Trainee/ qualified Advanced practitioner in Cellular Pathology

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust in Gateshead invites applications for a Trainee/Qualified Advanced Practitioner in Cellular Pathology. The post focuses on specialist histology dissection and requires working with Consultant Histopathologists and BMS staff.

This NHS AfC Band 8a role is full-time (37.5 hours) with a salary of £57,528–£64,750 per year, depending on experience and qualifications. Applicants should have DEP in Histological Dissection and experience with diverse specimen types.

Qualifications

• Qualified in Histological Dissection (DEP) as required.
• Experience with different specimen types is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Perform specimen dissection as part of histopathology teams.
• Teach and supervise Biomedical Scientists and ST1 staff in dissection techniques.
• Provide support and advice to junior medical staff in Specimen dissection.
• Work under own initiative referring to standard operating procedures and consult with Histopathologist and Lab Manager.
• Collaborate with medical staff to develop and improve dissection techniques.
• Participate in MDT meetings for education and CPD.
• Attend to histology audits and ensure service quality and development.

Education

Achieved qualification in DEP in Histological Dissection

Job description

Main area Trainee/ qualified Advanced Practitioner in Cellular Pathology Grade NHS AfC: Band 8a Contract Permanent: salary will be based on experience and qualifications Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 297-8226576

Employer Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Queen Elizabeth Hospital Gateshead Town Gateshead Salary £57,528 - £64,750 Based on qualifications and experience Salary period Yearly Closing 18/09/2026 23:59

NHS AfC: Band 8a

In the event of excessive applications being received this vacancy may close earlier than the stated closing date, you are encouraged to submit your application as soon as possible

IMPORTANT NOTE ON COMPLETION OF REFERENCE SECTION OF APPLICATION FORM

All references from current and previous employers will be sought and MUST cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Where possible this should be from two separate employers. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.

PLEASE NOTE it is a requirement of this Trust that all successful applicants pay for their DBS certificate if a check is required for the post. This will be done through deduction from your monthly pay over a maximum of three months. It is also a requirement that all successful applicants register or are registered with the DBS update service where a DBS is required.

All new entrants to the NHS will be appointed on the minimum of the pay scale in line with Terms & Conditions.

Job overview

• The post holder will be recognised as specialist in their field, and as such the expert practice of the function will comprise the most significant part of their role.
• The post holder will assist the Consultant Histopathologist staff in specimen dissection and in that role will be expected to carry out the following duties according to the appropriate standard operating procedures, ensuring health and safety guidance is followed.

Main duties of the job

• Performing specimen dissection as part of the different histopathology speciality teams.
• Teaching, training, organisation and supervision of Biomedical Scientists and ST1 junior medical staff in appropriate dissection techniques.
• Providing support and advice to junior medical staff and trainee BMS staff in Specimen dissection.
• Work under own initiative referring to standard operating procedures and amending as required after consultation with Histopathologist and Histopathology Management Team.
• Working with medical staff to develop and improve techniques in dissection
• Participating in multi-disciplinary team meetings (MDT) meetings for educational purposes and to facilitate CPD.
• Attaining appropriate knowledge, skills and qualifications in relation to advanced practitioner role. To be responsible in consultation with the Lead Pathologist and the Laboratory Manager for the strategic direction of the service with regards to specimen dissection ensuring the service is developed in line with national and local policy.
• Liaising with colleagues external to the department to improve services, e.g. Bowel Cancer Screening Nurses.
• Responsible in consultation with the Lead Pathologist for histology audits as required demonstrating the quality of the histology service.
• To have time to regularly observe specimen dissection by experienced pathologists.

Working for our organisation

Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.

Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.

We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.

Our values should be the ‘golden thread’ which runs through everything we do – they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronymICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement.

We have a number of staff networks including the Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women’s Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our Armed Forces network is one of our emerging networks.

The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our ‘Balance’ programme balancegateshead.com to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Performing specimen dissection as part of the different histopathology speciality teams.
• Teaching, training, organisation and supervision of Biomedical Scientists and ST1 junior medical staff in appropriate dissection techniques.
• Providing support and advice to junior medical staff and trainee BMS staff in Specimen dissection.
• Work under own initiative referring to standard operating procedures and amending as required after consultation with Histopathologist and Histopathology Management Team.
• Working with medical staff to develop and improve techniques in dissection
• Participating in multi-disciplinary team meetings (MDT) meetings for educational purposes and to facilitate CPD.
• Attaining appropriate knowledge, skills and qualifications in relation to advanced practitioner role. To be responsible in consultation with the Lead Pathologist and the Laboratory Manager for the strategic direction of the service with regards to specimen dissection ensuring the service is developed in line with national and local policy.
• Liaising with colleagues external to the department to improve services, e.g. Bowel Cancer Screening Nurses.
• Responsible in consultation with the Lead Pathologist for histology audits as required demonstrating the quality of the histology service.
• To have time to regularly observe specimen dissection by experienced pathologists.

Qualifications

• Achieved qualification in DEP in Histological Dissection

Experience

• Experience in dealing with different specimen types

Applicants who have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date are to assume that their application has been unsuccessful.

Applications from job seekers who require Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications where the post is eligible. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

Candidates who require sponsorship are strongly advised to visit the UK Border Agency website and familiarise themselves with what is required. There is a facility on this site to access the points based calculator and work through an example which should assist candidates in their understanding of the process.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

This role will also have a managerial responsibility for the management of specimen dissection and the update and monitoring of all relevant SOP's . They will be responsible for the organisation of BMS staff dissection and rotation to support the service.