Biomedical Scientist - Virology

Healthcare Scientist specialising in Microbiology required to perform a range of tests in Bacteriology, Virology and Serology. Good communication and interpersonal skills are required as well as the ability to produce accurate and precise work. Preference will be given to candidates with an extensive Virology/Serology or Molecular background.

• Handles dangerous pathogens on a daily basis including containment level 3 organisms.
• Communicates complex clinical technical service‑related test information to managers, consultants, nurses and other health care colleagues.
• Answers telephone inquiries from pathology users about test results and provides information about methodologies and service requirements, seeking advice as required.
• Explains results and reassures the users that information is correct when results do not agree with clinical presentation and investigates and problem‑solves situations as required.
• Manages own work and day‑to‑day routine work in specialised services. Responsible for processing both urgent and routine work to maintain routine turnaround times in line with Trust and Service policies.
• Maintains complex specialist equipment on a daily basis and assesses fitness for clinical use.
• Responsible for the efficient use of expensive tests and high‑value equipment.
• Runs test procedures on all methodologies on a daily basis to include calibration and quality control testing and refers to senior staff to sign off as fit for clinical use.
• Faults equipment and analyser function after formal in‑house training.
• Follows policies in specialised areas and proposes changes that will improve and develop the service for users inside and outside the Trust.
• Assists service engineers to repair equipment.
• Assists in the development and maintenance of standards as necessary for continuing UKAS accreditation.

• Assisting in managing and maintaining specialised databases in laboratory computer systems and patient storage databases on a daily basis.
• Input patient data and results to include other colleagues work.
• Creates, amends, deletes, processes, generates, updates, reports, requests, inquires, clarifies and stores information on patient databases for users to access both within and outside that Trust.
• Operates and manages software databases on complex clinical equipment.

• Use research and development protocols on a daily basis to provide statistical presentations of internal quality control (QC) to assess equipment performance in line with QC rules (e.g. Westgard).
• Assists in the evaluation and development of methods to improve the service and patient care diagnostic tests.
• Investigates abnormal and unusual results by recognised research and development protocols to explain the anomalies, seeking advice as appropriate.
• Assists in the development of specialised services to include new and emerging technologies and development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

• Assists in the training of all grades of staff as required within their specialised area.
• Demonstrates ongoing training and maintains competence to practice by attending courses, lectures and mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
• Trains in all specialised services according to the staff rotation programme.
• Keeps up to date with SOPs, departmental and Trust policies.
• Actively participates in an Annual Personal Development review (PDR).

• Assists in safety supervision and training for junior members of staff and actively promotes safe working practices in all areas of the laboratory.
• Abides by the Health and Safety Code of Practice for the service.
• Ensures the application of Trust policies where applicable to the Pathology Services.
• Participates in the annual Health and Safety review.

• Ensures the application of Trust policies where applicable to Pathology.
• Participates in annual performance review.
• Ensures all tests are carried out to the required Microbiological and Safety Standards.
• Performs any other duties as required by the Microbiology Network Manager or Chief Biomedical Scientist.

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