About the role
Employer heading Specialist Biomedical Scientist Band 6 Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest and largest NHS hospital trusts in the country. We have around 16,000 staff and an annual budget of £1.7 billion. With strong history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation regionally, nationally and internationally, we’re in the top five providers of specialised health services in the country.
As well as providing a wide range of hospital and community services, we support people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients.
We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Newcastle Hospitals are proud to be one of the exemplar organisations across the NHS on sustainability, with a long history of delivering Sustainable Healthcare in Newcastle (Shine) and the first healthcare organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency. Our strategy includes commitments to being Net Zero by 2030, for our direct carbon footprint, and Net Zero by 2040 for our footprint plus.
Delivering these ambitions will not be possible without the help, support and action of every single member of our team. Job Overview Applications are invited from enthusiastic and highly motivated Specialist Biomedical Scientists to join our Cellular Pathology team at the Royal Victoria Infirmary. We are seeking a dynamic individual to support our expanding service.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate specialist knowledge and experience within Cellular Pathology, alongside strong technical skills, including IHC, and the ability to contribute to staff training, quality assurance, and service development. PREVIOUS APPLICANTS NEED NOT APPLY Interview Date: 21August 2026 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week, including participation in Saturday rota (approximately one week in 6) You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy NO AGENCIES PLEASE Main duties of the job To contribute to the provision of an effective clinical Cellular Pathology service to the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, General Practitioners, other Trusts and other users of the service.
This will involve assisting a line manager with operational continuity by supervising, organising and directing Biomedical Scientists, Healthcare Science Associate Practitioners and Healthcare Science Assistants and also imparting specialist knowledge in clinical and technical situations and will report non-compliance’s to their line manager. This would include training and mentorship of staff undertaking portfolios. To ensure laboratory diagnostic tests and procedures are performed accurately and efficiently and results validated microscopically and judgement used in determining if further tests/procedures are necessary.
To microscopically interpret tissue and/or fluid samples, select and dissect areas for diagnosis e.g. renal biopsies. To work in compliance with local health and safety rules to ensure a safe working environment. To adhere to department and Trust Health and Safety policies (including COSHH, Risk assessments and Standard Operating Procedures) and to report any non-compliances to the Department Health and Safety Officer.
Working for our organisation As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
With around 2 million contacts with patients every year, we deliver care from: Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) Freeman Hospital Newcastle Dental Hospital Cramlington Manor Walks Urgent treatment centres Newcastle Fertility Centre Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria Northern Genetics Service These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS. We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites. Please see attached information on what Staff
Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under ‘Documents to download’ or ‘Supporting documents’. For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trus Detailed
Job Description And Main
Responsibilities It is essential that applicants hold the IBMS Specialist Portfolio to be appointed at Band 6. Candidates who have completed or close to completing their portfolio will be appointed to Band 5 until the Specialist Portfolio certificate has been received. Applications may also be considered from experienced HCPC-registered Biomedical Scientists in which case appointment would be made at Band 5.
The department provides Histopathology, Cytopathology and Mortuary services housed within a purpose-built facility in a prime city-centre location. We receive a broad range of specimens from within the Trust, General Practitioners and as a specialist referral centre handle cases regionally, nationally and from overseas; we provide an excellent opportunity to gain experience with a wide range of specimens and repertoire of tests. We work closely with genomics services, accommodating the increasing complexity of integrated pathology and molecular diagnostics.
The laboratory is divided into a Specimen Reception, Slide Production, Immunohistochemistry (IHC), Muscle & Nerve, Electron Microscopy, Neuropathology, Cytology, Genomics preparation, Mohs and research facility ‘NovoPath’. We have established Advanced Practitioner roles undertaking specimen dissection with some undertaking RCPath reporting qualifications for BMSs. The laboratory is open Monday – Friday, 7am – 6pm, flexibility is encouraged to support the staff and the service.
As a major Transplant Centre, we also provide an out of hours on-call service that is voluntary to join. The department of Cellular Pathology is made up of Histology, Cytology, Neuropathology, Research and Mortuary Services. The post holder will rotate between sections and participate as part of a team, in providing Cellular Pathology service to the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, General Practitioners, other Trusts and other users of the service.
Procedures will be carried out without supervision under the guidance of a Senior Biomedical Scientist. To work as part of a team in the receipt of Cellular Pathology specimens, assisting in specimen dissection and preparing samples for processing, recording details on the laboratory information system, storage and eventual disposal of residual tissue. To undertake cryotomy on intraoperative tissue samples (frozen sections) and produce high quality sections in a timely and efficient manner.
To carry out a wide range of laboratory procedures, e.g. taking X-rays of breast and bone samples, programming tissue processors, orientating and embedding tissue samples, preparing and analysing non-gynaecological cytology preparations, microtomy, tissue staining, immunocytochemistry, electron microscopy, molecular diagnostic procedures, validate results and use judgement in determining and initiating further procedures that may be required. To actively participate in the maintenance and basic trouble shooting of laboratory equipment, report any faults and non-compliances to a senior member of staff and take prompt and appropriate action in response to unexpected situations. To participate in Quality Control and correct any minor non-conformities and report any major non-compliant events to a senior member of staff.
To work in compliance with local health and safety rules to ensure a safe working environment for you, colleagues and visitors. To adhere to department and Trust Health and Safety policies (including COSHH, Risk assessments and Standard Operating Procedures) and to report any noncompliances to a senior member of staff. Person specification
Qualifications & Education Essential criteria BSc in Biomedical Sciences or equivalent qualification IBMS Specialist Diploma (postgraduate) in Cellular Pathology or equivalent level of knowledge Current Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration Knowledge & Experience Essential criteria Previous experience in a Cellular Pathology laboratory Broad knowledge of Cellular Pathology and specialist knowledge of Cellular Pathology including Laboratory Techniques Desirable criteria Basic IT knowledge Skills & Abilities Essential criteria Able to organise and prioritise own work activities Communication skills Analytical and judgemental skills Planning and organisational skills Desirable criteria Keyboard skills Band 5 Meets All Criteria Essential criteria BSc in Biomedical Sciences or equivalent qualification approved by the IBMS Health and Care Professions Council registration (HCPC) Knowledge of Cellular Pathology Previous laboratory experience as a Trainee Biomedical Scientist/Healthcare Scientist in an NHS Laboratory Familiarity with Health & Safety and COSHH Participates in CPD Keyboard skills Able to organise and prioritise own work activities Communication Planning and organisational skills Analytical and judgemental skills Desirable criteria Member of the IBMS Computer literacy 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. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay. Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail.
You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful. Employer certification / accreditation badges Applicant requirements You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
Documents to download JD & PS (PDF, 140.9KB) Registered BMS Band 5 JD & PS (PDF, 408.4KB) Newcastle Staff
Benefits (PDF, 274.4KB) Behaviour and Civility Charter (PDF, 93.8KB) Apply online now Further details / informal visits contact Name Joanne Cunningham Job title Operations Manager Email address Joanne.cunningham2@nhs.net Telephone number 0191 2826917