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Job summary

Main area
Histology
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Shifts between 0700 and 1900, Monday to Saturday)
Job ref
218-HSS-B6-8144511
Employer
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire
Town
Coventry
Salary
£39,959 - £48,117 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
26/07/2026 23:59
Interview date
17/08/2026

Employer heading

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust logo

Specialist Biomedical Scientist, Histology

NHS AfC: Band 6

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 Biomedical Scientist to join our team.

The successful candidate will HCPC registered and hold the IBMS specialist portfolio in Cellular Pathology.  

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.

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

The network offers an excellent opportunity to those seeking employment in a modern, innovative and high-profile organisation. Working shifts are 7.5 hours  between 7am to 7pm, Monday- Saturday across the 2 Hospital sites on a rotational basis.

Technical:

  1. Daily perform routine and specialised diagnostic services on patient or environmental samples containing potentially infectious material.
  2. To carry out routine maintenance on analytical equipment as required and in accordance with standard operating procedures.
  3. To carry out equipment and method troubleshooting, advise the Section Manager of situations requiring further action, work with service engineers on fault resolution.
  4. To prepare, store and use reagents required for laboratory investigations. 

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

Main responsibilities: 

  • To perform manual, semi-automated and fully-automated laboratory investigations to exacting medical and scientific standards according to Standard Operating Procedures.
  • Interpretation of diagnostic investigations and be responsible for the validity of results and ensure accuracy and precision as specified by laboratory protocols and procedures
  • To report to the Section Manager any instance or event which may cause a service delivery failure, but be fully involved in the resolution of such events.
  • To develop and investigate new techniques or analysers as required by the changing needs of the service.
  • To ensure that all results are reported within the agreed turnaround time and to take remedial action, for example communicating appropriately with colleagues and managers.
  • Work to meet laboratory performance targets as directed by senior staff.
  • To use departmental resources efficiently and ensure reagents and consumables are ordered when approaching minimum stock levels.
  • To participate in the review and update of Standard Operating Procedures and health and safety documentation including COSHH and workplace risk assessments by commenting or proposing changes.  
  • To measure and monitor the accuracy and imprecision of laboratory investigations using appropriate quality control procedures.
  • Act appropriately in the event of a technical/analytical non-conformity and appropriately inform the Section Manager. Decide with appropriate liaison with senior staff the subsequent level of investigation and reporting.
  • Participate in external and internal quality assurance schemes and vertical and horizontal audits as directed by senior staff.
  • To ensure that records are kept up to date and stored safely to ensure compliance the ISO15189 standard.
  • Promote a culture of quality throughout the laboratory. 

For further details of the role please see the attached job description. 

All correspondence will be sent by email; please check your account regularly including your Junk/SPAM folders

 

Person specification

Qualification

Essential criteria
  • • Biomedical Science degree acceptable to the HCPC or equivalent qualification. • Current registration with HCPC. • Evidence of CPD. • Completion of the IBMS Specialist Diploma or equivalent qualification.

Experience

Essential criteria
  • • Post registration and NHS experience.
Desirable criteria
  • • Evidence of recent laboratory experience. • Problem solving.

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • • Demonstrate a broad-based knowledge in Pathology in required discipline.

Skills & Abilities

Essential criteria
  • • Be able to speak, receive and issue instructions without risk of misunderstanding. • Be able to follow complex documents such as a standard operating procedure. • High level of accuracy and attention to detail. • IT and keyboard skills.

Trust Values

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

No smoking policyAge positiveDisability confident leaderImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Pathway to excellenceCare quality commission - GoodPregnancy Loss PledgeHeart Charter

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

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Katie Forrest
Job title
Cellular Pathology SWFT Site Lead
Email address
[email protected]
Additional information

 

 

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