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Job summary

Main area
Histology
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
193-7150177NCG
Employer
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Harborne House Car park 13
Town
Reading
Salary
£39,205 - £47,084 per annum, plus 5% fringe
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
23/04/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust logo

Biomedical Scientist - Band 6

NHS AfC: Band 6

Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated ‘Good’ with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements.  The Trust’s overall rating has also improved to ‘good’.  This is a great opportunity to join our clinical or non-clinical teams to create a positive and motivating environment within our trust.  Come and join our team in this exciting time of change as we pride ourselves, our staff and our services on excellence.

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is “Working together to provide outstanding care for our community.”

We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions

We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate

We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live

We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice

Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don’t you come and join us.  We offer a range of learning and development for all employees may you be clinical or non-clinical.  

Job overview

Biomedical Scientist - Band 6

The Cellular Pathology department has a vacancy for experienced BMS in the Histology section at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust based on the Whiteknights campus at the University of Reading. Applicants for this post must be well motivated HPC registered Biomedical Scientist and have a minimum of two years post registration experience or equivalent. Specialist portfolio required or started. 

We are looking for an experienced, competent and versatile individual with proven experience in Immunohistochemistry, frozen sections and all aspects of routine Histology. Experience in specimen dissection and would be an advantage but not essential as training would be given. Applicants will be required to undertake a practical test as part of interview process.

We are an IBMS accredited training laboratory and support training for Specialist portfolio if started will be given.

The post is full time 37.5 per week Monday to Friday.

Main duties of the job

Provide complex and sensitive information, in the form of test results, to clinicians, nursing staff and appropriate others, overcoming any barriers to understanding and ensuring that due regard has been given to the significance and urgency of such results.   Transmit highly complex information to colleagues, including less experienced staff & staff undergoing training, in order to ensure an understanding of all techniques employed and the highly complex equipment used in the analysis of Pathological samples.   Analyse & interpret test and other data involving complex facts in pursuance of service needs and to benefit the patient.

Working for our organisation

This is a busy department, having recently merged with Wexham Park Hospital histology department into a brand facility located at Harborne House, White knights campus, University of Reading. Workload combined is around 55,000 for histology and 6,000 NG. Performing a wide range of Immunohistochemistry techniques. We have full UKAS accreditation.

Reading is a lively town with excellent shopping and leisure facilities. The countryside around Reading is lovely, stroll along the Thames, explore Windsor Great Park or walk in the hills and valleys around Henley. Reading is only half an hour from London Paddington by train giving easy access to all the attractions of London, and has excellent road and rail links across the UK.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will be a HPC registered Biomedical Scientist with well-developed specialist knowledge & skills appropriate to their Pathology service. They will be required to work unsupervised (including on shift or on-call systems where appropriate and necessary), either as part of a team or independently, receiving, analysing and reporting specimens for Pathological investigations. The post holder will be required to perform a complex range of tests using dedicated scientific equipment on all samples received, including high-risk specimens, i.e., those from HIV and hepatitis B positive patients. They will be required to interpret and report results in accordance with agreed service protocols to clinicians and nursing staff in primary & secondary care. They will also be required to
ensure their appropriate continual professional development and evidence such, in accordance with the requirements of the Health Professions Council (HPC), and train and supervise less experienced staff as directed by their line manager. 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • MSc
  • BSc BMS
Desirable criteria
  • OSNA, molecular experince

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Training experience of teaching junior staff
  • Quality understanding for UKAS
Desirable criteria
  • Appraisal experience

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Care quality commission - GoodMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Stonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.National Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark 2024Florence Nightingale Foundation

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Application numbers

Candidates to be capped at 25 applications per 1WTE position to be recruited

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Amanda Babington
Job title
Head BMS
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0118 322 8201
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