Job summary

NHS Blood and Transplant is an integral part of the NHS, collecting and processing 2 million blood donations a year. Our Healthcare Scientists provide crucial support to NHS Hospitals, processing, testing and issuing blood and its components and delivering diagnostic and therapeutic services relating to the transfusion of blood and stem cells, transplantation and tissue banking. There are many opportunities for career advancement. With experience and training you may progress to managing a section of the laboratory, right through to being a consultant lead with responsibility for the entire laboratory service. You may use your knowledge to specialise in an area vital to the operation of a modern diagnostic service such as Quality Control, training and education or research and development. We will provide you with an extensive induction and training programme and ongoing development to support you in your role and achieving your career ambitions. You will either be a Qualified Biomedical Scientist, or a Trainee Biomedical Scientist who is due to qualify within 6 months of starting.

Main duties of the job

In this role as a Trainee Biomedical Scientist or Biomedical Scientist within RCI, you will be required to analyse, interpret, validate and report the results of specialist Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics investigations. Your duties will include: Performing, analysing and interpreting both molecular and serological based testing in relation to solid organ and haematopoietic stem cell transplant and immunogenetic services Assisting with quality management issues within your section of the laboratory, under the direction of the Clinical Scientists Section Head and Laboratory Operations Manager Contributing to the coordination and supervision of the work, training and conduct of scientific and support staff. With appropriate training and experience, you will be required to participate in an on an on-call rota and to provide cover in times of operational difficulty with notice.

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 responsibilities  

Please view the attached recruitment profile which is a summary of the detailed Job Description and Person Specification.

Please also view the benefits information sheet which details the benefits of working for NHSBT and the hours of work, salary, leave entitlement etc. for this role.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Qualifications and Training - Trainee
• Undergraduate or Graduate of a Biomedical Science degree, or equivalent, accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS).
• OR
• BSc honours degree, or equivalent, in a Biomedical or other related science, with a letter from the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) or Health Professions Council (HPC) detailing the route to achieving HPC Registration.
• OR
• 2 or more A Levels or equivalent, one of which should be in a Science subject.
• OR
• Studying for or completed the NHSBT Biomedical Science Foundation Degree
• Demonstrates commitment to own continued professional development (CPD).
• Qualifications and Training - Qualifed
• Health Professions Council registered Biomedical Scientist (which must be maintained for this role).
• Good understanding of Clinical Pathology Accreditation (CPA),
• Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), UK Blood Transfusion Service (UKBTS) and British Committee for Standards in Haematology (BCSH) guidelines.
• Evidence of completing a structured training programme in Transfusion and Transplantation Science.
• Demonstrates commitment to own continued professional development (CPD).
• Qualifications and Training - Qualified
• Health Professions Council registered Biomedical Scientist (which must be maintained for this role).
• Good understanding of Clinical Pathology Accreditation (CPA), Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), UK Blood Transfusion Service (UKBTS) and British Committee for Standards in Haematology (BCSH) guidelines.
• Evidence of completing a structured training programme in Transfusion and Transplantation Science.
• Demonstrates commitment to own continued professional development (CPD).        

Experience Essential

• Experience and Knowledge - Trainee
• Experience in the use of laboratory equipment and techniques.
• Experience of working with information technology using Microsoft Office packages (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams and PowerPoint).
• Experience and Knowledge - Qualified
• Broad understanding of the NHSBT including its functions/departments and the wider healthcare community.
• In depth knowledge and understanding of the Biomedical Scientist role within NHSBT.
• Broad Knowledge of transfusion and transplantation science.
• Experienced in the use of a range of laboratory equipment.
• Competent in a range of manual scientific techniques.
• Experience of working with information technology using Microsoft Office packages (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams and PowerPoint).