Medical Laboratory Assistant

Synnovis; Greater London; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Contributory pension scheme

Generous annual leave entitlement

Flexible contract assignments across多个

Job summary

Synnovis, a leading pathology partner in South East London, seeks a Medical Laboratory Assistant for our Blackfriars hub. The role supports biomedical investigations, handles samples, and assists with a range of haemato- and biochemistry tests.

You’ll work within a small team, contributing to ISO quality standards and patient-focused service. You will join a multi-site pathology network, with ongoing training and development opportunities through Synnovis Academy and ACCE competencies.

Qualifications

• Good all-round education to GCSE standard including English and Maths.
• A Level / BTEC in Science (or equivalent or higher).
• Experience in a pathology laboratory environment is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Handle and manage samples in line with SOPs and competencies.
• Operate laboratory equipment safely and in line with SOPs.
• Prepare solutions and reagents for investigations.
• Maintain consumables and equipment per SOPs and safety guidelines.
• Provide administrative support to laboratory areas as needed.

Skills

Good written and verbal communication

Numerate and literate

Organised and methodical

Willingness to learn complex SOPs

Awareness of GLP

Education

GCSE English and Maths

A Level / BTEC in Science

Job description

Employer Synnovis Employer type Private Sector Site Friars Bridge Court Town London Salary £31,554 to £33,270 per annum depending on experience Closing 28/09/2026 23:59

Medical Laboratory Assistant

Synnovis Pay Band 3

The place to work in pathology

We are looking for top talent to join the UK’s leading and fastest growing pathology company – a scientific organisation with a clinical purpose.

Working in partnership with our service partners, Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospitals, King’s College Hospital and Princess Royal University Hospital we aim to set the standard for the future of pathology.

Job overview

This is a rare role in the Specialist Red Cell Centre, a reference centre for red cell disorders that receives samples nationally and internationally. The laboratory merged from the Red Cell Centre at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Special Haematology at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust into the Synnovis Hub, resulting in a highly-skilled and knowledgeable team that provides testing to these Trusts as well as other laboratories around the country. This is an opportunity to learn about specialist haematology and contribute towards national antenatal and newborn screening for Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia.

As a UKAS-accredited laboratory, the department works to a high standard and requires the post holders to maintain professional competency and dexterity in precision-based tasks and maintain the levels of concentration required to maintain quality service.

Main duties of the job

This role is ideal for an enthusiastic scientist who promotes patient care and is willing to learn about a specialist area. We are a small team of 12 people, with links to the wider Blood Sciences Laboratory, which is an accredited training laboratory, and the Specialist Haematology Laboratory at GSTT.

The laboratory has a Haemoglobinopathy section where antenatal and newborn screening are performed alongside diagnostic assays which include HPLC, mass spectrometry, gels and DNA analysis, as well as a Specialist Tests section where tests for red cell membrane and enzyme disorders are performed. Our tests are a mixture of semi-automated and manual techniques, so an eye for detail and precision are key.

We process over 20,000 samples a year, and the successful candidate would provide a supportive role to BMS staff in delivering high-quality results to ISO 15188 standards.

Working for our organisation

Your development and learning

You will have a suite of learning opportunities available through The ACCE competencies programme, the Scientific Learning and Development Fund and the Synnovis Academy through which you can receive funding / support for advanced qualifications.

Through our Innovation Accelerator Fund, you can apply for finance to get that new innovative scientific project off the ground, and participate with the wider scientific community through symposiums, conferences and other peer group meetings.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Purpose of the Job

This role supports the delivery of biomedical investigations as part of the laboratory and/or Central Specimen Reception team in Synnovis. Reporting to the Senior Specialist BMS or designated role in Central Specimen Reception, you will hold a variety of responsibilities to ensure the successful delivery of pathology services, in line with our corporate objectives

What you will do

You will hold a variety of accountabilities in the laboratory environment. These may include, but are not limited to:

