Biomedical Support Worker - Higher Level

For questions about this job, contact Emma Baddams (POCT Coordinator) at emma.baddams@nhs.net or call 0113 2069414.

About the role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Biomedical Support Worker (Higher Level) to join our professional and friendly Point of Care Testing (POCT) team. Blood Sciences offers a comprehensive POCT service to Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and the wider community. The main POCT laboratory is situated in the brand-new Centre for Laboratory Medicine (CfLM) building on the St. James’s Hospital site.

The successful candidate will report to the POCT Team Leaders and the POCT Coordinator/Specialist Biomedical Scientist, undertaking training to participate in all aspects of the POCT service. This will include training other NHS staff (including medical staff), troubleshooting POCT devices in clinical areas, and completing quality assurance activities to ensure delivery of high-quality results in a POCT setting. This is a full-time role that will involve working across all areas of the Trust and community where POCT devices are located. Some unsocial hours working is a requirement of this role (e.g., weekends).

Why join our team

The Centre for Laboratory Medicine opened in 2025 and offers excellent facilities for our friendly and dedicated POCT team. This role provides the successful candidate with an opportunity to challenge themselves in a unique position that directly improves patient care.

Our small POCT team is responsible for a diverse range of medical devices across the Trust and the wider community, and also provides training to clinical staff across the organization. This offers a varied role with a high degree of independent working and opportunities to learn new skills.

The Blood Sciences department is accredited to ISO15189 and by the IBMS as a training laboratory in both Clinical Biochemistry and Haematology. Informal visits to our laboratories can be arranged for interested candidates.

Responsibilities

• Participate in all aspects of the POCT service, including training NHS staff (including medical staff).
• Troubleshoot POCT devices in clinical areas.
• Complete quality assurance activities to ensure high-quality results.
• Work across all areas of the Trust and community where POCT devices are located.
• Prioritize tasks to ensure clinically urgent work is completed first.
• Act as an ambassador for the Pathology CSU when visiting clinical areas.

Requirements

• GCSE qualifications or equivalent (including Maths & English) are required.
• Prior experience of laboratory work, POCT services, or demonstrating/training others is desirable.
• Strong administrative background with a willingness to learn is also considered.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to organize tasks in collaboration with the wider team.
• Good basic understanding of IT and common software packages, such as Microsoft Office.

About Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust

The Leeds Way is working together to support each other and deliver the best possible care to patients. Our values are:

• Responsible
• Open and Honest
• One Team
• Kind

Our purpose is to provide excellent, safe, and sustainable care for every patient every time. Our POCT service operates across two large university teaching hospitals (Leeds General Infirmary and St. James's University Hospital), Chapel Allerton, Seacroft, and Wharfedale Hospitals, as well as various community sites.

The service currently supports:

• 40 blood gas analysers
• Around 300 glucose meters
• 70 urinalysis analysers
• Additional devices including Flu, Covid, INR, and HbA1c analysers

The field of POCT is rapidly expanding, covering Biochemistry, Haematology, and Microbiology specialisms, with exciting new projects underway across LTHT and the community.

Sponsorship Eligibility

To comply with UK Government regulations on Skilled Worker sponsorship, Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust is unable to provide sponsorship to applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria or the salary threshold concessions set out under the Skilled Worker visa route. Please review the guidance before submitting your application.