Advanced Biomedical Scientist Haematology and Blood Transfusion Labs

Job details

• Branch: Craigavon Area Hospital (SHSCT)
• Location: Craigavon Area Hosp-Main Building
• Directorate: HR & Corporate Services
• Salary: Band 7 (£47,810 - £54,710)
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Opening Date: 08/05/26
• Closes: Fri, 22 May 2026 @ 4:00 PM
• Interview Dates: To be confirmed.

Notes

If you are submitting a manual application, please post it to: Recruitment Shared Services, Rosewood Villa, Longstone Hospital Site, 73 Loughgall Road, Armagh, BT61 7PR. Applications received after the advertised closing date/time cannot be considered, so please allow enough time for postage. “A waiting list may be created for similar posts that may arise while the waiting list is live, this may include temporary or part-time posts. This will be managed in line with the updated HSC waiting list principles effective from 1 April 2026”. Where a part-time waiting list is required, one part-time waiting list will be created- regardless of any specific hours advertised, this waiting list will cover all future vacancies where part-time posts arise. A part-time post is defined as any post that has less than 37.5 hours per week.” Please remember to save or print a copy of the job description before submitting your application, as it will not be accessible afterwards. Flexible Working We welcome flexible working requests from day one. All HSC organisations offer a range of flexible working options. The options available for this post will depend on the requirements of the role. Find out more about flexible working options on our website.

Job Description

Advanced Biomedical Scientist

Haematology/Transfusion Digital Systems Section Lead

Job Description

JOB TITLE: Advanced Biomedical Scientist

Haematology and Blood Transfusion

(Digital Systems Section Lead)

LOCATION: Haematology and Blood Transfusion Labs; Southern Health and Social Care Trust

GRADE: Band 7

REPORTS TO: Haematology/Blood Transfusion Lab Manager

RESPONSIBLE TO: Head of Laboratory Service

Job Summary: The Advanced Biomedical Scientist (BMS) for Digital Systems is a specialist role requiring high-level technical expertise in Haematology and Blood Transfusion combined with primary responsibility for the co-ordination of validation, verification, maintenance, and quality oversight of critical laboratory digital support systems. This post is crucial for ensuring the integrity of patient data, especially in high-risk areas like blood transfusion, and maintaining compliance with regulatory standards (e.g., ISO 15189, MHRA Blood Safety and Quality Regulations). The post holder will act as the laboratory's key interface with IT teams, system providers (e.g., WinPath, Epic), and regarding digital system performance and change control. The post holder may be called to deputise as appropriate for the Haematology/Blood Bank Manager for Laboratory Manger in his/her absence

Key areas

Provide advanced scientific and technical supervision across specialist Haematology and Blood Transfusion areas as required by the Laboratory Manager.

Author, review, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) relating to both technical analysis and digital system operation.

Act as a high-level specialist reference point for resolving complex analytical or technical issues, particularly those with digital system root causes.

Responsible for the implementation of policies relating to personnel, health and safety, provision of supplies, finances, statistics and administration.

To establish and maintain an adequate education and training programme for staff in the department.

To deputize for the Haematology Lab Manager as appropriate

Major Duties

Organisational

Is responsible to the Haematology/Blood Bank Lab manager for the production and quality of scientific data

Assists with the selection, recruitment and induction of new staff

Responsible for the development of staff in his/her area of responsibility

Responsible for the organization of the daily workload to ensure continuity of a quality service. The post holder will need to make alterations to staffing rota to accommodate short term and unexpected changes to the workload.

Disseminate information as required.

To take a key role in the planning of new and developing services. This will include the identification and scientific evaluation of equipment or methods that form the basis of options appraisals in business cases

To instigate and or implement changes to ensure continuing quality improvement as required in the Quality Manual.

Assist with department's audits and ensure they are carried out in full and on time. Assist with the analysis and interpretation of audit information including recommending remedial action for non-conformances.

