Quality Officer – Auditor Pathology

Bristol Nhs Foundation Trust; West of England; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Quality Auditor to join the Laboratory Medicine team, supporting the audit programme to keep services compliant with quality standards, accreditation and regulatory expectations. You will coordinate audits, analyse findings, drive corrective actions and support colleagues in strengthening the Quality Management System and patient safety across pathology services.

This role suits a detail‑oriented, proactive professional who can influence improvements

Qualifications

• Degree in Biomedical sciences or equivalent required.
• Experience auditing in an NHS pathology environment.
• Knowledge of quality standards and accreditation processes.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and deliver Laboratory Medicine internal audits according to schedules.
• Audit pathology services for compliance with quality standards and accreditation.
• Analyse findings, identify trends, and drive corrective actions.
• Maintain audit records and monitor action completion.
• Support accreditation preparations and promote continuous quality improvement.
• Provide guidance on audit processes and quality standards to staff.

Skills

Auditing experience

Quality assurance

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Education

Degree level qualification related to Biomedical sciences

Has worked in an NHS accredited pathology laboratory

Tools

IQM

Job description

Job summary

Are you passionate about quality, compliance and driving excellence in healthcare services? We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly organised Quality Auditor to join our Laboratory Medicine team and play a pivotal role in supporting our diagnostic service. This is an exciting opportunity for an individual with experience of quality management and auditing to help shape and strengthen our audit programme across a wide range of pathology disciplines. Working closely with laboratory teams, quality leads and senior managers, you will lead the coordination and delivery of internal audits, ensuring services continue to meet the highest standards of quality, safety and regulatory compliance. As a key member of the Quality Team, you will have the opportunity to influence change, identify areas for improvement and support laboratories in achieving and maintaining accreditation standards. Your work will directly contribute to the continual improvement of diagnostic services and the delivery of safe, effective patient care. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys investigating processes, analysing information, challenging the status quo and working collaboratively to deliver meaningful improvements. If you are detail-focused, proactive and motivated by quality excellence, we would love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

• Coordinate and deliver the Laboratory Medicine internal audit programme, ensuring audits are planned, completed and reported in line with agreed schedules.
• Conduct audits across pathology services to assess compliance with quality standards, accreditation requirements and departmental procedures.
• Analyse audit findings, identify trends and opportunities for improvement, and support teams in implementing effective corrective actions.
• Maintain accurate audit records and monitor the completion of actions arising from audit findings
• .Support laboratory services in preparing for accreditation assessments and regulatory inspections.
• Provide guidance and support to staff on audit processes, quality standards and continuous improvement activities.
• Promote a culture of quality, assurance and continuous improvement, helping to ensure the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality diagnostic services.

About us

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.

Job responsibilities

The Quality Auditor will play a key role in coordinating and delivering the Laboratory Medicine internal audit programme, providing assurance that services operate in compliance with quality standards, accreditation requirements and regulatory expectations. Working closely with laboratory and quality teams, the post holder will undertake audits, report findings, monitor corrective actions and support continuous quality improvement across the service. The role will contribute to maintaining an effective Quality Management System, supporting accreditation activities and promoting a culture of quality, compliance and patient safety. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with staff across Laboratory Medicine to identify opportunities for improvement, share best practice and help ensure the delivery of high-quality diagnostic services. Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details of the role and responsibilities.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

• Degree level qualification related to Biomedical sciences
• Has worked in an NHS accredited pathology laboratory
• Auditing experience

Desirable

• Quality Management qualification

Knowledge, skills, experience and abilities

Essential

• Knowledge of pathology laboratory processes, quality assurance and analytical systems.
• Knowledge of laboratory information systems and document control systems (e.g. IQM).
• Understanding of confidentiality, governance and regulatory requirements.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience of conducting internal audits within an accredited healthcare or laboratory environment
• Knowledge of audit methodologies including horizontal, vertical and examination audits

Desirable

• Knowledge of ISO 15189, HTA standards, GPG and pathology quality management systems.
• Ability to understand quality standards and regulations across pathology services.
• Experience of monitoring corrective actions and quality improvement activities
• Ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams to ensure priority of work is completed according to service requirements
• Experience of training or mentoring staff

Personal qualities

Essential

• Highly organised, resilient and able to manage competing priorities.
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Professional, collaborative and able to work independently.
• Sound judgement, integrity and commitment to continuous improvement.

Desirable

• Innovative mindset with a commitment to best practice.
• Enthusiasm for professional development and sharing knowledge.

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.

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 (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).