Job summary
Applications are invited from proactive, motivated, enthusiastic HCPC registered biomedical scientists to join the Cellular Pathology Department, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. The department is UKAS accredited ISO 15189:2021 and is an IBMS approved training laboratory.
The post holders would be working 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday (occasional weekend working may be required)
The post holder will be working as part of a combined team of Consultant Pathologists, Biomedical Scientists, Medical Laboratory Assistants and Secretarial and other support staff to provide a cellular pathology service for Worcestershire.
For further information, please contact Dhakir Ghaleb, Cellular Pathology Services Manager on 01905 760230 or via email: dhakir.ghaleb@nhs.net
Main duties of the job
To
perform independent dissection of complex specimens that fall within the RCPath
designation of category A, B and C and a range of simple category D & E
specimens.
Be
responsible for the evaluation and implementation of new equipment, methods and
practices for the section as appropriate.
Maintain
expert knowledge of current technological and scientific developments.
Senior
point of contact for emergencies in the designated area.
Maintain continual professional education and
promote lifelong learning for managed staff.
To
work to the defined quality standards for all aspects of the service e.g.
United Kingdom Accreditation Services (UKAS) and all the standards this
encompasses.
The
post holder will be expected to work with the Advanced Scientist Dissector
responsible for Specimen Reception and Dissection regarding supervision of
staff and scheduling of dissection sessions.
To
deliver training to Associate Practioner and Biomedical Scientist staff to
maintain relevant training records both for the dissection section and within
general Histology.
To
create, maintain and review relevant Standard Operating Procedures. This
includes writing Standard Operating Procedures electronically using the
document control procedure.
Help to deliver on training plans and
objectives set out by the Advanced Scientist Dissector and Cellular Pathology
Training Manager.
About us
Our purpose is simple - Putting Patients First. We are looking for exceptional colleagues who can help us achieve this.
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.
The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester
Our workforce is nearly 6,800 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.
We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us to achieve our Vision - working in partnership to provide the best healthcare for our communities, leading and supporting our teams to move 4ward. Our 4ward behaviours, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.
Our objectives are simple:
- Best services for local people
- Best experience of care and best outcomes for our patients
- Best use of resources
- Best people
Better never stops, and our Clinical Services Strategy provides a clear future vision for our Trust, our hospitals, our services and our role in the wider health and care system.
We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To perform independent dissection of complex specimens that fall within the RCPath designation of category A, B and C and a range of simple category D & E specimens.
Be responsible for the evaluation and implementation of new equipment, methods and practices for the section as appropriate.
Maintain expert knowledge of current technological and scientific developments.
Senior point of contact for emergencies in the designated area.
Maintain continual professional education and promote lifelong learning for managed staff.
To work to the defined quality standards for all aspects of the service e.g. United Kingdom Accreditation Services (UKAS) and all the standards this encompasses.
The post holder will be expected to work with the Advanced Scientist Dissector responsible for Specimen Reception and Dissection regarding supervision of staff and scheduling of dissection sessions.
To deliver training to Associate Practioner and Biomedical Scientist staff to maintain relevant training records both for the dissection section and within general Histology.
To create, maintain and review relevant Standard Operating Procedures. This includes writing Standard Operating Procedures electronically using the document control procedure
To promote and maintain a high standard of relevant education and training.
To assist with aspects of Health and Safety monitoring and Risk Assessments. To ensure all equipment and procedures are fit for purpose.
To promote equality and diversity in your working life ensuring that all the staff you work with feel valued and treated in a fair and equitable manner.
- Help to deliver on training plans and objectives set out by the Advanced Scientist Dissector and Cellular Pathology Training Manager.
- To participate in the routine work of all sections of the department to provide our users with accurate and timely results.
- To perform both routine tasks covering a variety of analytical equipment and manual techniques.
- To ensure that all tasks are performed in accordance with current Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and regulations to ensure a high quality service at all times.
- To ensure that equipment is properly maintained on a day to day basis and operated in accordance with laboratory and manufacturers SOPs.
- To be fully conversant with all forms of automated equipment within the Department, including being able to troubleshoot to ensure minimum downtime as consequence of minor breakdowns/ malfunctions
- The documentation of specimens, including the entry of computerised records.
- The handling, processing and disposal of histological and cytological material including the sensitive disposal of products of conception
- Provide assistance to Consultant Histopathologists with regard to specimen dissection and sampling of diagnostic material.
- The embedding and orientation of tissue samples selected for diagnostic evaluation requiring knowledge and experience of histological and anatomical structure.
- The production of microscopical preparations requiring extensive hand and eye coordination to produce high quality diagnostic sections using complex, skilled microtomy and handling techniques, for both paraffin wax and urgent diagnostic frozen sections.
- The preparation of routine stains, working solutions and reagents in order to perform routine and specialised histological, histochemical and immunocytochemical investigations
- To undertake routine histological, histochemical and immunofluorescent investigations on diagnostic tissue specimens in accordance with Standard Operational Procedures.
