Associate Practitioner | Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

Buckinghamshire Healthcare Trust; Aylesbury; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare trust is seeking a Band 4 Associate Practitioner to join their Point of Care Testing team. Your role involves supporting the POCT service, training staff, and ensuring compliance with operational procedures. You will work across BHT hospital sites with flexible hours and receive generous NHS benefits, including professional development opportunities. This position is permanent and full-time, representing a great opportunity in a supportive environment.

Benefits

Flexible working opportunities

Generous annual leave

Access to NHS discount schemes

Qualifications

• Experience with Point of Care testing devices is preferred.
• Capable of training other staff effectively.
• Strong adherence to Standard Operating Procedures.

Responsibilities

• Support and assist in POCT service delivery.
• Train clinical staff on POCT equipment usage.
• Monitor compliance with operational procedures.

Skills

Proficiency in Point of Care devices

Problem-solving skills

Training abilities

Tools

Blood Gas Analysers

Glucose Monitors

Urinalysis devices

Job description

Overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Point of Care Testing (POCT) team at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (BHT) as a Band 4 Associate Practitioner in a permanent position. The POCT team delivers essential diagnostic services across BHT and associated community locations throughout Buckinghamshire. The service provides a high-quality, responsive approach to supporting POCT devices and training clinical users. Devices include blood gas analysers, glucose and ketone meters, urinalysis, CRP, and pregnancy testing platforms.

Main duties

• To be proficient in the use of all Point of Care devices currently used within the Trust e.g. Blood Gas Analysers, Glucose Monitors, Pregnancy testing.
• To assist and support the POCT Team in providing a professional POCT service.
• To contribute to the efficient and effective running of the POCT service as appropriate.
• Monitor users of these devices follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) devised by the Point of Care Manager, advising the POCT Lead BMS of non-compliance.
• Solve routine problems with Point of Care devices, calling on the POCT Manager/ POCT BMS Lead for more serious problems and/or the maintenance engineers where appropriate.
• To train clinical, nursing and laboratory staff in the use of POCT equipment, ensuring compliance with Trust POCT guidelines and procedure.
• Support the POCT Manager in the investigation of incidents and errors if required, to ensure service improvement.

About the role and location

The post holder would be required to work as a member of the POCT team and work at all BHT hospital sites (Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Wycombe General Hospital and Amersham) and associated community sites. The working time would be 37.5 hours from Monday to Friday.

What we offer

• As part of our BHT family, you’ll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
• Flexible and agile working opportunities, alongside NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement, pension and access to NHS discount schemes.
• Health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.

Why work for us

• We’re committed to promoting inclusion and ensuring all colleagues feel they belong. We encourage new colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply.
• We aim to create a workplace where differences are valued and colleagues are treated with dignity and respect.
• Greater diversity within our BHT family improves positive outcomes for the people and communities we serve.
• A keen supporter of the Armed Forces Community who value employing service leavers/veterans and their families.

What we stand for

• Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.
• Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.
• Our care values are collaboration, aspire, respect and enable.

For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.

Additional information

If you are an internal applicant there is the option for secondment, and all applicants must have the endorsement/support of their line manager prior to application. If you have a disability that makes submitting this online application difficult and would like assistance, please contact us on [e-mail] quoting the vacancy reference number.

This advert closes on Monday 8 Sep 2025.