JOB DESCRIPTION

1. Job Details

Job Title: Head Biomedical Scientist Cellular Pathology

Band: 8b

Salary: £47,092 - £58,217

Reports to (Title): Responsible to: Associate Pathology Manager

Professionally accountable to: Head of Department Cellular Pathology
Directorate: Pathology

Department/Ward: Cellular Pathology

JD Number: 3287

Our Vision

An NHS organisation that continually strives to improve patients’ experiences

and outcomes.
Our Values

Strategic Objectives

 Create a culture of compassion, safety and quality

 Be in the top quartile for all performance indicators
 Proactively seek opportunities to develop our services
 To have an effective and well integrated organisation that operates
efficiently
 Maintain financial health – appropriate investment enhancement to
patient services
 Attract, retain and develop our staff & improve employee engagement

2. Job Summary
To be accountable for the delivery of the Cellular Pathology, Mortuary Service and Human Tissue
Authority duties ensuring the service is effective and well co-ordinated across several teams and
service areas, ensuring that these teams work collaboratively together to provide a fully integrated
Cellular Pathology service to the Trust and its clients.

The Head Biomedical scientist, together with the Consultant Head of Department manages the
Department of Cellular Pathology. The responsibilities of the Head Biomedical scientist extend beyond
the technical performance of the department. The post holder will be expected to manage resources
(staff, equipment, consumables and premises) with a view to achieving optimum quality and efficiency.
The Head Biomedical scientist will play a lead and will be expected to respond positively to the
changing demands on the service through innovation, communication, setting standards and achieving

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results.

3. Main Duties & Responsibilities

The postholder will:

Management

 Have line management responsibility for all designated grades of staff and deploy Biomedical
Scientists, MLA and other staff within the department to respond to changing demands ensuring
appropriate staff distribution to meet service needs.
 Ensure high standards of technical and scientific performance, initiating improvements and
changes in working practices including maintaining appropriate staffing levels.
 Ensure that all Biomedical and Clinical Scientist staff are registered with the Health Professions
Council.
 Manage laboratory service; implementing new approaches to achieve the best value for money.
 Manage ordering and supplies, including authorised signatory duties and ensuring the provision of
relevant supplies to the point of use in the laboratory.
 Manage the selection and recruitment of laboratory staff and manage induction and orientation
programmes.
 Manage healthy employee relations within the Department, ensuring consultation with staff and
staff representatives.
 Lead on new technology, techniques, equipment and systems, which will facilitate improved
efficiency and quality. Ensure that an up to date equipment replacement programme is
maintained in conjunction with the Head of Department. The post holder will ensure that
equipment is commissioned, properly maintained and service records kept up to date.
 Lead in the performance of technical duties as part of the team as and when required.
 To identify, propose and implement areas for future and ongoing research and development,
managing other members of staff in research projects and development of new methods.
 Maintain appropriate sickness and annual leave records and construct rotas for the Department
ensuring all records are kept for the appropriate period of time.
 Manage the performance review of each member of laboratory staff, agreeing objectives,
assessing achievement and ensuring satisfactory performance.
 Ensure accurate up-to-date job descriptions, records of establishment and staff employment are
maintained.
 Responsible for Policy implementation and service development.
 To interpret and implement national and local policies relevant to service area ensuring that policy
translates into practice.
 Manage the security arrangements within the department.
 Manage common laboratory services across pathology when asked to cover in the absence of the
Associate Pathology Manager.
 Contribute to the Pathology Directorate working groups and committees in the review of pathology
services influencing service development across the directorate and Trust.
 To demonstrate advanced skills in dealing with complex issues to generate appropriate, co-
ordinated strategies for caseload and workload management for the service area.
 To demonstrate established negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of
situations, including the resolution of complaints which may involve diffusion of hostility and
aggression.
 To facilitate and negotiate the resolution of conflict within and between teams.

Training and Development

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  Formulate recommendations for the professional development of staff through training and
education programmes linked to individual Personal Development Plans.
 Manage the departmental staff induction programme and assist the Trust in staff induction on
issues such as use of laboratory services.
 Promote and participate in lifelong learning schemes and ensure compliance with mandatory
education, training and registration schemes.
 To attend management and leadership training including short courses on a range of
management and HR issues.
 To attend specialist short courses and advanced training in the range of clinical specialist
areas.
 To demonstrate highly specialist knowledge in clinical specialism underpinned by current
evidence based practice.

