HealthJobsUK

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We will consider applications from highly motivated and energetic HCPC Registered Biomedical Scientists or qualified Advanced Practitioners with extensive specimen dissection experience and the following qualifications:

MSc in Biomedical Sciences or FIBMS or equivalent level of knowledge, 
Working towards or attained the IBMS Diploma of Expert Practice in Histological Dissection.

Applicants working towards the IBMS diploma can be considered and would be appointed as a Trainee Advanced Practitioner in Cellular Pathology (Band 7) and would be expected to be awarded the diploma within two years of appointment and move up to the qualified post. Those already qualified will be appointed at the qualified Band 8a position. 

Applicants must possess an extensive experience in histological dissection and in-depth specialist knowledge of Histopathology. Candidates should have excellent written and verbal communication skills and be able to work on their own initiative as well as part of a team. The candidate will work alongside an established team of APs, specialising in dissection as appropriate. 

The post holder will be recognised as specialist in their field, and as such the expert practice of the function will comprise the most significant part of their role.

The post holder will assist Pathologists in specimen dissection and in that role will be expected to carry out the following duties according to the appropriate standard operating procedures, ensuring health and safety guidance is followed.

• Performing specimen dissection as part of the specific histopathology speciality teams.
• Teaching, training and supervision of Biomedical Scientists and ST1
  junior medical staff in appropriate dissection techniques.
• Providing support and advice to junior medical staff in the cut up
  laboratory.
• Work under own initiative referring to standard operating procedures and amending as required after consultation with Histopathologist and Histopathology Management Team.
• Working with medical staff to develop and improve techniques in
  dissection.
• Participating in multi-disciplinary team meetings (MDT) meetings in
  support of the specialty teams ensuring effective patient management, providing specialist input where appropriate to clinicians and medical staff from other departments. This is seen as an integral part of the extended role.
• Attaining appropriate knowledge, skills and qualifications in relation to advanced practitioner role. To be responsible in consultation with the Lead Pathologist and the Laboratory Manager for the strategic direction of the service with regards to specimen dissection ensuring the service is developed in line with the national and local policy.
• Liaising with colleagues external to the department to improve services, e.g. Bowel Cancer Screening Nurses.
• Responsible in consultation with the Lead Pathologist for histology audits as required demonstrating the quality of the histology service.
• To have protected time for histological review/reporting as appropriate with authorising pathologist.
• To have protected time to regularly observe specimen dissection by
  experienced pathologists.
• Contribute to the medical staff rota as an independent practitioner for late opening of specimens and Saturday dissection of specimens.

To review and interpret microscopic tissue samples as appropriate to level of experienced and formulate report as appropriate for discussion with reporting pathologist prior to authorisation.

To ensure that the performance of laboratory equipment within the section
complies with standards and in the event of failure or mal-function takes prompt and appropriate action to ensure continued running of the section.

Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.