Specialist Biomedical Scientist Histopathology

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A major hospital trust in the UK is seeking a Specialist Biomedical Scientist in Histopathology. The role requires HCPC registration and an IBMS specialist diploma in Cellular Pathology, or equivalent experience. Responsibilities include conducting routine histology tasks, assisting during cut-up, and ensuring high standards of specimen handling. Candidates should have demonstrable experience in histopathology and relevant skills. This position involves participating in departmental projects and training staff, supporting the diagnostic service for a significant patient population.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable post registration experience in a histopathology laboratory.
• In depth specialist knowledge of histology.
• Evidence of practical experience in non-gynae cytology, immunocytochemistry, renal, and muscle biopsies.

Responsibilities

• Receive specimens ensuring correct patient identification.
• Assist the pathologist during cut up.
• Undertake biopsy cut-up with responsibility for sample preparation.
• Participate in the on-call service.
• Perform quality control of stains in special staining techniques.

Skills

Flexible and adaptable approach to work

Good verbal skills

Ability to interact with other groups of staff

Ability to write coherent documents

Experience of in-house training of staff

Education

Approved degree

HCPC registration

Evidence of continuing professional development

Job description

Go back Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Specialist Biomedical Scientist Histopathology

The closing date is 22 December 2025

A vacancy has arisen within the Histopathology laboratory at LCL. The post holder must hold HCPC registration and hold an IBMS specialist diploma in Cellular Pathology. Candidates without the IBMS specialist diploma but with 2 years' demonstrable equivalent experience in histology will also be considered.

The successful candidate will undertake all the routine tasks within a histology department such as embedding, microtomy, special stains and quality control and will also be expected to undertake tasks within the more specialised areas and techniques such as cut-up, frozen section and assist in renal interventional clinics. The successful candidate will be expected to deputise for the team leaders and be involved in areas such as recruitment, training, health and safety, validation and verification, audit and other aspects of quality management. The department is also working to increase the role of Biomedical Scientists within specimen dissection.

Main duties of the job

To participate in the activities of the department. Primarily providing the technical support of the diagnostic service to the Trust and other users, in accordance with departmental protocols.

The department strives to continually improve and has a number of on-going projects as part of routine service development of which the Biomedical Scientist staff group participate in.

About us

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients.

UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.

For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.

Aintree University Hospital is the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility. Broadgreen Hospital is home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation. Liverpool Women's Hospital specialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK's largest single site maternity hospital each year. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.

For roles at Liverpool Women's, visit their careers page.

Job responsibilities

To participate in the routine work of the main histology laboratory in accordance with departmental protocols:

• Receive specimens into the department ensuring correct patient identification and accessioning.
• Assist the pathologist during cut up
• To undertake biopsy cut-up with responsibility for sample preparation
• Store specimens safely and appropriately prior to and after processing.
• To embed processed surgical and post mortem material ensuring correct orientation.
• Microtomy - simple sectioning of large blocks, sectioning levels from biopsy material, serial sectioning of material and macroscopic quality control of sections produced
• Haematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) staining - manual and automated methodologies

To participate in the specialised areas of the department when required:

• Special staining techniques including primary quality control of stains
• Freezing of material for frozen sections, lipids and enzyme histochemistry.
• Cryotomy
• Muscle histochemistry and enzyme histochemistry
• Immunocytochemistry
• Collection of renal biopsies assessing adequacy of the specimen at the bedside

To participate in the non-gynae service

To participate in the on-call service

Undertake tasks required for CPA accreditation e.g. reviewing SOPs

For a full list of duties, please refer to the attached job description

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Approved degree
• HCPC registration
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Experience

• Demonstrable post registration experience in a histopathology laboratory
• In depth specialist knowledge of histology
• Evidence of practical experience in: non-gynae cytology, immunocytochemistry, renal and muscle biopsies.

Knowledge

• Demonstrate understanding of patient confidentiality
• Understanding of the need for health and safety in relation to themselves and others
• Working knowledge of computers

Skills

• Evidence of a flexible and adaptable approach to work
• Evidence of good verbal skills
• Evidence of ability to interact with other groups of staff.
• Evidence of ability to write coherent documents
• Experience of in-house training of staff

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.

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust