Healthcare Science Practitioner

www.healthjobsuk.com - jobboard; Southampton; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS Trust in Southampton is looking for a Healthcare Science Practitioner to join their Genomic Laboratory team. The role involves providing diagnostic services, maintaining quality standards, and participating in clinical tasks. Candidates should have a biological science degree and experience in molecular diagnostics. This full-time position offers a salary between £31,049 and £37,796 per annum, with options for flexible working hours.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Learning and development opportunities

Discounted travel benefits

Qualifications

• Experience in molecular genetics techniques like PCR.
• Competence in basic laboratory skills.
• Experience in an automated laboratory environment.

Responsibilities

• Participate in diagnostics services with various techniques.
• Process samples and provide accurate analytical data.
• Maintain stock levels and order reagents as needed.

Skills

Molecular diagnostics

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Analytical skills

Teamwork

Education

BSc (Hons) degree in biological science

MSc degree in clinical microbiology

Tools

Laboratory IT systems

MS Office

Job description

Main area Pathology Grade Band 5 Contract 12 months (12 Month Fixed Term Contract) Hours

• Full time
• Part time

37.5 hours per week Job ref 188-CL101125

Employer University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site PAT Genomic Lab - UHS Town Southampton Salary £31,049 - £37,796 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 22/11/2025 23:59 Interview date 05/12/2025

Healthcare Science Practitioner

Band 5

Job overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Main duties of the job

An exciting opportunity has arisen within Wessex Genomics Laboratory Service, Southampton Laboratory (WGLS), for a Healthcare Scientist Practitioner to join our team on a 12 month, fixed term contract.

The WGLS is an integrated genomics testing service formed from the amalgamation of Wessex Regional Genetics Laboratory, now WGLS (Salisbury), and Molecular Pathology at University Hospital Southampton, now WGLS (Southampton) . The WGLS is an integral part of the Central & South Genomic Laboratory Hub, one of seven across England.

This position will be recruited to the Southampton Laboratory, based at UHS.

Working for our organisation

University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.

Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalizing your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

At UHS we’re committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.

At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognizing that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The clinical service provides a comprehensive range of genomic investigations for haematological disease (including the regional BMT service), MRD, disease associations (including pharmacogenomics), lymphoma and solid tumours. The laboratory is part of a European network for molecular diagnostics QC, including NGS innovations in lymphoid clonality analysis. The laboratory works closely with other departments to enable the future provision of molecular diagnostics. Further career development is encouraged, and the laboratory supports the training of a variety of programmes including IBMS, STP and HSST.

The successful candidate will:

• Participate in the provision of diagnostics services utilising techniques such as NGS, qPCR, ddPCR, capillary electrophoresis and LAMP. Training and rotational opportunities are available across the service and these will be determined by individual competency and laboratory requirements in order to support the provision of a flexible and efficient service.
• Process samples and data on a range of pathological specimens under the supervision of senior technical staff and clinical scientists for screening, diagnostic and monitoring purposes and provide accurate, timely and appropriate analytical data for testing in-house and by external laboratories.
• Plan your workload based on sample priority and respond to changing requirements.
• Participate in quality improvement including the evaluation of equipment, techniques and protocols.
• Maintain stock levels in the section and ensure reagents and consumables are ordered in a timely manner.>

You will be required to work 37.5 hours a week working flexibly as required, between 08:00 - 18:00 hrs. and be available to work Monday to Friday. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need, and we will explore what is possible for the role and service. You will be working with a team of Clinical Scientists, Biomedical Scientists, associate practitioners, and biomedical support workers.

What we’re looking for

We are seeking an enthusiastic and self-motivated Healthcare Scientist Practitioner with experience and knowledge in molecular diagnostics. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate a high level of skill in molecular genetics techniques comprising both wet and dry work e.g. PCR set and analytical pipelines and preferably have experience in an accredited diagnostic setting. Experience of automated laboratory processes and trouble-shooting capacity is highly desirable.

If you have strong communication, interpersonal skills and are committed to sharing our values of putting patients first, working together and always improving then we would love to hear from you.

Person specification

Qualifications / training required

• BSc (Hons) degree in an appropriate biological science related subject area e.g., clinical microbiology.
• MSc degree with emphasis on clinical microbiology

Previous or relevant experience necessary

• Experience of working in a laboratory with demonstrable competence in most basic laboratory skills
• Experience of working in an automated laboratory environment
• Good understanding of basic theoretical and practical microbiology

Aptitudes and skills required

• Ability to critically analyse and interpret scientific data
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent organisational and planning skills, prioritising tasks and duties as necessary
• Knowledge of laboratory IT systems and range of other applications including MS Office
• Ability to train other staff in laboratory techniques and processes whilst following SOPs
• Ability to use judgement and decision making in order to resolve issues and for troubleshooting any faults, errors or anomalies
• Able to work carefully and accurately through a protocol
• Able to concentrate at all times and work under pressure
• Ability to work as a member of a team
• Adaptable and willing attitude to undertake tasks according to the needs of the service
• Experience of genetic data analysis and bioinformatics software
• Interest in new technologies especially DNA sequencing

Special requirements of the post

• Ability to work across different shifts according to needs of the service

Trust Values

• Working Together
• Always Improving

Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if we receive a large number of applications. We will not any applications or queries via agencies, under any circumstances.

Getting to work should be as easy as possible and that’s why we have introduced the UHS travel promise – a commitment from the Trust that we will provide reasonable travel options for every member of staff. Every member of staff can apply for a permit to use our park & ride facility. Eligibility for on-site parking is dependent on the nature and requirement of the role. All staff can also access a range of discounted benefits relating to travel including reduced price bus tickets, purchase of salary sacrifice bikes and ultra-low emission cars.

Our commitment to equality

Equality remains at the centre of our policymaking, service delivery, and employment practice, giving all employees equal opportunity to develop, apply for promotions, and have working arrangements that enable them to achieve a manageable work-life balance.

UHS actively promotes a work environment free from harassment and discrimination and provides training for managers and staff to ensure this happens. We also closely monitor recruitment activity, training, development, and employment practices to ensure equality of practice with regard to race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status and age.

How and why we use your information

The Trust is under duty to protect the public funds it administers, and to this end may use the information you have provided on this form for the prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes.

The European General Data Protection Regulations enhances individuals’ rights and safeguards all of their data in place under the DPA.

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