Specialist Biomedical Scientist

Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest and largest NHS hospital trusts in the country, with around 16,000 staff and an annual budget of £1.7 billion. We deliver high-quality care, clinical excellence, research, and innovation regionally, nationally, and internationally, supporting people with rare and complex medical, surgical, and neurological conditions, cancers, and genetic disorders. We are committed to promoting equality, diversity, and sustainability, aiming to be Net Zero by 2030 for our direct carbon footprint and by 2040 for our broader footprint.

About the role

We are seeking a dynamic Specialist Biomedical Scientist to join our Cellular Pathology team at the Royal Victoria Infirmary. This role supports our expanding service and requires specialist knowledge and experience in Cellular Pathology, including Immunohistochemistry (IHC), staff training, quality assurance, and service development.

This is a full-time position (37.5 hours per week) with participation in a Saturday rota (approximately one week in six).

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the provision of an effective clinical Cellular Pathology service for the Trust, General Practitioners, and other users.
• Supervise, organise, and direct Biomedical Scientists, Healthcare Science Associate Practitioners, and Healthcare Science Assistants.
• Provide specialist knowledge in clinical and technical situations, including training and mentorship of staff.
• Perform and validate laboratory diagnostic tests and procedures accurately and efficiently, including microscopic interpretation of tissue and fluid samples.
• Select and dissect areas for diagnosis (e.g., renal biopsies) and determine if further tests are necessary.
• Work in compliance with local health and safety rules, including COSHH, risk assessments, and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Participate in the maintenance and troubleshooting of laboratory equipment and report faults or non-compliances.
• Engage in quality control, correct minor non-conformities, and report major non-compliant events.
• Rotate between sections (Histology, Cytology, Neuropathology, Research, and Mortuary Services) as part of the team.
• Perform procedures such as cryotomy on intraoperative tissue samples, tissue processing, embedding, microtomy, staining, immunocytochemistry, electron microscopy, and molecular diagnostic procedures.
• Validate results and initiate further procedures as required.

Requirements

It is essential that applicants hold the IBMS Specialist Portfolio to be appointed at Band 6. Candidates who are close to completing their portfolio will be appointed at Band 5 until certification is received. Experienced HCPC-registered Biomedical Scientists may also be considered for appointment at Band 5.

Qualifications

Essential (Band 6)

• 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.
• Previous experience in a Cellular Pathology laboratory.
• Broad and specialist knowledge of Cellular Pathology, including laboratory techniques.

Desirable (Band 6)

• Basic IT knowledge.

Essential (Band 5)

• BSc in Biomedical Sciences or equivalent qualification approved by the IBMS.
• Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration.
• Knowledge of Cellular Pathology.
• Previous laboratory experience as a Trainee Biomedical Scientist/Healthcare Scientist in an NHS Laboratory.
• Familiarity with Health & Safety and COSHH.
• Participation in Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
• Keyboard skills.

Desirable (Band 5)

• Membership of the IBMS.
• Computer literacy.

Skills

Essential

• Ability to organise and prioritise work activities.
• Strong communication skills.
• Analytical and judgemental skills.
• Planning and organisational skills.

About the department

The Cellular Pathology department provides Histopathology, Cytopathology, and Mortuary services in a purpose-built facility. We handle a broad range of specimens from within the Trust, General Practitioners, and as a specialist referral centre, including regional, national, and international cases. The department includes:

• Specimen Reception
• Slide Production
• Immunohistochemistry (IHC)
• Muscle & Nerve
• Electron Microscopy
• Neuropathology
• Cytology
• Genomics preparation
• Mohs and research facility ‘NovoPath’

The laboratory operates Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm, with flexibility encouraged to support staff and service needs. As a major Transplant Centre, we also provide a voluntary out-of-hours on-call service.

Benefits

As a flexible working-friendly organisation, we strive to accommodate arrangements that work for both the service and employees. For details on staff benefits, please refer to the attached documents.