Associate Practitioner - Microbiology

NHS; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional health service provider is seeking an Associate Practitioner in Microbiology to support Biomedical Scientists at the Ipswich Hospital. The role involves performing standard tests and supervising junior staff. Candidates need relevant qualifications and experience in a laboratory setting. The position offers competitive pay and commitment to employee development.

Benefits

Generous pension scheme

27 days annual leave

NHS discounts

Qualifications

• Appropriate NVQ 3/diploma or equivalent.
• Demonstrable knowledge of routine and non-routine healthcare science duties.
• Knowledge of Pathology IT systems.

Responsibilities

• Perform standard Microbiology tests under supervision.
• Maintain clinical records of activities.
• Supervise and train less experienced staff.

Job description

Go back East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Associate Practitioner - Microbiology

The closing date is 29 September 2025

We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated individuals who are professional, reliable, innovative and flexible to join our friendly team in our Microbiology Laboratory.

Your role will involve supporting the Biomedical Scientists working in the Microbiology Laboratory.

Based at Ipswich Hospital our vision is to deliver innovative, high-performing pathology that is focused on our customers and delivers high quality and fully compliant services.

We want the best staff and are committed to attracting and retaining the best pathology staff and if you want to work with us to develop your own career and help us to achieve our vision then we would like to hear from you. We are in the unique position of providing a dedicated Pathology Training Team with the aim of producing a highly skilled workforce through the provision of continued training and development for our staff.

Work flexibly in reflection of service needs. This may include an extended working day and it will include weekend working.

Main duties of the job

• Perform a number of healthcare science clinical/technical/scientific activities under supervision, e.g. performs standard Microbiology tests.
• Maintain clinical records in relation to activities carried out; may input/interrogate test results of others.
• May be required to supervise, organise and allocate work and/or train less experienced staff in own area.
• Maintain and promote professional image of the pathology department

Our pathology department is part of the collaborative East Coast Pathology Network (see attached document)

About our Pathology Service https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBrydUl_c5w

About us

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you

Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A

Job responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

Person Specification

Education

• Appropriate NVQ 3/diploma or equivalent
• Additional theoretical or applied training to diploma equivalent level
• Working towards Foundation degree or equivalent

Experience

• Demonstrable knowledge of a range of routine and non-routine healthcare science duties
• Demonstrable practical experience of working in a laboratory
• Knowledge of Pathology IT systems
• Knowledge of Quality Management Systems
• Previous relevant experience of working in the NHS
• European Computer Driving Licence or equivalent

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.

Employer name

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

£27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum pro rata