and knowledge of NHS issues.

Associate

Full-time

Science

Hospitals and Health Care and Public Health

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