234564 (MG) Specialist Biomedical Scientist or Trainee Specialist Biomedical Scientist

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

Department of Laboratory Medicine, Biochemistry, NHS Lothian Biochemistry (Band 6/Annex 21) Specialist Biomedical Scientist Blood Sciences, NHS Lothian 2 posts available - WGH Biochemistry

This is an opportunity for a HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist to join our NHS Lothian team in Blood Science.

Candidates with HCPC registration and sufficient laboratory experience at Biomedical Scientist level (for example Specialist Portfolio) in Blood Science will be considered for the Band 6 post.

Candidates with HCPC registration - who lack relevant laboratory experience equivalent to a Specialist Biomedical Scientist - and are willing to undertake the IBMS Portfolio in Blood Sciences or Biochemistry, will also be considered for this post under Agenda for Change Annexe 21.

There are 3 adult acute hospitals and a specialist Paediatric hospital within NHS Lothian. Blood Science discipline Laboratory Services are provided from Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital and St John's Livingston with these posts being at SJH and RIE. WGH Biochemistry department is a fast paced and bust department not only housing core Automated Biochemistry, but also some specialist areas for example Proteins, Inherited Metabolic Diseases and GI areas.

Our ideal candidates will have experience working in a Laboratory Medicine Laboratory as a BMS Biochemistry, with an interest in development and improvement of services. After suitable training the successful candidate will be required, after competency review, to undertake 24/7 duties in the appropriate departments and be flexible to provide cross site cover when needed. Working hours are 37 per week average including evenings, weekends and overnight working when suitably trained.

For further information or to arrange a visit contact

Sarah Augley WGH ()

Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.

We cannot accept late applications so please ensure your application is submitted early.

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We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is without exception granted by the UK Visa and Immigration Service.

As part of the pre-employment checks for a preferred candidate, NHS Scotland Boards will check your entitlement to work in the UK. It can be evidenced through a number of routes including specific types of visa as well as EU settled and pre-settled status. To find out more about these routes of permission, please refer to the GOV.UK website.

For specific types of post, if you do not have the necessary eligibility to work in the UK, it might be possible (though not guaranteed) to secure sponsorship via a UK Skilled Worker Health & Care Worker Visa. However, this is only possible if the employer is a licensed Sponsor, and if the post does not fall below the current minimum salary threshold or going rate. Further information on these criteria can be found here.

It is ESSENTIAL that you have checked that you either already have an appropriate right to work in the UK or that the post would be eligible to be sponsored BEFORE submitting your application form.

This post requires the post holder to have a PVG Scheme membership/record. If the post holder is not a current PVG member for the required regulatory group (i.e. child and/or adult) then an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland and deemed satisfactory before they can begin in post.

Due to legislative changes from 1 April 2025, this post may require a different level of criminal records check done than is currently the case. If the post is assessed as a regulated role, your appointment will be subject to joining the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (= PVG) Scheme. If there is any change to what is currently required, this will be confirmed by either the Hiring Manager or the Recruitment Team. For more details on these changes please visit: Disclosure Scotland Changes.

Please note this is a Trainee post, therefore Annex 21 applies

For trainees covered by Annex 21 where the period of training lasts for between one and four years, pay will be as follows:

• up to 12 months prior to completion of training: 75 per cent of the pay band maximum of the fully qualified rate.
• more than one but less than two years prior to completion of training: 70 per cent of the pay band maximum of the qualified rate.
• more than two but less than three years prior to completion of training: 65 per cent of the pay band maximum for the qualified rate.
• more than three years from completion of training: 60 per cent of the pay band maximum of the fully qualified rate.

For further guidance on Annex 21 - please follow this link: Annex 21 - Arrangements for pay and banding of trainees