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Job summary

Main area
Cellular Pathology
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
193-8215225NCG
Employer
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Harborne House, University of Reading
Town
Reading
Salary
£39,959 - £48,117 (plus 5% Fringe) per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
03/09/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust logo

Experienced Biomedical Scientist - Cellular Pathology

NHS AfC: Band 6

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is “Working together to provide outstanding care for our community.”

Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated ‘Good’ with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements.  The Trust’s overall rating has also improved to ‘good’.  

We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions

We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate

We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live

We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, we value candidates who bring their unique personalities, skills, and experiences to the Trust. When completing your application, we encourage you to highlight your individual achievements and strengths, showing us how they align with the requirements outlined in the job description and person specification. While we recognise that some applicants may use AI tools during the process, please be mindful that AI-generated responses can often lack the personal detail and relevance needed to demonstrate your suitability for the role. AI generated content is discouraged by the Trust and may diminish the candidates chances of success.

Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don’t you come and join us.  We offer a range of learning and development for all employees may you be clinical or non-clinical.  

Please note: all vacancies automatically close when 50 applications have been received.

Job overview

Band 6 Experienced Biomedical Scientist - Cellular Pathology

The Cellular Pathology department has a vacancy for experienced BMS in the Histology section at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust based at the Whiteknights campus at the University of Reading. 

Applicants for this post must be well-motivated HPC registered Biomedical Scientist and have a minimum of two years' post registration experience or equivalent. Specialist portfolio required or started. 

We are looking for an experienced, competent and versatile individual with proven experience in Immunohistochemistry, frozen sections and all aspects of routine Histology. Experience in specimen dissection would be an advantage but not essential as training would be given.

Applicants will be required to undertake a practical test as part of interview process.

We are an IBMS accredited training laboratory and support training for Specialist portfolio if started will be given.

The post is full-time 37.5 hours per week Monday to Friday (the department is about to undergo consultation for extended day/weekends in a shift pattern and would be an expectation to participate for the successful candidate).

There will be a practical element required at interview so all candidates must be able to attend face-to-face (Teams interviews will not be considered).

Main duties of the job

Provide complex and sensitive information, in the form of test results, to clinicians, nursing staff and appropriate others, overcoming any barriers to understanding and ensuring that due regard has been given to the significance and urgency of such results.   

Transmit highly complex information to colleagues, including less experienced staff & staff undergoing training, in order to ensure an understanding of all techniques employed and the highly complex equipment used in the analysis of Pathological samples.

Analyse and interpret test and other data involving complex facts in pursuance of service needs and to benefit the patient.

This is a busy department, having merged with Wexham Park Hospital histology department into a facility located at Harborne House, White knights campus, University of Reading.

Workload combined is around 55,000 for histology and 5,000 NG. Performing a wide range of Immunohistochemistry techniques.

We have full UKAS accreditation. ISO 15189:2022.

Working for our organisation

Reading sits on the river Thames and is served by great road and rail links to London, Oxford and Southampton. With excellent leisure and shopping facilities, and a thriving cultural scene, Reading is a wonderful place to live, work and play and provides excellent facilities for families, including some of the best state and private schools in the UK.

The CQC rated the care provided by the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust as Good.

Our "CARE" values: Compassionate, Aspirational, Resourceful, Excellent, reflect the type of Trust we aspire to be and you can join our dedicated and talented staff to make this happen.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will be an HPC registered Biomedical Scientist with well-developed specialist knowledge and skills appropriate to their Pathology service.

You will be required to work unsupervised (including on shift where appropriate and necessary), either as part of a team or independently, receiving, analysing and reporting specimens for Pathological investigations.

The post holder will be required to perform a complex range of tests using dedicated scientific equipment on all samples received.

You will be required to interpret and report results in accordance with agreed service protocols to clinicians and nursing staff in primary & secondary care. 

The department has a full tracking system and digital pathology.

Knowledge and experience of UKAS 15189:2022.

You will also be required to ensure your appropriate continual professional development and evidence such, in accordance with the requirements of the Health Professions Council (HPC), and train and supervise less experienced staff as directed by you line manager.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • IBMS BMS degree
Desirable criteria
  • Started Specialist portfolio

Experience

Essential criteria
  • 2 years post registration
  • IHC and or QA knowledge
Desirable criteria
  • UKAS experience

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Florence Nightingale FoundationNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark 2024

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Application numbers

This vacancy will automatically close when 50 applications have been received.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Mandy Babington
Job title
HBMS
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01183228201
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