Job vacancy: Biomedical Scientist IHC & Molecular Pathology, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Blackpool

Job summary

Main area: Histology
Grade: NHS AfC: Band 5
Contract: Permanent: Part-time
Hours: Part time - 17.5 hours per week (Working pattern - Monday 5 hours, Tuesday or Thursday 5 hours and Friday 7.5 hours)
Job ref: 382-CS17-26

Employer: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS FT
Town: Blackpool
Salary: £31,049 - £37,796 pa pro rata for part time
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 19/02/2026 23:59

Biomedical Scientist IHC & Molecular Pathology

NHS AfC: Band 5

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people.

We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. Plus, we provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries.

We welcome and encourage application from anyone with protected characteristics, as well as supporting reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals encourages flexible working in all our roles to support staff in maintaining healthy home-life balance. Working patterns such as: part time working, self-rostering, compressed hours, annualised hours, term time, reverse term time and flexitime working can be explored.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY:

The post holder will carry out all tests and background tasks in the

Immunohistochemistry and molecular section of the department following established Standard Operating Procedures.

Additional duties will be undertaken as directed by the Head of Department in consultation with the post holder

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Scientific and technical

· To ensure requests submitted to and accepted by the Department are processed in accordance with the agreed department protocols, in an accurate & timely manner.

· To plan, perform and control diagnostic procedures using automated and manual techniques to prescribed standards.

· To ensure correct operation of specialised tests and ensure laboratory analyses are operating within defined parameters.

· To have the depth of knowledge and required skills to safely handle infected specimens (e.g. T.B. H.I.V., Hepatitis B, C) and hazardous materials (e.g. toxic chemicals) according to defined protocols, including spillage control or other unexpected outcomes.

· To have the depth of knowledge and intricate physical skills to set up and operate complex instrumentation and specialist equipment, such as microscopes, microtomes, automated processors and staining equipment.

· To have the depth of knowledge and required skills to safely proceed in the event of anomalous results, breakdowns, or other unexpected outcomes, reporting faults and breakdowns to senior staff and/or taking corrective or evasive action as appropriate.

· To plan and prioritise workload according to service needs and pressures, in conjunction with senior staff. To communicate and co-operate with colleagues to ensure efficient and effective delivery of service.

· To carry out laboratory policies, Risk Assessments and Standard Operating Procedures, recommend modifications and contribute to future developments.

· To provide technical advice and explanation on complex matters to medical and other staff, within defined parameters, when the need arises.

· To ensure the accurate data entry and text/data processing of all information on manual and automated (computer) systems.

· To carry out Internal and External Quality Assurance Schemes.

· Monitor appropriate levels of stocks and supplies and report deficiencies to senior staff.

· To participate in approved research and audit programmes.

· To participate in the evaluation of new instrumentation, policies, and procedures.

· To validate departmental processes and procedures, according to protocols, national and local standards.

· To supervise and mentor junior staff and to deliver training and validation of personal competencies.

· Monitor and maintain high professional standards of the service.

· In conjunction with senior staff, to monitor departmental and individual workstation performance and ensure that all areas perform within expected parameters.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

BSc Biomedical Science
Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council.

Experience

Essential criteria

Experience of manual and automated laboratory techniques in histology.
Experience of accreditation systems and QC schemes in histology.
Experience of working in Immunohistochemistry section or department and good knowledge of theory and techniques.
Experience of Molecular techniques

Skills

Essential criteria

• Good oral and written communication skills, telephone technique, client / customer liaison.
• Good laboratory practice, technical and organisational skills.
• Patient and calm, yet assertive and decisive when required.

Personal

Essential criteria

Show respect and clarity when communicating work matters to colleagues.
Flexibility of working pattern.
Prepared to undertake training, capable of acquiring new skills
Able to work as part of a dedicated team.

Please click here to view our Care and Compassion Day video

Any invitation to interview will be sent to the email account stated on your application form.

