Job summary
- Main area
- Pathology
- Grade
- Band 2
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 384-AR-EMF20364-B2
- Employer
- Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- The Royal Surrey Hospital
- Town
- Guildford
- Salary
- £26,618 per annum - including high cost area supplements (HCAS)
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 22/04/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Support Worker - Pathology
Band 2
Job overview
Pathology Support Worker
Department of Histology (RSCH Guildford)
Applications are invited for the above post in our busy Histology and newly refurbished department, based at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford.
Histology is the science behind tissue diagnostics and the RSCH laboratory has a high throughput of complex and interesting cases. Duties will include assisting MLA, BMS and consultant staff in the specimen dissection process, entry of patient data into the laboratory computer system and preparation of tissues prior to microtomy.
A methodical and accurate approach is important, as well as the ability to work on your own or as part of a team. The successful applicant would ideally have 5 GCSEs (or equivalent). Full training will be given.
Main duties of the job
To provide laboratory administrative and practical support to senior support workers and more senior staff.
· To participate in the provision of an efficient and cost effective Histology service within Surrey Pathology Services.
· To assist in the preparation of tissue samples and perform both routine techniques efficiently and in a conscientious manner with respect to work pressures and quality of the service.
To assist with other members of staff to provide an efficient and effective service to all users of the Histopathology Department. This merged department provides a service for The Royal Surrey County Hospital, Frimley Park Hospital and St Peter’s Hospital.
Working for our organisation
Royal Surrey is a compassionate and collaborative acute and community Trust. Recognising that our 5000 colleagues are our greatest strength, we offer a comprehensive health and wellbeing program along with a commitment to developing and advancing your career. Our diverse and welcoming Royal Surrey family will ensure you that you feel valued from your initial interview through your entire tenure.
We are clinically led and provide joined up care by bridging the gap between hospital and community services alongside regional specialist cancer care. Our main acute hospital site is in Guildford with community hospital sites at Milford, Haslemere and Cranleigh. We provide adult community health services in homes across Guildford and Waverley.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) have given us an overall rating of Outstanding.
Royal Surrey has a strong reputation and history to build on. We are proud of our achievements and we are investing in our colleagues through our commitment to supporting professional development as well as investing more than £45 million in our physical environment and new equipment in the next few years. There has never been a better time to join us.
Although it isn't the Trusts normal practice, adverts may close early, so you are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.
A video about the Royal Surrey - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R96pMboIYdo
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the full job bdescription & person specification
To undertake specimen reception and documentation in accordance with approved procedures.
To assist medical and technical staff in recording specimen descriptions during dissection, and to clean/disinfect the dissection area afterwards.
To accurately type patient details and required tests into the Pathology computer system.
To monitor laboratory stock levels and notify a senior member of staff if stocks of laboratory consumables fall below agreed levels.
To maintain, clean and change reagents on machines and instruments according to departmental and manufacturer protocols.
To assist the Senior laboratory support workers in tasks such as filing and preparation of blocks prior to microtomy.
General
To assist higher grades of staff in the performance of other routine laboratory tasks, such as filing and archived material retrieval.
To answer telephone enquiries in accordance with laboratory protocol in order to provide an effective and user friendly service.
To comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act at all times.
Please note: This job description is an outline of the current situation and may be subject to change according to the future needs of the department.
Changes to the job description will be discussed with the job holder Work on any site within BSPS and participate in extended hours as required by the service.
Be prepared to participate in all rotas as needed to support a 7-day a week service, helping to future-proof the organisation’s operational and staffing flexibility.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Good standard of general education. GCSE, A level or higher
Desirable criteria
- GCSE pass in Science related subject or equivalent
Knowledge
Desirable criteria
- Understanding of histology
- Awareness of basic Health and Safety regulations
- Experience of working in the NHS
Skills
Essential criteria
- Ability to effective communicate via face to face, telephone, email contact and internal meetings.
- Possess basic IT skills
- Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations
- Ability to manage time effectively
- Able to understand and follow Standard Operating Procedures
- Self motivating
- Attention to detail
- Ability to prioritise tasks and organise daily work
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
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
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Tareq Ansari
- Job title
- Appointing Manager
- Telephone number
- 01483 571122
- Additional information
To obtain further information or to arrange an informal visit please contact Tareq Ansari Ext 4263
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