Job summary
- Main area
- Histology
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 5/6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (shifts between 07:00 and 19:00 Monday to Saturday)
- Job ref
- 218-HSS-B6-8290396
- Employer
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire
- Town
- Coventry
- Salary
- £32,073 - £48,117 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 05/10/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 19/10/2026
Employer heading
Trainee / Specialist Biomedical Scientist, Histology
NHS AfC: Band 5/6
Job overview
Applications are invited from Biomedical Scientists who are interested in joining our excellent team in the Cellular Pathology Department. The Histology laboratories are based at University Hospital in Coventry and at South Warwick and provide a diagnostic pathology service for the Coventry and Warwickshire Pathology Services and handle over 300,00 slides per year.
The successful candidate will HCPC registered and hold the IBMS specialist portfolio in Cellular Pathology. You will be expected to undertake routine and specialist histopathology including immunohistochemistry, special stains, laboratory QC and some dissection work, and will possess knowledge and skill levels enabling you to work both independently; supervising other lab staff as appropriate; and under the supervision of senior biomedical scientists to maintain a cross-site histology service.
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
You will participate fully in the laboratory shift system; which currently comprises working 37.5 hours between 07:00 to 19:00 and includes weekend working on a rotational basis. This is a full time position.
Technical:
- Daily perform routine and specialised diagnostic services on patient or environmental samples containing potentially infectious material.
- To carry out routine maintenance on analytical equipment as required and in accordance with standard operating procedures.
- To carry out equipment and method troubleshooting, advise the Section Manager of situations requiring further action, work with service engineers on fault resolution.
- 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
The Cellular Pathology service is a rapidly expanding part of the Coventry and Warwickshire Pathology Network, which is based on the hospital sites at Coventry (University Hospital), Nuneaton (George Eliot Hospital) and Warwick (South Warwickshire Hospital). It offers a comprehensive range of Pathology services to a population of approximately 1 million Coventry and Warwickshire residents and has a close relationship with the Medical school at Warwick University. The network offers an excellent opportunity to those seeking employment in a modern, innovative and high-profile organisation. We have digital slide scanning on both sites and we scan 100% of slides at UHCW including screening cases.
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 as a Biomedical Scientist. • Commitment to work towards completion of the IBMS Specialist Diploma. • Evidence of CPD.
Experience
Essential criteria
- • At least 12 months post registration and NHS experience.
Desirable criteria
- • Evidence of recent laboratory experience. • Evidence of problem solving/ troubleshooting.
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.
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
- Katie Forrest
- Job title
- Site Lead Warwick Histopathology
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01926495321
- Additional information
Katie Forrest - 01926495321 #4334
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