Job Overview

The Government of Jersey has an exciting opportunity to recruit a Specialist Biomedical Scientist in Blood Sciences. Step into a world where breath-taking scenery unfolds, where safety and inclusivity thrive and where miles of sandy beaches beckon during warm summers and mild winters. This is your invitation to embrace a life that’s far from ordinary in Jersey.

Jersey is a unique place to live and work and being a Biomedical Scientist in Jersey is different. As a crown dependency, we are an Island nation which includes our own healthcare Service. And it is a service on the move. With our patients and health professionals at the centre of all we do, as a Biomedical Scientist you have more time to deliver your role and we give more time to you, for your development and wellbeing.

Every day, our dedicated team takes immense pride in their work, delivering exceptional care of the highest calibre to our Island community. Biomedical Scientists provide a broader range of services in Jersey including haematology, clinical chemistry, blood transfusion and blood donor testing. The variety of services that you will work in Jersey is far more extensive, our team rotate to provide an interesting and diverse role.

At Health and Care Jersey, we are committed to providing exceptional care and service to our Islanders, thanks to our dedicated and compassionate team of professionals.

For an informal discussion please contact Rosalinda Bouzende (r.bouzende@health.gov.je)

Job Purpose

Apply specialist scientific knowledge, methods and advanced technology to the investigation of blood samples, to guide the clinical diagnosis and management of disease, protecting the health of islanders.

Job Specific Outcomes 1 of 2

Perform a range of specialist haematology, transfusion, clinical biochemistry, and infection and molecular sciences analyses, giving advice on appropriate techniques, to guide and contribute to clinical diagnoses, treatments and the evaluation of the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions.

Prioritise work, using personal knowledge and experience, to meet urgent clinical need and agreed turnaround times, contributing to transfusion best practice, disease reduction and health promotion, and hospital bed occupancy management. Take personal ownership of scientific decisions that impact on patient care, usually working alone or sometimes leading a small team, by reporting biochemical, haematological or molecular parameters, reporting blood films and parasitology, and issuing compatible blood components and products, to enable prompt and appropriate patient treatment. Usually working alone, troubleshoot instrumentation and procedures, resolving technical nonconformities, ensuring laboratory work meets pre-agreed quality acceptance criteria.

Take on the lead role for a specific area of responsibility, such as coordination of IT systems, health and safety, audit, supplier management or introduction and verification of a new scientific technique, facilitating an effective structure of management and delegation.

Network with other professionals at all levels, sometimes coordinating with off-island consultants, to give advice on guidelines and techniques, appropriate specimens and examinations, to manage users’ expectations and to give laboratory results.

Coordinate and monitor internal and external quality assurance scheme reports, participate in internal audit and contribute to external accreditation, giving assurance to service users that the quality of laboratory work can be relied upon 

Job Specific Outcomes 2 of 2

Educate, train and assess the competence of less experienced employees in detailed laboratory processes and scientific principles, and take responsibility for own continuing professional development so as to engender a culture of career-long learning.

Lead on the writing and review of specialist procedures and other documents, keep accurate records of scientific investigations, and participate in verification and control of procedural change, to demonstrate commitment to quality and assurance.

Assess and minimise clinical risk to ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients. 

Qualifications

Essential 

• Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) specialist diploma in blood sciences or equivalent postgraduate diploma level qualification or equivalent experience,

• BSc(hons) in biomedical science, accredited by the IBMS or equivalent qualification accepted by the IBMS

• IBMS certificate of competence, or legacy equivalent (e.g. CPSM logbook)

• Registered with the HCPC and the Jersey Care Commission as a biomedical scientist

Desirable

• British Blood Transfusion Society certificate in blood group serology or equivalent

• Health and safety qualification or certificate

• Relevant information technology qualification or certificate

• Job-related mandatory training in health and safety, data security and safeguarding

Knowledge

Essential 

• Post-graduate diploma level knowledge of blood sciences 

• Degree-level knowledge of biomedical science including cellular science, blood science, infection science, molecular and genetic science, and reproductive science

• Understand the key concepts of the knowledge base in the HCPC standards of proficiency for biomedical scientists

• Understand the principles of good laboratory practice, quality management, safety, infection prevention and risk management

Desirable

• Specialist knowledge of laboratory health and safety

• Specialist knowledge of laboratory information management

• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice in blood transfusion

Technical Work Based Skills

Essential 

• Able to conduct specialist diagnostic laboratory investigations to reproducible standards in blood sciences

• Able to demonstrate proficiency in specialist practical skills (e.g. examining blood films, identifying alloantibodies, conducting rapid PCR testing etc.)

• Able to operate laboratory equipment in blood sciences

• Able to work with accuracy and precision in conformance with standard operating procedures

• Able to authorise laboratory work according to predetermined quality standards

Desirable

• Able to conduct specialist diagnostic laboratory investigations to reproducible standards in areas of molecular pathology

General skills / attributes

Essential 

• Able to train and assess the competence of others
• Able to prioritise and multi-task
• Able to adapt practice to new developments through change control and verification processes
• Able to analyse and critically evaluate information
• Demonstrate a logical and systematic approach to problem solving
• Able to use appropriate information and communication technologies including laboratory information management systems

Experience

Essential 

• Experience of working as an autonomous practitioner in a relevant specialist setting, acquired over approximately three years in a medical laboratory, of which, approximately two years is in the relevant speciality

• Evidence of continuing professional development that conforms to HCPC standards

Desirable

• Experience in blood donor testing and blood component manufacturing  

Attributes and Behaviours

TIER 5 Team Leader, ​Skilled Advisor and Entry Specialist 

Competencies