Infection Science Associate Practitioner

University-Hospitals-of-North-Midlands-Nhs-Trust; Stoke-on-Trent; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust in Stoke-on-Trent is seeking an Associate Practitioner Band 4 to join the Virology Laboratories. You will support Biomedical Scientist staff and assist with rapid testing of respiratory and other urgent samples as part of a 24/7 service.

Applicants should have NVQ Level 3 in Clinical Laboratory Support or equivalent and demonstrate relevant laboratory experience. Weekend and bank holiday rota's are included.

Qualifications

• Good general education demonstrated by GCSEs (or equivalent) in maths, English and a Science subject.
• NVQ Level 3 in Clinical Laboratory Support or equivalent.
• Evidence of continued professional development.
• Degree in related subject.

Responsibilities

• We are seeking applications from self-motivated and enthusiastic individuals. The AP team provide support to the Biomedical Scientist staff working within the laboratory.
• Please note this role primarily involves the rapid testing of respiratory and other urgent samples as part of a 24/7 Winter service. Working outside of routine hours, including night shifts is a significant part of this role.

Skills

Good oral and written communication

Good manual dexterity

Supervisory skills

Education

GCSEs in maths, English and science

NVQ Level 3 in Clinical Laboratory Support

Continued professional development

Degree in related subject

Job description

Main area Virology (Infection Science) Grade Band 4 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (includes shifts, weekends and bank holidays) Job ref 205-8281868

Employer University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust Employer type NHS Site Royal Stoke University Hospital Town Stoke-on-Trent Salary £28,392 - £31,157 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 01/10/2026 23:59

Band 4

Job overview

At present, University Hospitals of North Midlands is unable to offer visa sponsorship for Band 2 to Band 4 roles, as these positions do not meet the minimum salary and skill thresholds required under UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) regulations.

Associate Practitioner Band 4

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the UHNM Pathology Laboratory for Associate Practitioners (AP) working within the Virology Laboratories.

Successful candidate will be required to participate in weekend and bank holiday rota's.

Main duties of the job

We are seeking applications from self-motivated and enthusiastic individuals. The AP team provide support to the Biomedical Scientist staff working within the laboratory.

Applicants will be expected to have a minimum of NVQ Level 3 in Clinical Laboratory Support or equivalent. You will also be able to demonstrate significant additional theoretical or applied experience of working in a clinical Virology/Microbiology laboratory.

Please note this role primarily involves the provision of the rapid testing of respiratory and other urgent samples as part of a 24/7 Winter service. Working outside of routine hours, including night shifts is a significant part of this role.

Working for our organisation

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is one of the largest and most modern in the country. Based across two sites, Royal Stoke in Stoke-on-Trent and County Hospital in Stafford, we are proud to serve around three million people and we're highly regarded for our facilities, teaching and research. We are the specialist centre for major trauma for the North Midlands and North Wales. The North Midlands and Cheshire Pathology Service (NMCPS) provides a diagnostic pathology service to University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM), Mid-Cheshire Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust (MCHFT) and East-Cheshire NHS Trust (ECT), in addition to community trusts and healthcare providers within the Staffordshire and Cheshire areas and beyond.

All of our employees make a valuable contribution regardless of role here at UHNM and we are proud of our wide range of development packages aimed at ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their true potential.

UHNM create and encourage a culture of inclusion, providing equal opportunities for career development that are fair and transparent. We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture in which all staff feel valued and respected. In return we ask all of our employees to make a commitment to the values, co-created by or staff, patients and carers, and that unite us as a Trust.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further information on this vacancy, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification or contact the Hiring Manager.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

• Good general education demonstrated by GCSE's (or equivalent) at grades A-C in maths, English and a Science subject
• NVQ Level 3 in Clinical Laboratory Support or equivalent
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Degree in related subject

Experience

• Familiarity with Pathology IT systems
• Previous experience of working in a laboratory setting
• Experience of working in the NHS
• Experience with working in a pathology settingExperience with molecular testing

Skills, ability and knowledge

• Good oral and written communication skills
• Good manual dexterity skills
• Demostrates supervisory skills

Important information about your application

• All correspondence will be sent to you via the email address you applied from. Please ensure you check your emails regularly.
• References - please ensure you provide email addresses for all referees for the last three years of employment.
• We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from everyone regardless of ethnicity, disability, gender, age, faith or sexual orientation. Appointment will be based on merit alone.
• Flexible working will be considered in line with Trust policies
• New recruits are required to pay for their Disclosure and Barring Service check (and admin fee) prior to starting if the role requires a DBS check.
• We work with ‘trac.jobs’ to support out recruitment process. If you have any queries regarding this please read this privacy notice.

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) has been awarded the Gold Award for proudly supporting those who serve. We actively encourage applications from the Armed Forces community.

We will communicate with you regarding your job application via email. Please be aware that we cannot guarantee the security of any emails sent/received via non encrypted format.

In line with the change of Immigration rules on 8th January 2026 if you require Sponsorship through the Skilled Worker Visa you must be able to provide B2 English evidence before a Certificate of Sponsorship can be issued.

Visa eligibility notice:
The UK Home Office has imposed an emergency brake on specific visa routes.

• Skilled Worker visas cannot currently be issued to Afghan nationals.
• Study visas cannot currently be issued to nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar or Sudan.
  As a result, we are unable to progress applications requiring sponsorship under these routes.

UHNM supports the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assist in preparing your supporting statement. However, we reserve the right to reject applications where AI has been used in a misleading manner, for example, by implying experience or understanding that the applicant does not possess or where its use is excessive or unfair. If AI has been used to support your application, you must declare this within your submission.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Name Gareth Pierce-Wilding Job title Lead Biomedical Scientist Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 01782 674941 Additional information

For further information/ informal visits please contact Gareth Pierce-Wilding, Lead Biomedical Scientist, on 01782 674941 or [e-mail]