Job summary
- Main area
- Pathology
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to friday)
- Job ref
- 249-7357591
- Employer
- Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation trust
- Town
- Swindon
- Salary
- £31,049 - £37,796 per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 15/08/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Band 5 Biomedical Scientist - Quality Support (Pan Pathology)
NHS AfC: Band 5
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a unique organisation, serving as the sole integrated provider in the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire system. Our scope extends beyond boundaries as we oversee adult community services in Swindon and provide acute care from the Great Western Hospital.
Our 5,500 staff have 1.2m patient contacts a year, with 13,000 operations carried out in our Theatres, around 4,000 babies born, and our emergency attendances are now well over 100,000 per year. Those numbers only tell part of our story about what an exciting time it is to join Great Western Hospitals.
We are cultivating a culture that fosters our ambitions, prioritising equality, diversion, inclusion, wellbeing, and leadership. We aim to create an environment where every member of our team can truly thrive.
The Trust is a Disability Confident Employer; all applicants who have a disability can opt to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme, which means that, providing they meet the minimum essential criteria for the post, they will be offered an interview. We are also proudly accredited as a Veteran Aware organisation and have signed The Armed Forces Covenant.
If we receive a high volume of applications, we may close adverts prior to the published closing date. Therefore, we advise you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.
Job overview
We are seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Biomedical Scientist with a keen eye for detail and a strong commitment to patient safety to join our Pathology team.
In this role, you will work closely with the Pathology Quality & Customer Engagement manager and multidisciplinary laboratory teams to support the delivery of a robust, effective Quality Management System in accordance with accreditation and regulatory bodies and Trust governance requirements.
Using your laboratory experience you will play a vital role in supporting the teams across Pathology to ensure that the the department continues to provide safe, accurate and timely diagnostic services.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will participate in a range of quality tasks including auditing, risk assessing processes across Pathology, investigation and review of non-conformances and supporting the management of controlled documents.
You will promote a strong culture of continuous improvement, co-ordinate essential training to laboratory staff and support accreditation readiness across microbiology, haematology, biochemistry and cellular pathology laboratory disciplines. Your work will help to underpin the quality and care delivered to our patients.
With a strong appreciation for data, you will contribute to the monitoring and reporting of quality performance indicators.
As a biomedical scientist you will undergo appropriate teaching and training as directed and as necessary in order to maintain HCPC registration and to maintain suitable records of all training activities undertaken.
Working for our organisation
"Our STAR values - Service, Teamwork, Ambition and Respect - are a golden thread running through everything we do. These values serve as a guiding principle, driving us towards our vision of delivering great joined up services to our local community. Whether at home, in the community, or within the hospital, our goal is to empower individuals to lead independent and healthier lives."
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The successful candidate will thrive on organisation, believe in doing things right and be keen to be part of a forward thinking service that values improvement, accountability and professional development. Duties include:
1. To engage with the departmental quality management system to ensure the laboratory standards of operation are consistent with UKAS15189 accreditation standards
2. Work in accordance with departmental standard operating procedure documentation (SOPs)
3. To gain an understanding of how the clinical laboratories operate and gain knowledge of tasks required to maintain an efficient workflow of patient samples within the department
4. To support the Pathology Quality Manager and the Laboratory Management Team in ensuring Quality and Governance requirements are adhered to on a day-to-day basis such as control and maintenance of documentation ensuring regular review of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s, policies and quality documents)
5. To provide input into reports and to attend Quality Management meetings and Management Reviews when required
6. To support the Quality Manager and Laboratory Management team in the preparation of UKAS/ MHRA/ HTA surveillance visits
8. To conduct audits as required and assist in monitoring progress of departmental audits and closure of related findings
9. To assist in the management and investigation of incidents as required
10. To assist in the collection of data for quality and key performance indicators
13. To assist the Quality Manager in planning, co-ordination and delivery of training in quality management to promote awareness of quality procedures, policies and continuous improvement across the service
14. To provide guidance to Pathology staff regarding QMS and compliance requirements
15. To maintain professional competency, skills and develop knowledge of quality management as required ensuring activities are recorded accurately and evidence available when necessary
16. To understand the importance of the laboratory service and how it contributes to the provision of outstanding care for patients
Person specification
Education, Qualifications and Training
Essential criteria
- Degree level qualification and / or equivalent knowledge and experience
- Evidence of ongoing continuing professional development
Desirable criteria
- IBMS accredited degree
- HCPC Registered Biomedical Scientist
- Previous quality training evidenced
Experience
Essential criteria
- • Experience of modern laboratory techniques and good knowledge of current professional issues.
- • Experience of using Quality management systems and procedures such as carrying out audits, error logging through non-conformance reports and reviewing SOP’s/ Policies and risk assessments
- • Understanding of requirements for UKAS surveillance visit preparation and follow up
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of the ISO 15189:2022 standard
- Experience of UKAS or other regulatory surveillance visits
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
- Trudi Carey
- Job title
- Pathology Quality and Customer Engagement Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01793 605013
List jobs with Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Health Science Services or all sectors