Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Operational Lead Histopathology (XR08)

The closing date is 02 November 2025

Job summary

The Cellular Pathology Department at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated manager to help the Cellular Pathology department become a provider of choice for Cellular Pathology services, helping us deliver excellent, high-quality integrated care to our patients, in keeping with the Trusts wider vision.

The post holder will have operational responsibility for overseeing the running of specific elements of the Cellular Pathology Services. They will play a role in the development and implementation of the long-term strategy for the delivery of the services as determined by the Service Manager and Clinical Lead.

As Designated Individual, DI, for the Post Mortem Licence in Leeds the post holder has a key role in implementing the requirements of the Human Tissue Act 2004 (HT Act) across the Trust.

Expected Shortlisting Date

03/11/2025

Planned Interview Date

12/11/2025

Main duties of the job

As the Operational Lead the jobholder will be responsible for overseeing the operational running of the Cellular Pathology service which includes Histology, Andrology and Mortuary services. They will play a major role in the development and implementation of the long term strategy for the delivery of the services as determined by the Service Manager and Clinical Lead. The DI for the Post Mortem Licence in Leeds has a key role in implementing the requirements of the Human Tissue Act 2004 (HT Act) across the Trust.

The Post Mortem Licence is held by the Trusts Corporate Body (the Chief Medical Officer being the named signatory on its behalf). The Leeds General Infirmary is the hub site, with St James's University Hospital having a Satellite site status on the same licence.

The DI is the person under whose supervision the licenced activity is authorized to be carried out and the DI has primary (legal) responsibility under Section 18 of the Human Tissue Act to ensure:

That suitable practices are used in undertaking the licensed activity.

Within the Trust these are provided by an agreed suite of Standard Operating Procedures (Quality Management System), agreed templates for tissue transfer and an IT system (CoPath)

That other persons working under the licence are suitable.

They should carry the appropriate level of authority to support their responsibilities under the Human Tissue Act.

That the conditions of the licence are complied with.

About us

The department provides Histopathology, Non Gynae Cytology, Andrology, Muscle, Nerve, Immunohistochemistry, Molecular, and Mortuary services for Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust and surrounding primary care centres.

We are a well equipped and innovative department being the first laboratory in the UK digitally scanning 100% of surgical slides, also introducing the UK's first automated tissue sectioners. We process circa 58,000 surgical cases, 2,000 autopsy cases and 6000 non-gynaecological cytology cases per annum. We are a continually improving department, striving for high quality staff and processes. As a training hospital we serve to expand the knowledge and skills of all staff. There are plenty of opportunities to become involved, and further development is encouraged. We have UKAS accreditation to ISO15189 standards. We endeavour to follow 'The Leeds Way' at all times putting the patient first at all times.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Date posted

15 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9298-PATH-477

Job locations

Leeds General Infirmary

Great George Street

Leeds

LS1 3EX

Job description

Job responsibilities

PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

To manage and develop the Cellular Pathology service

To manage the staff who work in the section(s). This will include development of staff rotas and will involve participation in such people governance procedures as recruitment, staff induction, staff development, disciplinary procedures, grievances, absence and performance management.

Maintain a strategic view of establishment, highlighting implications of service developments and workload increases.

To have highly developed skills in the use of a microscope

Ensure timely accurate submissions of monthly, quarterly and annual returns to the Commissioners, Regional Quality Assurance and NHS Screening Programmes.

To communicate accurately and effectively to a broad range of organisations and individuals both within and external to the Trust in accordance with departmental procedures.

To communicate information, both clinical and non-clinical, to staff who work in the section(s). To provide and receive highly complex information, for which tact and persuasive skills are required

To communicate accurately sensitive and/or highly complex information to users of the service in a manner that is in accordance with departmental procedures for which tact and persuasive skills will be required. This will be demonstrated in negotiating policy and procedure with areas external to the department. The post also requires the presentation of highly complex information to large groups of healthcare professionals

To maintain registered status as a biomedical scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council

To be conversant with contemporary methods including any analytical equipment used in the service and to manage the procurement of such equipment as is deemed necessary for the service.

To lead the evaluation, recommendation and procurement of new and emerging automated technologies which will involve equipment testing and the co-ordination of specialist R&D activities

Lead service improvement initiatives in conjunction with the Clinical Lead and Service Manager. Use influence and negotiating skills to facilitate the introduction of new working practices. Empower staff to implement changes

To perform appropriate technical laboratory procedures and tasks that are consistent with the jobholders advanced levels of specialist knowledge, skills and experience. The post-holder would be expected to interpret the available information and make expert judgment on the available courses of action

To remain competent in other sections of the department subject to requirements and to perform tasks accurately and in accordance with departmental standard operating procedures.

To provide training to support, technical, scientific and medical staff up to and including registrar level, some of which are external to the department and employing Trust

To actively participate in the laboratory quality assurance and risk management programmes

To participate in laboratory audit processes

Have a line of accountability to the Trust Chief Medical Officer (see organisational chart in appendix 1)

Work with consultants, trainees, biomedical scientist staff and clinical management to provide assurance that the organisation is compliant and raise issues of concern through the appropriate line management channels

Work with Consultants, trainees in histopathology, biomedical scientists, pathology management, nursing staff and other CSU management teams, as appropriate, in the Trust to ensure that the compliance framework supports the licensable activities in the Trust

Work closely and collaboratively with the HTA Manager

Be responsible for identifying and appointing suitable Persons Designated (PD), holding regular governance meeting with them and supporting them in resolving local issues where they affect compliance with the legislation

Work collaboratively with the Mortuary Manager to ensure that the dignity of the deceased is protected and mortuary activity remains compliant.

Respond to HTA related queries from any member of staff from the Trust

Support the education and training of staff in collaboration with the Trust for HTA compliance

Be a member of the Human Tissue Act Management Group, producing a regular assurance report

Chair the associated Post Mortem Licence Sub Group

Have overall responsibility for the review of relevant Post Mortem Licence Standard Operating Procedures as required, to ensure the Quality Management System continues to support regulatory compliance

Have oversight of audits and risk assessment of tissue collections, both regular and where triggered by a compliance concern and have oversight of any corrective or preventative actions

Submit all HTA Reportable Incidents (HTARIs) / near miss HTARIs within five working days after their discovery. Liaise with appropriate senior management in the Trust; maintain oversight; ensuring that corrective and preventative actions are enacted in response to incidents and near misses. Support the development of HTA Post Mortem Licence relevant Research, assessing the viability of the proposed projects and obtaining assurance that appropriate resources are in place; working collaboratively, when required, with the Research Licence DI.

Lead the organisational arrangements for any compliance returns required by the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) and for any regulatory or statuary HTA lincence related alerts, site inspections by the HTA, liaising with HTA Regulation Managers, key members of Trust and agreeing the timetable for any site visit

Work to resolve incidents / near misses relating to tissue collection and storage, reporting to the HTA as appropriate;

Work with PDs to ensure that all licensable activities are compliant with the HT Act and that all information relating to licensable activities is available, up-to-date and correct.

Keep up to date with relevant newly announced legislation and HT standards

This list is not exhaustive and the changing needs of the service may, from time to time, require the development of other appropriate duties, tasks and skills. These will be fully discussed with the jobholder in advance of their implementation.

The Pathology Department of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is located on several sites. Subject to appropriate consultation, the jobholder may be required to work in a laboratory based at an alternative site as required by the Laboratory Service Manager.