Job summary
Coventry and Warwickshire Pathology Services (CWPS) offer a range of diagnostics tests across a number of departments. The Cellular Pathology service receives approximately 56,000 cases per year across 3 NHS Trusts; University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, George Eliot NHS Trust and South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust.

CWPS have been given funding for extra laboratory workforce to support in meeting the increasing demand for Histology case processing and Cancer Services across the Trusts. We are looking for a Specialist Dissector or Trainee to join our busy and experienced dissection team.

The successful candidate will hold HCPC registration and will hold the IBMS Diploma of Expert Practice (DEP) for Dissection, a Trainee will have HCPC registration and have experience in dissection working at a band 6 level and a drive to gain the IBMS DEP in dissection. The post holder will be expected to work at UHCW and South Warwick Hospital sites, with shifts being 7.5 hours between 0700-1900 Monday to Saturday on a rotational basis.

The trainee dissector will be paid as a band 6 until the IBMS DEP is achieved.

The interview likely to be conducted on the 4th September, subject to availability.

Successful applicants will be required to provide an immunisation and vaccination report, from either their current UK occupational health provider or their UK GP.

Main duties of the job
Responsible for performing, allocating and supervising the tasks required for the delivery of a fit for purpose medical laboratory service. Analyses and selects clinical samples to provide a diagnostic service to achieve the objectives of efficient and effective patient care, and effective resource management across the CWPS Network at the UHCW and SWFT sites.

The Histology laboratories are based at University Hospital Coventry and Warwick Hospital. It is an exciting time to join the department as we are currently implementing new laboratory equipment. We have also recently implemented the Sectra Digital Pathology solution and brand new Hamamatsu scanners, and will be upgrading the Pathology LIMS system in 2026.

As a trainee we will support your IBMS DEP dissection qualification with and experienced team to support you, protected time in the working week and external course attendance.

Breadth of specimens are defined but not limited to categories RCpath A-C. These have routine specimens and are covered by detailed SOPs. To understand the limits of their practice and know when to forward cases to pathologists or the Specialist scientific leads. Some training in D and E specimen is expected.

About us
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, rated as good by the Care Quality Commission, is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the UK.

We are extremely proud of our employees across our hospital sites, with high quality patient care at the heart of everything we do.

Boasting some of the most modern facilities in Western Europe, the Trust is renowned for being at the forefront of research and innovation as part of its blossoming reputation as a worldwide leader in healthcare.

We are proud to be recognised as a Pathway to Excellence designated organisation - please click the link for further details about this prestigious award. Pathway To Excellence - University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire (uhcw.nhs.uk)

By joining our exciting journey, you will form part of a passionate, talented team and will be able to access a wide range of learning and development opportunities. There has never been a better time to join our team.

The Trust is committed to building an organisation that makes full use of the talents, skills, experience, and different perspectives available in our diverse society. We want everyone to feel they are respected, valued, can achieve their potential and receive the most appropriate and relevant care. We will create an environment where the equality and human rights principles of fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy are promoted and are part of the organisation's core values.

Details
Date posted: 07 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £56,515 a year pro rata per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Job share
Reference number: 218-HSS-B7-8212466
Job locations: University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry, CV2 2DX, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• Daily supervise and monitor staff in the performance of routine and specialised diagnostic services on patient and environmental samples containing potentially infectious material including tissue specimens using complex and highly specialised techniques to exacting medical and scientific standards according to standard operating procedures.
• To perform such diagnostic tests as required across our pathology network at the UHCW and SWFT sites.
• Daily to plan, allocate and reallocate work schedules for themselves and the team and determine work priorities to meet service needs.
• To deputise for the Specialist Scientific Lead Tissue Dissection & Sampling in each department as required.
• Record, and validate results. Report and technically authorise individual reports from the team in electronic form and / or verbally to persons authorised to receive them e.g. Medical, nursing and non medical staff.
• Ensure quality assurance procedures are followed. Quality check outputs including maintaining necessary internal records and investigate non conformance.
• To organise and participate in external and internal quality assurance schemes and vertical and horizontal audits.
• Participate in departmental quality review meetings and propose and implement change as appropriate.
• Organise and monitor maintenance on routine and complex equipment to ensure accuracy and precision of results. Troubleshoot faults and take appropriate action to maintain the patient service.
• Prioritise work to meet local and national laboratory performance targets eg. turnaround times for results, as directed by departmental managers.
• To propose, oversee and develop the implementation of new techniques, equipment and working practices.
• Prepare, review and update standard operating procedures.
• Provide and receive specialist knowledge in a departmental section to staff and users.
• Monitor and maintain stocks of materials, reagents, consumables and equipment
• Deal with telephone enquiries when difficulty in comprehension may occur.
• Travel between sites (UHCW and SWFT) to support the dissection service

For further details of the role please see the attached job description for the full role and the trainee positions. The trainee role will be paid at band 6, the full role will be paid at band 7.

Closing Date: Please be advised that this job advert will close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Please apply for this job as soon as you can, if interested.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Science (FIBMS) or appropriate MSc or equivalent.
• Biomedical Science degree acceptable to the HCPC or equivalent qualification
• Current registration with HCPC
• Evidence of CPD
• Working on the IBMS Diploma of Expert Practice in Histological Dissection

Desirable

• Management qualification

Experience
Essential

• Minimum 2 years working in a clinical laboratory as a state registered BMS (to allow the candidate meet the standards to apply for the IBMS DEP)

Desirable

• Experience of training other staff
• Problem solving

Knowledge
Essential

• Demonstrate an in depth knowledge of required discipline
• Anatomical, clinical presentation and differential diagnose
• Audit and Error Logging
• A knowledge of the UKAS accreditation system and how it fits in the dissection lab

Skills
Essential

• Be able to speak, receive and issue instructions in English without risk of misunderstanding.
• Good organisational skills
• Be able to prepare and comment on complex documents such as a standard operating procedure (in English).
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to train other staff
• Ability to communicate technical information and results to other health professionals and be able to use telephone and email
• IT and keyboard skills
• Supervisory skills
• Planning and organisational skills

Desirable

• Ability to drive between sites

Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours
Essential

• Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's values. (As detailed in UHCW's Values in Action document below)
• Applicants applying for job roles with managerial responsibility will be required to demonstrate evidence of promoting equal opportunities through work experience

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: University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
Address: University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry, CV2 2DX, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.jobsatuhcw.co.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Lead BMS for dissection
Clare Wood
clare.wood@uhcw.nhs.uk
024769655341

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