What are the responsibilities and job description for the Advanced Biomedical Scientist position at Freeman Hospital?
Employer heading
Advanced Biomedical Scientist
Band 7
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest and largest NHS hospital trusts in the country. We have around 16,000 staff and an annual budget of £1.7 billion.
With strong history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation regionally, nationally and internationally, we’re in the top five providers of specialised health services in the country.
As well as providing a wide range of hospital and community services, we support people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
Newcastle Hospitals are proud to be one of the exemplar organisations across the NHS on sustainability, with a long history of delivering Sustainable Healthcare in Newcastle (Shine) and the first healthcare organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency. Our strategy includes commitments to being Net Zero by 2030, for our direct carbon footprint, and Net Zero by 2040 for our footprint plus. Delivering these ambitions will not be possible without the help, support and action of every single member of our team.
Job Overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Training Officer (Band 7 Advanced Biomedical Scientist) within the Cellular Pathology department at The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The post holder will contribute to the delivery of the core duties of an Advanced Biomedical Scientist, with a significant focus on the leadership, coordination and oversight of training and education. This role is central to ensuring that the department meets professional, regulatory and accreditation requirements while supporting the development of staff across Cellular Pathology and the wider North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Pathology Network.
The successful applicant must meet the essential criteria in job description; they must have knowledge of training and educational requirements within an accredited Cellular Pathology department with an understanding of Biomedical Science and relevant training programmes. A training qualification and/or significant training experience is highly desirable, with strong organisational, communication and leadership skills.
The successful candidate will join the management and scientific leadership team, contributing to timely, accurate, high quality service delivery.
Main duties of the job
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.
With around 2 million contacts with patients every year, we deliver care from:
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under ‘Documents to download’ or ‘Supporting documents’.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
Our service is one of the largest in the country, including Histology, Diagnostic Cytology, Neuropathology, Research and Innovation laboratories, and Mortuary Services. We are a specialist centre receiving high referral volumes and supporting diagnostic pathways across the North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Pathology Network. We also work closely with Integrated Laboratory Medicine, including the Genetics Laboratory Hub, as the regional Cellular Pathology Genomic Centre.
Interview Date Friday 19 June 2026
37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
NO AGENCIES PLEASE
Person specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential criteria
Essential criteria
Desirable criteria
All references from current and previous employers will be sought and must cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.
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.
Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail. You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
Name Joanne Cunningham Job title Cellular Pathology Operations Manager Email address Joanne.cunningham2@nhs.net Telephone number 0191 2826917
Advanced Biomedical Scientist
Band 7
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest and largest NHS hospital trusts in the country. We have around 16,000 staff and an annual budget of £1.7 billion.
With strong history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation regionally, nationally and internationally, we’re in the top five providers of specialised health services in the country.
As well as providing a wide range of hospital and community services, we support people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
Newcastle Hospitals are proud to be one of the exemplar organisations across the NHS on sustainability, with a long history of delivering Sustainable Healthcare in Newcastle (Shine) and the first healthcare organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency. Our strategy includes commitments to being Net Zero by 2030, for our direct carbon footprint, and Net Zero by 2040 for our footprint plus. Delivering these ambitions will not be possible without the help, support and action of every single member of our team.
Job Overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Training Officer (Band 7 Advanced Biomedical Scientist) within the Cellular Pathology department at The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The post holder will contribute to the delivery of the core duties of an Advanced Biomedical Scientist, with a significant focus on the leadership, coordination and oversight of training and education. This role is central to ensuring that the department meets professional, regulatory and accreditation requirements while supporting the development of staff across Cellular Pathology and the wider North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Pathology Network.
The successful applicant must meet the essential criteria in job description; they must have knowledge of training and educational requirements within an accredited Cellular Pathology department with an understanding of Biomedical Science and relevant training programmes. A training qualification and/or significant training experience is highly desirable, with strong organisational, communication and leadership skills.
The successful candidate will join the management and scientific leadership team, contributing to timely, accurate, high quality service delivery.
Main duties of the job
- Provide management support for training within the Cellular Pathology department.
- Lead the review, development and implementation of the Cellular Pathology training policy, working closely with the management team.
- Support and coordinate training programmes for biomedical scientists, support staff and administrative staff.
