We are proud to provide 'Outstanding' care and be a great place to work.
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust provides safe, compassionate and high quality hospital and community care to the half a million people living in East Sussex and those who visit our local area.
We are one of the largest organisations in East Sussex with an annual income of £650 million and we are the only integrated provider of acute and community care in Sussex. Our extensive health services are provided by over 8,000 dedicated members of staff working from two acute hospitals in Hastings and Eastbourne, three community hospitals in Bexhill, Rye and Uckfield, over 100 community sites across East Sussex, and in people's own homes.
In 2020 the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated us as 'Good' overall, and 'Outstanding' for being Caring and Effective. Conquest Hospital and our Community Services were rated 'Outstanding' and Eastbourne DGH was rated 'Good'.
Our two acute hospitals have emergency departments and provide 24 hour a day care, offering a comprehensive range of surgical, medical, outpatient and maternity services, supported by a full range of diagnostic and therapy services. Our centre for trauma services and obstetrics is at Conquest Hospital, while our centre for urology and stroke services is at Eastbourne DGH. At Bexhill Hospital we offer a range of outpatient, day surgery, rehabilitation and intermediate care services. At Rye, Winchelsea and District Memorial Hospital we offer outpatients, rehabilitation and intermediate services. At Uckfield Community Hospital we provide day surgery and outpatient care.
In the community, we deliver services that focus on people with long term conditions living well outside hospital, through our integrated locality teams working with district and community nursing teams. Community members of staff also provide care to patients in their homes and from a number of clinics, health centres and GP surgeries.
Job overview
We are looking for an innovative and dynamic Senior Biomedical Scientist (BMS) specializing in Immunocytochemistry to lead a cutting-edge diagnostic service. This exciting role will involve working with state-of-the-art immunocytochemistry platforms such as the Roche Ultra system to produce high-quality tissue sections that directly impact patient care.
As a key leader within the Cellular Pathology department, you'll supervise a talented team across Conquest Hospital and Eastbourne District General Hospital, ensuring excellence in everything from tissue preparation to External Quality Assessments (EQA) management. You'll play a critical role in validating new technologies and antibodies, driving innovation while ensuring full compliance with ISO 15189 standards.
This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of immunocytochemistry services, introduce the latest technologies, and support a high-performing team in delivering fast, accurate results that improve patient outcomes. If you're passionate about advancing diagnostic science and making a tangible difference in healthcare, this role is for you!
Main duties of the job
* Lead and Supervise: Oversee the immunocytochemistry service across Conquest Hospital and Eastbourne District General Hospital, managing a team of staff to ensure efficient workflow and high-quality service delivery.
* Diagnostic Preparation: Prepare and produce diagnostic tissue sections using advanced immunohistochemical (IHC) techniques, including the operation of the Roche Ultra system.
* Quality Assurance: Manage External Quality Assessments (EQA), including monitoring and analysing results, implementing corrective actions, and maintaining a robust internal quality control system.
* Validation and Compliance: Design and implement validation protocols for new equipment and antibodies in accordance with ISO 15189 standards, ensuring diagnostic accuracy and reliability.
* Training and Development: Provide training and support to team members in both existing and emerging immunocytochemistry technologies, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
* Documentation and SOP Management: Maintain thorough documentation of validation processes and regularly update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to reflect new technologies and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
* Cross-Departmental Support: Offer assistance in other routine areas of the department as required, including specimen dissection after appropriate training.
Working for our organisation
A wide range of staff benefits are available to our staff including staff development, enrolment in the NHS pension scheme, auto-enrolment to our Temporary Workforce Service, access to nurseries at Conquest Hospital and Eastbourne District General Hospital, staff restaurants and on-site staff accommodation.
In addition to an internal Occupational Health department, all staff also have access to free psychological support through our confidential Employee Assistance Programme which is available to staff 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Onsite parking is available for a small administration fee.
There has never been a better time to join East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, submit your application today.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the job description attached.
If you have any questions about this position please do not hesitate to contact us.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
* B.Sc (Hons) in Biomedical Science or equivalent.
* State Registration (Health Professionals Council)
* MSc or equivalent qualification or experience (extensive experience as BMS 1)
* Postgraduate specialised training evidenced by completion of IBMS portfolio or equivalent
* Demonstrable knowledge and skills achieved through ongoing professional development and attendance on educational and practical courses e.g. immunohistochemistry update courses etc.
Desirable criteria
* FIBMS
* MSc. in biomedical science or equivalent Evidence of management training
Experience
Essential criteria
* Previous experience of all aspects in Histology
* Experience of service improvement
* Experience of working as part of a team
Desirable criteria
* Some evidence of supervising a team
Skills
Essential criteria
* Highly developed Histological skills and techniques.
* Good knowledge of Health and Safety legislation and procedures as applied in Pathology.
* Sound Knowledge of Good Laboratory Practice.
* Capable of leading and working as part of a team.
Desirable criteria
* Experience of successful UKAS inspection participation
* Experience of validating new equipment and antibodies
* Knowledge of the Roche Ultra and BSS special stains platform
* Knowledge of APEX and/or Winpath Enterprise.
Patients come first at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.
Our vision is to be:
* The healthcare provider of first choice for the people of East Sussex.
Our mission is to:
* Deliver better health outcomes and an excellent experience for everyone we provide with healthcare services.
Our strategic objectives are to:
* Improve quality and clinical outcomes by ensuring that safe patient care is our highest priority.
* Play a leading role in local partnerships to meet the needs of our local population and improve and enhance patients' experiences.
* Use our resources efficiently and effectively for the benefit of our patients and their care to ensure our services are clinically, operationally and financially sustainable.
Our aims are that all services delivered by the Trust are:
* Safe
* Effective
* Caring
* Responsive
* Well led
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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
This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.
Documents to download
* Senior BMS - Cellular Pathology - Immunocytochemistry Section Lead (PDF, 216.4KB)
* Guidance for Applicants - AFC (PDF, 152.4KB)
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