Biomedical Scientist/Specialist Biomedical Scientist Main Lab/Cut-up

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Norwich; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS trust in Norwich is seeking a Biomedical Scientist to join their Histopathology Department. The role offers opportunities for professional development, including participation in digital pathology reporting. Candidates must be HCPC registered and possess an IBMS accredited degree. Key responsibilities include managing specialized services, conducting histological techniques, and leading staff. Benefits include flexible working hours and a robust support system for career progression.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Pension scheme

Discounted gym memberships

Access to staff physiotherapy service

Qualifications

• HCPC registered BMS staff with IBMS accredited degree.
• Significant State Registration in a clinical setting.

Responsibilities

• Manage and prioritize work in specialized services.
• Communicate complex service-related information to colleagues.
• Carry out histological techniques and assist Pathologists.

Skills

Leadership

Histopathology methodologies

Education

BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Sciences or equivalent

Specialist Diploma from the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (IBMS)

Job description

Job Summary

A post is available in the Histopathology Department. This post presents an exciting opportunity to be part of an excellent team working in a busy modern teaching hospital laboratory. The department has a workload of around 70,000 surgical requests per year and covers a wide range of routine and specialised services.

This is an excellent opportunity to work within a committed team of office, laboratory and Consultant Pathologist staff. The department encourages active professional development and further educational activities. The service is expanding Biomedical Scientist advanced dissection and Biomedical Scientist reporting roles. The service is also carrying out digital pathology reporting, and is progressing towards full digital reporting. We also use CEREBRO specimen tracking system and have replaced most of our specialist laboratory equipment this year.

Applications will be considered from HCPC registered BMS staff with an IBMS accredited Biomedical Scientist degree for a progression band 5 to band 6 post, whilst they gain the IBMS specialist Diploma in Cellular Pathology.

Main duties of the job

The Post holder will play a key role in the following areas:

• Work as a specialist BMS in the dissection/reception and section cutting services.
• Carry out specimen dissection mainly for specimens within the RcPath Categories A - C.
• Carry out frozen sections and Mohs frozen sections.
• Support band 7 staff, including staff/workload supervision, staff training and quality control.
• Carry out audits and appraisals.
• Support staff CPD.

The Post Holder Will Have The Following Opportunities:

• Develop your skills and experience in specialist areas of the lab, including specimen dissection and Mohs technique.
• Assist/deputise for senior BMS staff in the supervision of BMS staff and workload.
• Be involved with training and mentoring Registered and trainee BMS staff and Biomedical Support Worker staff.
• Participate in service development and implementation of Lean methodology.

About Us

Join us at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and be part of a workforce of over 10,000 staff! The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first‑class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state‑of‑the‑art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world.

We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity.

Benefits

• Flexible working hours
• Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
• Multi Faith prayer room
• Discounted gym memberships
• Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
• Wagestream – access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
• Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH site
• Free 24‑hours confidential counselling support
• On‑site Nursery
• On‑site cafes offering staff discounts
• Support in career development
• Flexible staff bank
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics

Job Details

Date posted: 10 December 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 6

Salary: £38,682 to £46,580 per annum (progression post to be Annex 21)

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full‑time, Flexible working, Compressed hours, Annualised hours

Reference number: 234-25-E1437

Job locations: Cotman Centre, Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, NR4 7UB

Job responsibilities

• Communicates complex clinical technical service‑related information to colleagues, managers, consultants, nurses, other health care colleagues and patient carers.
• Participates in departmental meetings and contributes to effective communication within the department.
• Answers telephone enquiries from Pathology users and patient carers and provides information that is highly complex about methodologies and service requirements.
• Explains/discusses results of technical procedures with medical and BMS staff, suggesting alternative techniques as appropriate.
• Manages and prioritises own work and day‑to‑day work in specialised services.
• Responsible for processing immediate, urgent and non‑urgent work to maintain turnaround times in line with Trust and Service policies.
• Organises the dissecting room and categorises specimens following the assessment of clinical details/need and assigns a specimen code as appropriate; participates in the reception, sorting and processing of samples through the dissection room.
• Ensures correct patient ID on both matching request forms and specimens and follows appropriate quality and error logging procedures in the event of incidents.
• Carries out histological techniques including the fixation and processing of body tissues – recognisable body parts, products of conception containing fetal parts, fetal and post‑mortem tissue – and performs precision orientation and embedding of tissue, cutting of paraffin wax sections and staining methods.
• Assists Pathologists during specimen dissection and cleans working areas of tissue, faeces, mucus and blood.

Please refer to the Job Description for the full specification of responsibilities and requirements for this post.

Please note due to high volume of applications for some posts, this post may close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role asap.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Sciences or equivalent.
• Specialist Diploma from the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (IBMS) or equivalent in histopathology service as a new entrant BMS 1.
• State registration with Health Professions Council (HPC).
• Significant postgraduate State Registration in a clinical setting.

Essential Skills

• Able to lead small groups of staff.
• In‑depth knowledge of the methodologies used within the histopathology service.

Attitude, aptitude

• Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH’s PRIDE values of People focused, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence.
• Demonstrates understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

Cotman Centre, Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital

Norwich

NR4 7UB

Employer's website: https://teamnnuh.co.uk/