If the role you have applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this as part of your pre-employment checks. Please note, you will be required to repay the cost on appointment. This will be collected via a salary deduction. You can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months from your salary or as a one-off payment on commencement in post. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently the charges are - Basic DBS check £25.50, Standard DBS check £25.50 and Enhanced DBS check £53.50.

You are encouraged where possible, to register for the DBS update service. This is an annual registration fee of £16. By registering for the update service you will not have the additional cost of repeated disclosures.

Should you withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check.

DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions.

By submitting an application for this vacancy you are confirming your agreement to the above in the event you are successfully appointed.

The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here.

Please ensure that you read the Person Specification attached below as your application will be judged against this.

Please note that every effort will be made to keep the vacancy live until published closing date, though there may be instances where such interest is generated, that for administrative reasons the post may close earlier.

Please note that in line with national NHS guidelines this Trust operates a strict non-smoking policy. Members of staff are not permitted to smoke on Trust premises or grounds at any time nor take breaks during working hours for the purposes of smoking.

The Trust does not offer interview expenses to shortlisted candidates unless indicated in the advert.

Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - Silver

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name

Joanne Sharples

Job title

Cellular Pathology Manager

Email address

[email protected]

Telephone number

01253953151

Additional information

Tom Christopherson

Section Lead for IHC & Molecular Pathology

Tel: 01253 954359

Email: [email protected]

If you have problems applying, contact

Address: BTH
Telephone: 03033 301 033

List jobs with Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Health Science Services or all sectors

Job summary

Employer heading

Biomedical Scientist IHC & Molecular Pathology

NHS AfC: Band 5

Job overview

Main duties of the job

Working for our organisation

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY:

The post holder will carry out all tests and background tasks in the

Immunohistochemistry and molecular section of the department following established Standard Operating Procedures.

Additional duties will be undertaken as directed by the Head of Department in consultation with the post holder

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Scientific and technical

· To ensure requests submitted to and accepted by the Department are processed in accordance with the agreed department protocols, in an accurate & timely manner.

· To plan, perform and control diagnostic procedures using automated and manual techniques to prescribed standards.

· To ensure correct operation of specialised tests and ensure laboratory analyses are operating within defined parameters.

· To have the depth of knowledge and required skills to safely handle infected specimens (e.g. T.B. H.I.V., Hepatitis B, C) and hazardous materials (e.g. toxic chemicals) according to defined protocols, including spillage control or other unexpected outcomes.

· To have the depth of knowledge and intricate physical skills to set up and operate complex instrumentation and specialist equipment, such as microscopes, microtomes, automated processors and staining equipment.

· To have the depth of knowledge and required skills to safely proceed in the event of anomalous results, breakdowns, or other unexpected outcomes, reporting faults and breakdowns to senior staff and/or taking corrective or evasive action as appropriate.

· To plan and prioritise workload according to service needs and pressures, in conjunction with senior staff. To communicate and co-operate with colleagues to ensure efficient and effective delivery of service.

· To carry out laboratory policies, Risk Assessments and Standard Operating Procedures, recommend modifications and contribute to future developments.

· To provide technical advice and explanation on complex matters to medical and other staff, within defined parameters, when the need arises.

· To ensure the accurate data entry and text/data processing of all information on manual and automated (computer) systems.

· To carry out Internal and External Quality Assurance Schemes.

· Monitor appropriate levels of stocks and supplies and report deficiencies to senior staff.

· To participate in approved research and audit programmes.

· To participate in the evaluation of new instrumentation, policies, and procedures.

· To validate departmental processes and procedures, according to protocols, national and local standards.

· To supervise and mentor junior staff and to deliver training and validation of personal competencies.

· Monitor and maintain high professional standards of the service.

· In conjunction with senior staff, to monitor departmental and individual workstation performance and ensure that all areas perform within expected parameters.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Experience

Essential criteria

Skills

Essential criteria

Personal

Essential criteria

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

Documents to download

Further details / informal visits contact

If you have problems applying, contact

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