Trainee/ Specialist Biomedical Scientist, Virology Molecular Pathology in Coventry

Trainee/ Specialist Biomedical Scientist, Virology Molecular Pathology

NHS AfC: Band 6

Main area Virology and Molecular Pathology Grade NHS AfC: Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (24/7 shift working applies) Job ref 218-HSS-B6-8314696

Site University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Town Coventry Salary £32,073 - £48,117 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 12/10/2026 23:59 Interview date 13/11/2026

Job overview

Coventry and Warwickshire Pathology Service (CWPS) is a well established Pathology Network in the South Midlands. The Virology and Molecular Pathology services are across two main sites; University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust in Coventry and the George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton.

The department is multi-disciplinary with responsibility for the operational delivery of infectious disease Serology and Molecular testing and Genomics testing for both Blood Sciences and Cellular Pathology. The department operates a 24/7 service.

The successful applicant will be a dynamic, organised individual with excellent communication skills. Experience of working in a Virology, Serology or Molecular laboratory is essential.

Applicants who do not meet the Band 6 job description through possession of the IBMS Specialist Diploma may be considered. In this case, the successful applicant will be expected to complete this qualification to a deadline and will be paid at band 5 until this is completed.

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

As a Specialist Biomedical Scientist you will be expected to take responsibility for an area or instrument of the laboratory as directed by the Section and Department Managers on a rotational basis.

You will oversee performance of that assigned laboratory area including managing workload and stock, ensuring quality management and technical processes have been completed and training and developing junior staff. You will work closely with the laboratory shift manager on a daily basis to ensure effective maintenance of the service.

Working for our organisation

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.

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Daily perform routine and specialised diagnostic services on patient or environmental samples containing potentially infectious material.
• To carry out routine maintenance on analytical equipment as required and in accordance with standard operating procedures.
• To carry out equipment and method troubleshooting, advise the Section Manager of situations requiring further action, work with service engineers on fault resolution.
• To prepare, store and use reagents required for laboratory investigations.
• To perform manual, semi-automated and fully-automated laboratory investigations to exacting medical and scientific standards according to Standard Operating Procedures.
• Interpretation of diagnostic investigations and be responsible for the validity of results and ensure accuracy and precision as specified by laboratory protocols and procedures
• To report to the Section Manager any instance or event which may cause a service delivery failure, but be fully involved in the resolution of such events.
• To develop and investigate new techniques or analysers as required by the changing needs of the service.
• To ensure that all results are reported within the agreed turnaround time and to take remedial action, for example communicating appropriately with colleagues and managers.
• Work to meet laboratory performance targets as directed by senior staff.
• To use departmental resources efficiently and ensure reagents and consumables are ordered when approaching minimum stock levels.
• To participate in the review and update of Standard Operating Procedures and health and safety documentation including COSHH and workplace risk assessments by commenting or proposing changes.

For full details please see the attached Job Description.

Qualifications

• Biomedical Science degree acceptable to the HCPC or equivalent qualification
• Current registration with HCPC as a Biomedical Scientist.
• Commitment to work towards completion of the IBMS Specialist Diploma.
• Evidence of CPD.

Experience

• Post registration and NHS experience.
• Evidence of recent laboratory experience.
• Evidence of problem solving /troubleshooting

Knowledge

• Demonstrate a broad-based knowledge in Pathology in required discipline.

Skills

• Be able to speak, receive and issue instructions without risk of misunderstanding.
• Be able to follow complex documents such as a standard operating procedure.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• IT and keyboard skills.

Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

• 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

To ensure that we provide world-class patient care, UHCW recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust’s Values and Behaviours in their everyday life. Therefore, if you are invited to interview, you will be undertaking a Values Based Interview/Assessment, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust’s Values and Behaviours which can be accessed on the right side of this page under the job description.
The Supporting Information Section in your application should therefore reflect your understanding of the Trust’s Values and associated Behaviours. You will be expected to provide us with examples from work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviour.

The Trust is committed to Equal Opportunities within the workplace. All vacancies will be considered for Job Share unless otherwise stated. All applicants who have a disability and who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be interviewed. Where a post has an overwhelming response, this Trust may use random selection in order to reduce numbers to interview, any disabled applicants will automatically be guaranteed an interview and will be exempt from this process.

In submitting an application form, you authorise University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust to confirm from your previous or current NHS employer and other prior employers; previous NHS service details and personal data held about you, including Occupational Health data (inoculations and screening tests). This data will be transferred using NHS Electronic Staff Record and third-party systems via an automated process and only used for the purposes of obtaining and maintaining accurate employment records, should you be appointed to the post.

UHCW NHS Trust, by virtue of its Green Plan, is committed to ensuring that the way we provide services minimises the impact on the environment and the future health of the public e.g. zero waste to landfill, reducing our carbon footprint and increasing our recycling and reuse percentages.

If you are successful at interview you will receive a conditional offer of employment and we’ll ask you for information so that we can carry out pre-employment checks. You must successfully complete all pre-employment checks to progress to a final unconditional offer.

We must confirm the identity of our staff and their right to work in the United Kingdom. We will ask you to submit proof of your identity and right to work documents via a secure digital platform approved by the Home Office, named TrustID. Alternatively, you may be asked to attend our office with original documents.

Depending on you level of exposure with patients you may be required to undertake a Standard or Enhanced DBS. The cost of this check will be charged to you and will be deducted from your salary over the first 3 months of employment at the current rate.

All correspondence will be sent by email; please check your account regularly including your Junk/SPAM folders

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.

Name Helen Keyworth Job title Virology and Molecular Pathology Manager Email address helen.keyworth@uhcw.nhs.uk Telephone number 02476 965358 Additional information

For informal conversations about the role or visits, please contact Helen Keyworth.

#J-18808-Ljbffr