Job overview
Senior Specialist Biomedical Scientist – Cellular pathology Band 7
Speciality Main area UHL Pathology – Histology.
Contract: Permanent, Full-time (37.5 hours per week)
Join our friendly and professional team at University Hospital Lewisham (UHL), Lewisham.
An exciting opportunity has arisen within the NHS East and South East London Pathology Partnership (ESEL) Cellular Pathology Department. We are seeking to appoint an experienced and highly motivated Senior Biomedical scientist with strong organisational, leadership skills and committed to meeting the needs of our patients to support our busy histopathology team.
The successful candidate will be primarily based at University Hospital Lewisham but may be expected to cover and support other ESEL sites depending on service demand. You will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the laboratory sections, quality management and will take direction from supporting Operational Leads in transforming the delivery of services.
We invite applications from enthusiastic candidates who have completed a relevant MSc or IBMS Special Examination (Fellowship) and who are interested in opportunities for progression and development within our organisation.
**Previous candidates need not apply **
Main duties of the job
University Hospital London is easily accessible by public transport and benefits from strong bus and train links to southeast and central London. As part of Barts Health NHS Trust, you will also be working within a leading pathology network with excellent career progression opportunities.
The department process in the region of 14,100 surgical specimens per annum from a range of clinical specialities. Applications are welcomed from candidates with suitable experience. In return, we offer an excellent work environment, the department is fully computerised, and UKCAS 15189:2012 accredited.
About the Role
The successful candidate will be primarily based at UHL but may occasionally support other ESEL sites depending on service needs. The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specifications outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required.
Key responsibilities include:
• To take operational responsibility for a section of the laboratory as required.
• To collaborate in the development and evaluation of new equipment, protocols, and testing procedures. This will include leading the development and production of revised or new standing operational procedures.
Working for our organisation
The NHS East and South East London Pathology Partnership is an arms-length organisation providing pathology services to Barts Health NHS Trust, Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. The Pathology Partnership is hosted by Barts Health.
The Pathology Partnership was formed in May 2021. Between 2021 and 2024 the Partnership undertook a complex transformation programme to establish a single network of laboratories, underpinned by a single Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and single Quality Management System (QMS).
The Partnership has a main hub laboratory at the Royal London Hospital and Essential Service Laboratories (ESL) as a minimum at the six other hospital sites served by the Partnership.
The Partnership has three operational divisions:
· Blood Sciences including Haematology, Blood Transfusion and Biochemistry
· Microbiology and Virology
· Cellular Pathology and Cancer Diagnostics
The 2024/25 total operating costs across the Partnership were c. £121m per annum with a workforce establishment of circa. 860 WTE.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
• To be responsible for a special function of the departmental services as agreed with line management including training officer and or quality officer within the speciality.
• To ensure that all internal Quality Control and external Quality Assurance programmes are implemented and maintained for the relevant section(s) and to interpret and act on the results accordingly and ensure that this information is communicated to all relevant members of staff.
• To assist in ensuring that the laboratories meet the Quality Management accreditation standards.
• To participate in performing validation/verification and SLA initiation of equipment used.
• In partnership with the Quality Manager, to implement and maintain a Document Control System for the Department of Histology.
We offer structured development pathways for experienced medical secretaries. Offering salary progression based on NHS or equivalent experience, ensuring fair recognition of your expertise.
We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once enough applications has been received and we regret that we are unable to provide notification if your application is unsuccessful.
After applying via NHS jobs, your submitted application will be imported into a preferred Third-party recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trc.jobs.
By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Barts Health NHS trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
If you are shortlisted, we will contact you via NHS Jobs email and text message with interview details, please check your inbox regularly.
Barts Health is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. If appointed to a post with direct access to these groups, a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check may be required.
Interested?
Apply now and be part of a dynamic and supportive team.
For more information, please contact:
Felix Onyango, LGT Cellular Pathology Operational Lead
| 0208 333 3029
Person specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential criteria
1. State Registration with HPC.
2. MSc in a Biomedical Science or equivalent qualification from an approved institution
Experience
Essential criteria
3. Minimum of 3 year’s post State Registration laboratory experience in a relevant discipline
4. To organise In-house educational, training and tutorial sessions and encourage staff attendance
5. To ensure that departmental training complies with current and future professional, Trust and national standards
6. In partnership with Training Officers in other Pathology departments and with the laboratory service manager, to produce and maintain the current Training Programme.
7. Working knowledge of IT systems such as e-mail, word processing, spreadsheets, databases and use of the Internet
Desirable criteria
8. Assisting in the establishment and maintenance of a Quality Management System
9. In partnership with the Quality Manager, to ensure the establishment and maintenance of an ethos of Total Quality Management within the Department of Histology
10. Assisting in ensuring that the laboratories meet the Quality Management accreditation standards
11. Performing regular audits in Cellular pathology
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
12. Good communication skills both written and verbal
13. Good interpersonal skills
14. Ability to work both within a team and unsupervised
15. Able to communicate and empathise with patients and other members of the public
16. Able to communicate with other health professionals
17. Tactful and discrete
18. Some appreciation of NHS/healthcare system
Desirable criteria
19. Be able to participate in performing validation/verification and SLA initiation of equipment used
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
20. Ability to work under pressure and achieve deadlines and targets
21. Self motivated
22. Able to show initiative
23. Courteous.
24. Ability to participate in educational and developmental programmes as set by the university and the Department
Desirable criteria
25. To be willing to undertake management training
**Visa Sponsorship Information**
Recent changes to UK immigration policy on the Health and Care Visa and Skilled Worker Visa could mean that this role is not eligible for sponsorship or that you may not meet the eligibility criteria.
Sponsorship can only be offered if this post and any individual offered employment meet all the Home Office’s requirements under the UK Skilled Worker visa scheme.
If you are applying from outside the UK or will require sponsorship, please mention this clearly in your application.
To be eligible for sponsorship, the following conditions must be met:
26. Eligible role: The position must be on the UK Skilled Worker visa list. You can check your eligibility here: -.
27. Salary threshold: The role must meet the minimum salary set by the Home Office. Please note that for roles employed under Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions, the High-Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) is not included when calculating the basic salary for the purposes of sponsorship.
28. Skill level: The role must meet the minimum skill requirement of RQF Level 6 or above (graduate level).
29. English language: Applicants must demonstrate English proficiency at CEFR level B1 or higher.
30. Other criteria: Applicants must meet all other criteria as set out by the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)