Senior Healthcare Scientist

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Healthcare Scientist

The closing date is 03 December 2025

We are keen to recruit an enthusiastic, flexible and self motivated person to join our friendly team of staff. As a Healthcare scientist, you will play a key role in helping to deliver and develop our comprehensive, clinical immunology service.

Main duties of the job

The Department of Immunology at Oxford University Hospitals Trust is looking for an HCPC registered Healthcare Scientist with experience in an NHS diagnostic laboratory (preferably Immunology). The applicant must have an M level qualification in a relevant biomedical subject (preferably Immunology).

Applications to join our friendly team, are invited from enthusiastic, flexible and self motivated scientists. The successful candidate will use their excellent communication skills, playing a role in delivering/development of our comprehensive, clinical service. You will help the Department meet the necessary standards for accreditation, ensuring protocols are followed and maintain Health, Safety and Security for individuals, the Department and the Trust.

The Department of Immunology, is a large and dynamic laboratory providing a regional diagnostic Immunology service. It offers a substantial, specialised and diverse repertoire of assays. The laboratory has UKAS 15189 accreditation and processes over 650,000 tests per year. Situated in a vibrant, historical city with a tradition of innovation we offer opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment.

Please ensure you read the job description and your supportive statement reflects this, as your application will be judged against these criteria.

Job responsibilities

The post holder is expected to manage their own workload on a day to day basis without direct supervision and to:

• Be familiar with the Health and Safety policies operating within the department and ensure that they are adhered to and updated when appropriate.
• Carry out laboratory tests in a safe and responsible manner according to approved departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Use and maintain equipment safely according to approved departmental procedures (SOPs).
• Have a thorough working knowledge of the specimen pathway for the laboratory, including specimen room protocols. Is experienced and effective in the use of EPR, LIMS, iPassport, Task management software and Microsoft Word/Excel.
• Verify and validate diagnostic test results against approved quality standards and report results onto the laboratory information system (LIMS computer). As required, telephone urgent or clinically important results to the requester.
• Understand the workload of their relevant section and engage in development of strategies for efficient, error free delivery.
• Maintain the quality management requirements within the correct time frame for their particular section using available team members appropriately including IQC, EQA, document review, audit findings, non conformities and quality meeting action points.
• Troubleshoot quality control problems, on own or with reference to other staff, and report all such problems to senior staff when appropriate.
• Troubleshoot equipment problems, on own or with reference to other staff, and report all such problems to senior staff. Liaise with equipment supplier representatives and engineers to rectify equipment problems.
• Provide expert scientific and technical advice on their particular section to other healthcare professionals outside of the immunology department.
• To participate in the development of their section with regards to new equipment and new assays and to coordinate all required change processes for implementation of a new test to the service.
• Advise on appropriate technology for the efficient provision of the service.
• Provide and participate in clinical audit initiatives.
• Supervise training for biomedical scientists, clinical scientists and junior medical staff and assist in the supervision of research projects relevant to their section.
• Help to deliver aspects of departmental staffs continuing professional development.
• Day to day supervision and coordination of junior team members contributing to workflows, which they have ownership of.
• To manage staff on the section, with line management responsibilities for appraisal, performance management, career development and pastoral care in conjunction with the senior management team.

Resource

• To assist the laboratory manager and the department in the efficient and effective use of material resources, consumables and diagnostic kits
• To perform stock inventory and stock control duties.
• To order stock as required and perform stock rotation as required.

Professional

• As a Registered Clinical or Biomedical scientist, maintain high professional and technical standards and maintain a portfolio to demonstrate active participation in Continuous Professional Development in line with the requirements for the HCPC.
• Behave responsibly and courteously at all times and maintain good, professional working relationships with other members of staff.

Key Responsibilities

• To participate in the Trusts annual values based appraisal process.
• To attend all relevant mandatory training as and when required to do so.
• Take responsibility for own development and engage in appropriate learning interventions and opportunities.

Person Specification Education and Qualifications

• Holds HCPC registrations as Clinical Scientist or Biomedical Scientist
• Masters in Immunology or Clinical Immunology
• Other relevant M level qualification in Immunology

Experience and Knowledge

• Extensive current knowledge and understanding of the range of techniques and assays used within Immunology and their application to clinical diagnosis.
• Experience of supervising personnel.
• Experience in training staff.
• Experience in using Quality Management document control software
• Have relevant managerial experience
• Experience of assay verification to UKAS standard.
• Experience of Task management software

Skills and Abilities

• Good IT skills including experience using Excel, Word and diagnostic laboratory specific software.
• Good organisational and time management skills, including the ability to prioritise and deal with multiple tasks and demands.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, both written, verbal and presentation.
• Good manual dexterity and practical analytical skills associated with diagnostic lab work.
• Ability to work in a methodical and precise manner

Personal Qualities

• Able to work as team member.
• Reliable and trustworthy and demonstrate behaviours in line with the OUH Trust values.
• Able to deal with complex problems (technical and personnel) arising within section as appropriate
• Able to perform light physical work
• Demonstrate a commitment to personal development and maintenance of CPD.

Other Requirements

• Flexible approach to hours of work
• Prepared to work with biological materials and a variety of sample types.

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.

Address

Department of Immunology - Churchill Hospital

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full time

Reference number

321 CSS B7

Job locations

Department of Immunology - Churchill Hospital

Pay range

£47,810 to £54,710 a year pro rata