Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

Biomedical Support Worker - Histopathology

The closing date is 28 July 2025

Job summary

The Royal Oldham Hospital Cellular Pathology Department provides comprehensive Histology and Cytology Services within the Northern care Alliance and the surrounding Clinical Commissioning Groups.

Working under indirect supervision the post holder will receive and prepare for analysis samples received by the department, enter relevant data on the laboratory computer system and perform routine tests using established protocols and procedures

We are looking for enthusiastic, well motivated individuals who work well with in a team environment but also can work on their own.

Unfortunately, this role does not meet the criteria required to qualify for sponsorship.

Main duties of the job

  • Helping with the preparation of formalin fixed tissue samples.
  • Filing wax blocks and slides
  • Preparing slides for MDT discussion
  • Receive and prepare samples for analysis, enter relevant data on the laboratory computer system and carry out technical investigations using established protocols and procedures.
  • Support the Biomedical Scientist in the Cellular Pathology Department

About us

The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) provides hospital and integrated health and social care services to over one million people living across Greater Manchester. Our 20,000 colleagues care for people in hospital and in the community, working across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and Salford, to save and improve lives.

As a large NHS trust we are committed to enhancing the health of our local population by delivering consistently high standards of care and working closely with local authorities and key partners. We believe in our power and potential to make a difference and we're always looking for people who demonstrate our three core values - care, appreciate and inspire - to join our team.

In return, we can offer you a job role with purpose and flexibility. The size and scale of the NCA means we can provide more challenge and opportunities so your career can always be moving in the right direction. By joining us you can also access a competitive benefits package, including, a fantastic annual leave allowance, flexible working opportunities and protected hours for health and wellbeing activities, helping you to achieve more personal downtime and a better work-life balance.

Details

Date posted

14 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,973 to £26,598 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

236-DPG-CS218-25

Job locations

The Royal Oldham Hospital

Rochdale Road

Oldham

OL1 2JH


Job description

Job responsibilities

To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about working at the Northern Care Alliance within the attached Candidate Information Pack or by visiting our careers website: www.careers.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk

Job description

Job responsibilities

To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about working at the Northern Care Alliance within the attached Candidate Information Pack or by visiting our careers website: www.careers.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Good standard of general education. NVQ, GCSE (5 or more at Grade C or above) / GCE including basic numeracy and literacy

Desirable

  • Have satisfactorily completed the department's programme of training and competence (usually 12 - 18 months training required).

Knowledge, Training & Experience

Essential

  • Able to follow SOPs / protocols
  • Awareness of confidentiality issues
  • Awareness of health and safety issues

Desirable

  • Experience within a health care/laboratory environment

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Willingness to undergo training / ability to acquire the theoretical knowledge required to undertake laboratory tasks
  • Flexible approach to working patterns
  • Good attendance record
  • Basic IT skills
  • Good verbal communication

Desirable

  • Ability to work under demanding circumstances and to deadlines
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Good standard of general education. NVQ, GCSE (5 or more at Grade C or above) / GCE including basic numeracy and literacy

Desirable

  • Have satisfactorily completed the department's programme of training and competence (usually 12 - 18 months training required).

Knowledge, Training & Experience

Essential

  • Able to follow SOPs / protocols
  • Awareness of confidentiality issues
  • Awareness of health and safety issues

Desirable

  • Experience within a health care/laboratory environment

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Willingness to undergo training / ability to acquire the theoretical knowledge required to undertake laboratory tasks
  • Flexible approach to working patterns
  • Good attendance record
  • Basic IT skills
  • Good verbal communication

Desirable

  • Ability to work under demanding circumstances and to deadlines

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).

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The Royal Oldham Hospital

Rochdale Road

Oldham

OL1 2JH


Employer's website

https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The Royal Oldham Hospital

Rochdale Road

Oldham

OL1 2JH


Employer's website

https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Technical Manager

Alvena Kousar

alvena.kousar@nca.nhs.uk

01616561656

Details

Date posted

14 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,973 to £26,598 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

236-DPG-CS218-25

Job locations

The Royal Oldham Hospital

Rochdale Road

Oldham

OL1 2JH


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust 's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)