Quality

 Manage the implementation of policies and procedures relating to Clinical Governance.

 Manage risk management issues in the laboratory.
 Manage and ensure quality assurance, quality control procedures and audit are in place.
 Manage the investigation of patient and user complaints. Take corrective action and prepare
responses to complaints in conjunction with the Pathology Quality Manager and the Associate
Pathology Manager.
 Manage the Health and Safety and COSHH and ensure the requirements are adequately
fulfilled in compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and subsequent
legislation.
 Oversee the implementation of advice and recommendations arising out of existing and new
legislation as it affects the Directorate.
 Ensure regular Health and Safety meetings take place.
 In collaboration with the clinical lead, be responsible for maintaining full compliance of the
department to ISO 15189 with a recognised accreditation service (e.g. UKAS).

Information, Finance and Contracts

 Ensure that statistical information and reports on performance and activity of the department
are provided as required.
 Manage the departmental budget.
 Manage income generation in accordance with the Trust’s protocols and procedures on such
matters.
 Liaise with the laboratory computer managers and Trust I.T. managers on computer
development issues and day to day management thus ensuring the integrity of the reporting
process and confidentiality is maintained.
 Keep a cost database relevant to the department indicating current test cost and price profiles
and relevant activity information where required.
 Maintain contract information and issue appropriate reports. The post holder will collate and
verify data on external contracts to advise negotiations. This will include the monitoring and
preparation of Service Level Agreements.
 Ensure adherence to the requirements of the Data Protection Act.

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  Identify areas of service weakness, develop proposals and remedial strategies
 To work with the Associate Pathology Manager to formulate and submit bids for capital projects
and other resources.

Additional Individual Duties and Responsibilities

 Manage the Trust’s Body Store liaising with all agencies such as the police, coroners, council
and undertakers.
 Ensure that mortuary services including the Chapel of Rest are consistent with the
requirements of the Trust, are dignified and harmonious with the requirements of all religions.
 The Trust Lead for Human Tissue Authority duties and post mortems.
 To demonstrate empathy with clients, carers and families and colleagues, ensuring that
effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist such as
communication with bereaved families.

4. Organisational Chart

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This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties and it may be reviewed and altered in the
light of changed service needs and developments after discussion with the post holder.

Infection Prevention
Maintain a current knowledge of infection prevention and control practices and policies through annual
mandatory updates and role specific training.

Demonstrate a current knowledge of infection prevention and control practices through the delivery of clinical
care and maintenance of a safe environment in accordance with infection prevention and control practices and
policies. Take part in infection prevention initiatives in the local area. Challenge infection prevention practices,
reporting breaches using relevant Trust policies as appropriate (e.g. incident reporting policy).

Equal Opportunities Policy

It is the aim of the Trust to ensure that no job application or employee receives less favourable treatment on
grounds of sex, disability, age sexual orientation, race, colour, nationality or ethnic or national origins or is not
placed at disadvantage by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable. To this end, the
Trust has an Equal Opportunity Policy and it is for each employee to comply with and contribute to its success.

Health and Safety

Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Health and Safety at Work Act
(1974), and associated legislation, to maintain a safe working environment for both staff and visitors, to observe
obligations under organisational and departmental Health and Safety Policies, maintaining awareness of safe
practices and assessment of risk.

Data Protection
If required to do so, to obtain, process and/or use information held on computerised or manual records in a fair
and lawful way in line with the Data Protection Act 2000. To hold data only for specific purpose and not use or
disclose it in any way incompatible with such purpose. To disclose data only to authorised persons or
organisations, as instructed.

Customer Care
It is the aim of the hospital to provide patients and other service users with the best possible care and services.
In order to meet this aim, all our staff are required at all times to put the patient and other service users first and
do their utmost to meet their requests and needs courteously and efficiently. In order that staff understand the
principles of customer care and the effects on their particular post and service, full training will be given.

Safeguarding
All employees have a responsibility to support the safety and well-being of children, young people and adults at
risk of harm and to practice in accordance with legislation. Knowledge, skills and competency are to be
maintained according to role and responsibilities in order to fulfil Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk
responsibilities. All employees are expected to comply with existing local Safeguarding policies and procedures,
and Trust and Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Board and Safeguarding Adults at Risk requirements.

Smoking Policy
The Trust provides a smoke-free work environment.

