Healthcare Science Support Worker Higher Level

NHS National Services Scotland; Larbert; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Forth Valley is offering a 1-year fixed term/secondment opportunity within the Blood Sciences department, primarily specimen reception, at Forth Valley Royal Hospital. The successful candidate will support the professional clinical laboratory service under supervision, performing routine lab and admin tasks.

You will need good keyboard skills, accuracy under pressure, and a flexible approach. Educational requirements include standard English and a Science subject; hospital lab experience is

Qualifications

• Standard grade/national 4/5 English and a Science subject and/or previous experience of working in a hospital laboratory is required.
• Ability to accurately enter patient details into the lab system.
• Good keyboard skills and a flexible approach to work.

Responsibilities

• Receive and label specimens and distribute to the relevant department.
• Carry out preparatory procedures on samples and operate routine laboratory equipment.
• Input of stock orders into the finance system and general stock keeping duties.
• Handle enquiries from service users and members of the public.

Skills

Typing

Attention to detail

Work under pressure

Education

English (Standard grade/N4-5)

Science subject

Job description

Fixed term/Secondment opportunity for 1 year to improve service delivery.

*Secondment Opportunity – Existing permanent employees must first discuss this opportunity with their substantive line manager and complete the secondment request form prior to interview. The secondment request form and the associated secondment policy can be found on the HR/Recruitment intranet pages and must be completed and signed by the substantive line manager. The Candidate should then take it with them to interview as confirmation that an agreement has been granted.

Applicants are invited for this 1 year fixed term post based within the Blood Sciences departments (Predominantly specimen reception) at Forth Valley Royal Hospital. The successful applicants will provide a supporting role to the professional clinical laboratory service.

The appointee would be expected to carry out, under the supervision of qualified laboratory staff, a range of routine laboratory and administrative tasks, which do not require the skill and training of a state registered Biomedical Scientist, including the following:

• Receive and label specimens and distribute to the relevant department.
• Carry out preparatory procedures on samples.
• Basic operation of laboratory equipment including regular cleaning.

• Input of patient’s details into the lab computing system to a high degree of accuracy.
• Input of stock orders into the finance computer system and general stock keeping duties.

• Handle enquiries from service users and members of the public.

You will require good keyboard skills, the ability to work accurately under pressure and a flexible approach to work. Standard grade/national 4/5 English and a Science subject and/or previous experience of working in a hospital laboratory is required.

Working patterns will be over 7 days between the hours of 0845 and 2000 (Day shifts and backshifts) routinely and at the needs of the service.

Visits to the department are encouraged. For further details or to arrange a visit please contact Mairi Andrews (Deputy Manager Chemistry) [e-mail]

The duties of this post require the successful candidate to complete a Level 2 Disclosure Scotland check.

As from 1/4/26, the Agenda for Change full-time working week will be reducing from 37 to 36 hours per week. Part time hours will be reduced pro-rata. However, there will be a corresponding increase in the hourly rate so that pay will not be affected.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applicants who require sponsorship to work in the UK are advised to carefully review the eligibility criteria for the Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa routes. NHS Forth Valley may be able to offer sponsorship for certain roles, provided the post meets the minimum salary threshold and any other required criteria. If you are currently working in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa, transitional arrangements may apply. Please note that sponsorship is not guaranteed and is assessed on a case-by-case basis following interview and at the commencement of pre‑employment checks. For further information on visa requirements and sponsorship eligibility, please refer to UK Government guidance.

It is also recommend that anyone applying for health and social care jobs in the UK from abroad read the following guidance: Applying for health and social care jobs in the UK from abroad - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Candidates should provide original and authentic responses to all questions within the application form. The use of artificial intelligence (AI), automated tools, or other third-party assistance to generate, draft or significantly modify responses is strongly discouraged. By submitting your application, you confirm that all answers are your own work, reflect your personal knowledge, skills and experience, and have not been solely produced or altered by AI or similar technologies. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in your application being withdrawn from the application process.

Please note that the majority of correspondence is sent by e-mail, therefore please check your e-mail regularly (including junk folders) and your Jobtrain account for updates.

NHS Forth Valley is positive about disabled people and is committed to offering an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job. Please contact the Recruitment Office on 0330 041 4694 if there are any reasonable adjustments we can make to assist you with your application and/or interview.

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.