Associate Practitioner - Histopathology

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; West of England; Sur place; GBP 26 000 - 34 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

The Cellular Pathology Department at Southmead Hospital within Bristol NHS Foundation Trust seeks an Associate Practitioner to support daily Histopathology laboratory operations. You will be involved in sample receipt, data entry, specimen preparation, and embedding.

The role includes HTA regulated activities, paediatric pathology support, and tissue banking, with training for band 2/3 MLA's. A minimum of GCSEs, NVQ3, and HTA knowledge are essential; this is a permanent, full-time post working

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 GCSEs including Maths, English and Science.
• Knowledge and practical skills at NVQ level 3 or equivalent.
• IBMS Certificate of Achievement for Biomedical support staff (or working towards)

Responsabilités

• Assist with day-to-day support in the Histopathology laboratory.
• Handle receipt of samples and data entry.
• Assist with preparation of specimens for histological investigations.
• Maintain equipment and reagents.
• Train band 2/3 MLA's.
• Embed and microtomy of paraffin embedded tissues.
• Provide HTA regulated activities support and tissue banking programs.

Connaissances

MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel)

Good interpersonal and communication

Keyboard/data input skills

Formation

GCSEs including Maths English and Science

NVQ level 3 or equivalent

IBMS Certificate or working towards

Outils

Pathology IT systems

Description du poste

Education / Qualifications

Essential criteria

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This creates an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people. Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust. Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Job Overview

The Cellular Pathology Department at Southmead Hospital is a well-equipped, UKAS-accredited laboratory (ISO 15189:2022) and an IBMS-approved training centre. Processing approximately 80,000 requests each year, we provide a comprehensive Histopathology, Cytopathology, Neuropathology and Immunohistochemistry service across Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, local GP practices and healthcare organisations throughout the South West.

This post will be located in the Histopathology department.

Applications are invited from individuals with significant experience of working in a Histopatholgy laboratory and good working knowledge of Human Tissue Authority (HTA) legislation. In addition to a good understanding of the day to day workings of a Histopathology laboratory, it is highly desirable that the candidate have a good practical knowledge of microtomy and embedding.

This is a permanent, full-time position (37.5 hours per week, five days per week, Monday - Friday). Participation in a Saturday rota and work at our Essential Laboratory Services at the BRI may be required.

Please note this is not a training post and does not support completion of the HCPC Portfolio.

To learn more about Pathology at BFT, watch our video.

Main duties of the job

Role

You will be involved in the day-to-day support work of the Histopathology laboratory. The role will include, but not be limited to:

• Receipt of samples and data entry
• Assisting with the preparation of specimens for Histological investigations
• Maintenance of equipment and reagents
• Training of band 2/3 MLA's
• Embedding and microtomy of paraffin embedded tissues.

You will also provide specialist administrative and laboratory support for Human Tissue Authority (HTA) regulated activities, paediatric pathology services, and tissue banking programmes, alongside core Medical Laboratory Assistant duties.

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and Person Specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

(job overview contd:)

For this varied and interesting Associate Practitioner post, you will need to be passionate about working in healthcare, numerate and literate (with a minimum 4 GCSEs including English, Maths and a Science), be able to work as part of a team, be able to demonstrate adaptability and initiative and have good communication and organisational skills. This is not a training position and a degree level of education is not required for this post.

Applicants are required to have significant experience working in a Histopathology laboratory, good knowledge of the Human Tissue Authority (HTA), good keyboard skills and a working knowledge of the pathology IT systems used within Histopathology. It is highly desirable that the candidate have a good practical knowledge of microtomy and embedding.

Person specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Numerate and literate (minimum 4 GCSE’s, or equivalent, incl. Maths & English & a Science)
• Knowledge and practical skills at NVQ level 3 or equivalent

Desirable criteria

• IBMS Certificate of Achievement for Biomedical support staff (or working towards)

Work Experience

Essential criteria

• Knowledge of appropriate protocols and SOPs used within Histology including H&S
• Experience of working as a support grade worker in Histology
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to work with minimal supervision
• Experience of handling work-based telephone callsKnowledge of Human Tissue Authority (HTA) legislation. Standards and codes of practice, including requirements for tissue traceability, documentation, storage, retention, return and disposal

Desirable criteria

• Experience in histological techniques including embedding and microtomy

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

Essential criteria

• Knowledge of MS office including Outlook, Word and Excel
• Knowledge of basic medical terminology
• Good organisational skills. Ability to plan, prioritise and re-schedule workloads
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal
• Good keyboard skills including data input experience
• Possess manual dexterity and ability to work accurately
• Ability to work accurately with minimum supervision

Desirable criteria

• Supervisory experience

Personal Qualities

Essential criteria

• A desire to work in healthcare

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

• As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
• The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.
• BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
• To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.
• If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
• By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Important

Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.

As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.

When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work‑related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.