- Oversee the recording, monitoring and auditing of training and competency, ensuring compliance with ISO 15189.
- Work with the Quality Manager to design, implement and maintain the training module within the Quality Management System (QMS).
- Take responsibility for IBMS Laboratory Training Approval, including preparation for renewal every five years.
- Direct and oversee staff undertaking professional qualifications, including development of training plans and allocation of mentors.
- Coordinate and support verification visits for progression of professional qualifications.
- Promote and develop Continuing Professional Development (CPD) across the department.
- Coordinate local induction for new starters and placement students and maintain the department induction manual.
- Work collaboratively with Trust and NENC Pathology Network colleagues to support a coordinated regional approach to workforce training and education.
- Arrange and coordinate placements, work experience and laboratory visits for Trust staff, students and colleagues within the NENC network.
- Support public engagement activities to promote Biomedical Science and Cellular Pathology.
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.
With around 2 million contacts with patients every year, we deliver care from:
- Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
- Freeman Hospital
- Newcastle Dental Hospital
- Cramlington Manor Walks
- Urgent treatment centres
- Newcastle Fertility Centre
- Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
- Northern Genetics Service
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under ‘Documents to download’ or ‘Supporting documents’.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
Our service is one of the largest in the country, including Histology, Diagnostic Cytology, Neuropathology, Research and Innovation laboratories, and Mortuary Services. We are a specialist centre receiving high referral volumes and supporting diagnostic pathways across the North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Pathology Network. We also work closely with Integrated Laboratory Medicine, including the Genetics Laboratory Hub, as the regional Cellular Pathology Genomic Centre.
- The department of Cellular Pathology is made up of several sections (see organisational chart) and the post holder will assist in operational continuity and provide specialised advice within one of these sections.
- To contribute to the provision of an effective clinical Cellular Pathology service to the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, General Practitioners, other Trusts and other users of the service. This will involve assisting a line manager with operational continuity by supervising, organising and directing Biomedical Scientists (BMS), Healthcare Science Associate Practitioners (HCSAP) and Healthcare Science Assistants (HSA) and also imparting specialist knowledge in clinical and technical situations.
- To provide specialist scientific knowledge and to work as a member of the team to assess, plan and contribute to the provision of a specialised service.
- To ensure laboratory diagnostic tests and procedures are performed accurately and efficiently and results validated microscopically and judgement used in determining if further tests/procedures are necessary.
- To microscopically interpret tissue and/or fluid samples, select and dissect areas for diagnosis e.g. renal biopsies
- To ensure that the section conforms to all internally and externally defined quality standards, investigate non- compliances, instigate remedial action, and to report such events to the Deputy/Operational manager and/or Quality Manager as appropriate.
- There is a requirement for the post holder to rotate through all different sections in the department.
- To assist the Deputy/Operational Managers in maintaining the performance of laboratory equipment within the section.
- To work in compliance with local health and safety rules to ensure a safe working environment. To adhere to department and Trust Health and Safety policies (including COSHH, Risk assessments and Standard Operating Procedures) and to report any non-compliances to the Department Health and Safety Officer.
Interview Date Friday 19 June 2026
37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
NO AGENCIES PLEASE
Person specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential criteria
- MSc in Biomedical Sciences or an equivalent qualification e.g. HSD / level of knowledge
- BSc in Biomedical Science or equivalent qualification
- Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration
Essential criteria
- Previous experience and knowledge in Cellular Pathology gained as a Specialist Biomedical Scientist
- Training and Leadership experience through work based practice and/or course attendance
- Knowledge and experience of Laboratory Accreditation and governance e.g. UKAS ISO15189 and Human Tissue Authority (HTA)
Desirable criteria
- Keyboard and IT related skills
All references from current and previous employers will be sought and must cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.
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.
Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail. You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
Documents to download
- JD & PS (PDF, 240.4KB)
- Training Officer Role Descriptor (PDF, 192.4KB)
- Newcastle Staff Benefits (PDF, 274.4KB)
- Behaviour and Civility Charter (PDF, 93.8KB)
Further details / informal visits contact
Name Joanne Cunningham Job title Cellular Pathology Operations Manager Email address Joanne.cunningham2@nhs.net Telephone number 0191 2826917