Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity to join our Haematology and Blood Transfusion Laboratory at Torbay Hospital.



We are seeking a well-organised and highly motivated HCPC registered individuals who have achieved the IBMS Specialist Portfolio to join our friendly and dedicated Haematology & Blood Transfusion team.



In return, the Trust is committed to the personal and professional development of its staff at all levels. The Department is fully automated in its analytical platform for Blood Transfusion (Immucor NEO Iris), Coagulation (Stago Star Max), Special Haematology (Sebia Capillarys 3 Tera), Haematology (Horiba Yumizen 2500), and Immunology (Bioflash). The laboratory current uses the Clinisys Winpath Laboratory Information system but is in the process of changing to Beaker followed by the installation of Epic. You will rotate through all sections of the laboratory and after appropriate training will be required to participate in the out of hours shift pattern covering nights and weekends.



Provide specific technical Haematology and Transfusion Medicine advice to laboratory, medical, nursing and other healthcare professional staff on the appropriateness of Clinical tests, within your own limits.



Maintain and operate equipment within the manufacturer's specifications, subject to HCPC and UKAS regulation, including troubleshooting and problem solving.



Provide supervision and/or training to trainees and support staff.



Acts as a mentor for more junior scientific and support staff.



Provide a specialist role in the laboratory e.g. Training, Quality, Special Coagulation, Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia screening, Blood Transfusion.



Work to quality standards set by UKAS, ISO 15189 and other relevant accreditation bodies.



Taking personal responsibility for service improvement, by implementing change positively and contributing to team discussions in a constructive and flexible way.



Work in partnership with other laboratory staff to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients.



Where required to lead and supervise a section of the laboratory in the absence of section manager.



Act as a role model, working in a multi-disciplinary laboratory environment, valuing everyone's opinion and experiences.



Value differences and individuality, showing respect to all.











Our team consists of 16 Biomedical scientists, supported by 2 Associate Practitioners and 2 Medical Laboratory Assistants. All staff up to band 7 frequently rotate between the two departments. The Blood Transfusion department has recently moved into a refurbished laboratory adjacent to the combined Biochemistry Haematology laboratory. The Haematology Transfusion department perform a wide range of tests including some immunology and full participation in the ante natal sickle cell and thalassaemia screening programme.



Why Work With Us

Communication and working relationships:

Advise other health care professionals of the technical/analytical validity of results using knowledge and experience, and to refer complex queries on to more qualified staff as necessary

Answer telephone enquiries regarding results and other general issues i.e. containers to be used and the correct conditions for taking of specimens. To understand when to refer more complex queries are referred to Senior members of staff

Perform urgent analyses as requested by clinicians, utilising the most appropriate methods, techniques or analysers to provide results as soon as possible, and telephone results as necessary.

Provide support for a specific area of the Laboratory, upon direction from Deputy Head or Head BMS, including Quality Management, Training, competency testing, Health and Safety

To work with the Pathology Quality team to undertake audits of laboratory processes in compliance with ISO 15189

Analytical and judgement:

To assist Section Leaders with processing of EQA materials. This includes their timely analysis, interpretation of results, and generation of reports with findings and corrective actions.

To assist the Clinical and Senior Management teams with evaluation of new equipment or IQC materials in accordance with laboratory SOPs and procedures. To assist with data analysis when required.

To assist Section Leaders with scheduled monthly IQC results analysis using statistical methods to identify emerging trends such as assay bias, assay drift, or other significant issues. To assist in delivery of any corrective actions or troubleshooting.

Authorise/technically validate completed work as soon as possible so that results are available for other health care professionals in their diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care of patients.

Planning and organisation:

Plan own work schedules and those of BMS Band 5, BMS Trainees and MLA's, to ensure the results are issued from the laboratory efficiently.

Prioritise the telephoning of abnormal test results to the requestor, to enable timely action and intervention to aid the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients.

Maintain adequate stocks of reagents and consumables and inform Section Leader when stocks are low.

Work in all sections of the laboratory, organising and prioritising different tasks, utilising specialist equipment where necessary.

To perform specialist haematology /transfusion investigations on the completion of appropriate training and achieving an approved level of competency.

Run Haematology /Transfusion main line analysers and instrumentation according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's), utilising knowledge and skills to authorise patient results.

Critically evaluate Internal and External Quality Assurance.

Carry out routine maintenance of analysers in accordance with SOP's and user manuals to ensure minimum downtime and 24/7 availability.

Troubleshoot and perform frontline repair to Haematology /Transfusion analysers/automation in accordance with user manuals, within your own limits, to maintain an efficient service and to seek assistance from Senior staff when necessary.

Follow SOP's, and aid in their review and amending as required. Be prepared to comment on your own work or work of the Department to improve quality and service deliveryPlan own work schedules and those of BMS Trainees and MLA's, to ensure the results are issued from the section of their laboratory as efficiently as possible.

