Healthcare Science Associate

Newcastle Hospitals; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Healthcare Science Associate to join the Microbiology and Virology team. You will support Registered Biomedical Scientists in performing microbiological analyses on patient samples, using both automated and manual techniques, with comprehensive training provided and ongoing personal development encouraged.

Applicants must have microbiology/virology experience, strong communication and leadership skills, and be flexible for

Qualifications

• Foundation Degree in Health Care Science or equivalent.
• Experience in microbiology and/or virology.
• Effective communication and leadership abilities.

Responsibilities

• Support diagnostic work by assisting in microbiology/virology analyses.
• Rotate through sections and learn to read culture plates under supervision.

Skills

Self-organisation

Prioritisation

Communication skills

Leadership skills

Able to work under pressure

Follow protocols

Education

Foundation Degree in Health Care Science

Tools

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Access

Job description

Go back The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Healthcare Science Associate

The closing date is 16 November 2026

The department of Microbiology and Virology is looking for motivated and enthusiastic individuals to join our department.

The successful applicants will work as part of a team carrying out a range of analytical procedures using both automated and manual techniques.

Comprehensive training will be provided and future personal development is actively encouraged.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

Main duties of the job

The post holders will support Registered Biomedical Scientists in performing microbiological analysis on a range of patient samples including urine, faeces, MRSA and gynaecological swabs. They will be given the opportunity to rotate through all sections of the department including TB and Virology. Successful applicants will be trained to read basic culture plates and operate laboratory analysers under the direct supervision of the scientific team. They will also be required to assist in departmental quality assurance programmes.

Applicants must have experience working in microbiology and/or virology. They must have effective communication skills and demonstrable leadership qualities. They must align to Trust Values and be flexible and reactive to service needs.

The post holders will be required to work rotational late shifts and weekends following competency assessment. From an academic perspective the post holder must have attained a foundation degree or equivalent in a health care sciences subject. It is important that applicants have the ability to effectively use common IT packages such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.

About us

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

With around 2 million contacts with patients every year, we deliver care from:

• Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
• Freeman Hospital
• Newcastle Dental Hospital
• Newcastle Fertility Centre
• Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
• Northern Genetics Service

These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.

We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.

Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.

For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Job responsibilities

• A Healthcare Science Associate is part of a clinical support team whose purpose is to provide timely and accurate high quality scientific information that will assist service users from the hospital and community, in the establishment of a clinical diagnosis and monitoring of patient treatment.
• The Healthcare Science Associate will use practical skills to carry out tasks associated with the pre-analytical preparation of specimens, analysis of cultures on a limited range of culture plates, performing appropriate antibiotic susceptibility tests, within the Microbiology and Virology Department. The tasks undertaken are more advanced than those of a Healthcare Science Assistant (HSA).

Qualifications & Education

• Foundation Degree in Health Care Science or equivalent

Knowledge & Experience

• Experience as an HSA in a Microbiology or Virology Laboratory
• Knowledge and understanding of the role of Microbiology in the diagnosis and treatment of disease
• Understanding a range of routine microbiology and/or Virology laboratory procedures.
• Understand basic scientific techniques
• Knowledge / interest in Biomedical Sciences specifically Microbiology or Virology

Skills & Abilities

• Self-organisation and the ability to prioritise
• Proven communication and leadership skills
• Able to handle Blood and Body samples
• Basic computer and keyboard skills
• Ability to work under pressure and prioritise work
• Follow protocols and instructions accurately

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.

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust