Apprentice - FAS Drugs Laboratory Technician - Police Staff

Nottinghamshire Police; Hucknall; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional police force is seeking an individual for a laboratory role within its Forensic Services team in Hucknall. The successful candidate will coordinate laboratory tasks, maintain high operational standards, and ensure compliance with legal regulations. Ideal candidates will possess GCSEs in English and Maths, strong communication, and problem-solving abilities, along with a commitment to quality and teamwork. This role offers the opportunity to make a genuine difference in people’s lives while working toward a recognized qualification.

Qualifications

• Relevant qualifications and industry experience may be considered.
• Ability to follow established standards and procedures.
• Proficiency in data input and extraction from IT systems.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate equipment maintenance visits according to ISO standards.
• Monitor inquiries received via email or telephone.
• Prepare for and perform laboratory experiments following methodologies.

Skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Organisation skills

Problem solving skills

Logical thinking

Team working

Initiative

Education

GCSE in English and Maths (grade 4/C or above)

Job description

Responsibilities

• Undertake the ordering of stock and consumables, ensuring they meet required standards and are stored appropriately.
• Coordinate and manage equipment maintenance visits in line with laboratory best practice and ISO 17025 quality standards.
• Contribute to a safe and secure environment for drugs analysis and colleagues by following established standards and procedures and complying with legal regulations.
• Input and extract data accurately from IT systems such as Niche and Microsoft packages in accordance with policy and technical procedures.
• Monitor and respond to enquiries received via email or telephone in a professional and efficient manner.
• Liaise and work with colleagues within the teams based at the Arrow Centre and external partners.
• Receive and store exhibits ensuring continuity and integrity of the exhibits.
• Undertake training and development to attain and maintain competence.
• Contribute to problem solving and the continuous improvement of the FAS Drugs laboratory.
• Provide statements of evidence for continuity of exhibits when requested from the Court.
• Provide DNA and fingerprint samples for elimination and for storage on national databases.
• Participate in Career Conversation process and take responsibility for identifying professional and career development needs; comply with health and safety policies and procedures including HASWA, COSHH, risk assessments, use of PPE, manual handling and emergency procedures.
• Maintain excellent housekeeping in accordance with organisation Standard Procedures.
• Order and control stocks of laboratory materials where required.
• Identify, organise and use resources effectively to complete tasks, applying resource efficiency concepts (e.g., energy, water, waste).
• Adhere to internal and external regulatory requirements (e.g., GLP, GMP, GDP).
• Prepare for and perform laboratory experiments, tests or tasks following specified methodologies to provide reliable, accurate data (e.g., weighing, pipetting, filtering, spectroscopic techniques, chromatography techniques).
• Demonstrate technical competence in the use of specified instruments and equipment.
• Report faults and seek diagnostic advice to maintain equipment in good working order, including calibration where required.
• Complete documentation proficiently and keep accurate records of laboratory work undertaken and results.
• Contribute to the preparation of reports and use simple statistical techniques for data presentation and evaluation (e.g., median, standard deviation, graphs).
• Demonstrate problem solving techniques, including identification of sources of error and how they can be reduced (e.g., human error).
• Use standard software packages and applications (e.g., Microsoft Office suite) and Laboratory Information Management Systems to support their work.
• Address non-routine problems with samples and instrumentation within defined areas.
• Identify relevant information from scientific sources (e.g., supervisors, literature) to contribute to solutions.
• Participate in continuous performance improvement of systems and processes relevant to the work environment (e.g., workplace organisation techniques, accreditation (e.g., ISO, UKAS) and proficiency testing).
• Evaluate data, recognise and call attention to anomalous or unusual results.

Qualifications

• GCSE in English and Maths (grade 4/C or above).
• Other relevant qualifications and industry experience may be considered.
• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Problem solving skills
• Logical thinking
• Team working
• Initiative

We are looking for the right person who welcomes the challenges of a demanding but rewarding role, working within EMSOU's Forensic Services team. You will be making a genuine difference to people’s lives while working towards a nationally recognised qualification.