The closing date is 04 December 2024

Job summary

Our laboratories support over half of all haemopoietic stem cell transplants performed in England each year through a network of GMP grade laboratories in 7 specialist facilities across the country. Working with academic partners in Centres of Excellence, we aim to be at the forefront of clinical improvements related to these transplants and to use our expertise in GMP, quality and regulatory matters to promote other areas of research. NHS Blood and Transplant also supplies blood and blood components, and manages 5,500 organ and corneal transplants every year. The department provides specialist services to hospitals covering a large geographical area. We work with peripheral blood derived stem cells, umbilical cord blood and bone marrow cells, collected for patients undergoing stem cell transplantation. We have close partnerships with various transplant programmes and other groups undertaking clinical trials, ground breaking research and service development. You will be highly motivated, team focussed and have good time management skills. The work will involve routine service provision, specialist cell processing, and other development activities. We would expect the successful candidate to be flexible and willing to adapt to change. Experience of working in a cell therapy laboratory, and familiarity with stem cell processing and/or flow cytometry techniques would be an advantage.

Main duties of the job

You will be required to perform, analyse, record and interpret a wide range of laboratory investigations and technical procedures relating to patient test results and the processing and issue of stem cell and immunotherapy products , with the support of the team
You will be responsible for the support and training of new and less experienced staff
You will be required to handle blood and tissue samples and operate a range of laboratory analysers and equipment
The role may require you to work variable hours and days, weekends and bank holidays as per the roster within the department (unless otherwise rostered within the shift agreement) with appropriate notice, depending on specialty

Biomedical Scientists wishing to develop specialist skills in Cellular and Molecular Therapies will be considered for the posts, paid as a BMS on an NHS Band 5 scale whilst achieving the necessary experience and qualifications.

About us

It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, youll join a team of more than 6,000 people who are making a genuine difference to communities, families, friends, relatives and more across the UK. We play a unique and special role in the NHS by helping people do something extraordinary- donate blood, blood products, organs, tissues, or stem cells to save someone in need. Our three core values are what set us apart. They guide and inspire everything we do. By being caring, expertly meeting the needs of our patients and our people, and accepting nothing less than the best quality, we can do extraordinary work and help our people to do something extraordinary in their career, too. Three small words, one big difference – Caring, Expert and Quality. Together we’ll save and improve more lives than ever. You will join us on our journey to create an inclusive workplace and aim to reflect the diverse communities we work with, and we positively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please view the attached recruitment profile which is a summary of the detailed Job Description and Person Specification for the full personal attributes we require for the role. You will need to demonstrate these throughout the recruitment process.

Band 5 -Please note, following changes to UK immigration policy from April 4th, this vacancy will no longer be eligible for Visa Sponsorship. Please do not apply unless you believe you have another means of establishing a right to work.

Band 6 -Entry-level Band 6 roles will now be considered eligible for sponsorship, as the uplifted salary is above the threshold.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered Biomedical Scientist
Science graduate with relevant post graduate training eg British Blood Transfusion Society specialist certificate, British Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Diploma or equivalent experience (N/A for band 5 see Profile document for more info)
Evidence of continuous learning and professional development
Willingness to undertake further training and development

Experience

Essential

Broad science knowledge with a specialist knowledge in transfusion / transplantation science gained through previous experience working as a Biomedical Scientist
Experience in specialised laboratory techniques using a wide range of complex equipment
Experience in prioritising and issuing work to other staff and monitoring progress to ensure deadlines are met
Understanding of UK Accreditation Service (UKAS), Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), UK Blood Transfusion Service (UKBTS) and British Committee for Standards in Haematology (BCSH) guidelines
Experience of working with Information Technology
Experience of writing reports, preparing and delivering presentations and training and mentoring staff (N/A for band 5 see Profile document for more info)