Specialist Biomedical Scientist - Haematology and Transfusion

Employer information

Flexible working

Flexible working arrangements may be considered and discussions with the recruiting manager regarding this are encouraged.

Job overview

The Haematology Department at Birmingham Women's Hospital site has a vacancy for an enthusiastic, motivated, and suitably qualified Biomedical Scientist. Applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK, and HCPC registered. While the role is aimed at an experienced Band 6 specialist, applications are welcome from Band 5 biomedical scientists who are currently working on their IBMS Haematology and Blood Transfusion specialist portfolio. A minimum of one year post‑registration experience in a UK Haematology/Blood Transfusion laboratory is essential.

The Haematology and Blood Transfusion department provides a comprehensive diagnostic and clinical service tailored to the specialist needs of the hospital for Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Neonatal and Fetal Medicine Directorates and undertakes the Sickle cell and Thalassaemia (SCT) national screening programme for the trust. The service is UKAS accredited and the laboratory is an IBMS approved training establishment for Biomedical Scientists.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will work in rotation with other staff in all sections of the department and following training will take part in the current 24/7 shift rota over a 7-day working week including nights. Although this is a combined trust this position is to work at the Birmingham Women's Hospital site only.

The Haematology section is equipped with Sysmex XN2000 full blood count analysers, Sebia Capilliarys3 Octa for Haemoglobinopathy screening and Werfen TOP 350 for coagulation studies. Blood Transfusion utilises Werfen Neo and Echo analysers for routine grouping, antibody screening and investigation and antenatal serology. Cross-matching is carried out using Grifols DG Gel Technology. The department is fully computerised with DXC Telepath Laboratory Information System and utilises iPassport for document control.

Working for our organisation

Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was the first of its kind in the United Kingdom. Our trust was formed in 2017 to drive forward our commitment to provide the highest quality, world-class physical and mental healthcare for women, children, and families alike. Uniting our hospitals means that more seamless care, and more efficient investment to refine and our world-leading specialist treatment centres. Importantly, it gives us a greater voice in shaping the future of family-centred care.

Birmingham Children's Hospital is a U.K. leading specialist paediatric centre, with an international reputation in several areas of medicine. Birmingham Women's Hospital is one of only two hospitals dedicated to the care of Women within the U.K., with the busiest single site maternity unit, delivering more than 8,200 babies annually and providing a full range of gynaecological and neonatal care.

Our trust is committed to creating the best place to work for our colleagues. As part of this, we believe in championing inclusion, diversity, and equality, and encourage applications form all areas of the community, regardless of age, gender identity, disability, race, religion, or sexual orientation.

Person specification

Qualifications and knowledge

Essential criteria

• Registration with Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Knowledge and practical skills in Blood Transfusion
• Knowledge and practical skills in Haematology / Coagulation
• BSc Biomedical Science or equivalent.
• Has achieved or working towards their IBMS Specialist Portfolio.

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge and practical skills in Blood Film Morphology
• BBTS qualification.
• Knowledge and practical skills in Haemoglobinopathy.

Requirements

Essential criteria

• Appointment will require Haematology and Blood Transfusion experience in a UK laboratory
• Appointment to band 6 will require the post holder to have an IBMS Specialist Portfolio in Haematology and Blood Transfusion

Desirable criteria

• Current band 5 with Haematology and Blood Transfusion experience in a UK laboratory
• Completion of IBMS Specialist Portfolio in Haematology and Blood Transfusion

Nature of experience

Essential criteria

• Knowledge of Quality Assurance and audit practices, Laboratory Accreditation under ISO15189, HCPC and IBMS professional standards and Laboratory Health and Safety standards
• Experience with LIMS systems

Desirable criteria

• Experience deputising for the senior BMS.
• Experience of supervising junior staff (PDRS, RTW, or difficult discussions)
• Experience with Telepath.

Personal Skills/Abilities/Attributes

Essential criteria

• Can show adaptability and flexibility.
• Can show reliability and organisation.
• Can show a proactive approach to maintaining professional competence.

Desirable criteria

• Examples of how to work under pressure to deadlines.

Additional employer information

Sponsorship

Please note, visa sponsorship is only available for certain roles in line with current UKVI regulations. Please ensure the role you are interested in meets the criteria for sponsorship before submitting your application. If you would like more information, please visit: UK Visas and Immigration - GOV.UK

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We understand that some applicants may choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in preparing their application materials. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind candidates that all submissions must be truthful and accurately reflect your own experiences and suitability for this role. Personal integrity and authenticity are central to our recruitment process. We value honesty and appreciate applications that are genuine and representative of the individual behind them.

Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

Reasonable Adjustments

BWC is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, committed to fostering an inclusive environment for those with a disability, long term health or mental health condition. The Disability Confident scheme means we actively encourage applications from people with disabilities, long term health or mental health conditions, and we want to ensure our recruitment practices are inclusive and accessible to all. Our aim is to get the best out of every individual and if successful for interview, you will be asked if you require any reasonable adjustments (special requirements). We will strive to support and accommodate these requests where possible.

Safeguarding

As a Trust employee you are required to comply with all legislation and guidance relating to safeguarding children and adults with care and support needs, and promoting their health and welfare. You are required to inform the Head of Safeguarding of any safeguarding concerns about your own children or children you live with. This information will be treated in a confidential manner.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Application numbers

Occasionally we receive a large number of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.

Documents to download

• Biomedical Scientist Band 6 Job Description (PDF, 174.6KB)