Job summary We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated, senior specialist BMS to join our friendly team in Histology at Blackpool. The successful candidate will contribute towards the departmental commitment to provide an efficient, cost effective, timely and high quality fit-for-purpose Cellular Pathology service to the Trust. The post holder will oversee the operations and staff, and provide leadership, expertise and troubleshooting in our new Histology laboratory; including specimen reception, tissue dissection, processing, sectioning, routine staining and tinctorial staining. The post holder will work with the Cellular Pathology Management team to maintain quality and governance standards across all of cellular sciences. The post holder will also be expected to participate in development projects within the department, which includes Digital Pathology implementation and a new Pathology LIMS. Main duties of the job Blackpool Teaching Hospital Biomedical Scientist Section Manager - Histology 37.5 hours per week The post holder will oversee the operations and staff, and provide leadership, expertise and troubleshooting in Histopathology; including specimen reception, tissue dissection, processing, sectioning, routine staining and tinctorial staining. The post holder will work with the Cellular Pathology Management team to maintain quality and governance standards across all of cellular sciences. The post holder will also be expected to participate in development projects within the department, which includes Digital Pathology implementation and a new Pathology LIMS. About us Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Pathology is a clinical support service. Medical and scientific staff within Pathology provide diagnostic and clinical advice to surgeons and clinicians within the Trust and to General Practitioners within Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre area. The department has UKAS accreditation and is also accredited to train Biomedical Scientists and Junior Doctors. The department has a strong user focus and a proven track record in developing new services to meet the changing demands of our clinicians and patients. This focus, allied to the regional specialist services, gives real opportunities for staff to train and develop in a supportive and educationally challenging environment. We recommend that all individuals employed in patient facing roles, or those located on a ward or department where patients receive a service should be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Date posted 10 April 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 7 Salary £46,148 to £52,809 a year pa pro rata Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 382-CS10-25 Job locations Blackpool Teaching Hospitals Whinney Heys Road Blackpool FY3 8NR Job description Job responsibilities Responsible for ensuring the planning, organising and performing of highlyspecialised procedures within the allocated section of work, usingspecialised/complex automated and manual techniques, to meet prescribedstandards of quality and service delivery. To oversee the planning and prioritisation of the workload of the sectionaccording to service needs and pressures, and the needs of individualclinicians and outside agencies. To communicate and co-operate withcolleagues to ensure efficient and effective delivery of service. To be first point of contact for junior staff within the section in the event ofissues or unexpected outcomes, provide guidance to junior members ofstaff and take decisive action in order to maintain standards, accuracy andsafety. To act as technical expert in the allocated section, to perform or oversee the more advanced and technically complex aspects of the work, and provide expertise, advanced skills and trouble shooting. To have the depth of knowledge and required skills to correctly and safelyprocess high risk specimens, hazardous materials, complex instrumentation& specialist equipment, and complex or specialist procedures, according todefined protocols, including managing unexpected outcomes. To take first lead in evaluation and implementation of new or improvedmethodology, techniques, and equipment, and to recommend changes orremedial action when necessary. To undertake approved research andaudit programmes. To ensure the accurate data entry and text/data processing of allinformation and to help collate and provide data/information for managerial or clinical purposes. To undertake Internal and External Quality Assurance Schemes, interpretreports, recommend modifications to procedure, and ensure compliancewith all governance & accreditation schemes, and service requirements. To ensure the safe storage and respectful disposal of specimens inaccordance with Trust and professional policy & guidelines. To carry out laboratory policies, Risk Assessments and Standard OperatingProcedures, contribute to their formulation, and recommend modificationsand contribute to future developments. To maintain a personal up to date knowledge base relevant to best practiceand maintain a personal compliance in respect of statutory and professionalpersonal development. To disseminate technical and procedural information to staff and serviceusers when the need arises. To monitor the day to day provision and functioning of facilities,instrumentation and consumables to ensure efficient and effectivefunctioning of the section. Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details. Job description Job responsibilities Responsible for ensuring the planning, organising and performing of highlyspecialised procedures within the allocated section of work, usingspecialised/complex automated and manual techniques, to meet prescribedstandards of quality and service delivery. To oversee the planning and prioritisation of the workload of the sectionaccording to service needs and pressures, and the needs of individualclinicians and outside agencies. To communicate and co-operate withcolleagues to ensure efficient and effective delivery of service. To be first point of contact for junior staff within the section in the event ofissues or unexpected outcomes, provide guidance to junior members ofstaff and take decisive action in order to maintain standards, accuracy andsafety. To act as technical expert in the allocated section, to perform or oversee the more advanced and technically complex aspects of the work, and provide expertise, advanced skills and trouble shooting. To have the depth of knowledge and required skills to correctly and safelyprocess high risk specimens, hazardous materials, complex instrumentation& specialist equipment, and complex or specialist procedures, according todefined protocols, including managing unexpected outcomes. To take first lead in evaluation and implementation of new or improvedmethodology, techniques, and equipment, and to recommend changes orremedial action when necessary. To undertake approved research andaudit programmes. To ensure the accurate data entry and text/data processing of allinformation and to help collate and provide data/information for managerial or clinical purposes. To undertake Internal and External Quality Assurance Schemes, interpretreports, recommend modifications to procedure, and ensure compliancewith all governance & accreditation schemes, and service requirements. To ensure the safe storage and respectful disposal of specimens inaccordance with Trust and professional policy & guidelines. To carry out laboratory policies, Risk Assessments and Standard OperatingProcedures, contribute to their formulation, and recommend modificationsand contribute to future developments. To maintain a personal up to date knowledge base relevant to best practiceand maintain a personal compliance in respect of statutory and professionalpersonal development. To disseminate technical and procedural information to staff and serviceusers when the need arises. To monitor the day to day provision and functioning of facilities,instrumentation and consumables to ensure efficient and effectivefunctioning of the section. Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details. Person Specification Qualification and training Essential HCPC Registration BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science or equivalent Specialist Diploma in Cellular Pathology MSc Biomedical Science or equivalent to enable eligibility for Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Science e.g. Higher Specialist Diploma Evidence of continuing professional development Desirable Membership or Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences Evidence of managerial training/advanced technical expertise Experience & Knowledge Essential Experience in supervision, training and management of staff Extensive knowledge of Microsoft systems, LIMS systems Working as a member of a team Substantial post HCPC registration experience Ability to demonstrate a broad level of specialist laboratory experience in Histology Understanding the principles of staff appraisal Experience and understanding of audit & QMS Experience of troubleshooting complex diagnostic laboratory tests Health and Safety skills and knowledge of legislation Extensive knowledge of highly specialised histology procedures and instrumentation In depth knowledge of accreditation/licensing/governance requirements particularly ISO 15189 Knowledge and Experience of Quality Control and Assurance Experience of writing complex documents with clarity and precision for use as SOPs Knowledge and Experience of Quality Control and Assurance Experience of and ability to manage and prioritise the work of the Histology laboratory and direct staff accordingly Experience of Trust administrative procedures Skills and Ability Essential Ability to organise own work and to do so under pressure Experience of Trust administrative procedures Excellent manual technical skills Ability to problem solve A good motivator of staff of mixed abilities Team player Completes and finishes tasks Desirable Evidence of comprehensive and specialist diagnostic theory Person Specification Qualification and training Essential HCPC Registration BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science or equivalent Specialist Diploma in Cellular Pathology MSc Biomedical Science or equivalent to enable eligibility for Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Science e.g. Higher Specialist Diploma Evidence of continuing professional development Desirable Membership or Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences Evidence of managerial training/advanced technical expertise Experience & Knowledge Essential Experience in supervision, training and management of staff Extensive knowledge of Microsoft systems, LIMS systems Working as a member of a team Substantial post HCPC registration experience Ability to demonstrate a broad level of specialist laboratory experience in Histology Understanding the principles of staff appraisal Experience and understanding of audit & QMS Experience of troubleshooting complex diagnostic laboratory tests Health and Safety skills and knowledge of legislation Extensive knowledge of highly specialised histology procedures and instrumentation In depth knowledge of accreditation/licensing/governance requirements particularly ISO 15189 Knowledge and Experience of Quality Control and Assurance Experience of writing complex documents with clarity and precision for use as SOPs Knowledge and Experience of Quality Control and Assurance Experience of and ability to manage and prioritise the work of the Histology laboratory and direct staff accordingly Experience of Trust administrative procedures Skills and Ability Essential Ability to organise own work and to do so under pressure Experience of Trust administrative procedures Excellent manual technical skills Ability to problem solve A good motivator of staff of mixed abilities Team player Completes and finishes tasks Desirable Evidence of comprehensive and specialist diagnostic theory 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Address Blackpool Teaching Hospitals Whinney Heys Road Blackpool FY3 8NR Employer's website https://www.bfwh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)