Band 3 Medical Laboratory Assistant Microbiology

NHS; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Join University Hospitals Birmingham as a Medical Laboratory Assistant, where you'll process and prepare patient specimens, ensuring high accuracy and attention to detail. This permanent, full-time role is crucial for maintaining the hospital's diagnostic pathway and offers a supportive work environment focused on teamwork and patient care.

Qualifications

• Experience in laboratory techniques and automation is essential.
• Ability to handle biological samples.
• Must work well within a team and communicate effectively.

Responsibilities

• Process patient specimens for biomedical testing.
• Handle, sort, label, and prepare biological samples.
• Perform daily housekeeping and monitoring tasks.

Skills

Attention to detail

Manual dexterity

Communication

Education

Education to GCSE in English and Maths

NVQ level 3 or equivalent

Job description

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity for you to join University Hospitals Birmingham, one of the largest teaching hospitals in England, with state of the art facilities and employing over 20,000 colleagues across 4 sites (Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Heartlands Hospital, Solihull Hospital and Good Hope Hospital)

We are looking to employ an experienced Medical Laboratory Assistant. As an experienced Medical Laboratory Assistant the post holder will have knowledge of a range of biomedical procedures and is responsible for processing patient specimens for biomedical testing and maintaining all records involved in the diagnostic pathway.

This includes: receiving, sorting, labelling and preparing specimens; resolving issues such as mislabelled or missing samples, performing reception duties, data entry, dealing with telephone enquiries and relaying test results to clinicians and other healthcare workers, performing general housekeeping duties.

The successful applicant will have experience of a range of laboratory techniques and automation, have good keyboard and mouse skills and be able to demonstrate attention to detail, reliability, resilience and adaptability are essential personal attributes and the ability to manage and prioritise work to meet deadlines in a pressured environment is crucial.

In providing a 24 hour, seven day health service, there is requirement for ability to work extended days, weekends and on statutory and public holidays as necessary and overnight shifts.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for people who work well within a team and have a patient focused attitude with quality in mind.

Main Duties:

- To safely handle, use and dispose of biological samples

- To receive, check conditions and record details of incoming goods

- To collect, receive, sort, check patient and request details, label and process and where appropriate, dispatch patient samples in line with departmental procedure.

- To report to the relevant supervisor or manager any errors or incidents in line with departmental procedures

- Prepare reagents according to standard operating procedures as directed by a supervisor or manager

- Perform a range of laboratory tests following standard laboratory procedures that require speed, accuracy and good hand eye co-ordination.

- Perform daily housekeeping duties for example tidy and clean benches and areas of work. Cleaning, maintenance and decontaminating of laboratory equipment.

- Perform monitoring and recording of equipment for example temperature monitoring and informing a supervisor of non-conformances.

- An understanding of automated instruments and equipment. Maintenance and problem solving will be crucial.

About us

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people. As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.

Details Date posted

18 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,169 to £25,674 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

304-1087396

Job locations

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Mindelsohn Way

Birmingham

West Midlands

B15 2TH

Job description Job responsibilities

*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*

Job description Job responsibilities

*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Education to GCSE in English and Maths.
• NVQ level 3 or equivalent.

Desirable

• Completion of a medical laboratory assistant competency portfolio or evidence of laboratory working and competency

Experience Essential

• Awareness of National Health Service.
• Awareness of the role of Medical Laboratories.
• Awareness of Health and Safety issues

Desirable

• Experience of working in clinical laboratories
• Experience of laboratory techniques and automation
• Experience of dealing with the public or customer care

Additional Criteria Essential

• Able to work as part of a team.
• Good verbal and written communication.
• Keyboard and mouse skills (word, excel).
• Manual dexterity and hand -- eye coordination
• Expected to participate in all out of hours periods as required by service provision.
• Ability to handle blood and other bodily fluid samples.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Education to GCSE in English and Maths.
• NVQ level 3 or equivalent.

Desirable

• Completion of a medical laboratory assistant competency portfolio or evidence of laboratory working and competency

Experience Essential

• Awareness of National Health Service.
• Awareness of the role of Medical Laboratories.
• Awareness of Health and Safety issues

Desirable

• Experience of working in clinical laboratories
• Experience of laboratory techniques and automation
• Experience of dealing with the public or customer care

Additional Criteria Essential

• Able to work as part of a team.
• Good verbal and written communication.
• Keyboard and mouse skills (word, excel).
• Manual dexterity and hand -- eye coordination
• Expected to participate in all out of hours periods as required by service provision.
• Ability to handle blood and other bodily fluid samples.

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 details Employer name

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Mindelsohn Way

Birmingham

West Midlands

B15 2TH

Employer's website

https://www.uhb.nhs.uk/jobs.htm (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Mindelsohn Way

Birmingham

West Midlands

B15 2TH

Employer's website

https://www.uhb.nhs.uk/jobs.htm (Opens in a new tab)