Biomedical Scientist – Advanced Immunocytochemistry Norwich, England
Job description
A post is available in the Histopathology Department. This post presents an exciting opportunity to be part of an excellent team working in a busy modern teaching hospital laboratory. The department has a workload of around 61 000 surgical requests per year and covers a wide range of routine and specialised services.
The immunocytochemistry section processes over 50 000 routine diagnostic slides per year as well as carrying out immunohistochemistry companion diagnostics and skin immunofluorescence. The section also undertakes a number of solid tumour molecular diagnostics including single point PCR analysis, FISH and CISH.
This is an excellent opportunity to work within a committed team of office, laboratory and Consultant Pathologist staff. The department encourages active professional development and further educational activities. The service is expanding Biomedical Scientist advanced dissection and Biomedical Scientist reporting roles. The service is also currently developing digital pathology reporting, and is progressing towards full digital reporting. We also use CEREBRO specimen tracking system.
A relocation package up to £8000 and up to 2 days relocation leave is available to eligible candidates (terms & conditions apply).
As post holder you will work autonomously and in partnership with the Chief BMS section lead to supervise the delivery of high quality specialist immunocytochemistry and solid tumour molecular diagnostics.
You will (after undergoing training and competency assessment) undertake breast cancer HER2 FISH scoring and reporting.
You will be involved in service developments, such as the commissioning of new diagnostic tests, within one of the most rapidly evolving areas of cellular pathology.
You will also play a key role in the following areas:
- Work as a senior specialist BMS in the immunocytochemistry/molecular pathology services.
- Carry out and report solid tumour PCR analyses
- Screen and report breast cancer HER2 FISH cases.
- Support band 8a staff, including stock control, staff/workload supervision, staff training and quality assurance.
- Carry out audits and appraisals and sickness monitoring procedures.
- Support staff CPD.
The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first-class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We are pleased to work closely with the University of East Anglia, providing teaching opportunities for our staff and placement opportunities for their students. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world.
We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity
We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:
- Flexible working hours
- Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
- Multi Faith prayer room
- Discounted gym memberships
- Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
- Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
- Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH site
- Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
- On-site Nursery
- On-site cafes offering staff discounts
- Support in career development
- Flexible staff bank
- Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics
- To work as technical specialist in the immunocytochemistry (IHC) section. Organising, problem solving and managing the daily workload and staff (on rotation), without direct supervision.
- Training all senior/BMS/trainee staff working in the area.
- Deputies for the Chief BMS in IHC as required.
- Manages and priorities throughput of routine and urgent IHC requests from Consultant Histopathologists to allow provision of diagnostic reports to clinicians within departmental turnaround times and as required for MDT meetings.
- Daily quality control and check (by microscopic examination) of all IHC preparations from surgical specimens and control materials prior to despatch to Consultant Histopathologists to ensure the high quality required for diagnostic purposes.
- Responsible along with the Chief BMS for companion diagnostic tests including hormone receptor assessment, HER2 immunohistochemistry and PD-L1.
- Count and report HER2 FISH cases including complex genotypes under guidance from consultant breast pathologists and the Chief BMS. Maintain competence through meeting minimum yearly reporting case load.
- Sources and maintains documentation for all controls necessary for ongoing immunohistochemical and molecular testing.
