Higher Healthcare Technical Officer (HHTO)

NHS Blood and Transplant; Bristol; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dedicated team at NHS Blood and Transplant, where you will play a crucial role in supporting blood and tissue services. This position offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a laboratory setting while receiving extensive training. You will be involved in clerical tasks, data entry, and sample processing, contributing to life-saving services for hospitals. With predictable working hours and a commitment to personal development, this role is perfect for those looking to advance their scientific education and make a real difference in the community. Embrace this opportunity to grow within an inclusive and supportive environment, where your contributions will truly matter.

Benefits

Predictable working hours

Extensive training and induction programme

Flexible working opportunities

27 days annual leave

NHS pension scheme

Continuous learning culture

Thrive program for personal growth

Qualifications

• Experience with IT and Microsoft Office is essential.
• Level 3 qualification or extensive lab experience required.

Responsibilities

• Provide clerical support, including data entry and sample processing.
• Learn hands-on skills in a professional NHS environment.

Skills

Information Technology

Microsoft Office

Education

Level 3 qualification (e.g. 'A' Levels)

National Diploma in a relevant subject area

Extensive laboratory experience

Job description

**This vacancy is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship. Please do not apply unless you have another means of establishing a right to work**.

Job Summary

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) collect around 2 million units of blood and tissues a year, converting them into safe and effective blood components, blood and tissue products for use in the treatments of patients. Join our Red Cell Immunohaematology department and you’ll support NHSBT in providing reference and blood provision services to hospitals using advanced red cell immunohaematology techniques.

This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to further their scientific education and gain experience of working in a laboratory as you’ll be fully trained to perform essential tasks using some of the latest equipment, all whilst providing crucial support to NHS hospitals to save and improve lives.

Main duties of the job

You will learn hands-on skills and take your first steps into a professional career within the NHS. You will provide predominantly clerical support for the department, which includes unpacking and sorting samples, data entry into the laboratory LIMS system, sending reports, and filing. Other duties include processing and testing samples using an automated analyser, cleaning, and reagent production.

Once you’re fully trained you may also be required to share your knowledge by supporting and training less experienced staff within your team.

In order to support the lab, you might also have to manually handle equipment weighing up to 13kgs sometimes without mechanical aids. But don’t worry, you will receive appropriate training to assist you with this.

Once you join us you can expect to work between the hours of 07:00 – 20:00 Monday – Friday, usually 37.5 hours, additionally Saturday Morning on 1:4 Rota basis, however, part-time working may also be considered.

About You

Knowledge and Experience

• Experience of working with Information Technology such as Microsoft Office.

Qualifications and Training

• Level 3 qualification e.g. ‘A’ Levels OR National Diploma in a relevant subject area OR extensive experience of working in a laboratory, manufacturing, logistics or supply chain environment.
• Willingness to undertake further training and development.

About Us

It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, you’ll join a team of more than 6,000 people who are making a genuine difference to communities, families, friends, relatives and more across the UK. We play a unique and special role in the NHS by helping people do something extraordinary- donate blood, blood products, organs, tissues, or stem cells to save someone in need.

Our three core values are what set us apart. They guide and inspire everything we do.

By being caring, expertly meeting the needs of our patients and our people, and accepting nothing less than the best quality, we can do extraordinary work – and help our people to do something extraordinary in their career, too. Three small words, one big difference - Caring, Expert and Quality. Together we'll save and improve more lives than ever.

You will join us on our journey to create an inclusive workplace and aim to reflect the diverse communities we work with, and we positively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

What we offer:

• Predictable working hours with no weekend working.
• Extensive training and induction programme.
• NHSBT promotes flexible working opportunities where the role will allow.
• 27 days annual leave (pro rata for part-time) plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years’ service and to 33 days after 10 years.
• NHS pension scheme. The NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns) Further details and outline of benefits can be found at: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pensions
• We’ve fostered a culture of continuous learning where colleagues are well-led, engaged, and encouraged to grow. We support you in reaching your full potential, both in your current role and future career. Our Thrive program embodies our commitment to learning and development, offering a wide range of activities to support your personal and professional growth. It’s open to everyone at NHSBT, ensuring you have the resources to succeed and shine in your role.

Please view the attached recruitment profile which is a summary of the detailed Job Description and Person Specification for the full personal attributes we require for the role. You will need to demonstrate these throughout the recruitment process.

**Please note this position is for 2 Permanent Role and 1 Fixed Term(12months)**

This vacancy will close at 23:59 on 17^th February, 2025

Interviews are anticipated to be held on 27^th February 2025 – subject to confirmation

For informal enquiries please contact – Name: Sabrina Hassan, Job Title: Reference Lab Mgr, Contact Details: [e-mail]