• Handle and manage samples, in line with standard operating procedures (SOPs) and assessed competencies.
• Perform tasks and operate laboratory equipment within all safety standards and according to local SOPs relevant to your area.
• Prepare solutions, reagents etc, utilising a variety of laboratory equipment to carry out investigations.
• Ensure all laboratory consumables and equipment are maintained in line with SOPs and health and safety guidelines.
• Complete all laboratory consumables and equipment are maintained in line with SOPs and health and safety guidelines.
• Provide administrative support to all areas of the laboratory, as appropriate and dependent on experience and training.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform cleaning activities in the laboratory and prepare laboratory equipment for use.
• Perform daily checks on laboratory areas as directed and complete all required paperwork.
• Perform environmental monitoring and waste management activities in a safe way, as required.
• Support and train colleagues in your area as required.
• Support with specimen reception and referrals processing, as required.
• Use departmental resources efficiently and apply good stock management of reagents, consumables and stationery. Receipt and unpack new deliveries and advise/order when approaching minimum stock levels.
• Report and record all incidents and adverse events under the direction of the senior members of staff.
• Participate in quality management activities including inspections and audits, as required.
• Use Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) to accurately record sensitive patient information, requiring frequent, long periods of concentration, whilst maintaining patient confidentiality and following IG guidelines.
• Organise day-to-day tasks, identifying and prioritising urgent work to ensure that deadlines are met, and that work is delivered to the highest standards possible. Escalate to senior member of staff, as necessary.
• Safely handle, use and dispose of biological specimens including infectious material or hazardous chemicals according to laboratory and health and safety protocols.
• Understand hazards and risks of working in a laboratory and use adequate precautions and personal protective equipment at all times.
• Answer the telephone, deal with calls politely and professionally, escalating requests when necessary to appropriate senior staff or other departments.
• Adhere to the laboratory SOPs and work with the team to review working practice to maintain a high quality and safe service.
• Perform specimen reception duties including checking details, receiving and logging patient requests on to the LIMS.
• Process referral specimens, receive samples dispatched from other laboratories and prepare samples for dispatch to other laboratories or hospitals.
• Prepare specimens and perform manual, semi-automated and fully-automated laboratory investigations within training parameters and where appropriate under supervision.
• Undertake preventative maintenance and basic troubleshooting on laboratory instruments and equipment prior to them being used for patient investigations.
• Process samples under supervision for clinical trials and research and development projects as and when required.
• File samples following appropriate protocols and keep records as required.
• Prepare, store and use reagents required for laboratory investigations.
• Maintain knowledge and skills as identified by line manager. Undertake periodic laboratory training and competence assessment.

Synnovis is a pathology partnership between SYNLAB UK and Ireland, and the NHS, including sites, Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to deliver and transform pathology services across South East London.

The partnership provides services to 1.7 million people living in South East London, as well as to hundreds of thousands of patients from outside the region who use local healthcare services.

The partnership provides diagnostics, testing and digital pathology for hospital trusts, GP services and other healthcare providers.

The hub is an eight-storey building, and we are working across 10 floors including the ground and lower ground floors. Synnovis’ corporate function operates from the hub on the 8th floor, above the laboratories underneath. This is a total net internal area of almost 10,000m squared across the 10 floors.

Based in Blackfriars, it’s less than a 5 minute walk from Southwark Tube or Blackfriars station and nestled closely to a vast array of entertainment and fabulous places to dine, relax and meet people.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Good all-round education to GCSE standard including English and Maths at grade 4/C or equivalent or L2 Healthcare Science apprenticeship
• A Level / BTEC in Science (or equivalent or higher)

Experience

• Working as part of a team
• Experience of working accurately with an attention to detail
• Experience of working in a pathology laboratory environment

Skills & Knowledge

• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Numerate and literate
• Organised and methodical
• Willingness and ability to learn complex operating procedures and follow guidelines
• Awareness of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)

Applications are welcomed from applicants with a disability. We can make reasonable adjustments and offer support and advice in a variety of ways throughout the application process. All applicants are welcome to apply regardless of age, disability, gender, marital status, race, nationality or ethnic origin, religion, or sexual orientation. Equality of opportunity is our policy.

Our Bank workers enjoy competitive market rates and flexible contract assignments across all of our sites, dependent on your availability and location.

For our Permanent workforce we offer a competitive benefits package.

All employees are entitled to:

• Contributory pension scheme
• Generous annual leave entitlement

Thank you for your interest in Synnovis.