Medical Laboratory Assistant

Job Summary

We are looking for Medical Laboratory Assistants to join our specimen reception team in the Blood Sciences Pathology Department at Colchester Hospital. We have a permanent post and a fixed term post until March 2026.

This role is based in our pathology labs and you will work with the team and be responsible for receipt and pre-analytics processing of pathology samples which are then passed on to our other specialities.

You will be required to work a variety of shifts over a 24-hour period to help support the technical staff to maintain a safe and effective service. Flexible shift working including evenings, weekends and nights is essential for this role.

We are looking for a Healthcare professional who can understand the changing services of pathology and represent the new service going forward.

Training will be provided however knowledge of pathology would be advantageous.

For the fixed term post, internal applicants currently employed by ESNEFT will be offered on a secondment basis only. This will need to be discussed with your line manager.

About Our Pathology Service

Main duties of the job

Our vision is to deliver innovations and high-performing pathology services that are focused on our customers whilst delivering high quality and fully compliant services. We are clinically led and designed to achieve the benefits of scale that can be achieved by working together, while remaining close enough to our customers to meet their needs and support the excellent clinical care provided by our hospitals.

1. Responsible for sample receipt, numbering and data entry on to the computer system.
2. Identify, action and report mislabelled or mislaid specimens, unsuitable sample or process failure.
3. Participate in the day to day management of stock control and usage.

About Us

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes.

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offers a variety of services.

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.

Date posted: 07 January 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 3

Salary: £24,071 to £25,674 a year per annum pro rata

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time

Reference number: 432-HR1956-24

Job locations: Colchester Hospital, Turner Road, Colchester, CO4 5JL

Job Description

Job responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

Person Specification

Education

Essential

• GCSE Maths and English (A-C) or equivalent

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Demonstrable knowledge of a range of routine and non-routine healthcare science duties equivalent to an NVQ level 3/diploma

Desirable

• Practical experience of working in a Biomedical Science laboratory
• Knowledge of Pathology IT systems
• Knowledge of Quality Management Systems
• Previous relevant experience of working in the NHS

Skills and Aptitude

Essential

• Good communication skills
• Willingness to undertake cross training to extend skill set to deliver role
• Demonstrable interpersonal skills - can work as part of a team.
• Ability to supervise less experienced staff, e.g. can demonstrate own work.

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.

Employer details

Employer name: East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Colchester Hospital, Turner Road, Colchester, CO4 5JL

Employer's website: https://www.esneft.nhs.uk/