Associate Practitioner

NHS; Penarth; Remote; GBP 29,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Public Health Wales NHS Trust is seeking a Band 4 Associate Practitioner for the Microbiology Hot Lab at University Hospital Llandough in Penarth. The role involves routine lab procedures under supervision and gaining experience with rapid molecular platforms and diagnostic testing.

The post suits candidates with microbiology lab experience or related education, with opportunities to rotate through molecular, bacteriology and virology areas, building a career in medical microbiology.

Qualifications

• IBMS Certificate of Achievement Part 1 or 2 or equivalent.
• Recent Microbiology lab experience or related laboratory work.
• Experience supervising staff is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, check and process samples.
• Data entry into the laboratory information system.
• Rotate through sections including molecular science, bacteriology and virology as training progresses.
• Provide 24/7 service support as required by shift patterns.

Skills

Manual dexterity

Automation experience

Health and safety knowledge

Education

IBMS certificate/qualification

Foundation degree or diploma

Vocational qualifications level 4/5

Tools

Immunoassay analysers

Job description

Main area Healthcare Scientist Grade Band 4 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Rolling rota - Opening hours 8am-10pm Monday- Sunday) Job ref 028-ACS032-0926-A

Employer Public Health Wales NHS Trust Employer type NHS Site University Hospital Llandough Town Penarth Salary £28,819 - £31,626 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 03/11/2026 23:59

Welcome to Public Health Wales, the national public health organisation for Wales

Our vision is Working to achieve a healthier future for Wales

Important Note for vacancies offered on a fixed-term or secondment basis.Individuals who hold permanent (substantive) employment within the NHS may only be appointed via secondment. Approval for a secondment must be obtained from your current line manager prior to submitting an application.

Job overview

Public Heath Wales Microbiology operates as a network of laboratories with Regional Laboratories across Wales.

The Band 4 Associate Practitioner post within our Hot lab team based at The University Hospital LLandough is to undertake routine laboratory procedures with supervision. The successful candidates will gain experience in a diagnostic laboratory service using rapid molecular platforms .

This post would suit candidates that have proven Microbiology laboratory experience and associated work based education and competency or a science graduate. The successful candidates will have the opportunity to rotate through a number of sections during their employment, gaining experience in a number of methodologies to include molecular science and microbiological diagnostic testing. We are looking to roll out training beyond molecular techniques and will eventually include areas within Bacteriology and virology. We have well established career pathways and so this could be a brilliant launch pad for a professional career in medical microbiology.

Main duties of the job

Duties will include preparing, checking and processing of samples as well as data entry into the laboratory information system. The successful candidate will have good communication skills, technical ability, good hand-eye coordination amongst others.

Work undertaken by the team has been paramount to Public Health Wales’ response to COVID-19. The team will also respond to any further outbreaks/winter pressures.

The Microbiology network provides services across the 24/7 period based on agreed shift patterns. This can differ based on need but all post holders will be expected to participate in 24/7 working either at their main base or in support of other sites should the need arise or as part of the agreed local rota. Where excess travel is required, this will be taken into account around start / finish times and travel expenses.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Working for our organisation

We are Public Health Wales – the national public health organisation for Wales. Our purpose is ‘working together for a healthier Wales'. We exist to help all people in Wales live longer, healthier lives. With our partners, we aim to increase healthy life expectancy, improve health and well-being, and reduce inequalities for everyone in Wales, now and for future generations.

Together, our teams work to prevent disease, protect health, and provide leadership, specialist services and public health expertise. We are the main source of public health information, research and innovation in Wales. Never more has public health was so important as we came through the Coronavirus pandemic, face the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis and tackle and prevent the harmful effects of climate change.

Our organisation is guided by our Values, ‘Working together, with trust and respect, to make a difference’. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of the communities we serve and from those wishing to work part time or on a job share basis.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Person specification

Qualifications

• IBMS Certificate of Achievement Part 1 or 2, Vocational qualifications level 4 or 5, foundation degree (e.g. Biological Sciences) or other diploma or equivalent level of knowledge, or equivalent experience.

Experience

• Recent experience of working within a Microbiology laboratory or University Laboratory.
• Experience of staff supervision.

Skills

• Evidence of good manual dexterity and hand/eye co-ordination. Adept at using automation or immunoassay analysers. Knowledge of health and safety

Public Health Wales, reserves the right to close this vacancy early. We therefore encourage early applications.

Priority is given to staff awaiting redeployment. We therefore reserve the right to withdraw this advert at any stage.

If you have a disability and have any particular requirements to enable you to participate in the application process, please contact [e-mail]

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR APPLICANTS: Applications for our roles are carefully reviewed and shortlisted based on specific criteria, which varies from job to job.

Using a generic application or automated AI application services, such as Lazy Apply or AI Apply, does not usually provide enough personal evidence of your skills and experience relevant to the role. This can make it difficult for us to assess your suitability and will reduce your chances of being shortlisted.

To ensure your application is given full consideration, we recommend submitting a tailored application that directly addresses the criteria listed in the Person Specification section of the advert, providing clear evidence and examples to demonstrate how you meet each requirement.

Visa Sponsorship Eligibility

• If you require sponsorship under the Skilled Worker or Health and Care Visa routes, please ensure youself‑assess your eligibility for sponsorship for this role before applying.

If you are successful and short listed for interview you will be contacted by email using the address with which you registered. Please ensure you check your email account regularly.

We are committed to fair, transparent recruitment and believe in equality of opportunity in our workplace and will not tolerate discrimination on grounds of age, disability, gender identity, religion or belief, race or nationality, marriage or civil partnership status, sex, sexual orientation, working pattern, caring responsibilities, trade union activity or political beliefs – or on any other grounds. We welcome applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements.

The salary scale shown is for a full-time member of staff, with the amount being adjusted pro rata for those working less than 37.5 hours per week.

In general, anyone joining our Trust who has not previously worked in the NHS will, by default, start on the first point of the advertised pay band. Pay progression will then be determined by annual Performance and Development Reviews in accordance with the NHS Wales Pay Progression Policy .An application for Incremental Credit may be considered, but can only be awarded based on evidenced, reckonable service and/or equivalent, relevant experience.