Job summary
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A NEW CHALLENGE?
Would you like to join the largest and most forwarded thinking NHS Trust in the UK which delivered the biggest digital transformation in 2022? Our latest EPR has revolutionised how we deliver our Biochemistry services including a fully integrated single LIMS (beaker) and Roche middleware across all our 4 sites.
Due to our vast array of services from Routine Roche automation, Specialist Chemistry, Paediatric and Newborn screening and UKAS accredited Point of Care, we pride ourselves in growing our own and enabling opportunity across all our sites to develop staff and provide a strong and sustained service for the future.
Main duties of the job
The Directorate of Biochemistry is across 4 sites and all sites have state of the art equipment incorporating Roche 8100 /p612 pre analytic systems, Roche 702, 801 and Roche Pro analysers, including the largest fully automated Roche tracking system in Europe.
Our Specialist Chemistry sections at Oxford Road and Wythenshawe sites boast internationally renowned specialised assays comprising of Waters, Thermo and Sciex Mass Spectrometry instruments using highly advanced analytical methods plus various other techniques such as HPLC, RIA, ELISA, Calculi Analysis and other manual assays.
The post holder will act as a registered Biomedical Scientist providing scientific services to patients as an aid to clinical diagnosis. The successful candidate will be required to participate on the out of hours rota and undertake a wide range of complex analytical procedures, performing a range of manual, semi-automated and automated tests using scientific knowledge and experience to comment upon and validate results in line with ISO 15189.
Suitable candidates will require Biochemistry experience post‑registration and have experience of working out of hours. Candidates must be in possession of an IBMS specialist portfolio in Clinical Biochemistry or equivalent to be appointed at Band 6 however, candidates working towards their specialist portfolio will be considered for appointment at band 5.
About us
Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and become part of a 30,000 plus strong team, delivering exceptional care to over 1 million people every year. As the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe, we are forward‑thinking, committed to clinical excellence and driven to deliver innovation, and continuous improvement.
Whether you’re beginning your career or taking the next step, MFT offers a stimulating and supportive environment where your contribution truly matters. Our Hive Electronic Patient Record system enables safer, smarter, and more efficient ways of working – empowering you to deliver the best possible outcomes for our patients.
You’ll be part of a collaborative, multi‑disciplinary community, working alongside professionals from a wide range of clinical backgrounds. Together, we push boundaries, share knowledge, and deliver care that transforms lives.
At MFT, you’ll find a workplace where everyone is respected, supported, and encouraged to thrive. We offer clear clinical pathways for professional development, helping you grow your skills and achieve your ambitions. Your journey at MFT is more than a job – it’s an opportunity to make a lasting impact. We’ll support you as you shape the future of healthcare, one patient at a time.
Job responsibilities
IMPORTANT CANDIDATE INFORMATION
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Documents to download heading.
Explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place
To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place. This welcoming onestop hub gives you a real sense of who we are, what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others. Youll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.
To access Inside MFT Your Candidate Place, simply click on the relevant PDF document under the Documents to download heading and once opened, you can either scan QR code or click on the link provided.
Closing vacancy listings early
We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.
Diversity Matters
MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application
Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU, for our patients, our communities, and each other. As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application, especially personal statements and responses to role specific questions is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
As part of our commitment to safeguarding patients and staff, many roles at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This is a standard process across the NHS and helps us ensure a safe environment for everyone.
A DBS check is a background check that reveals any criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings. The level of check required depends on the role:
- Standard DBS: Checks for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings.
- Enhanced DBS: Includes the above, plus any additional information held by local police that is considered relevant to the role.
- Enhanced with Barred Lists: Includes all of the above, plus checks against the childrens and/or adults barred lists.
Most roles involving direct patient contact, working with children or vulnerable adults, or access to sensitive information will require a DBS check. The job advert and recruitment team will let you know if this applies to your role.
At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), roles that require a DBS check are subject to a cost recovery policy. This means that the cost of submitting and processing a DBS application if you are successful and join us, will be deducted from your salary within the first three months of employment. If, however, you withdraw from a conditional offer after the DBS process has begun, you will still be liable for the cost incurred.
For more information about the cost of the various types of DBS, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dbs-fees-are-changing-in-december
Candidates are also expected to register with the DBS Update Service which must be completed within 30 days of the certificate being issued. This helps streamline future employment checks and supports safer recruitment practices.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- HCPC Registration within Biomedical Science
- IBMS approved Biomedical Sciences Degree or Equivalent in relevant discipline
- Evidence of CPD in accordance with HCPC
Desirable
- Completed IBMS specialist portfolio
Skills
Essential
- Evidence of working as part of a team
- Good communication skills including ability to communicate with peers, senior staff and clinical users of service
- Well‑developed physical skills, especially in the manipulation of pipettes and other laboratory equipment. Also, must be adept and precise when handling samples etc
- Able to work unsupervised, to organise workload, and to organise and train less qualified, or less experienced staff
- Able to demonstrate a high degree of skill and knowledge, where result interpretation can be highly subjective.
- Able to prioritise analytical work and plan day‑to‑day organisation of area of work
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Post‑registration experience in Biochemistry as a BMS practitioner (band 5).
- Have extensive working knowledge of laboratory areas, including both practical and theoretical knowledge of the various methods employed
- Able to demonstrate a sound understanding of the basic physiology, pathology, and scientific principles relevant to Clinical Biochemistry
- Able to operate and maintain complex automated and semiautomated equipment
- Display experience and competency in all laboratory areas.
- Able to contribute to assessing and suggesting changes to laboratory operating procedures
- Demonstrate a sound knowledge and application of quality systems, with reference to ISO/UKAS
- Knowledge of Laboratory IT programmes and good key board skills
Desirable
- Interest and expertise in one or more areas of the laboratory eg audit, quality, R&D, safety, training, automation, immunoassay
- Knowledge of common IT programmes such as Word / Excel.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve.
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