FTC Medical Laboratory Assistant - Cellular Pathology

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust; Poole; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 22,000; Part time

Job summary

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Medical Laboratory Assistant for Cellular Pathology on a fixed-term, part-time basis. The role is based at Poole Hospital with occasional cross-site coverage at The Royal Bournemouth Hospital, requiring 15 hours per week (Mondays and Fridays, 8:30–16:30).

Experience in medical laboratories is desirable, but full training will be provided. The post is subject to DBS checks, and sponsorship is not offered. Interview date is 18 November.

Qualifications

• Good general education is required.
• Pathology Support Worker qualification or further scientific qualification.
• Experience with hospital IT systems and data entry is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Duties include specimen labelling, data input, assisting dissection and general laboratory duties.
• Applicants should have excellent communication skills, be literate, numerate and have good computer skills.

Skills

Communication skills

Data entry

Team player

Attention to detail

Education

Pathology Support Worker qualification

Further scientific qualification

General Education

Tools

Hospital IT systems

Job description

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

FTC Medical Laboratory Assistant - Cellular Pathology

The closing date is 03 November 2026

We are looking for an enthusiastic Medical Laboratory Assistant to join a dedicated team in a modern department, providing a high-quality service. This is an exciting opportunity to develop your experience.

Cellular Pathology has a high quality UKAS accreditation record and it is an approved laboratory for Registration and Specialist training by the IBMS.

This is a fixed term post and duties will include laboratory and administrative tasks which may at times be of a complex nature.

The Cellular Pathology team is made up of all different grades of Scientist, including medical laboratory staff, Associate Practitioners and Biomedical Scientists with the aim of putting the patient first and delivering a high-quality service.

The role is part-time , and you will be required to work 15 hours per week (on a Monday and Friday 8.30-4.30).

Previous medical laboratory experience would be desirable, but full training will be provided.

Additional contact information

Naomi Gordon - Senior Biomedical Scientist

[e-mail]

0300 019 2817

Base Location: Primarily based at the Poole Hospital site however cross site cover at The Royal Bournemouth Hospital may be required dependent on the needs and requirements of the service.

Interview: 18th November

Please note we are unable to offer sponsorship for this position.

Main duties of the job

• Duties will include specimen labelling, data input, assisting dissection and carrying out general duties in the laboratory.
• Applicants will need to have excellent communication skills, be literate, numerate and possess good computer skills.

About us

UHD are investing,developingand transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.

If a role or servicerelocatesas part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

UHD has active networks including Women's, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.

AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.

Please note, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

For UHD employees, this fixed-term post will be offered as a secondment in line with the Trust's Secondment Policy. Please speak with your line manager before applying.

Job responsibilities

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.

Qualifications

• Good General Education
• Pathology Support Worker qualification or further scientific qualification

Experience

• Able to work accurately and with good hand-eye co-ordination.
• Experience of laboratory support, working as part of a team
• Previous experience as an MLA
• Previous knowledge of hospital IT systems
• Experience of data entry

Technical Skills

• Capable of working effectively either independently, or as part of a team
• Must be able to understand and work within established Standard Operating Procedures and relevant Health & Safety policies, including COSHH
• Recognises and reports problems as they arise
• Handling biological specimens
• Works within limits of responsibility
• Understand the importance of quality at all levels of our work

Knowledge

• An understanding of Cellular Pathology
• Understand the role of Histopathology within the NHS.

Interpersonal skills

• Able to interact and communicate with a variety of people including work colleagues, consultants and service users
• Able to work under supervision and as part of a team

Other requirements specific to the role

• Able to sustain concentration over long periods
• Handling toxic chemicals and strong acids
• Able to cope with high frequency of transition between sitting, standing, squatting and bending positions.

Personal Attributes

• Use initiative when needed.

Language requirement

• Be able to speak English as necessary to undertake the role

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

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust