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Job summary

Main area
Pathology
Grade
Band 8a
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
210-2025-352
Employer
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Countess of Chester Hospital
Town
Chester
Salary
£55,690 - £62,682 pa
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
07/08/2025 23:59
Interview date
22/08/2025

Employer heading

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust logo

Pathology Quality Manager/Training Co-ordinator

Band 8a

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, staff pride themselves on not only leading through clinical excellence, but also by creating an environment where all staff are valued and appreciated. To achieve this, the Trust has embarked on an exciting new strategy focused on continuous improvement.  
Our vision is to improve the lives of our community and provide excellence in healthcare, through partnership and innovation
Our High Performance Culture will support everyone to be the best version of themselves by being true to our Trust vision, values and behaviours.
We welcome applications from colleagues from our local and neighbouring communities of all backgrounds and identities, who are currently under-represented within our region such as Black, Asian, Minority ethnic and those with disabilities.
As a region we are reviewing the way we work, and exploring how new working practices that support flexible working can create a positive work-life balance. As part of our recruitment process we will explore how our inclusive employment policies, flexible working, staff engagement forums, Trust facilities and services can be of mutual benefit. 

Job overview

Working Full time : 37.5 hours per week

To act as Quality Manager for the Pathology Directorate accountable to Pathology Services Manager. 

To act as training co-ordinator for the Pathology Directorate. 

The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing and maintaining the quality management system (QMS) across the pathology department. The individual will need to ensure that the department maintains compliance with UKAS ISO15189, MHRA and HTA accreditation standards. 

Main duties of the job

Duties will include managing internal and external audits, leading quality improvement initiatives and ensuring documentation, risk management and incident reporting processes are maintained and robust. 

There will also be a requirement to focus on developing, implementing and evaluating training programmes for laboratory staff, ensuring competencies are maintained, coordinating  CPD events/options and supporting staff through structured training plans .

Working for our organisation

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. Its services are provided from three locations:

•    The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 438 general and acute beds.
•    Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 56 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
•    Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Trust employs over 5916 staff (headcount) which includes temporary bank staff and provides acute emergency and elective services, primary care direct access services and obstetric services to a population of approximately 411,000. This includes 361,000 residents in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire which has a population of approximately 50,000.

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs will be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • HCPC state registraton
  • Masters level equivalent
  • Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences
Desirable criteria
  • Recognised quality management qualification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria
  • Substantial experience in quality management and audit
Desirable criteria
  • Significant laboratory experience NHS Experience
  • Experience of change managment
  • Ability to motivate and lead staff

Skills and abilities

Essential criteria
  • IT literate including knowledge of QMS software
Desirable criteria
  • Ability to respond to unexpected changes and to adopt a flexible approach
  • Capacity to build and develop teams and maintain constructive working relationships at all levels

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveInvestors in People: GoldImproving working livesDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - SilverDisability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into health

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Joseph Banwell
Job title
Pathology Service Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01244 365659
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