Job summaryAre you fascinated by viruses, find mycology magical or love following the clues to identify an unusual organism? Then you are the right person to join our team of Specialist Biomedical Scientists, in Microbiology.
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Band 6 Specialist HCPC Biomedical Scientist to join our team based at Royal Preston Hospital. Previous experience of working in an NHS laboratory would be desirable.
We are a very busy, well-equipped laboratory where we process over 500,000 specimens a year. We receive a variety of patient samples, such as urine, faeces, blood and swabs from both hospital and community patients in the Preston & South Ribble area. We are accredited by UKAS (ISO15189) and are an IBMS approved training laboratory.
Main duties of the jobAs a Specialist Biomedical Scientist, you are an integral part of the team; responsible for identifying pathogens which cause disease either by interpreting bacterial cultures or by analysing serological results in order to aid the diagnosis of infection.
We provide the information that medical staff use to determine appropriate treatment options to help our patients quickly and effectively. As well as this, you would be involved with the maintenance and troubleshooting of various automated systems including BacTAlert, Vitek2, MALDI-TOF, Vidas and Cobas 5800.
You will need to be enthusiastic about providing an excellent standard of work which contributes to patient care. You should be highly motivated, computer literate, demonstrate good interpersonal skills, and always remain respectful of the Trust values. You will be supported in your training by our dedicated team of experienced staff who will ensure all your training needs are met to become competent in all areas.
This position is full-time working 37.5 hours a week between the hours of 8am and 8pm, weekends and Bank Holidays. Once established, you will partake in the out of hours on-call service for urgent samples.
About usWe have 10,000 fantastic people working hard to deliver quality services to our patients. Whatever your role, you help look after 370,000 people in our local area & give specialist care to 1.5 million people across Lancashire & Cumbria.
Working with us gives you the knowledge and sense of pride that every activity you do genuinely does make a difference to support our patients & staff, ensuring we keep thriving & delivering outstanding healthcare right across our local towns.
You'll have access to varied development opportunities, learn new skills, meet fab people & do things you'd never have done. You'll learn about working in a hospital, interacting with people from all different roles to build skills & enhance your career path.
You'll make an impact, be challenged to think differently, be bold & help innovate to keep improving things. Everything we do centres around patient care which means your role is pivotal and something really to be proud of.
DetailsDate posted: 16 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year, per annum, pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 438-PB4642
Job locations: Royal Preston Hospital, Sharoe Green Lane, Preston, PR2 9HT, United Kingdom
Job responsibilities- To direct more junior staff regarding technical and work issue
- Dealing with telephone enquiries from nurses, clinicians, healthcare practitioners, giving technical advice on results and use of the service
- Appropriate recording of Inventory management within the section to ensure accurate stock management.
- Be able to work on a shift rota, covering 24 hours, seven days a week
- To assist in effective verbal and written communication by qualified and unqualified staff
- To communicate, as appropriate, using information technology
- Report any issues to an appropriate person
- Perform a range of laboratory tests autonomously and demonstrate an understanding of the scientific basis for tests and the disease processes under investigation.
- Use the main laboratory computer system in accordance with service requirements
We look forward to you joining our close-knit Microbiology family. The environment is busy but you will embrace this and enjoy the challenge of working to tight turn-around-times and targets. You will go home after your working day knowing you have made a positive difference to the patients we serve.
Person SpecificationQualifications & EducationEssential- HCPC registered with significant experience in Microbiology
Desirable- IBMS membership
- Completion of Specialist portfolio or equivalent band 6 experience
Knowledge & ExperienceEssential- Experience of working in a microbiology clinical pathology laboratory.
- Understanding of health and safety legislation pertaining to clinical laboratories
- Understand the components of a quality management system
Desirable- Understanding of laboratory quality issues
- Problem solving ability
- Familiar with Pathology LIMS
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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.
Certificate of SponsorshipApplications 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 RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