Digital Systems Quality Management and Validation

System Verification & Validation (V&V): Co-Ordinate the development, execution, and documentation of formal V&V protocols for upgrades, patches, new releases, and configuration changes to the WinPath Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), associated middleware, and the Epic Electronic Patient Record (EPR) interfaces.

Risk Management: Conduct and document risk assessments for all digital system changes, ensuring risks to patient safety, particularly in blood transfusion, are mitigated and reported to the Quality Manager.

Compliance: Ensure all system validation and change control processes adhere strictly to Quality Management System (QMS) requirements, national regulatory standards (MHRA, UKAS), and internal SOPs.

Audit & Inspection: Serve as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for digital systems during internal and external audits and inspections (e.g., UKAS, MHRA). Provide evidence of controlled system management and validation.

Patient Data Integrity and Blood Transfusion Safety

Patient Layer Merges: Oversee and critically review the process for identifying, resolving, and validating patient layer merges within the LIMS and across the LIMS-EPR interface to prevent patient misidentification or clinical history errors.

Transfusion Oversight: Take lead responsibility for validating the correct functioning of all digital safety checks related to the electronic issue of blood products (e.g., ABO/Rh checks).

Data Reporting: Investigate and report on data integrity incidents (near misses/adverse events) related to digital systems using the department's incident management system. Implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).

B. Personnel

Assist laboratory management to maintain personal records of all staff for whom they are responsible.

Implements personnel policies on welfare, counselling, grievance and disciplinary procedures.

Maintains staff relationships and morale amongst staff

Annually appraises staff for whom they are responsible

C. Education and Training

Co-ordinates and delivers the education and training of all staff for whom they are responsible, including arranging for any tests of competence to practice that may be required for continuing HCPC registration.

Disseminates relevant information on mandatory, postgraduate and other courses, including management and safety.

Assess all subordinate staff with a view to developing their full potential for the benefit of the laboratory service and others.

Ensure that the department operates to the standards set out in the Laboratory’s Quality Manual. This will include ensuring that staff are familiar with all of the standards detailed in the manual and that they are regularly updated.

The post holder will maintain higher specialist knowledge against the aims and learning outcomes of either an IBMS Higher Specialist Diploma in Haematology

D. Representation and Departmental Interests

Deputizes for Lead BMS and/or Lab Manager at relevant meetings with senior staff if required.

E. Health and Safety

Implement safety policies including departmental codes of practice

Training of sub-ordinate staff

Ensure that all documentation is available and regularly reviewed including, Risk Assessments and COSHH assessments.

Liaise with safety officers attached to or independent of the department

Meet safety representatives as required

F. Relationships

1. Is responsible for the technical supervision of the staff in their section.

2. Has line management responsibility for subordinate staff.

3. Liaison with

Haematology Lab Manager

Lead BMS

Head of Laboratory Service

Consultant Pathologists

Senior staff from other disciplines

Skill Requirements

To continue to develop expertise and knowledge in their field of expertise and to promote staff motivation, this may include attendances at conferences, discussion groups etc.

To continue development of management skills in line with the needs of the service

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

Title of Post: Advanced Biomedical Scientist – Haematology/ Transfusion Band of Post: 7

Notes to applicants

You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.

Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.

Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

Volunteering experience may be considered appropriate in particular for roles within the context of direct patient/client care.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor

Criteria

Method of Assessment

Qualifications/ Registration

State Registered Biomedical Scientist with HCPC

A minimum of 3 years’ post registration experience as a Specialist BMS* (Band 6 or Band 7) in Haematology/Blood Transfusion

Institute of Biomedical Science Fellowship (FIBMS) or MSc in Biomedical Science with specialism in Haematology/Blood Transfusion (IBMS Accredited) or Higher Specialist Diploma (IBMS) in Haematology/Blood Transfusion

Shortlisting by Application Form

Other

Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment. This criteria will be waived in the case of applicants whose disability prohibits driving but who have access to a form of transport approved by the Trust which will permit them to carry out the duties of the post.

