Cytologist

Job responsibilities

Overall Job Purpose:

An experienced HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist who works as part of a team undertaking cervical cytology screening investigations. This is carried out on samples unsupervised and in accordance with standard operating procedures.

Main Duties:

To include, but not be restricted to, the following duties:

To contribute to the NHS Cervical Screening Programme service output by primary screening of cervical samples received by the Cervical Screening London service To participate in rapid review of cervical samples.

To provide an accurate signed report for all inadequate and negative cervical samples screened.

To ensure agreed standards for turnaround times of samples and results are met.

To primary screen 6000 slides per annum and maintain personal screening performance in line with NHSCSP requirements

To operate and maintain laboratory equipment according to manufacturers protocols and procedures.

To be fully knowledgeable of HPV screening protocols and be able to apply to ensure appropriate reporting and management of cervical cytology samples

To organise ones own work and cooperate with other staff to ensure workflow and turnaround times are maintained.

To supervise junior grades of staff where appropriate.

To participate in quality control and departmental audits.

To engage and assist in future service developments as directed.

To participate in departmental meetings and contribute to effective communication within the department.

To support multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meetings including the retrieval of slides

To assist in the maintenance of the departments archive by filing slides when necessary and to be able to retrieve from the files when required.

Training and Education

To maintain own personal development and attend departmental meetings as required.

To maintain registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and participate in a recognised CPD scheme.

To take an active interest in and keep abreast of developments in the discipline.

To further develop junior colleagues by assisting in the training of trainee BMS and MLA staff, and to undertake, complete, and sign off all competencies associated with these grades.

To maintain professional competence by attending an update course in cervical cytology every three years.

To participate in NHS Cervical Screening Programme and other relevant EQA schemes.

To include, but not be restricted to, the following:

Stock, waste management and daily housekeeping

To maintain good housekeeping, administration and technical working practices within the laboratory

Participate in the filing/retrieval of specimens and slides as directed by the Laboratory Supervisor

To prepare laboratory reagents, including hazardous chemicals, using protective equipment and precision pipetting where required.

To safely dispose of infective and high risk wastes by according to written procedures

To undertake routine cleaning and maintenance of laboratory equipment and benches

To replace stocks of consumables and reagents when required and inform the Laboratory Supervisor if back-up stocks are low

Scientific and Technical

Under supervision of registered scientists:

To participate when required in laboratory bench work or automated analysis following standard operating procedures.

To assist in the evaluation of new equipment under the guidance of operational manager.

To communicate any difficulties, accidents or incidents to a supervisory BMS.

To observe the departmental quality control policies

To assist when required in the preparation of documentation for accreditation To participate in all rosters as required

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Good organisational skills.
• Ability to work accurately, neatly and efficiently. Attention to detail very important
• Ability to work in a team
• Basic Keyboard skills and familiar with MS Office suite.
• Ability to communicate effectively with other members of the laboratory in English -both verbally and in writing
• Use of laboratory equipment relevant to speciality
• Demonstrate experience of working to a laboratory Quality Management System

Qualifications

Essential

• IBMS accredited Biological Sciences degree or equivalent qualification in pathology disciplines
• Current registration with the Health and Care
• Professions Council (HCPC)
• NHSCSP Diploma in Cervical Screening or equivalent
• Specialist Diploma or equivalent experience

Experience

Essential

• Some theoretical and practical knowledge in all disciples of pathology relevant to its multidisciplinary nature
• Previous experience in a relevant laboratory and proficiency in techniques appropriate to the discipline.
• At least 3 years post qualification cytology
• screening experience
• Experience screening primary HPV positive cases

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).