Specialist Biomedical Scientist

Sheffield-Teaching-Hospitals-Nhs-Foundation-Trust; Rotherham; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is inviting applications for a Specialist Biomedical Scientist (Band 5/6) in Histology at Rotherham. The post is a 12-month fixed term contract to cover a secondment, with a full-time position (37.5 hours/week) and potential weekend rotation.

The department handles routine histology, immunohistochemistry, and ancillary techniques within a UKAS-accredited laboratory.

Qualifications

• IBMS accredited degree in Biomedical Sciences or equivalent and HCPC registration are required.
• Commitment to complete the relevant Specialist IBMS portfolio and ongoing CPD.
• Mandatory training and laboratory competencies to be maintained and documented.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and develop the Histopathology service delivery across the department.
• Rotate across all areas of the laboratory; supervise/train staff and contribute to quality management.
• Conform to SOPs, Health & Safety, and UKAS requirements; support audit and documentation.

Skills

Laboratory techniques

Leadership

Time management

Communication

Education

IBMS accredited degree in Biomedical Sciences

HCPC registered as Biomedical Scientist

Specialist portfolio progression

Mandatory training compliance

Job description

Main area Histology Grade NHS AfC: Band 5/6 Contract 12 months (Fixed term for 12 months to cover the secondment of the substantive post holder. All existing NHS staff will only be considered on a secondment basis.) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday with some weekend working on a rotational basis) Job ref 190-3048-DIR

Employer Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Rotherham Hospital Town Rotherham Salary £32,073 - £48,117 pa/pro rata for part time staff Salary period Yearly Closing 04/11/2026 23:59 Interview date 13/11/2026

Specialist Biomedical Scientist

NHS AfC: Band 5/6

We are committed to helping our staff balance their work and home lives and ensure they feel supported, valued and appreciated so whilst you care for our patients and clients, we’ll take care of you. We offer many different ways of helping staff including career development opportunities, flexible working, good annual leave and pension schemes , health and wellbeing packages and financial support systems. Joining the Trust also allows you access to a number of saving options via our salary sacrifice schemes and a wide range of discount opportunities with retailers and service providers.

Job overview

Are you looking for an exciting new challenge in a place to take your career to the next level? Would you like to join a friendly, progressive, innovative team and play a part in the transformation of pathology services across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw? Do you want to work in a fully UKAS-accredited, modern laboratory environment where you can make a difference?

We are looking for a passionate HCPC Registered Biomedical Scientist who either has or is part way through completing their specialist portfolio to join our small, busy, friendly team on a fixed term 12 month contract. You will help maintain and develop the work of the Rotherham Histopathology department of delivering a high quality, efficient service.

This would be an excellent opportunity for somebody hoping to progress with their specialist portfolio or gain new skills and experiences in a new Histology department.

The Rotherham Histology department receives 30000 Histology, 1000 non-gynae cytology and 600 andrology samples a year. We undertake all routine histological processes including BMS specimen dissection, microtomy, special stains, immunohistochemistry, molecular diagnostics and andrology. The successful candidate will rotate across all areas of the laboratory and support the monitoring of quality indicators, supervising and training other staff and other quality management duties such as audit and documentation review.

Main duties of the job

As a Biomedical Scientist the post holder will be expected to work within the professional standards expected as a registrant of the Health Professions Council (HCPC) and maintain a portfolio of evidence supporting Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

The post holder will be responsible for scientific and technical service delivery within the Histopathology services section of the laboratory.

Duties as a Specialist Biomedical Scientist will include performing a range of scientific procedures involving the processing of biomedical specimens to contribute to the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of diseases and investigation of pathological processes and will include undertaking of complex diagnostic tests and the interpretation of complex diagnostic tests to facilitate a diagnostic report to be produced.

The post holder will be required to conform to agreed standard operational procedures, Health & Safety procedures, departmental and organisational policies and good laboratory practice. Within their work duties the post holder will be expected to comply with the standards as required of UKAS and other relevant professional and regulatory Bodies e.g. H.T.A.

Please also note this vacancy is banded dependent upon applicants experience relevant to this post. The banding of the successful applicant/s will start at Band 5 unless applicants meet the necessary threshold of skills and experience required to start on Band 6.

Working for our organisation

You will be working for an organisation which values and respects all its staff and the community it serves. The Trust is a leader in the NHS and research sectors and provides excellent benefits for its staff. This includes commitments to professional development but also many policies to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.