- To undertake routine quality control checks prior to releasing cases to pathologists for reporting
- To cut high quality frozen sections for urgent diagnosis or immunofluorescent technique.
- To have precise pipetting skills where accuracy and precision are required.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To perform independent dissection of complex specimens that fall within the RCPath designation of category A, B and C and a range of simple category D & E specimens.
Be responsible for the evaluation and implementation of new equipment, methods and practices for the section as appropriate.
Maintain expert knowledge of current technological and scientific developments.
Senior point of contact for emergencies in the designated area.
Maintain continual professional education and promote lifelong learning for managed staff.
To work to the defined quality standards for all aspects of the service e.g. United Kingdom Accreditation Services (UKAS) and all the standards this encompasses.
The post holder will be expected to work with the Advanced Scientist Dissector responsible for Specimen Reception and Dissection regarding supervision of staff and scheduling of dissection sessions.
To deliver training to Associate Practioner and Biomedical Scientist staff to maintain relevant training records both for the dissection section and within general Histology.
To create, maintain and review relevant Standard Operating Procedures. This includes writing Standard Operating Procedures electronically using the document control procedure
To promote and maintain a high standard of relevant education and training.
To assist with aspects of Health and Safety monitoring and Risk Assessments. To ensure all equipment and procedures are fit for purpose.
To promote equality and diversity in your working life ensuring that all the staff you work with feel valued and treated in a fair and equitable manner.
- Help to deliver on training plans and objectives set out by the Advanced Scientist Dissector and Cellular Pathology Training Manager.
- To participate in the routine work of all sections of the department to provide our users with accurate and timely results.
- To perform both routine tasks covering a variety of analytical equipment and manual techniques.
- To ensure that all tasks are performed in accordance with current Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and regulations to ensure a high quality service at all times.
- To ensure that equipment is properly maintained on a day to day basis and operated in accordance with laboratory and manufacturers SOPs.
- To be fully conversant with all forms of automated equipment within the Department, including being able to troubleshoot to ensure minimum downtime as consequence of minor breakdowns/ malfunctions
- The documentation of specimens, including the entry of computerised records.
- The handling, processing and disposal of histological and cytological material including the sensitive disposal of products of conception
- Provide assistance to Consultant Histopathologists with regard to specimen dissection and sampling of diagnostic material.
- The embedding and orientation of tissue samples selected for diagnostic evaluation requiring knowledge and experience of histological and anatomical structure.
- The production of microscopical preparations requiring extensive hand and eye coordination to produce high quality diagnostic sections using complex, skilled microtomy and handling techniques, for both paraffin wax and urgent diagnostic frozen sections.
- The preparation of routine stains, working solutions and reagents in order to perform routine and specialised histological, histochemical and immunocytochemical investigations
- To undertake routine histological, histochemical and immunofluorescent investigations on diagnostic tissue specimens in accordance with Standard Operational Procedures.
- To undertake routine quality control checks prior to releasing cases to pathologists for reporting
- To cut high quality frozen sections for urgent diagnosis or immunofluorescent technique.
- To have precise pipetting skills where accuracy and precision are required.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc in Biomedical Sciences or other IBMS accredited degree
- Hold HCPC registration
- Must hold the IBMS Specialist Diploma in Cellular Pathology or equivalent
- Must hold an MSc level qualification or demonstrate equivalent experience
- Must hold the IBMS Diploma of Expert Practice (DEP) in Histological Dissection or have significant relevant experience of dissection of RCPath category B&C Histological specimens and show significant progression through the DEP.
Desirable
- Other relevant courses with regards to H&S, supervision, quality or training ASD in Specimen Dissection
Experience
Essential
- Detailed understanding of job content.
- Experience and advanced knowledge of a range of histology techniques including but not limited to tissue fixation; frozen sections, tissue processing, tissue decalcification, fat clearance, image capture for multiple specimen types.
- Significant practical experience of dissection of category B & C specimens.
- Substantial post -registration experience in an ISO 15189 accredited NHS histology laboratory
- Experience of training staff in histological dissection procedures.
Desirable
- Experience of category D&E specimen dissection
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc in Biomedical Sciences or other IBMS accredited degree
- Hold HCPC registration
- Must hold the IBMS Specialist Diploma in Cellular Pathology or equivalent
- Must hold an MSc level qualification or demonstrate equivalent experience
- Must hold the IBMS Diploma of Expert Practice (DEP) in Histological Dissection or have significant relevant experience of dissection of RCPath category B&C Histological specimens and show significant progression through the DEP.
Desirable
- Other relevant courses with regards to H&S, supervision, quality or training ASD in Specimen Dissection
Experience
Essential
- Detailed understanding of job content.
- Experience and advanced knowledge of a range of histology techniques including but not limited to tissue fixation; frozen sections, tissue processing, tissue decalcification, fat clearance, image capture for multiple specimen types.
- Significant practical experience of dissection of category B & C specimens.
- Substantial post -registration experience in an ISO 15189 accredited NHS histology laboratory
- Experience of training staff in histological dissection procedures.
Desirable
- Experience of category D&E specimen dissection
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.