Confidentiality
The Trust is fully committed to encouraging its staff to freely contribute views on all aspects of health service
activities, especially those on delivery of care and services to patients. However, you shall not, either during or
after the end of your employment (however it is terminated), divulge to any unauthorised person confidential
information relating to the Trust. This includes, but is not limited to, information covering patients, individual staff
records, industrial relations, financial affairs, contract terms and prices or business forecasts.

Your obligations of confidentiality under this clause shall not prevent you from raising genuine concerns about
healthcare, or a belief that criminal conduct, breach of a legal obligation, health and safety breaches or damage
to the environment has been, is being, or is likely to be committed, or any information tending to show any of the

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above has been, is being, or is likely to be, deliberately concealed, provided that such disclosure is made in
good faith and in accordance with the provisions of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 and the Trust's Policy
on Raising Concerns at Work-Whistle Blowing Policy, a copy of which is available from the Human Resources
Department.

Development
The Trust is committed to supporting the development of all staff. All employees have a responsibility to
participate in regular appraisal with their manager and identify performance standards for the post. As part of
the appraisal process employees have a joint responsibility with their line manager to identify any learning and
development needs in order to meet the agreed performance standards required of the post holder.

NHS Constitution
The Constitution establishes the principles and values of the NHS in England. It sets out rights to which patients,
public and staff are entitled, and the pledges which the NHS is committed to achieve, together with
responsibilities which the public, patients and staff owe to one another.
All NHS Bodies private and third sector providers supplying NHS services are required by law to take account of
this Constitution in their decisions and actions.
A handbook accompanying the constitution may be found by going to NHS Constitution for England -
Publications - GOV.UK that essentially provides further and more detailed explanation of each of the rights and
pledges.

Criminal Records
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 to check for any
previous criminal convictions.

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This document describes the qualities required for a post-holder that are not captured by the JD.
SPECIFICATION
Qualifications
(This must include the level required
to appoint to the post.
Any requirement for registration
should also be recorded here.
Experience/Skills
(Type and level of experience
required to fulfil duties)
Communication Skills
(Indication type of communication
and audience.
E.g. face-to-face with patients,
presentations to colleagues, etc.)
Flexibility
(Note here any flexibilities required
by the post.
e.g. Shift Working required, New
tasks may need to be undertaken
frequently,)
Other
(Any other key issues not recorded
elsewhere in JD or person spec.)
AfC PERSON SPECIFICATION
DESCRIPTION
BSc (Hons) Biomedical Scientist or equivalent.
Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical science, or Masters Degree as a
minimum.
Evidence of continuing professional expertise.
Evidence of managerial training/advanced expertise.
State registration (Health Professions Council) having completed necessary
training period and oral examination in Histopathology or gained a specialist
competence certificate required by the HPC.
Good leadership skills.
Problem solving.
Comprehensive knowledge of Histopathology and Morbid Anatomy Techniques.
Training and supervising a team.
Working as a member of a team.
Minimum of 10 years laboratory experience.
Ability to work systematically and under pressure in a busy environment.
Accuracy and attention to detail.
Good understanding of Microsoft Excel and Word.
Proven knowledge of training and professional issues.
Good understanding of laboratory Health and Safety regulations.
Good understanding of laboratory accreditation quality system.
Ability to motivate staff groups and implement agreed change.
Highly developed organisational skills.
Proven project management skills.
Strong people management skills.
Previous experience of financial management.
Good knowledge of human resources issues.
Have good communication skills with all levels of staff.
Ability to communicate technical information and results with other health
professionals.
Competent and polite telephone manner.
Command of spoken and written English.
Good presentation skills.
Have the ability to communicate and deal with grieving relatives.
Counselling skills.
Working weekend and bank holiday duties.
Primary call out for Histopathology and mortuary emergencies and break downs.
Lifting is a requirement of the post, training will be given.
Office based working, able to work with computer visual display for 50% of the
day.
Laboratory based working, able to work with category 2 and 3 pathogens.
Laboratory based working, able to work with chemicals.
Laboratory based working, tolerate working with body fluids, secretions, etc.
Able to handle the emotional stress associated with difficult human resources
issues.
Able to work in the mortuary, body store, post mortem room.
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 Able to deal with cadavers.
Able to surgically remove pacemakers from cadavers.

I understand and accept my accountabilities and responsibilities as outlined in this job description and person specification

Designation Name Signature Date

Post Holder