STHFT operates with a budget of £1.2 bn, has a workforce of over 18,500 employees, covers five hospital sites, provides care from over forty community settings, and has an excellent reputation for research.

As an organisation we value and respect our staff and the community we serve. We provide excellent staff benefits; this includes commitment to professional development but also many initiatives to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.

The South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Pathology Partnership are invested in training, developing, and supporting staff in all aspects including academic courses from certificates of achievement, registration, specialist and higher specialist IBMS portfolios, apprenticeships and leadership and management qualifications.

We pride ourselves in enabling opportunity across all our sites to develop staff and provide a strong and sustained service for the future.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This vacancy is advertised on a fixed term contract basis for the maximum period of twelve (12) months. Where there is potential, the secondment/fixed term contract may finish early, or in the first instance, the secondment/fixed term contract may be extended due to the internal/external secondment of the substantive post holder. The fixed term contract status of the post holder will be reviewed in accordance with the Trust's legal obligations regarding fixed term contracts and secondments in relation to the substantive post holder.

Person specification

Experience

• Band 5 & 6 - Experience with a range of laboratory techniques
• Band 5 & 6 -Detailed understanding of job content
• Band 5 & 6 - Ability to work with other colleagues to improve and develop working practices
• Band 6 - Discipline specific NHS experience in a UKAS accredited laboratory (Microbiology/Virology/Histopathology/ Bood sciences * laboratory)
• Band 6 - Multi – disciplinary awareness
• Band 6 - Experience with a wide range of laboratory techniques in use across discipline
• Band 6 - Experience working within a laboratory providing local, regional or national tertiary reference facilities
• Band 6 - Experience in the implementation of new methodologies and /or equipment
• Band 6 - Experience with the UKAS accreditation process
• Band 6 - Experience in demonstrating leadership qualities
• Band 5 - Discipline specific NHS laboratory experience
• Band 5 - Multi – disciplinary awareness
• Band 5 - Experience in demonstrating leadership qualities

Qualifications

• Band 5 & 6 - IBMS accredited degree in Biomedical Sciences or equivalent
• Band 5 & 6 - HCPC registered as a Biomedical Scientist
• Band 5 & 6 -Commitment to complete and maintain Mandatory Training and required Laboratory competencies
• Band 5 - Completion of IBMS post graduate registration portfolio or equivalent
• Band 5 - Commitment to complete the relevant Specialist BMS IBMS portfolio
• Band 6 - IBMS Specialist Diploma in a relevant specialist subject
• Band 6 - Commitment to continuous professional development required to maintain HCPC registration
• Band 5 & 6 - Evidence of continued CPD including relevant courses with regards to H&S, leadership, quality or training

Values and Behaviors

• Band 5 & 6 - Patients first - Understanding of how laboratory services are part of the patient pathway and impact on patient care
• Band 5 & 6 - Respectful – Developed interpersonal skills and ability to communicate at all levels
• Band 5 & 6 - Ownership – Understand the need to accept responsibility for own actions and ensure accuracy and attention to detail
• Band 5 & 6 - Unity – Ability to work as part of a team
• Band 5 & 6 - Delivery – Ability to work within defined timescales

Skills and Knowledge

• Band 5 & 6 - Keyboard and basic IT skills
• Band 5 & 6 - Have an awareness of Health & Safety issues
• Band 5 & 6 - Can communicate effectively with staff of all grades
• Band 6 - Evidence of effective time management skills and with a methodical approach
• Band 6 - Evidence of good manual dexterity
• Band 6 - Able to follow and work to SOP and Policy
• Band 6 - Ability to work individually and part of a team.
• Band 6 - Maintains composure in pressurised situations
• Band 6 - Ability to plan and prioritise allocated work
• Band 6 - Ability to concentrate for extended periods of time whilst performing scientific analysis

Personal Qualities

• Band 6 - Understand and follow clear instructions.
• Band 6 - Participation in weekend and evening work and out of hours shifts as required. This includes participation in a 24/7 shift pattern.
• Band 6 - Commitment to role

The Trust is committed to its obligations in accordance with the Equality Act 2010, and we positively encourage applications from all sections of the community.

All employment with the Trust is subject to a number of NHS Employment Checks being met to a satisfactory standard including verification of identity, eligibility to work in the United Kingdom, references and qualifications in addition to professional registration, a disclosure and barring records check and occupational health check if these are deemed to be a requirement for the position to be undertaken.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.