Job summary
- Main area
- Pathology
- Grade
- Band 7
- Contract
- Fixed term: 9 months (End Date - 02/03/2026)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 290-NWLP-314
- Employer
- North West London Pathology
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Charing Cross Hospital
- Town
- London
- Salary
- £54,320 - £60,981 pa inclusive
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 18/07/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Cellular Pathology Service Improvement Lead
Band 7
North West London Pathology (NWLP) is an NHS pathology partnership joint venture between Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Chelsea & Westminster NHS Foundation Trust and The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. NWLP is modelled as a shared services organisation jointly owned by the three Trusts. The organisation is hosted by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and as the legal entity for NWLP our staff are employed by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
NWLP is based on a ‘hub and spoke’ structure; the majority of routine, specialist and non-urgent activity is centralised at our hub site at Charing Cross Hospital. Urgent tests required for immediate patient management and treatment are performed in 24/7 Essential Service Laboratories based on-site within the seven hospital sites in the group.
The partnership has created an innovative and sustainable service that delivers outstanding quality to users and patients alike. This innovative approach allows the service to better manage demand, standardise operations, improve value for money and make use of state-of-the-art technology.
Our values are to be patient-focused, collaborative, expert and caring.
Job overview
Calling all aspiring Service Improvement Leads! Are you looking for career progression or an opportunity for change, filled with dynamic challenges and a opportunity to influence change and improve services? Your search ends here!
We are on the hunt for passionate and experienced Service Improvement leads to join our Cellular Pathology team based at Charing Cross Hospital. We are a hub of innovation, commitment, and excellence and are looking for you to embark on a rewarding journey with us with these fixed term roles.
The roles will support North West London Pathology in meeting NHSE national targets to meet cancer performance within 10 days by identifying and delivering productivity and performance improvements by:
1) Pathway and process mapping of optimized services and identification of areas of improvement.
2) Understanding the current design of reporting pathways and identify areas of improvement.
3) Support the implementation, monitoring and management of productivity improvements, particularly in relation to the clinical body.
4) Optimisation of digital reporting pathways.
5) Continue to support the roll-out of digital remote working.
Why Choose Us? You will be working with a diverse workforce who have experience in their specialist areas and will work alongside you to identify opportunity for improvement.
Don’t wait, apply to work with us today!
Main duties of the job
To be an efficient and flexible member of the Cellular Pathology management to support and develop the Histopathology service with a specific focus on cancer pathways through the use of data and operational efficiency.
To be a flexible member of the Histopathology team, leading and supporting the delivery of transformation and improvement projects, supporting the realisation of significant strategic objectives providing a quality service to all hospitals within North West London Pathology, demonstrating both efficiency and flexibility in the role.
Working for our organisation
Benefits include career development, flexible working, staff wellbeing programmes, staff awards and recognition scheme. We also have available benefits including Cycle to Work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.
NWLP Induction
The NWLP induction will run on the first Monday of each month (provided it does not fall on a bank holiday) and includes laboratory training (for relevant laboratory roles). All new staff must attend the NWLP induction during their first week with NWLP.
For 2024/25, see below the start dates which you will be able to book once you have completed all your pre-employment checks.
- Monday 4 August 2025
- Monday 1 September 2025
- Monday 6 October 2025
- Monday 3 November 2025
- Monday 1 December 2025
Candidates are advised to consider these start dates before agreeing end of service date with their current employer.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.
For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.
Person specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Educated to Master’s level or equivalent experience.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
- Experience working with IT systems in a complex department in the NHS or a similar organisation.
Desirable criteria
- Management qualification or relevant experience
- Scientific qualification or experience working in pathology or healthcare
- Programme / Project Management or Improvement Qualification or equivalent experience
Skills / Abilities
Essential criteria
- Ability to analyze and interpret performance data to identify areas for improvement
- Commitment to change management to develop more innovative ways of working to improve service delivery
- Problem solving skills, including lateral thinking and ability to find creative solutions.
- Ability to inspire confidence and to lead staff, motivate and involve individuals and teams, and have them understand the Trust’s and your performance expectations.
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
- Ability to develop and write policies and procedures (e.g. Standard Operating Procedures), relating to specialty section
- Experience within a laboratory or as a service user.
- Evidence of experience of quality management systems, audits and document control
- Experience of working across complex organizational structures.
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of current laboratory practice and equipment.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Alpana Vithal
- Job title
- Cellular Pathology Laboratory Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
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