Job overview
Maidstone Hospital, situated in the heart of the Kent countryside, covers a large population and includes the regional Oncology centre, which is expanding in support of the Kent cancer network.
The department provides services to Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, Medway NHS Foundation Trust, and Dartford & Gravesham NHS Trust. Consequently, there is a combined Histology workload of around 84,000 cases per year. The department carries out a wide range of investigations, including various specialist resections from hospitals within Kent & Medway. It also includes an expanding immunocytochemistry section with an annual throughput of approximately 54,000 tests. The Cytology workload includes 3,200 diagnostic cytology cases per year
The department moved to a custom-built new facility in May 2011. It is computerised and well-equipped. Career development and participation in CPD are actively encouraged.
Applications are invited from experienced HCPC-registered Biomedical Scientists. This post would suit an enthusiastic and self-motivated person with good organisational, interpersonal and communication skills. The ability to work as part of a team and to lead others is required. Histology laboratory experience is essential, and experience of diagnostic cytology preparation techniques is desirable..
A development role will be considered.
Please note this role is currently only being advertised to staff members who are currently working within the Kent and Medway ICS.
Main duties of the job
Working for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, you will be part of the Kent and Medway Pathology Network (South 8 network). Kent and Medway Pathology Network is made up of seven laboratories across three pathology services in four acute Trusts – East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust and North Kent Pathology Services (hosted by Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust and providing services to Medway Foundation Trust).
The network provides services across the health sector to a population of nearly 2 million.
The network vision is based on:
• A single laboratory information management system (LIMS) and managed services contract (MSC);
• A Director of Pathology Transformation who will work closely with teams and services to design and implement service changes which benefit the whole network;
• A commitment to consider a single management structure at a point in the future; and,
• A general agreement to collaborate, and to align processes and Standard Operating Procedures where it makes sense to do so.
You will not be expected to work at sites outside of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. However, there will be opportunities for collaborative working within this network.
Working for our organisation
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 and 2024 NHS Staff Survey.
We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre.
Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day-care beds, diagnostic services (X-ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms.
Looking for flexible working?
We are a flexible working-friendly organisation. Whether it’s adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.
Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:
• At least 27 days of annual leave plus public/bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time staff).
• Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with a 20.6% employer contribution and life assurance benefits
• Blue Light card eligibility
• And more, additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
We’ve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children).
All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date had been agreed.
Person specification
Qualification
Essential criteria
1. HCPC registration
2. IBMS specialist portfolio (or registration under CPSM)
Desirable criteria
3. IBMS certificates of extended or expert practice
4. Membership MIBMS) or Fellowship of IBMS (FIBMS)
Skills
Essential criteria
5. High level of manual dexterity
6. Ability to organise own work and to do so under pressure.
7. Able to manage and prioritise the day to day work of the Histology laboratory and direct staff accordingly
8. Able to problem solve
9. Evidence of decision making
10. Good communications skills
11. Good supervisory and teaching ability
12. Basic IT literacy
Desirable criteria
13. Proficient use of Pathology computer system
14. Proficient in Microsoft word, excel and outlook
Experience/Knowledge
Essential criteria
15. Minimum 2 years’ experience at AfC band 5 or equivalent
16. Clear evidence of relevant continued professional development (CPD) activity (for own benefit and as an example to junior staff)
17. Evidence of acting in a supervisory or team leadership role effective staff leadership
18. Participation in laboratory audit activities
19. Specialist understanding of Histology and Cytology laboratory technique and its contribution to diagnosis
20. Understanding of H&S requirements in laboratory
21. Basic understanding of laboratory accreditation requirement
22. Awareness how laboratory tests contribute to diagnosis
Desirable criteria
23. Understanding of ISO 15189 for