Physical skills:

Good hand-eye co-ordination required for manual techniqueshandling of delicate precision equipment, pipetting samples and reagents.



Manual dexterity and hand-eye co-ordination when sorting, checking and bar-coding samples and request forms.

Policy and service development:

To participate in annual Individual Performance Review

Keep abreast of current developments in Haematology & Transfusion and to ensure accurate and up to date knowledge in the field

Active participation in Continuing Professional Development and the maintenance of Health Professions Council registration

Maintain own competencies as described by Department Record of Training and Ongoing Assessment

Contracted participation (equitable share) on 24/7 rotas (following required training).

Interpret blood films using specialist knowledge. Reports results in a timely manner, adding clinically relevant comments and inform the requesting clinician of abnormal or clinically significant results where a delay could compromise patient care.

Determine the suitability of specimens and appropriateness for the test requested. When necessary, advise clinical colleagues of sample issues and the correct remedial actions to ensure the quality of results and patient care.

Have knowledge of the factors affecting Haematology /Transfusion test results regarding age and sex related reference ranges, sample state, analyser and method limitations. A basic clinical understanding of disease processes, clinical summaries on request forms and the impact of disease.

To use knowledge to evaluate and authorise results.

To refer results critically abnormal results to consultant haematologists and other clinical teams.

Have a knowledge and understanding of Quality Assurance, both internal and external, and to understand their impact upon result validity and analytical performance.

Authorise completed work in a timely manner so that results are available for other healthcare professionals to aid in their diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care of patients.

Finance, equipment and other resources:

To be competent in the use of Laboratory Information management systems and specific analyser software.

Carry out routine maintenance of specific analytical equipment.

To assist the Clinical and Senior Management teams with evaluation of new equipment or IQC materials in accordance with laboratory SOPs and procedures.

To assist with data analysis when required.

Monitor and maintain laboratory equipment and record actions as directed.

People management and training:

To act as a shift supervisor when needed. In this role you will use your extensive experience and expertise to provide advice and assistance to Junior BMS, Trainee BMS, and MLA staff and ensure staff work fully in compliance with lab procedures and policies.

Provide cover/deputise, within your own limits, for Senior staff in their absence and be prepared to work on your own when necessary.

Participate and assist in the on-going supervision and training of Junior BMS, Trainee BMS, and MLA's, as documented in their individual training logbooks, as well as demonstrating methods to more senior members of staff when required.

Information technology and administrative duties:

To be competent in the use of laboratory IT systems, including Epic Beaker LIMS, Roche cobas Infinity middleware, and individual analyser controller IT.

Competent in use of Q Pulse Quality Management System.

Freedom to act:

Run Haematology automation, analysers and instrumentation according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's) and manufacturers' user manuals, utilising knowledge and skills to authorise patient results.

Carry out routine maintenance of analysers in accordance with SOP's and user manuals to ensure minimum downtime and 24/7 availability.

Troubleshoot and perform frontline repair to analysers/automation in accordance with user manuals, within your own limits, to maintain an efficient service and to seek assistance from Senior staff when beyond your own capabilities.

Follow SOP's, and aid in their updating and re-writing where necessary. Be prepared to comment on your own work or work of the Department to improve service delivery.

When necessary, uncapping of samples for analysis, loading samples on to analysers, unloading and recapping of samples, sorting into racks and transferring to the refrigerator on completion of analysis.

Have extensive knowledge of the factors affecting test results regarding age and sex related reference ranges, sample state, analyser and method limitations. A basic clinical understanding of disease processes, clinical summaries on request forms and the haematological impact of disease. To use this knowledge to evaluate and authorise results. To refer results unexplained by these variables to more qualified staff.

Have a knowledge and understanding of Quality Control systems, both internal and external, and to understand their impact upon result validity.

Understand the theory behind chemical reactions. How these theories are applied in the analysis of biological specimens, and how these reactions are controlled and measured in Haematology analysers.

Understand the use of manual techniques, e.g. Liquid handling, and how these same techniques are modified and applied in automated analysers.

Work at all times in accordance with principles of best practice with reference to all national and local policies and guidelines, especially for Health and Safety, COSHH, Risk assessments.

Undertake the processing of samples for Clinical Trials some of which may be on-going, or any form of Research and Development work undertaken within the laboratory, and the collection of results.

Ensure issues and problems are resolved satisfactorily and referred to the Section Leader as appropriate.

Provide support for a specific area of the Laboratory, upon direction from Deputy Head or Head BMS, including: POCT, Quality Management, Training, competency testing, Health and Safety.

To work with the Pathology Quality team to actively participate in the Clinical Biochemistry audit calendar, covering laboratory processes in compliance with ISO 15189.