Associate Practitioner Healthcare Scientist (Biochemistry)

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital; Norwich; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust in the UK is seeking a Biomedical Scientist to join their Clinical Biochemistry Department. The role involves preparing and processing biological specimens under the guidance of HCPC registered staff. Key duties include performing quality assurance procedures, operating complex automated instruments, and maintaining confidentiality while collaborating with the laboratory team. Candidates should hold a Foundation Degree or equivalent with strong IT skills. This position offers a supportive working environment and comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service

Multi Faith prayer room

Discounted gym memberships

Excellent pension scheme

Wagestream access to pay

Free Park & Ride service

24-hour counselling support

On-site Nursery

On-site cafes with staff discounts

Flexible staff bank

Salary Sacrifice schemes

Qualifications

• Competent in Blood Sciences services to the level required for Band 4 staff within 6-12 months.
• Ability to perform simple tests, assays, and operate complex automated instruments with minimal guidance.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and process specimens according to agreed protocols.
• Perform a range of tests, assays, and operate complex automated instruments.
• Liaise with laboratory team and maintain confidentiality.

Skills

Ability to work under pressure

Able to use laboratory equipment

Ability to perform a range of tests

Effective role model demonstrating PRIDE values

Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Education

Foundation degree or Certificate of Achievement Part 2

IT literate including Microsoft Office

Job description

The Directorate of Laboratory Medicine encompasses Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology, Immunology, Microbiology and Cytogenetics. The directorate provides a range of analysis of blood, body fluids and tissues for the Hospital inpatient and out-patient population, local GP's and other neighbouring Trusts.

The automated Clinical Biochemistry Department at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital currently has an automated Track and analysers to help provide a service to a very busy department.

Under the supervision of Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered Biomedical Scientist (BMS), the role involves utilising knowledge and skills gained through a Foundation Degree or equivalent. It also involves the preparation and processing of biological specimens such as blood, urine, faeces, tissues and other body fluids in accordance with agreed protocols and standard operational procedures.

This will include:

• Preparation of reagents, calibrators and controls
• Perform daily and weekly maintenance on analysers
• To ensure operational continuity of analyzers by replenishing reagents as required.
• To receive large volumes of specimens, carefully check information and, providing it meets acceptance criteria, prepare for analysis
• To perform appropriate internal and external quality assurance procedures to analyze and recognize poor performance, take simple corrective action, informing HCPC registered BMS of un-resolvable poor performance issues.

Main duties of the job

As post holder, your duties will include:

• To prepare and process specimens such as blood, urine, faeces, tissues and other body fluids according to agreed protocols, prioritising according to urgency of test and managing high volume workloads.
• To perform a range of simple tests, assays and operate complex automated instruments, if appropriate, following standard operational procedures and validate according to departmental policy, with minimal guidance. This may include initial preparation, accurately pipetting very small volumes of fluid, fine manipulation of laboratory equipment or performing time critical procedures.
• To perform appropriate internal and external quality assurance procedures to analyse and recognise poor performance, take simple corrective action, informing HCPC registered BMS of un-resolvable poor performance issues.

Hours will be:

0800-16:00 or 14:00-22:00 (Monday to Friday)

Weekend cover is also required- 08:00-16:00

Interview date: 9th February 2026

About us

Join us at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and be part of a workforce of over 10,000 staff!

The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first-class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We are pleased to work closely with the University of East Anglia, providing teaching opportunities for our staff and placement opportunities for their students. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world.

We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity

We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:

• Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
• Multi Faith prayer room
• Discounted gym memberships
• Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
• Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
• Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH site
• Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
• On-site Nursery
• On-site cafes offering staff discounts
• Flexible staff bank
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics

Job responsibilities

• Liaise and communicate with other members of the laboratory team, across the Pathology Directorate and with users of the service including Trust Clinical staff, Primary Care staff, patients and members of the general public as appropriate, maintaining confidentiality at all times.
• Be aware of and adhere to all Trust policies/laboratory operating procedures/Pathology guidelines when undertaking any activities.
• Adhere to Trust infection control procedures, demonstrating an understanding of cross infection.
• To be responsible for the preparation of reagents and complex automated analysers for treatment, investigations or procedures as directed by departmental procedures under guidance of an HCPC registered BMS.
• To ensure operational continuity of analysers by replenishing reagents as required.
• To receive large volumes of samples, check and examine electronic and paper requests, accurately select test profiles according to specimen type, clinical details and collection conditions and transfer requests on to laboratory information system.
• To prepare and process specimens such as blood, urine, faeces, tissues and other body fluids according to agreed protocols, prioritising according to urgency of test and managing high volume workloads.
• To perform a range of simple tests, assays and operate complex automated instruments, if appropriate, following standard operational procedures and validate according to departmental policy, with minimal guidance. This may include initial preparation, accurately pipetting very small volumes of fluid (< 0.005ml), fine manipulation of laboratory equipment or performing time critical procedures.
• To perform appropriate internal and external quality assurance procedures to analyse and recognise poor performance, take simple corrective action, informing HCPC registered BMS of un-resolvable poor performance issues.
• To be able to recognise and report any situation that gives cause for concern or any observed changes in instrument performance to an HCPC registered BMS

Please see the attached job description for full details.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• IT literate including Microsoft Office
• Foundation degree or Certificate of Achievement Part 2

Experience

• Competent in Blood Sciences services (Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology and Transfusion) to the level required for Band 4 staff. To be achieved within 6-12 months of starting post

Skills

• Ability to work under pressure
• Able to use laboratory equipment ranging from manual pipettes to large automated analysers
• Ability to perform a range of tests appropriate to the post
• Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH's PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
• Demonstrates understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.