Healthcare Scientist Assistant

University Hospital Southampton NHS FT; Salisbury; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35 days holiday (pro rata)

NHS pension

Job summary

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust invites applications for a Laboratory Support role in the Salisbury area. The successful candidate will join our specimen reception hub, handling receipt, sorting, and dispatch of biological samples with accurate LIMS data entry.

You will undertake housekeeping tasks, maintain records, and assist with general laboratory duties as required. A flexible approach to hours and the ability to work in a team are essential.

Qualifications

• GCSE level A–C in Maths, English and Science or equivalent.
• Keyboard skills, literate and numerate, with attention to detail.
• Ability to follow laboratory procedures and work in a team.
• Flexible hours and ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Experience with hospital IT systems is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Receive specimens into the laboratory via staff, couriers, or post.
• Sort, label with unique barcodes, and triage urgent specimens.
• Input patient and sample data into LIMS with accuracy.
• Aliquot and dispatch samples to referral labs as needed.
• Maintain cleaning records and monitor equipment temperatures.
• Deal with deliveries and update ordering records; provide admin support.

Skills

Attention to detail

Keyboard skills

Literate and numerate

Team player

Work under pressure

Flexible working hours

Education

GCSEs A–C in Maths/English/Science

NVQ Level 2 (Clinical Laboratory Support)

Tools

Hospital IT systems

Job description

Job Overview

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

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

Please see below for a detailed job description of the role.

This vacancy does not meet the Home Office threshold for sponsorship; we require applicants to hold a current right to work in the UK

Main duties of the job

This is an exciting opportunity to join our team at Wessex Genomics Laboratory Service (Salisbury). You will be joining our active Specimen Reception Hub who take responsibility for receiving, sorting and dispatching biological samples. Patient details will be entered with high accuracy to the LIMS and samples will be processed for down stream analysis. You will be required to undertake laboratory housekeeping tasks such as stock inventory, cleaning and maintaining equipment.

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.

We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service.

• UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 30% lower than London and 17 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising 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.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible for;

• Dealing with receipt of samples into the laboratory arriving via staff, couriers, and post.
• Sort, prioritise, match, and apply a unique barcode label to samples and request forms as well as identifying urgent specimens and fast track to the laboratory.
• Input of patient and sample data into the laboratory information management system
• Solve problems related to mislabeled/lost samples and other enquiries.
• Aliquot and dispatch samples to referral laboratories for specialist analysis.
• Maintain a personal training record to demonstrate competence and compliance with statutory and mandatory training.
• Aliquot reagents involved in sample processing.
• Undertake cleaning of equipment and be responsible for maintaining cleaning records.
• Monitor temperatures of critical appliances and rooms and respond to events following correct procedures.
• Deal with the receipt of deliveries including updating ordering records and ensuring correct storage.
• Provide occasional admin assistance as required.

Person specification

Qualifications, Knowledge And Experience

Essential criteria

• Health and physical abilities sufficient for the post (if necessary with reasonable adjustments with respect to the Equality Act/Disability Discrimination Act).
• GCSE level A to C or equivalent in at least two from Maths, English and Science
• Keyboard skills
• Literate and numerate
• Articulate
• Able to follow laboratory procedures
• Attention to detail
• To work flexible hours as determined by the needs of the service
• Work and remain calm under pressure to meet daily deadlines
• Able to work as a member of a team or on own initiative
• Enthusiastic, motivated

Desirable criteria

• ECDL or equivalent knowledge of computers
• Previous knowledge of hospital IT systems
• NVQ Level 2 (Clinical Laboratory Support)
• Previous experience in laboratory work.
• Previous experience in an NHS environment.
• Previous experience as a laboratory support worker