Registered/Trainee Biomedical Scientist

Job overview

An opportunity has arisen for a well-motivated individual to work in our Virology Department as a Registered Biomedical Scientist.

Applicants must have an accredited degree in Biomedical Science, be registered with the HCPC or be working towards such status and be eager to learn and participate in continuous professional development. Candidates should ideally have experience in  Virology.

Applications for a Trainee BMS position will be considered from candidates with an IBMS accredited Biomedical Sciences degree. The successful applicant will be expected to undertake a period of on the job training whilst completing an IBMS Registration Training Portfolio, which will result in the award of an IBMS Certificate of Competence on successful verification. Typically, this will take approximately 12 months to achieve and will enable application for HCPC registration as a Biomedical Scientist. During this period the trainee will be placed on Annex 21 at 75% of Band 5.

• Interview Date: Tuesday 26th May 2026
• 37 Hours 30 Minutes/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.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

Main duties of the job

As a biomedical scientist, you will utilise scientific knowledge and technical skills to investigate a wide variety of patient samples to detect bacterial and viral pathogens . You will use both manual serological methods, automation such as ROCHE Flow molecular systems and a wide range of stand alone serology platforms. You will learn both Virology and Serology to allow flexibility across the services laboratory depending on service need.  You will work closely with department medical and health protection teams to contribute to delivery of high quality patient care.

Applicants will be required to participate in out of hour’s service once trained.

The Microbiology & Virology team processes 1.8 million samples per year from patients within the Newcastle Hospitals Trust and wider Newcastle area. The department also acts as a regional reference laboratory for specialist testing such as TB and Mycology and is part of the North East North Cumbria ICB Pathology Alliance.  The department is UKAS accredited ISO 15189 (2022) and is IBMS and National School of Healthcare Science  accredited for training, with participation in CPD being actively encouraged.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• The department of Microbiology and Virology is made up of several specialist sections and the post holder will rotate between Serology and Virology, working as part of a wider team participate as part of a team, to support the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, General Practitioners and other legitimate users of the service.
• Procedures will be carried out without supervision under the guidance of an Advanced Biomedical Scientist. The post holder will be required to evaluate situations and seek advice from senior members of staff if deemed appropriate.

Responsibilities

• To undertake the reception, sorting, numbering, booking in and preparation of  Virology samples for analysis, including interpretation of clinical details and deciding which investigations are most appropriate.
• To validate and report results from a range of assays and interpretate comments using judgement in determining and initiating further tests that may be required.
• To perform molecular and serological analysis on a variety of samples, identifying any abnormal results and taking appropriate actions.
• To process blood and serum samples by automated or manual methods, analysing and reporting results and interpretive comments.
• To bring any significant or aberrant results to the attention of the departmental senior staff, and medical staff  as appropriate.
• To provide specialist technical advice to medical team regarding the results obtained.
• 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 and to report any non-compliant events to a senior member of staff.
• 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.
• To supervise, teach and train students, unqualified staff, Specialist Registrars or visitors, and to cover for absent colleagues.
• The Registered BMS will participate in Virology out of hours rotas when sufficiently experienced. They will be asked to provide cover for Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday duties in the department as required.
• The Registered BMS will be expected to be competent to take part in on-call working, and will be required to provide out of hours cover during the week, at weekends and also Bank Holidays.