Senior Biomedical Scientist Histology with dissection

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust seeks a Senior Biomedical Scientist Histology with dissection to join the Cellular Pathology Department. You will perform independent dissection of complex specimens, evaluate new equipment and methods, and maintain up-to-date professional knowledge.

The role requires HCPC registration, a MSc in Biomedical Science or equivalent, and ongoing CPD. The post is full-time, 37.5 hours per week, with occasional weekend work, based at our Worcester site.

Qualifications

• MSc in Biomedical Science or equivalent.
• HCPC registration as Biomedical Scientist.
• IBMS Diploma of Expert Practice (DEP) in Histological dissection.
• Ongoing CPD evidence.

Responsibilities

• Perform independent dissection of complex specimens within RCPath categories A, B and C.
• Evaluate and implement new equipment, methods and practices for the section.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of technological and scientific developments.
• Senior point of contact for emergencies in the designated area.
• Lead and supervise staff training and maintain training records.
• Create, maintain and review Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Promote equality and diversity in the workplace.
• Assist with health and safety monitoring and risk assessments.

Skills

Dissection experience

Histology techniques

CPD mindset

Education

MSc in Biomedical Science or equivalent

HCPC registration as Biomedical Scientist

IBMS Diploma of Expert Practice (DEP) in Histological dissection

Evidence of ongoing CPD

Job description

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Senior Biomedical Scientist Histology with dissection

The closing date is 17 November 2026

Applications are invited from proactive, motivated, enthusiastic HCPC registered biomedical scientists to join the Cellular Pathology Department, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. The department is UKAS accredited ISO 15189:2022 and is an IBMS approved training laboratory.

The post holders would be working 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday (occasional weekend working may be required)

The post holder will be working as part of a combined team of Consultant Pathologists, Biomedical Scientists, Medical Laboratory Assistants and Secretarial and other support staff to provide a cellular pathology service for Worcestershire.

For further information, please contact William Davies, Cellular Pathology Services Manager on 01905 760230 or via email: [e-mail]

Main duties of the job

Toperform independent dissection of complex specimens that fall within the RCPathdesignation of category A, B and C and a range of simple category D & Especimens.

Beresponsible for the evaluation and implementation of new equipment, methods andpractices for the section as appropriate.

Maintainexpert knowledge of current technological and scientific developments.

Seniorpoint of contact for emergencies in the designated area.

Maintain continual professional education andpromote lifelong learning for managed staff.

Towork to the defined quality standards for all aspects of the service e.g.United Kingdom Accreditation Services (UKAS) and all the standards thisencompasses.

Thepost holder will be expected to work with the Advanced Scientist Dissectorresponsible for Specimen Reception and Dissection regarding supervision ofstaff and scheduling of dissection sessions.

Todeliver training Biomedical Scientist staff tomaintain relevant training records both for the dissection section and withingeneral Histology.

Tocreate, maintain and review relevant Standard Operating Procedures. Thisincludes writing Standard Operating Procedures electronically using thedocument control procedure.

Help to deliver on training plans and deputise for the Training Officer in Cellular Pathology

About us

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Being open and honest

Ensuring people feel cared for

Showing respect to everyone

We are committed to developing a culture of continuous improvement by embedding the principles of our Improvement System.

We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.

DBS Checks and Costs

Any applicants who are offered posts requiring a DBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check (at the current rate) deducted from their salary

Job responsibilities

To perform independent dissection of complex specimens that fall within the RCPath designation of category A, B and C and a range of simple category D & E specimens.

Be responsible for the evaluation and implementation of new equipment, methods and practices for the section as appropriate.

Maintain expert knowledge of current technological and scientific developments.

Senior point of contact for emergencies in the designated area.

Maintain continual professional education and promote lifelong learning for managed staff.

To work to the defined quality standards for all aspects of the service e.g. United Kingdom Accreditation Services (UKAS) and all the standards this encompasses.

The post holder will be expected to work with the Advanced Scientist Dissector responsible for Specimen Reception and Dissection regarding supervision of staff and scheduling of dissection sessions.

To deliver training to Biomedical Scientist staff to maintain relevant training records both for the dissection section and within general Histology.

To create, maintain and review relevant Standard Operating Procedures. This includes writing Standard Operating Procedures electronically using the document control procedure

To promote and maintain a high standard of relevant education and training.

To deputise for the Cellular Pathology training officer

To assist with aspects of Health and Safety monitoring and Risk Assessments. To ensure all equipment and procedures are fit for purpose.

To promote equality and diversity in your working life ensuring that all the staff you work with feel valued and treated in a fair and equitable manner.

• Help to deliver on training plans and objectives set out by the Advanced Scientist Dissector and Cellular Pathology Training Manager.
• To participate in the routine work of all sections of the department to provide our users with accurate and timely results.
• To perform both routine tasks covering a variety of analytical equipment and manual techniques.
• To ensure that all tasks are performed in accordance with current Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and regulations to ensure a high quality service at all times.
• To ensure that equipment is properly maintained on a day to day basis and operated in accordance with laboratory and manufacturers SOPs.
• To be fully conversant with all forms of automated equipment within the Department, including being able to troubleshoot to ensure minimum downtime as consequence of minorbreakdowns/ malfunctions
• The documentation of specimens, including the entry of computerised records.
• The handling, processing and disposal of histological and cytological material including the sensitive disposal of products of conception
• Provide assistance to Consultant Histopathologists with regard to specimen dissection and sampling of diagnostic material.
• The embedding and orientation of tissue samples selected for diagnostic evaluation requiring knowledge and experience of histological and anatomical structure.
• The production of microscopical preparations requiring extensive hand and eye coordination to produce high quality diagnostic sections using complex, skilled microtomy and handling techniques, for both paraffin wax and urgent diagnostic frozen sections.
• The preparation of routine stains, working solutions and reagents in order to perform routine and specialised histological, histochemical and immunocytochemical investigations
• To undertake routine histological, histochemical and immunofluorescent investigations on diagnostic tissue specimens in accordance with Standard Operational Procedures.
• To undertake routine quality control checks prior to releasing cases to pathologists for reporting
• To cut high quality frozen sections for urgent diagnosis or immunofluorescent technique.
• To have precise pipetting skills where accuracy and precision are required.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• MSc in Biomedical Science or equivalent
• Registration with HCPC Biomedical Scientist.
• Evidence of ongoing CPD
• IBMS Diploma of expert practice (DEP) in Histological dissection or significant relevant experience of dissection of RCPATH category B & C specimens
• Other relevant courses with regards to H&S, supervision, quality or training ASD in Specimen Dissection

Experience

• Experience in dissection including significant practical experience of dissection of category B & C specimens.
• Experience and advanced knowledge of a range of histology techniques
• Previous experience as a Band 6 BMS in cellular Pathology, working in a specialist or team leader role on a regular basis
• Experience of training staff in histological procedures.
• Experience of category D&E specimen dissection

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.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust