Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Senior Biomedical Scientist
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North Bristol NHS Trust and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust Merger
North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This creates an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognises the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.
Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Considering this, if you are interested in this role, please do apply as soon as you can.
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Job Overview
An exciting opportunity to join the Bacteriology Department at Severn Pathology.
The Successful Candidate Will
- Hold registration with the HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council) as a Biomedical Scientist
- Have a BSc Honours Degree in Biomedical Sciences or equivalent
- Have a postgraduate level qualification in Biomedical Science equivalent to Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Science (FIBMS) or equivalent experience
- Have experience in a UK Microbiology laboratory
Have responsibility to manage a section/s of the Bacteriology Laboratory, ensuring that all designated tasks are completed. They will use professional judgment to support and advise requesting clinicians upon effective diagnosis and treatment to improve patient management. Ensuring that quality management systems are maintained and implemented to maintain UKAS accreditation.
Participate in provision of the out of hours service (weekends and Bank Holidays) is expected along with participation in the provision of the on-call service (lone working).
Main duties of the job
- To manage and be in technical charge of a section of the Bacteriology service. Required to check all aspects of the quality of teamwork, to detect problems and take appropriate remedial action where necessary. Manage daily staff rotas for work allocation and training for medical staff, clinical scientists, other Biomedical Scientists, new staff, students and support staff.
- Manage the laboratory information service for own speciality on a daily basis allowing service users/clients access to accurate and updated patient test results.
- As a specialised staff member, you will be required to train and demonstrate methodologies on complex analytical equipment to medical staff, clinical scientists, other BMS staff, new starters, students and HSSW’s. You will have great communication skills and leadership qualities to empower your team in a complex and busy department.
- To ensure technical standards are maintained through internal and external QA schemes in accordance with ISO 15189:2022 standards for accreditation.
- To support the delivery of a high quality, safe and compassionate healthcare service. All staff are expected to act as a role model to others in all aspects of their work and consistently demonstrate BFT CARE values of Caring, Ambitious, Respectful, and supportive and encourage an inclusive culture.
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Working for our organisation
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.
With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
For full information please see the Job Description and Personal Specification attached to this vacancy.
Severn Pathology Bacteriology Department is based at the Southmead Hospital Bristol and is a collaboration between Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and UKHSA. Providing the sole Bacteriology service for Bristol, Bath and Weston. We provide diagnostic and clinical services across four busy hospital sites, at Southmead Hospital, UHBW Bristol Royal Infirmary, UHBW Weston District Hospital and Royal United Hospital Bath, along with the local Integrated care boards (ICBs) and the Health Protection Team. We deliver high quality, efficient, ISO15189 accredited, pathology services across Bacteriology, Mycology, Virology, and the Antimicrobial Reference Laboratory.
To understand more about Pathology services at NBT, click here to watch our video.
Person specification
Education/Training/Qualifications
Essential criteria
- State Registration with the HCPC as a Biomedical Scientist
- BSc in Biomedical Science degree or equivalent
- MSc in Biomedical Sciences or equivalent post graduate qualification/experience
- Evidence of Continuing Professional Development
Desirable criteria
- Study on a management course or working towards a recognised management qualification
- IOSH Managing Safely certification
Work Experience
Essential criteria
- Strong working knowledge of lab procedures
- A high level of theoretical and practical microbiological knowledge
- Technically competent in receipt, preparation and processing of samples
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
Essential criteria
- Good interpersonal skills
- Working knowledge of Health & Safety issues within a laboratory
- Knowledge of common IT programmes
- Keyboard skills and accurate data entry skills
- Able to plan day-to-day organisation of a section
- Able to organise less qualified staff
- Experience of staff training
- Good communication skills both verbal and written
- Good organisational skills
- Ability to work in a team
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Desirable criteria
- Working knowledge of the laboratory computer system used
- Knowledge of some specialist tests at an expert level
- Able to initiate changes in procedures or policies to induce service development
- Presentation skills
- Auditor trained
We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.
As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge. The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers. BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview. If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system. The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system. By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please be aware of scams – unless specified above, we will only communicate with you via @recruit.trac.jobs or nhs.net e-mails and we will never ask you for any payments.
Important
Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.
Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Therefore, please apply for this post as soon as you can, if you are interested and you meet the requirements of the Person Specification
Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.
As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.
When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.
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