Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

Specialist Biomedical Scientist - Cellular Pathology

The closing date is 13 October 2025

Job summary

Specialist Biomedical Scientist - East of England HPV Primary Screening Service

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Cytology department was chosen to be the provider of HPV primary testing for the East of England. This means that we are testing up to 450,000 cervical screening samples per year for HPV using the high throughput Roche Cobas systems.

The laboratory also currently processes around 3,000 diagnostic cytology samples per year.

It is a very busy department, and is sited in modern, well-equipped accommodation at the Cotman Centre, on Colney Lane.

Full time: 37.5 hours per week

Main duties of the job

As a member of the Cytopathology team you will be required to undertake a range of duties to assist in the provision of a comprehensive screening service and assist in the daily workload management of the department. It is essential in a fast paced high throughput department to be able to, work closely and supportively with your colleagues responding to the needs of the service on a daily basis.

You will play a key role in the delivery of a high quality, safe and compassionate healthcare service.

All staff are expected to act as a role model to others in all aspects of their work and consistently demonstrate NNUH's 'PRIDE' values of People focused, Respect, Dedication, Integrity and Excellence.

Depending on your experience and skills consideration may be given to those who do not yet meet all of the desirable criteria on the person specification, with the department providing in role support and training.

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 at NNUH Colney Lane site
  • 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 Colney Lane site
  • Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
  • On-site Nursery at NNUH Colney Lane
  • On-site cafes offering staff discounts at NNUH Colney Lane
  • Support in career development
  • Flexible staff bank
  • Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics

Details

Date posted

29 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

234-25-E0026-A

Job locations

Cotman Centre, Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital

Norwich

NR4 7UB


Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Scientific and Management Responsibilities:

1. Communicates sensitive and complex clinical scientific service related information to consultants, GPs and other medical staff. Also to managers, nurses and other health care professionals.

2. Answers telephone enquiries from consultants, GPs, other medical staff,secretaries, plus nurses and other health care professionals, providing highly complex information regarding appropriate use of methodologies, interpretation of results and service requirements to optimise results with regard to sample retrieval, fixation and transportation.

3. Manages own workload and prioritises day-to-day routine work in the specialised service, supervising BMSW staff and deputising for senior BMS staff in their absence.

4. Participation in LBC primary screening for cervical samples. This will involve the microscopic interpretation of the sample to identify and grade any abnormalities according to NHSCSP guidelines.

5. Entering own negative and inadequate reports on laboratory database according to department Standard Operating Procedures.

Please refer to the Job Description for the full specification of responsibilities and requirements for this post.

Please note due to high volume of applications for some posts, this post may close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Scientific and Management Responsibilities:

1. Communicates sensitive and complex clinical scientific service related information to consultants, GPs and other medical staff. Also to managers, nurses and other health care professionals.

2. Answers telephone enquiries from consultants, GPs, other medical staff,secretaries, plus nurses and other health care professionals, providing highly complex information regarding appropriate use of methodologies, interpretation of results and service requirements to optimise results with regard to sample retrieval, fixation and transportation.

3. Manages own workload and prioritises day-to-day routine work in the specialised service, supervising BMSW staff and deputising for senior BMS staff in their absence.

4. Participation in LBC primary screening for cervical samples. This will involve the microscopic interpretation of the sample to identify and grade any abnormalities according to NHSCSP guidelines.

5. Entering own negative and inadequate reports on laboratory database according to department Standard Operating Procedures.

Please refer to the Job Description for the full specification of responsibilities and requirements for this post.

Please note due to high volume of applications for some posts, this post may close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Sciences or equivalent.
  • State registration with Health Professions Council (HPC).
  • City and Guilds Diploma of Cervical cytology NVQ level 3 or NHSCSP Certificate in Cervical Cytology
  • Specialist Portfolio from the institute of Biomedical Sciences (IBMS) or equivalent

Experience

Essential

  • Understanding of clinical laboratory equipment performance evaluation including highly complex instrumentation.
  • Problem solving of highly complex clinical scientific problems

Desirable

  • Significant postgraduate State Registration experience in a clinical cytopathology service as a new entrant BMS1

Skills

Essential

  • Able to effectively work within a complex multidisciplinary team.

Attitude & Aptitude

Essential

  • Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH's PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
  • Demonstrates understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Sciences or equivalent.
  • State registration with Health Professions Council (HPC).
  • City and Guilds Diploma of Cervical cytology NVQ level 3 or NHSCSP Certificate in Cervical Cytology
  • Specialist Portfolio from the institute of Biomedical Sciences (IBMS) or equivalent

Experience

Essential

  • Understanding of clinical laboratory equipment performance evaluation including highly complex instrumentation.
  • Problem solving of highly complex clinical scientific problems

Desirable

  • Significant postgraduate State Registration experience in a clinical cytopathology service as a new entrant BMS1

Skills

Essential

  • Able to effectively work within a complex multidisciplinary team.

Attitude & Aptitude

Essential

  • Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH's PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
  • Demonstrates understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

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

Norwich

NR4 7UB


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

Norwich

NR4 7UB


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Cytology Manager

Sara Casson

sara.casson@nnuh.nhs.uk

01603286031

Details

Date posted

29 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

234-25-E0026-A

Job locations

Cotman Centre, Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital

Norwich

NR4 7UB


Supporting documents

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