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Job summary

Main area
Cellular Pathology
Grade
Band 5
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday-Fri, between 8.00am and 5.15pm)
Job ref
249-7284756
Employer
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Great Western Hospital
Town
Swindon
Salary
£31,049 - £37,796 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
22/10/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Registered Biomedical Scientist

Band 5

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a unique organisation, serving as the sole integrated provider in the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire system. Our scope extends beyond boundaries as we oversee adult community services in Swindon and provide acute care from the Great Western Hospital. 

Our 5,500 staff have 1.2m patient contacts a year, with 13,000 operations carried out in our Theatres, around 4,000 babies born, and our emergency attendances are now well over 100,000 per year. Those numbers only tell part of our story about what an exciting time it is to join Great Western Hospitals.

We are cultivating a culture that fosters our ambitions, prioritising equality, diversion, inclusion, wellbeing, and leadership. We aim to create an environment where every member of our team can truly thrive.

The Trust is a Disability Confident Employer; all applicants who have a disability can opt to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme, which means that, providing they meet the minimum essential criteria for the post, they will be offered an interview. We are also proudly accredited as a Veteran Aware organisation and have signed The Armed Forces Covenant.

If we receive a high volume of applications, we may close adverts prior to the published closing date. Therefore, we advise you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

Job overview

We are seeking a Band 5 Registered Biomedical Scientist to join our team. 

To work as part of the Cellular Pathology team as a Biomedical Scientist involved in the technical preparation of specimens and performing defined procedures in accordance with standard operating procedures. This will include all aspects of the routine service provided by the department.

 

Main duties of the job

1.    As a HCPC-Registered Biomedical Scientist, perform a full range of analytical, technical and other laboratory duties within cellular pathology. 

The daily technical activities of the histology and cytology laboratory include:

1.  Section cutting
2.  Embedding.
3.  Staining and checking sections.
4.  Immunohistochemistry.
5.  Computer work to process samples through the laboratory.
6.  Filing of slides or blocks if required.
7   Collecting solvents if required.
8   Non-Gynae and Andrology technical work, and specimen dissection, as detailed below.

This list is not exhaustive. The post holder will be required to undertake all histology techniques and train in the handling of non-gynae cytology if not already experienced. 

Working for our organisation

“Our STAR values – Service, Teamwork, Ambition and Respect – are a golden thread running through everything we do. These values serve as a guiding principle, driving us towards our vision of delivering great joined up services to our local community. Whether at home, in the community, or within the hospital, our goal is to empower individuals to lead independent and healthier lives.”

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

2.    Follow departmental Standard Operating Procedures, risk assessments, etc., relating to technical work. Review documents where necessary through liaison with senior staff.

3.    Be responsible and work as part of a team to achieve optimal handling and throughput of the departmental workload to ensure specimens are processed in a timely manner.

4.    To participate in the departmental rota to ensure skills are maintained in each area of the laboratory and cover all areas specific to the post-holders level of competence. This may include early start times of 08.00 at times and late finishes up to 17:15 depending on service needs

5.    Maintain professional competence and scientific skill in the performance of all tests and investigations.

6.    Use, and daily maintenance, of expensive specialist equipment (e.g. microscope with heated stage, cytospin, stainer, etc.) as part of day-to-day technical work

7.    Deliver training in specialist technical processes and use of laboratory equipment/IT systems (Winpath and Qpulse) to new/less experienced staff.

8.    Answer queries from less experienced laboratory staff about how to carry out specialist technical processes and how to use laboratory IT systems, equipment, etc.

9.    Daily use of laboratory IT system (Winpath) to enter/authorise diagnostic results or search for results/patient specimens, answer queries etc. 

10.  Takes an active part in departmental Quality Management processes to ensure compliance with the standards laid down by UKAS ISO 15189. This includes some responsibility for review and update of SOPs, risk assessments, COSHH assessments, etc. designated to the post-holder by the Cellular Pathology Laboratory Manager. Recording departmental incidents/errors/non-compliance with standards. 

11.  Participate in stock control within the cellular pathology department, including requests for ordering consumables items as required, and participating in the annual Trust-wide stock check.

12.  As an HCPC-registered Biomedical Scientist actively participate in Continuing Professional Development activities. These activities must be recorded, and evidence produced when necessary.

Person specification

Education, Qualifications and Training

Essential criteria
  • BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science or equivalent qualification
  • Registration with the HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council) as a Biomedical Scientist
Desirable criteria
  • MIBMS

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Previous experience of working in a diagnostic Histology laboratory.
  • Experienced in embedding, microtomy, staining histology samples
  • QC checking of samples
Desirable criteria
  • Preparation at cut-up of BMS specimen dissection
  • Immunohistochemistry experience
  • Non-Gynae cytology/andrology experience
  • Involvement in quality management processes including reviewing SOPs, and recording departmental incidents
  • Previous experience of Health and Safety processes, including Risk Assessments and COSHH assessments.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential criteria
  • Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively
  • Good time management
  • Ability to work independently and take direction and to pass on information accurately and timely.
  • Able to build effective working relationships with staff and colleagues
  • Good hand/eye coordination

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDisability confident leaderInvestors in People: Goldhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/kickstart-scheme-employer-resources/kickstart-scheme-brand-guidelinesStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthArmed Forces Covenant

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
Matthew Long
Job title
Cellular Pathology Laboratory Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01793604278
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