Specialist Biomedical Scientist - Advanced Diagnostics, London

Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain's leading healthcare providers.

The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.

Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.

Barts Health supports the Pregnancy Loss Pledge and commits to supporting their staff through the distress of miscarriage.

We are dedicated to being an outstanding place to work and will work with you to get the best experience. We know flexible working is not a one size fits all and will mean something different to everyone. We are inclusive, so if you are interested in flexible working, please speak to the recruiting manager.

Job overview

Join the East and SouthEast Pathology Partnership - Exciting Career Opportunity in Cellular Pathology!

If you are passionate about advancing healthcare through cutting-edge diagnostic science, and eager to work in a collaborative, innovative environment, ESP offers you a fantastic career opportunity.

Why Join Us?

• State-of-the-art facilities:Recent funding for new equipment brings potential benefits of the latest technology.

• Career development:Access to comprehensive training, continuous professional development, and pathways for progression.

• Impactful work:Play a key role in delivering accurate, timely pathology services that directly impact patient care across East and SouthEast England.

• Supportive environment:Join a collaborative multidisciplinary team committed to excellence, innovation, and patient-focused service.
• Competitive benefits:Attractive salary packages, pension schemes, and flexible working options, as standard (Agenda for Change

• Available Position:

We are seeking talented and motivated professional Specialist Biomedical Scientist to join our team.

This is an exciting opportunity for an individual to join our friendly and professional team. The role will involve supporting this service as well as being part of the Cellular Pathology Genomics Centre and Cancer Vaccine Launchpad work.

Main duties of the job

The post holder is responsible for performing routine laboratory techniques in accordance with departmental standard operating procedures, ensuring accurate data recording on the Pathology LIMS system. As well as general housekeeping the individual is also expected to carry out laboratory techniques, assist clinical staff, maintain laboratory equipment, and participate in the rotation across various areas, with a primary focus on Advanced Diagnostics. The role involves quality management tasks, ensuring compliance with accreditation standards, and engaging in internal and external quality control processes. The job holder will supervise junior staff, contribute to training and development, and maintain up-to-date training records. Financially, they are tasked with managing stock levels and adhering to procurement guidelines. The individual is expected to contribute to continuous improvement efforts, including corrective actions and audits, and take responsibility for managing incidents in the laboratory.

The post holder will be part of the Immunohistochemistry (IHC) team within the Advanced Diagnostics laboratory of the Cellular Pathology Department, delivering high-quality diagnostic services. This role involves performing complex IHC techniques, in-situ hybridization, and immunofluorescence to support cancer and disease detection. Additionally, the post holder will rotate into the Neuromuscular section, processing fresh muscle and nerve tissue samples.

Working for our organisation

The NHS East and South East London Pathology Partnership is an arms-length organisation providing pathology services to Barts Health NHS Trust, Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. The Pathology Partnership is hosted by Barts Health.

The Pathology Partnership was formed in May 2021. Between 2021 and 2024 the Partnership undertook a complex transformation programme to establish a single network of laboratories, underpinned by a single Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and single Quality Management System (QMS).

The Partnership has a main hub laboratory at the Royal London Hospital and Essential Service Laboratories (ESL) as a minimum at the six other hospital sites served by the Partnership.

The Partnership has three operational divisions:

• Blood Sciences including Haematology, Blood Transfusion and Biochemistry

• Microbiology and Virology

• Cellular Pathology and Cancer Diagnostics

The 2024/25 total operating costs across the Partnership were c.£121m per annum with a workforce establishment of circa. 860 WTE.

We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• HCPC Registration.
• IBMS Accredited BSc in Biomedical Science (or equivalent qualification).
• IBMS Specialist Diploma in Cellular Pathology (or equivalent qualification).

Desirable criteria

• Postgraduate qualification in a relevant area of biomedical science (e.g., MSc or equivalent).
• Additional certifications (e.g. Immunohistochemistry, molecular Biology, or other relevant fields).
• Training in supervisory or leadership skills.

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience working in a Cellular Pathology laboratory, with a solid understanding of laboratory processes and procedures.
• Substantive post-registration experience in a Cellular Pathology setting, demonstrating competency in diagnostic techniques and laboratory practices.
• Experience in an Immunohistochemistry (IHC) laboratory, with experience in IHC/in-situ hybridisation techniques and the use of relevant IHC laboratory platforms.
• Experience of working in NHS environment, under UKAS: ISO 15189 standards.
• Experience of working to deadlines.

Desirable criteria

• Experience with microscopic quality control of antibodies/probes, ensuring accuracy and consistency in diagnostic results.
• Familiarity with technical Immunofluorescence (IMF) techniques and their application in diagnostic workflows.
• Experience handling muscle samples (Freezing and orientation). Experience of Enzyme histochemistry.
• Use of Ventana Benchmark Ultra/ Ultra Plus, Leica Bond III, Agilent/Dako Autostainer Link 48 and OMNIS.
• Experience of validation and verification of Histology tests

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Good knowledge of Histopathology / IMF / Neuromuscular and IHC theory and practice.
• Good interpersonal skills, able to build and develop working relationships with colleagues within and outside the Trust.
• Working knowledge of data security and confidentiality.
• IT Literate including use of Microsoft word, data analysis and use of WinPath LIMS.
• Knowledge of quality assurance.
• Good knowledge of Quality Management System.

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of troubleshooting enzyme histochemistry, ensuring accurate and reliable results.

Skills

Essential criteria

• Extensive computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Word, data analysis tools, and Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).
• Strong attention to detail, ensuring accuracy in laboratory procedures and documentation.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to liaise effectively with colleagues, clinicians, and other healthcare professionals.
• Ability to work under pressure, especially during periods of high workload, while maintaining high standards of accuracy and efficiency.
• Technical proficiency in IHC/ISH techniques, including preparation, staining, and QC.
• Effective …