Shortlisting by Application Form

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview/ selection stage:

Skills / Abilities

Interpersonal skills.

Good communication and motivational skills.

Ability to work in and lead a team

Effective organisational skills

Attentive to detail Managerial skills, workload, staff, equipment, resources.

Computer literacy - working knowledge of Microsoft office (Word and Excel )

Interview

Knowledge

In depth knowledge and experience in processes involved in Haematology and Blood Transfusion

Advanced knowledge of automated systems and associated Information Technology

Demonstrate continuing professional / career development.

Engaged in the training and supervision of staff

Knowledge and experience of UKAS and/or accreditation requirements

Understanding of upgrade, testing and validation cycles of digital systems in the laboratory

Interview / Test

Special Circumstances

Participate in out of hour’s rota(s) if required.

Interview

* Band 6 Specialist Biomedical Scientist experience is defined by experience working in a Band 6 role whilst holding relevant qualifications in compliance with UK TRANSFUSIONLABORATORY COLLABORATIVE Minimum standards for staff qualifications, training, competency and the use of information technology in hospital transfusion laboratories 2023 (Appendix B)

Value Based Recruitment

Value Based Recruitment is a process adopted by the Northern Trust to attract and select employees on the basis that their individual values and behaviours align with those of the Trust.

It focuses on the ‘how’ and ‘why’ people do what they do.

Candidates who are short-listed for interview will need to demonstrate at interview that they have the required knowledge, skills, competencies and values to be effective in this new role.

In answering the value based questions you have the opportunity to share examples of when you have demonstrated values relevant to the Northern Trust.

Criminal Offences, Investigations and Charges

Having a criminal record will not necessarily debar you from working with the Trust. This will depend on the nature of the position, together with the circumstances and background of your offences or other information contained on a disclosure certificate. Where it is necessary to obtain an Access NI disclosure the Trust operates in line with the Access NI Code of Practice (www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/accessni-code-practice).

If you require further information or a copy of the policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders or the policy on the Secure Handling, Use, Storage and Retention of Disclosure Information, please contact the Trust Human Resources Department.

Essential Leadership Capabilities

The successful candidate will need to provide evidence and demonstrate their Leadership capabilities against the required dimension on the NHS Leadership framework.

A shortlist of candidates for interview will be prepared on the basis of the information contained in the application form. It is therefore essential that all applicants demonstrate through their application how and to what extent their experience and qualities are relevant to this post and the extent to which they satisfy each criterion specified. An assessment centre may also be used as part of the short-listing process.

Candidates who are short-listed for interview will need to demonstrate at interview that they have the required competencies to be effective in this demanding leadership role. The dimensions concerned are given in the Healthcare Leadership Model details of which can be found at http://www.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/resources/healthcare-leadership-model.

Particular attention will be given to the following

Inspiring shared purpose

Leading with care

Evaluating information

Connecting our service

Sharing the vision

Engaging the team

Holding to account

Developing capability

Influencing for results

As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for the Trust to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed.

THE TRUST IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

Successful applicants

may be required to attend for a Health Assessment

can expect to be placed at the minimum point of the pay scale, although a higher starting salary, within the range of the pay band may be available if the person appointed has experience relevant & equivalent to the post. If the successful candidate is an existing HSC employee moving to a higher band, AfC Pay on Promotion will apply.

are able to request Flexible Working from the 1st day of their employment. A number of flexible working provisions are offered by all HSC Organisations including Full-time working, Fixed working patterns, Part-time working, Flexi-time, Compressed/elongated hours, Average hours working patterns, Job-share or Homeworking for some or all of the working pattern, depending on the role being undertaken. Successful applicants are encouraged to discuss with their manager what Flexible Working provisions may be available in the role they are taking up, prior to commencing employment, to help them achieve a positive Work/Life Balance.

All staff are expected to display the HSC Values at all times