Senior Biomedical Scientist, Cellular Pathology
If you share our passion then apply for this opportunity and help us make our patients’ experience the best it can possibly be.
With a budget of around £365m, three hospitals and 5,500 staff, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital-based services to the population of Hartlepool, Stockton on Tees and parts of East Durham and Sedgefield as well as community, therapeutic and screening to a wider population across Durham and Teesside.
Job overview
Advert may close once sufficient number of applications is reached
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior BMS to join the Cytology team in the Cellular Pathology department.
The post Holder will participate in non-gynaecological cytology service including primary screening slides and reporting of negative exfoliative cytology samples. The post holder will also provide attendance at Rapid Onsite Examination / Evaluation (ROSE) procedure to assist with sample preparation, including preliminary indication of presence/absence of diagnostic material / adequacy and provide advanced technical support, supervision, training and management of the technical service in line with Trust and national standards, mentor staff and support completion of post registration qualifications.
The Pathology departments at North Tees and Hartlepool (NTH) and South Tees Hospitals (STH) are working collaboratively to develop a joint service called Tees Valley Pathology with services being delivered on all hospital sites.
The successful candidate will be based at the University Hospital North Tees but will be required to work between our hospital sites in support of the development of the collaborative work.
Applications will be considered from those working towards the necessary qualifications for the role. Please note, if successful, you would be employed as a Specialist BMS (Band 6) until successfully completing the necessary qualification.
Main duties of the job
This is a senior level laboratory post which will include provision of advanced technical support, supervision, training and management to provide a technical service which meets Trust and national standards which includes :
To maintain an up to date knowledge base of methods in use within Cytology, and to be aware of scientific and technological advances within Cytology
To support the provision and development of a fit for purpose Cytology service
Participate in non-gynaecological cytology service including primary screening slides and reporting of negative exfoliative cytology samples (urine, serous fluid and respiratory samples) with double reporting, where required.
Attendance at Rapid On-site Examination/Evaluation (ROSE) clinic procedures to assist with sample preparation, including preliminary indication of presence/absence of diagnostic material / adequacy. Guiding intra-procedural decision making to increase diagnostic yield, shorten procedure time and reduce the requirement for repeat diagnostic interventions.
Maintain personal non-gynaecological workload figures and audit reported cases periodically, initiating review where necessary.
Participate in non-gynaecological external quality assessment (EQA) schemes
Perform and present departmental clinical audits (minimum of 2 minor audits or 1 major audit per annum).
Ensure conformity with quality control, maintaining both personal and laboratory achievable benchmarks
Working for our organisation
At North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust our main priority is, and always will be, to provide safe and high quality care to our patients every day; the kind of care we would want for ourselves and our loved ones. We want our organisation to be the best place to work with the right staff, in the right roles, at the right time, to ensure we deliver exceptional patient care and experience.
We will support staff through providing an inclusive and supportive workplace with health and well-being initiatives, staff benefits and opportunities for personal and professional development. Staff recognition is very important to us; as well as performance reviews and appraisals, we recognise staff through Star and Team of the month, colleague recognition – a note of thanks, Managers Awards, Shining Stars and Service Awards.
We support the Making Every Contact Count approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.
We recruit for values and “Together we are North Tees & Hartlepool”
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the detailed job description, main responsibilities of the role and full person specification attached
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- MSc Biomedical Science (or equivalent eg. IBMS Higher Specialist Diploma)
- HCPC registration.
- IBMS Diploma in Expert Practice in Non-Gynaecological Cytology or accepted equivalent qualification
- Management or Leadership Qualification
- Specialist portfolio in a relevant subject
Experience
Essential criteria- Extensive laboratory experience
- Supervisory experience
- Experience of document control systems
- Management experience
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria- Advanced knowledge of laboratory techniques and Biomedical science.
- Basic working knowledge of Pathology IT systems and IT literate in all modules in MS Office
- Experience of UKAS accreditation
- Evidence of experience delivering training or mentorship
**Please note - Once sufficient applications have been received this vacancy may close early**
Please check your email address on a regular basis as applicants invited to attend an interview will be notified via this method.
As part of our recruitment process, you will be required to undertake pre-employment screening: Disclosure and Barring Scheme (previously Criminal Records Bureau)
Where a post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 it may be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Scheme to check for any previous criminal convictions. Should you require a copy of the Trust's Disclosure and Barring Service Policy, please contact a member of the recruitment team on 01642 624023.
It is the policy of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who are new to the Trust who require DBS clearance for the post they have been offered, are required to pay the cost for their DBS certificate.The method of payment for this is via salary deduction from your first month's pay on commencement with the Trust.
Please note the essential qualifications required for the post outlined within the Person Specification. You are required to hold and provide evidence of the necessary qualifications for the post at interview should you be shortlisted.
For any new employees commencing employment with North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust , you will be subject to satisfactory completion of a 6 month probationary period. Please note that internal applications and individuals that are appointed to fixed term appointments of less than 6 months duration are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or a bank member of staff).
As part of our pre-employment screening process, all applicants are required to provide references covering their last three years employment history. Applicants are requested to ensure e-mail addresses for all referees are included on their application form.Personal references are not acceptable.
If the hours advertised for the post are up to full time (37.5 hours per week), applications are still welcomed from individuals who may be seeking to work less than full-time hours and all requests will be considered in line with the post being appointed to for the successful applicant.
North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust operates a No Smoking Policy.
If you experience any technical difficulties applying for this post please contact a member of our recruitment team on 01642 624023 quoting the vacancy reference.
Equal Opportunities
The details in the Monitoring Information section of your application will be used for monitoring our recruitment process and will not be seen by the interview panel. The information you give will be treated in the strictest confidence. To meet its commitment to promoting equality of opportunity, the Trust’s policy is that individuals will be recruited, trained and promoted according to ability and job requirements only.As such we welcome your application irrespective of your gender, race, disability, colour, ethnic or national origin, and nationality, and marital status, responsibility for dependants, religion, trade union activity and age.
Disability
The Trust gives full and fair consideration to applications for employment received from disabled people. We are a “Positive about Disabled People” employer, and we hold the ‘two ticks’ Disability Symbol, which is a recognition given by Jobcentre Plus to employers who have agreed to meet five commitments regarding the recruitment, employment, retention and career development of disabled people.If you have a disability, which makes it difficult for you to complete our application form, please do not hesitate to contact the recruitment team on 01642 624023.
Armed Forces Covenant
As a supporter of the Armed Forces and an employer of Reservists, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust are proud to be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, which is a promise by the nation to ensure that those who serve or who have served in the UK Armed Forces (and their families) are treated fairly.
We recognise that reservists and veterans bring a variety of transferable skills and qualities to our workplace, developed through their military careers. Our commitment to supporting the Armed Forces Community has been recognised through the Armed Forces Covenant as a Silver Employer.
What does this mean?
We proactively demonstrate our forces-friendly credentials within our recruitment and selection processes, by having a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for those indicated as part of the Armed Forces Community. We engage with our local and regional Career Transition Partnership representatives and are a member of Step Into Health.We employ veterans and reservists from differing branches of the Armed Forces and actively promote our positive policies for the Armed Forces Community, including our Special Leave policy. We advocate support for defence people issues, including facilitating easier access to Healthcare Services for our patients within the AF Community.
We have supported employees through Reservist training, through additional leave for their training and ongoing support under our Special Leave policy.