Associate Practitioner

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

Job summary

Public Health Wales NHS Trust in Wales is seeking an Associate Practitioner to supervise Biomedical Support Workers, coordinate rostas, and handle routine laboratory tasks to support diagnostic microbiology services.

The role requires good IT skills, attention to quality control, and effective communication with laboratory teams. Travel across North Wales is possible with a full-time post and 37.5-hour week.

Qualifications

• Undertaking or gained an IBMS Certificate of Achievement Part 1 or 2 or equivalent qualifications and/or experience.
• Biological Sciences Degree. Recent educational achievements relating to laboratory services.

Responsibilities

• Provide supervision and training to Biomedical Support Workers and ensure up-to-date competencies.
• Coordinate rotas and deployment of Biomedical Support Workers to maintain service delivery.
• Undertake routine laboratory tasks including quality control, specimen processing, maintenance/calibration of equipment, waste disposal and clerical duties.
• Ensure safe working practices in line with Laboratory Health & Safety Policies.

Skills

Supervision

Quality control

Data entry

Communication

Welsh speaker

Education

IBMS Certificate of Achievement Part 1/2

Biological Sciences Degree

Tools

LIMS

Automation equipment

Job description

Main area Associate Practitioner Grade Band 4 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Hours include 24/7 working, weekdays/weekends and bank holidays) Job ref 028-ACS042-1026

Employer Public Health Wales NHS Trust Employer type NHS Site Wrexham Maelor Hospital Town Wrexham Salary £28,819 - £31,626 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 19/10/2026 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

Applicants are invited to apply in Welsh, any application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English. To support our all Wales service, we particularly welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

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

We are looking for an enthusiastic, organised individual with a flexible approach to work closely with laboratory staff and medical staff in a busy but friendly work environment. Duties will include preparing, checking and processing of samples and data entry into the laboratory information system, as well as supporting the Biomedical Scientist team. The post holder will also support the day to day supervision of the Biomedical Support Workers and their training.

This will be a full time post based in the Wrexham laboratory, but with an expectation that travel across various North Wales is acceptable to support the service

The successful applicant will be expected to work closely with various members of the laboratory Management team in Microbiology North Wales to ensure the safe processing of samples in the laboratory.

INTERVIEWS WILL TAKE PLACE FACE TO FACE.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide supervision and training to all Biomedical Support Workers, working closely with the training leads to ensure all Biomedical Support Workers have up to date competencies recorded.

The post holder will coordinate rotas and the deployment of Biomedical Support Workers in conjunction with relevant staff to ensure that all areas of service delivery are adequately maintained.

The post holder will coordinate and undertake a wide range of routine laboratory tasks including quality control, specimen processing, (maintenance and calibration of equipment, operation of automated equipment, use of commercial kits), waste disposal, and clerical duties, in support of the diagnostic services of the department in conjunction with Biomedical Scientific staff. Work in a safe manner and helps to maintain standards of conduct, safe working practices and technical standards in conjunction with the relevant BMS staff in accordance with the Laboratory Health & Safety Policies.

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 agency in Wales. Our purpose is ‘Working together for a healthier Wales’. We exist to help everyone in Wales live longer, healthier, happier lives. Together with our partners, we work to increase healthy life expectancy, improve health and well-being, and reduce inequalities for everyone in Wales, now and for future generations.

Our teams work to prevent disease, protect health, and provide leadership, specialist services and public health expertise. We are the leading source of public health information, research and innovation in Wales. In a world facing complex health challenges, our work has never been so important.

We are guided by our Values, 'Working together, with trust and respect, to make a difference'. We are committed to building an inclusive workplace that values equality and diversity. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of the communities we serve and are supportive of flexible working arrangements, including part time roles and job sharing.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Person specification

Qualifications

• Undertaking or gained an IBMS Certificate of Achievement Part 1 or 2 or equivalent qualifications and/or experience.
• Biological Sciences Degree. Recent educational achievements relating to laboratory services.

Experience

• Experience of working within a clinical microbiology laboratory.
• Good manual dexterity and hand/eye co-ordination.
• Evidence of following verbal and written instructions and complex protocols and procedures.
• Experience of working independently, reliably and efficiently and able to use own initiative and troubleshoot when circumstances dictate.
• Good basic IT skills, document writing skills.
• Experience of working with laboratory equipment.
• Experience of stock control
• Experience of quality control procedures
• Previous computerised data entry experience.

Knowledge & Skills

• Ability to communicate clearly scientific/clinical information orally, written or electronically to work colleagues or external contacts.
• Evidence of ability to use automation.
• Knowledge of health and safety in relation to the laboratory including the disposal of waste.
• Evidence of competence in laboratory techniques. Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of routine procedures in diagnostic microbiology. Understands the principles of good laboratory practice.
• Understands the principles and importance of Quality Assurance systems and accreditation documents (i.e. ISO:15189).
• Previous experience of following written protocols/policies.
• Ability to prioritise. Quick learner with well developed learning skills.
• Welsh speaker.
• Good manual dexterity and hand/eye co-ordination.
• Ability to recognise problems, make analytical judgements autonomously to solve procedural and technical problems. Ability to work under pressure with good organisational skills.

Attributes and Attitude

• Be able to work independently or as part of the laboratory team. Motivated and positive attitude to team working.
• Able to accept instruction and take responsibility for own actions.
• Demonstrate time management skills. Reliable, conscientious and punctual.
• Clear thinking and articulate. Self motivated with a willingness to learn.Good interpersonal skills.
• Working knowledge of laboratory information management systems. Enthusiastic about work and the profession.
• Keen to demonstrate good personal performance.

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.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Name Phil Lewis Job title North Wales Microbiology Service Manager Email address [e-mail]