Registered/Specialist Biomedical Scientist

Job overview

• Interview Date Wednesday 07 October 2026
• Full & Part Time Hours/Week
• You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy
• We have vacancies for Registered or Specialist Biomedical Scientists within our Core Biochemistry and Core Haematology & Blood Transfusion sections at Newcastle Hospitals. The position appointed to will depend on qualifications and experience. The Core Biochemistry and Core Haematology & Blood Transfusion testing repertoires are extensive and provided from laboratories at both the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) and the Freeman Hospital. As well as core laboratory services, numerous highly specialist assays are provided to support a variety of clinical specialisms, such as the Institute of Transplantation, Northern Centre for Cancer Care, a regional Maternity Unit, Comprehensive Haemophilia Centre, Northern Centre for Cancer Care, and the Great North Children Hospital. The Department has strong clinical links with all related clinical teams within the Trust. The Blood Sciences Department has a strong track record of staff development and career progression, including automatic progression to Band 6 positions upon the completion of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences Specialist Diploma Portfolio and support for MSc's and the IBMS HSD within a 3 year period.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

Main duties of the job

• The Blood Sciences Department is part of the Integrated Laboratory Medicine Directorate and is based at both the Freeman Hospital and Royal Victoria Infirmary. Blood Sciences plays a pivotal role in the provision of 10 million diagnostic tests per year, which are essential for the delivery of high-quality clinical care within all Directorates of the Trust and in Primary Care. The Department holds full UKAS accreditation and offers one of the largest ranges of specialties within the country. You should have excellent communication skills and able to work effectively either as part of a team or independently. Key tasks will involve the processing, analysis and reporting of blood and other biological samples using state of the art laboratory equipment. It is essential that applicants will be able to take a full part in the out of hours shift system following an extensive training program. Movement between the two hospital sites is also a possibility.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Band 5

The Department of Blood Sciences is made up of several sections as shown in the organisation chart and the post holder will normally rotate between them and participate as part of a team, in providing laboratory support to the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, General Practitioners and other legitimate users of the service.

• The post holder will practice as a registered Biomedical Scientist without supervision under the guidance of a Team Leader Biomedical Scientist. At other times the post holder will perform tasks without supervision and will evaluate situations and seek advice from senior members of staff by telephone if deemed appropriate.

Responsibilities

• The post holder will rotate through different sections of Blood Sciences.
• To assist in the preparation of specimens for analysis, including the separation of blood, serum and plasma, and the cataloguing and storage of specimens.
• To carry out laboratory diagnostic tests, validate results and use judgement in determining and initiating further tests that may be required.
• To actively participate in the maintenance and basic trouble shooting of automated laboratory equipment, report any faults and non-compliances to a senior member of staff and take prompt and appropriate action in response to unexpected situations.
• To participate in the department Quality Assurance programmes, correct any minor non-compliances and to report any major non-compliant events to a senior member of staff.
• Maintain an up to date relevant knowledge of the technical aspects of the laboratory.
• To work in compliance with local health and safety rules to ensure a safe working environment for you, colleagues and visitors. To adhere to department and Trust Health and Safety policies (including COSHH, Risk assessments and Standard Operating Procedures) and to report any non-compliances to a senior member of staff.
• More experienced staff will be required to supervise the work of more junior staff and assist with their training.

Band 6

The department of Blood Sciences plays a pivotal role in provision of diagnostic services, which are essential for the delivery of high quality clinical care, both within the Trust and in Primary Care.

• The post holder will act as an experienced and specialist registered Biomedical Scientist to provide a comprehensive and continuous 24/7 Blood Sciences service as an aid to effective diagnosis and treatment. They will confirm analytical and technical validity of investigations, liaising with clinical staff to ensure diagnostically abnormal results are acted upon urgently.
• The post holder may rotate through different sections of Blood Sciences as required.
• Perform analytical and other laboratory work as directed by senior staff within Blood Sciences.
• Ensure satisfactory completion and validation of routine and specialist analyses.
• Ensure data integrity when entering demo graphics and results into the laboratory information system.
• Operate subject to manufacturer's constraints and laboratory policy, instruments and analysers in, or associated with, the laboratory.
• To troubleshoot, repair and maintain instruments and analysers in, or associated with, the laboratory for correct operation, keeping equipment in optimal condition for use, making adjustments as necessary.
• Check the validity and reliability of analytical processes, maintaining and monitoring satisfactory performance by use of internal quality control.
• Ensure prompt referral of results that exceed action limits in accordance with departmental policy.
• Adhere to laboratory quality control and Health & Safety policies, ensuring documentation of maintenance procedures, lot numbers and control material.
• To continually improve service provision by, when necessary, contributing to the development of SOPs or undertaking development work.
• In the absence of the Section Leaders supervise the work of a section.
• Assist Section Leaders in the organisation of work within a subsection of Blood Sciences.
• In the absence of the Section Leader ensure adequate stocks of reagents and consumables are available for the efficient running of the section.
• Undertake, when required, training of rotational Section Leaders staff within a section of Blood Sciences.
• Undertake training of Registered Biomedical Scientists and Trainee BMS staff within a section of Blood Sciences.
• Participate, under the supervision of the Section Leader, in any audit connected with a section of Blood Sciences

Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.