Biomedical Scientist – Advanced Immunocytochemistry

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

The option of a relocation package up to £8000 and up to 2 days relocation leave is available to eligible candidates, or alternatively a recruitment incentive of £3000.00 is also available, terms and conditions apply.

A post is available in the Histopathology Department. This post presents an exciting opportunity to be part of an excellent team working in a busy modern teaching hospital laboratory. The department has a workload of around 61 000 surgical requests per year and covers a wide range of routine and specialised services.

The immunocytochemistry section processes over 50 000 routine diagnostic slides per year as well as carrying out immunohistochemistry companion diagnostics and skin immunofluorescence. The section also undertakes a number of solid tumour molecular diagnostics including single point PCR analysis, FISH and CISH.

This is an excellent opportunity to work within a committed team of office, laboratory and Consultant Pathologist staff. The department encourages active professional development and further educational activities. The service is expanding Biomedical Scientist advanced dissection and Biomedical Scientist reporting roles. The service is also currently developing digital pathology reporting, and is progressing towards full digital reporting. We also use CEREBRO specimen tracking system.

Main duties of the job

As post holder you will work autonomously and in partnership with the Chief BMS section lead to supervise the delivery of high quality specialist immunocytochemistry and solid tumour molecular diagnostics.

You will (after undergoing training and competency assessment) undertake breast cancer HER2 FISH scoring and reporting.

You will be involved in service developments, such as the commissioning of new diagnostic tests, within one of the most rapidly evolving areas of cellular pathology.

You will also play a key role in the following areas:

  • Work as a senior specialist BMS in the immunocytochemistry/molecular pathology services.
  • Carry out and report solid tumour PCR analyses
  • Screen and report breast cancer HER2 FISH cases.
  • Support band 8a staff, including stock control, staff/workload supervision, staff training and quality assurance.
  • Carry out audits and appraisals and sickness monitoring procedures.
  • Support staff CPD.

About us

Join us at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and be part of a workforce of over 10,000 staff!

The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first-class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We are pleased to work closely with the University of East Anglia, providing teaching opportunities for our staff and placement opportunities for their students. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world.

We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity

We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:

  • Flexible working hours
  • Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
  • Multi Faith prayer room
  • Discounted gym memberships
  • Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
  • Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
  • Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH site
  • Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
  • On-site Nursery
  • On-site cafes offering staff discounts
  • Support in career development
  • Flexible staff bank
  • Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics

Date posted

06 July 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£43,742 to £50,056 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working, Annualised hours

Reference number

234-23-CS0326-A

Job locations

Cotman Centre, Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital

Colney Lane

Norwich

NR4 7UY


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To work as technical specialist in the immunocytochemistry (IHC) section. Organising, problem solving and managing the daily workload and staff (on rotation), without direct supervision.
  • Training all senior/BMS/trainee staff working in the area.
  • Deputies for the Chief BMS in IHC as required.
  • Manages and priorities throughput of routine and urgent IHC requests from Consultant Histopathologists to allow provision of diagnostic reports to clinicians within departmental turnaround times and as required for MDT meetings.
  • Daily quality control and check (by microscopic examination) of all IHC preparations from surgical specimens and control materials prior to despatch to Consultant Histopathologists to ensure the high quality required for diagnostic purposes.
  • Responsible along with the Chief BMS for companion diagnostic tests including hormone receptor assessment, HER2 immunohistochemistry and PD-L1.
  • Count and report HER2 FISH cases including complex genotypes under guidance from consultant breast pathologists and the Chief BMS. Maintain competence through meeting minimum yearly reporting case load.
  • Sources and maintains documentation for all controls necessary for ongoing immunohistochemical and molecular testing.

Please see the attached job description for full details.

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To work as technical specialist in the immunocytochemistry (IHC) section. Organising, problem solving and managing the daily workload and staff (on rotation), without direct supervision.
  • Training all senior/BMS/trainee staff working in the area.
  • Deputies for the Chief BMS in IHC as required.
  • Manages and priorities throughput of routine and urgent IHC requests from Consultant Histopathologists to allow provision of diagnostic reports to clinicians within departmental turnaround times and as required for MDT meetings.
  • Daily quality control and check (by microscopic examination) of all IHC preparations from surgical specimens and control materials prior to despatch to Consultant Histopathologists to ensure the high quality required for diagnostic purposes.
  • Responsible along with the Chief BMS for companion diagnostic tests including hormone receptor assessment, HER2 immunohistochemistry and PD-L1.
  • Count and report HER2 FISH cases including complex genotypes under guidance from consultant breast pathologists and the Chief BMS. Maintain competence through meeting minimum yearly reporting case load.
  • Sources and maintains documentation for all controls necessary for ongoing immunohistochemical and molecular testing.

Please see the attached job description for full details.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • MSc in Biomedical Sciences or other relevant subject or higher specialist diploma in cellular pathology from the IBMS.
  • Specialist Diploma from the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (IBMS) or equivalent
  • State Registration with Health Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Experience

Essential

  • Has in-depth experience of working in a diverse high pressure, high throughput clinical service.
  • Has developed advanced specialist technical knowledge in the field of immunocytochemistry along with knowledge and understanding of pathological conditions, the application of immunocytochemical procedures in diagnosis and treatment of disease, knowledge and recognition of normal/abnormal tissues microscopically.

Desirable

  • Has a working understanding of current molecular testing strategies within cellular pathology laboratories.

Skills

Essential

  • Can communicate effectively with all levels of staff and service users.
  • Will be able to effectively supervise the work within a complex multi-disciplinary team.

Attitude, aptitude

Essential

  • Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH's PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • MSc in Biomedical Sciences or other relevant subject or higher specialist diploma in cellular pathology from the IBMS.
  • Specialist Diploma from the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (IBMS) or equivalent
  • State Registration with Health Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Experience

Essential

  • Has in-depth experience of working in a diverse high pressure, high throughput clinical service.
  • Has developed advanced specialist technical knowledge in the field of immunocytochemistry along with knowledge and understanding of pathological conditions, the application of immunocytochemical procedures in diagnosis and treatment of disease, knowledge and recognition of normal/abnormal tissues microscopically.

Desirable

  • Has a working understanding of current molecular testing strategies within cellular pathology laboratories.

Skills

Essential

  • Can communicate effectively with all levels of staff and service users.
  • Will be able to effectively supervise the work within a complex multi-disciplinary team.

Attitude, aptitude

Essential

  • Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH's PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

Address

Cotman Centre, Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital

Colney Lane

Norwich

NR4 7UY


Employer's website

https://teamnnuh.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

Address

Cotman Centre, Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital

Colney Lane

Norwich

NR4 7UY


Employer's website

https://teamnnuh.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

Chief Biomedical Scientist

Joe Goodwill

joseph.goodwill@nnuh.nhs.uk

01603286945

Date posted

06 July 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£43,742 to £50,056 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working, Annualised hours

Reference number

234-23-CS0326-A

Job locations

Cotman Centre, Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital

Colney Lane

Norwich

NR4 7UY


Supporting documents

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