Associate Practitioner - Cellular Pathology

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust is seeking Associate Practitioners to join the Cellular Pathology lab at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead. You will assist in sample preparation, embedding and microtomy, and use automated platforms for tracking, staining and imaging under supervision.

The posts require a foundation degree or equivalent in Biomedical Sciences and DBS clearance. Roles are NHS AfC Band 4, with 37.5 hours per week and both full-time and part-time arrangements.

Qualifications

• Foundation degree in Biomedical Sciences or equivalent is preferred.
• Structured training programme to acquire core competencies.
• DBS check compliance and safeguarding requirements.

Responsibilities

• Sample preparation, embedding and microtomy.
• Use of automated platforms for sample tracking, staining and imaging.
• Data input into the laboratory computer system.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organisational skills

Teamwork

Communication

Education

Foundation degree in Biomedical Sciences

First year of Biomedical Sciences degree

NVQ3 in Clinical Laboratory Support

Job description

Main area Cellular Pathology Grade NHS AfC: Band 4 Contract Permanent: Full time position available Hours

• Full time
• Part time

37.5 hours per week (. Full and part time positions available) Job ref 297-8324895

Employer Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Queen Elizabeth Hospital Town Gateshead Salary £28,392 - £31,157 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 28/10/2026 23:59

NHS AfC: Band 4

IMPORTANT NOTE ON COMPLETION OF REFERENCE SECTION OF APPLICATION FORM
All references from current and previous employers will be sought and MUST cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Where possible this should be from two separate employers. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.
PLEASE NOTEit is a requirement of this Trust that all successful applicants pay for their DBS certificate if a check is required for the post. This will be done through deduction from your monthly pay over a maximum of three months. It is also a requirement that all successful applicants register or are registered with the DBS update service where a DBS is required.

All new entrants to the NHS will be appointed on the minimum of the pay scale in line with Terms & Conditions.

Job overview

The Cellular Pathology clinical laboratory team provides a High Quality Specialist Diagnostic Service to support and improve the Health Care of the people of South of Tyne and Wear.

An opportunity has arisen for a number of Associate Practitioner positions. The successful candidates will have good interpersonal and organisational skills and work well under pressure in a team environment in order to achieve both the Trust and Departmental objectives. The posts will be based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead.

This post is subject to DBS (Police Bureau) STANDARD Disclosure

Anyone applying for a position which involves a regulated activity will require an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check and that the disclosure will, where appropriate to the role, include information against the Independent Safeguarding Authority barred lists for working with children or working with adults or both.

The job will include sample preparation, assistance in cut-up, embedding and microtomy and the use of automated platforms for sample tracking, staining and digital imaging.

You will also be involved in the preparation of biological fluids and data input into the laboratory computer system. Experience in Cellular pathology is essential but In-house training will be given to achieve competency.

The post holder will follow the In-house competency training program and with supervision by qualified staff will be responsible for performing a range of scientific procedures on various tissue and biological samples that will contribute to the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of diseases in the investigation of pathological processes.

The candidate if required will also work towards the completion of the IBMS registration portfolio.

The successful candidate must meet ALL of the essential criteria in the job description.

The post will be on Gateshead Health NHS Trust terms and conditions of employment. Full participation in the relevant Department’s extended working day and the out of hours service is a mandatory requirement of the post.

Working for our organisation

Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.

Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.

We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.

Our values should be the ‘golden thread’ which runs through everything we do – they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronymICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement.

We have a number of staff networks including the BAME network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women’s Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our armed forces network is one of our emerging networks.

The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our ‘Balance’ programme balancegateshead.com to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The job will include sample preparation, assistance in cut-up, embedding and microtomy and the use of automated platforms for sample tracking, staining and digital imaging.

You will also be involved in the preparation of biological fluids and data input into the laboratory computer system. Experience in Cellular pathology is essential but In-house training will be given to achieve competency.

Qualifications

• Studying for or have attained an appropriate qualification. Preferably a foundation degree in Biomedical Sciences or the First year of an approved Biomedical sciences degree or NVQ3 in Clinical Laboratory Support or equivalent level qualification in a relevant topic as a minimum.

Training

• Undertake a structured training and development programme to successfully acquire core competencies.

Applicants who have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date are to assume that their application has been unsuccessful.

Applications from job seekers who require Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications where the post is eligible. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) .

Candidates who require sponsorship are strongly advised to visit the UK Border Agency website and familiarise themselves with what is required. There is a facility on this site to access the points based calculator and work through an example which should assist candidates in their understanding of the process.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.