Job requirements
Requirements from the employer’s person specification. These describe the role, not your personal match.
Essential
14 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of accreditation standards, for example UKAS.
- Skills and Abilities
Good manual dexterity
- Skills and Abilities
Understands, can perform and can teach others all aspects of routine Microbiology
- Skills and Abilities
Ability to accurately follow and convey to others verbal and written instructions, including complex protocols and procedures.
- Skills and Abilities
An understanding of quality requirements.
- Skills and Abilities
An understanding of the importance of confidentiality.
- Skills and Abilities
Able to work as part of team.
- Knowledge and Experience
Demonstrate at least two years of recent post registration experience in an HCPC approved Microbiology laboratory.
- Knowledge and Experience
An in-depth knowledge and understanding of operating procedures and techniques in diagnostic Microbiology.
- Knowledge and Experience
Understands and can apply the principles of good laboratory management.
- Education, Qualifications and Training
IBMS accredited BSc in Biomedical Sciences or equivalent.
- Education, Qualifications and Training
IBMS Specialist Portfolio in Medical Microbiology, or equivalent experience
- Education, Qualifications and Training
Professional registration with HCPC
- Education, Qualifications and Training
Evidence of involvement in ongoing training and development relevant to the post.
Desirable
12 listedAdditional qualities the employer would prefer.
- Skills and Abilities
Ability to prioritise own workload, to delegate appropriately and manage time effectively.
- Skills and Abilities
Appropriate IT skills.
- Skills and Abilities
Knowledge and experience of audit
- Skills and Abilities
Ability to recognise problems and to instigate corrective actions
- Skills and Abilities
Participation in CPD
- Skills and Abilities
Reliable, conscientious and punctual
- Skills and Abilities
Enthusiastic about work and profession
- Skills and Abilities
Self-motivated with a willingness to learn.
- Skills and Abilities
Able to accept responsibility for own actions.
- Skills and Abilities
Willingness to support the out of hours service
- Knowledge and Experience
Awareness of accreditation requirements and quality management systems.
- Knowledge and Experience
Demonstrate understanding of the Microbiology of disease and their processes.
Job overview
We are looking for a Band 6 Biomedical Scientist to join the award winning Microbiology team at Dorset County Hospital. An enthusiasm and interest for all areas of Microbiology, including bacteriology, virology, parasitology and mycology is required, as well as an understanding of the importance and value of the regulatory requirements.
Consideration will be given to suitable Band 5 state registered Biomedical Scientists who wish to join under Annex 21 of Agenda for Change and wish to complete their IBMS Specialist portfolio. Pay progresses as follows
- More than three years from completion of professional training and competencies = 60% of the pay band maximum for the qualified rate
- More than two but less than three years = 65% of the qualified rate
- More than one but less than two years = 70% of the qualified rate
- Up to 12 months prior to completion of all professional training and competencies = 75% of the qualified rate
UKVI Sponsorship: This role may be available for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). Sponsorship will be determined based on your current situation and on a case-by-case basis.
Main duties of the job
- To produce accurate and timely Microbiology results from clinical samples in accordance with the policies, protocols and quality standards.
- To ensure that clinically significant and urgent results are dealt with in a timely fashion.
- To be able to rotate around all areas of the laboratory, including serology.
- To provide specialist advice to clinicians about the appropriateness of tests and turnaround times.
- Update documentation (SOPs, bench guides, risk assessments) using specialist microbiology knowledge and expertise.
- To participate in the Microbiology out-of-hours service
The post holder will work with the other members of the department to maintain and develop a quality, timely and patient focused Microbiology service for the local population. The Department follows a 7 day working roster which the post holder will be expected to support including the weekend, bank holiday and on-call rota.
This is an exciting time to join the pathology team in Dorset. The DCH NHS Trust is working collaboratively with 6 NHS Trusts to form a the Wessex Pathology network.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Our DCHFT Job Description and Person Specification (attached) tells you all about this role, what to expect and what is needed to succeed. When completing your application personal statement please make sure to tell us how you meet the person specification criteria.
Please contact us at Recruitment@dchft.nhs.uk if you are unable to view or download the attachment.
For all our roles, we are looking for staff who hold our Trust Values of Integrity, Respect Teamwork and Excellence, and who are passionate about providing the best patient care. To read more about our Trust and our Values search Dorset County Hospital online.
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Specialist Biomedical Scientist (Annex 21) - Microbiology with Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Dorchester, England. It is listed as a Band 6 Biomedical scientist role. The advertised salary is Per Annum. The contract type is Permanent: The pay on Annex 21 contracts progresses based on a set of pre-defined qualifications and competencies which are based on the job description.. The application deadline is 10 Sep 2026.
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