Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Biomedical Scientist

The closing date is 21 July 2025

Job summary

The Neuropathology Department provides a neuropathology and ocular pathology service to aid diagnosis and or management of patients through appropriate analytical assessment. The service is offered to the clinicians of the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, to regional and supra-regional hospitals and supports a service to HM Coroners in Oxford and the region. In addition, we provide a full interpretive and consultative national and international referral service. We are involved in the education and training of laboratory, clinical and other appropriate staff in matters pertinent to neuropathology.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced band 6 Biomedical Scientist to join our specialist diagnostic laboratory. The successful candidate will rotate through the different laboratory services, covering routine CNS histopathology, along with specialist diagnostic tissues, such as muscle, nerve and skin biopsies for intra-dermal nerve fibre density analysis. This is a great step for a Biomedical Scientist to move into a specialist role. Full training and support will be provided by the laboratory for those who have not yet worked with these tissue types.

As a small team we are supportive, focused and provide a patient-centric service. We work closely with teams outside the department, so that we can get a better understanding of the wider clinical picture. The department encourages CPD and ongoing training and education relevant to the role.

Main duties of the job

Undertakes scientific duties to facilitate the smooth running of the routine surgical and post mortem services.
Prepares samples using a range of specialist laboratory procedures, by either manual or automated techniques, to produce results of a quality consistent with excellent patient care. Undertakes these duties in all required areas of the department under the supervision of senior staff.
Ensures efficient use and maintenance of resources, is aware of stock levels and rotation, storage conditions, batch numbers and expiry dates, thus ensuring the viability of the reagents and / or products used.
Exercises a degree of autonomy but refers to senior staff and works in co-operation with other staff members to ensure that the workload is processed in a timely and efficient manner, assessing samples for urgency and ensuring samples meet acceptance criteria for testing and dealing with any non-compliance in accordance with departmental protocols.
Works to gain competence in all departmental policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), ensuring that personal performance complies with UKAS and other professional standards.
Carries out troubleshooting and preventive maintenance on complex and expensive automated systems. Ensures appropriate records are kept and liaises with senior staff and service engineers where appropriate.
Matches samples with request forms and inputs patient and test information into the laboratory computer system, requiring complete accuracy.

About us

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.

We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.

These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.

Date posted

07 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year Per Annum / Pro Rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

321-NOTSS-7059485-B6

Job locations

John Radcliffe Hospital

Headley Way

Oxford

OX3 9DU

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

Provides general non-clinical advice, information or guidance to service users, particularly immediate colleagues, theatre staff, mortuary staff and other BMSs.

Prepares and advises others on preparation of tissues for specialist neuropathology diagnostic techniques after training.

Science and Technology

Has a detailed knowledge and understanding of technical processes relating to the demonstration of normal and abnormal histology.

Has a detailed and knowledge of the appropriate preparation of the different kinds of samples from specimen reception through to case dispatch to the consultants. This requires a high degree of concentration/experience to ensure accuracy, correct sample preparations are made, diagnostic tests controlled appropriately and test runs monitored for quality..

In rotation with other staff able to deliver the laboratory post mortem service.

In rotation with other staff able to deliver the laboratory surgical histology service.

Applies accurate and appropriate procedures according to clinical details or request from consultant.

Uses and adheres to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and only amends these methods after prior agreement with staff.

Ensures SOPs and policies in use within the department remain contemporary and relevant and assists in the development and review of SOPs.

Applies appropriate quality control.

Interprets the technical quality of results (Quality Assurance).

Ensures records are maintained in order to audit quality of performance.

Participates in National External Quality Assurance Scheme (NEQAS) tests and are submitted on time and to an appropriately high standard.

Develops and maintains skills appropriate to the grade in order to provide the best possible laboratory service to our service users by participating in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities.

Undertakes investigations as requested by the Laboratory Lead.

Ensures the functioning of, and adequate maintenance of equipment. Informs the Laboratory Lead should remedial action be necessary.

Attends user group meetings when directed by Laboratory Lead.

Assists in the implementation of recommended change arising from new legislation.

Maintains those levels of professional standards set by the Chief BMS and Lead Consultant.

Contributes to the scientific understanding and development of the profession and departmental team.

Ethical

Strictly observes confidentiality of all information concerning patients and adheres to the Data Protection Act.

Ensures BMSs and Medical Laboratory Assistants understand and comply with requirements of patient confidentiality.

Represents the department to a high professional standard in conduct, manner and appearance and upholds Trust Core Values.

Ensures that tissue is not used except for purposes consented by patients or next of kin.

Maintains standards set by the Chief BMS.

Appraisal

Participates and meets agreed objectives identified in the Trust appraisal scheme.

Ensures professional knowledge and skills are maintained by identifying and addressing own training needs. Assists Chief BMS in setting own objectives.

Assists Chief BMS and Training Officer in planning objectives and suggesting training.

Ensures that records are maintained in order to achieve the highest possible quality of performance and job satisfaction.

Health and Safety

Adheres to all safety legislation with particular regard to the Health and Safety in Work Act, COSHH and the principles of risk assessment and its management.

Knowledge of chemical handling, storage and disposal.

Assists in the implementation of recommended change arising from new legislation.

Observes and adheres to all ORH corporate policies.

Adheres to high standards of safety in carrying out duties within laboratory including annual attendance at fire lectures.

Raises concerns on health and safety with the Safety officer or BMS 3.

Participates in risk management of the department including the reporting of adverse incidents in accordance with Trust policy. Assists in any investigations.

Collaborates with the senior staff to ensure a safe working environment for staff, patients and visitors and ensures that supervised staff comply with laboratory safety procedures.

Reports all accidents to the BMS 3 and assists in any investigations in accordance with Trust policy.

Performs laboratory housekeeping activities that assist safety in the laboratory.

Managerial / Organisational

Provides daily provision of a service of a section of the laboratory service on a rotational basis.

Monitors the economical use of consumables within the Department and works with the Chief BMS to ensure that adequate supplies are available.

Maintains appropriate records and statistics as directed by the Quality Manager.

Assists in the induction, orientation and training of BMS and Medical Laboratory Assistant grades as directed by the Lab Lead.

Offers opinions or advises the Chief BMS of new techniques, equipment and systems which could facilitate improved efficiency and quality.

Alerts Lab Lead of any maintenance of the estate with special regard to staff safety and new developments.

Communication

Communicates with other staff and service users appropriately, effectively and efficiently either verbally, using email, faxes, SOPs, etc. to ensure an efficient service and positive working environment.

Advises service users of appropriate method of preparation and transport of samples.

Participates in education programmes.

Information Technology

Complies fully with legislation relating to data protection.

Enters and retrieves data accurately and efficiently from FilemakerPro Neuropathology Surgical Reporting System, Post Mortem Reporting System, Brain Tissue archive System.

Good working knowledge of Word, Excel and Outlook.

Enters and retrieves data from other laboratory databases.

Other

When agreed with the Laboratory Manager to take part in a voluntary single discipline out of hours service.

Complies with Working Time Directive.

Duties outlined may change from time to time but be consistent with grade and in consultation with the Head of Department and Laboratory Manager.