Job summary
- Main area
- Cellular Pathology
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job share
- Job ref
- 218-HSS-B7-8144337
- Employer
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire
- Town
- Coventry
- Salary
- £49,387 - £56,515 pro rata per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 26/07/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 07/08/2026
Employer heading
Senior Biomedical Scientist, Dissector
NHS AfC: Band 7
Job overview
Coventry and Warwickshire Pathology Services (CWPS) offer a range of diagnostics tests across a number of departments. The Cellular Pathology service receives approximately 56,000 cases per year across 3 NHS Trusts; University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, George Eliot NHS Trust and South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust.
The Histology laboratories are based at University Hospital Coventry and Warwick Hospital. It is an exciting time to join the department as we are currently implementing new laboratory equipment. We have also recently implemented the Sectra Digital Pathology solution and brand new Hamamatsu scanners, and will be upgrading the Pathology LIMS system in 2026.
CWPS have been given funding for extra laboratory workforce to support in meeting the increasing demand for Histology case processing and Cancer Services across the Trusts. We are looking for a Specialist Dissector to join our busy and experienced dissection team.
The successful candidate will hold HCPC registration and will hold the IBMS Diploma of Expert Practice (DEP) for Dissection. The post holder will be expected to work at UHCW and South Warwick Hospital sites, with shifts being 7.5 hours between 0700-1900 Monday to Saturday on a rotational basis.
Successful applicants will be required to provide an immunisation and vaccination report, from either their current UK occupational health provider or their UK GP.
Main duties of the job
Responsible for performing, allocating and supervising the tasks required for the delivery of a fit for purpose medical laboratory service. Analyses and selects clinical samples to provide a diagnostic service to achieve the objectives of efficient and effective patient care, and effective resource management across the CWPS Network at the UHCW and SWFT sites.
Breadth of specimens are defined but not limited to categories RCpath A-C. These have routine specimens and are covered by detailed SOPs. To understand the limits of their practice and know when to forward cases to pathologists or the Specialist scientific leads. Some training in D and E specimen is expected if working towards the Advanced Specialist diploma.
Working for our organisation
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, rated as good by the Care Quality Commission, is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the UK.
We are extremely proud of our employees across our hospital sites, with high quality patient care at the heart of everything we do.
Boasting some of the most modern facilities in Western Europe, the Trust is renowned for being at the forefront of research and innovation as part of its blossoming reputation as a worldwide leader in healthcare.
We are proud to be recognised as a Pathway to Excellence® designated organisation – please click the link for further details about this prestigious award. Pathway To Excellence ® - University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire (uhcw.nhs.uk)
By joining our exciting journey, you will form part of a passionate, talented team and will be able to access a wide range of learning and development opportunities. There has never been a better time to join our team.
The Trust is committed to building an organisation that makes full use of the talents, skills, experience, and different perspectives available in our diverse society. We want everyone to feel they are respected, valued, can achieve their potential and receive the most appropriate and relevant care. We will create an environment where the equality and human rights principles of fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy are promoted and are part of the organisation's core values.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- Daily supervise and monitor staff in the performance of routine and specialised diagnostic services on patient and environmental samples containing potentially infectious material including tissue specimens using complex and highly specialised techniques to exacting medical and scientific standards according to standard operating procedures. To perform such diagnostic tests as required across our pathology network at the UHCW and SWFT sites.
- Daily to plan, allocate and reallocate work schedules for themselves and the team and determine work priorities to meet service needs.
- To deputise for the Specialist Scientific Lead Tissue Dissection & Sampling in each department as required.
- Record, and validate results. Report and technically authorise individual reports from the team in electronic form and / or verbally to persons authorised to receive them e.g. Medical, nursing and non medical staff.
- Ensure quality assurance procedures are followed. Quality check outputs including maintaining necessary internal records and investigate non conformance.
- To organise and participate in external and internal quality assurance schemes and vertical and horizontal audits.
- Participate in departmental quality review meetings and propose and implement change as appropriate.
- Organise and monitor maintenance on routine and complex equipment to ensure accuracy and precision of results. Troubleshoot faults and take appropriate action to maintain the patient service.
- Prioritise work to meet local and national laboratory performance targets eg. turnaround times for results, as directed by departmental managers.
- To propose, oversee and develop the implementation of new techniques, equipment and working practices.
- Prepare, review and update standard operating procedures.
- Provide and receive specialist knowledge in a departmental section to staff and users.
- Monitor and maintain stocks of materials, reagents, consumables and equipment
- Deal with telephone enquiries when difficulty in comprehension may occur.
- Travel between sites (UHCW and SWFT) to support the dissection service
For further details of the role please see the attached job description.
Closing Date: Please be advised that this job advert will close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Please apply for this job as soon as you can, if interested.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- • Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Science (FIBMS) or appropriate MSc or equivalent. • Biomedical Science degree acceptable to the HCPC or equivalent qualification • Current registration with HCPC • Evidence of CPD • To have attained IBMS Diploma of Expert Practice in Histological Dissection
Desirable criteria
- • Management qualification • Further qualification such as the IBMS Advanced specialist diploma (ASD).
Experience
Essential criteria
- • Working in a clinical laboratory as a state registered BMS
Desirable criteria
- • Experience of training other staff • Problem solving
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- • Demonstrate an in depth knowledge of required discipline • Anatomical, clinical presentation and differential diagnose • Audit and Error Logging • A knowledge of the UKAS accreditation system and how it fits in the dissection lab
Skills
Essential criteria
- • Be able to speak, receive and issue instructions without risk of misunderstanding. • Good organisational skills • Be able to prepare and comment on complex documents such as a standard operating procedure • High level of accuracy and attention to detail. • Ability to train other staff • Ability to communicate technical information and results to other health professionals and be able to use telephone and email • IT and keyboard skills • Supervisory skills • Planning and organisational skills
Desirable criteria
- • Ability to drive between sites
Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours
Essential criteria
- • Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust’s values. (As detailed in UHCW’s Values in Action document below) • Applicants applying for job roles with managerial responsibility will be required to demonstrate evidence of promoting equal opportunities through work experience
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
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.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Clare Wood
- Job title
- Lead BMS for dissection
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 024769655341
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