Medical Laboratory Assistant

Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Kettering; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Medical Laboratory Assistant in the Specimen Reception section of the Pathology Department to assist with receipt, sorting and processing of samples and data entry on Telepath. The role requires coverage across early mornings to evenings (6am–8pm) on a seven-day basis, with training provided.

NHS experience is desirable but not essential, as full training will be given.

Qualifications

• Basic literacy and numeracy qualifications (English, Mathematics and ideally a science to GCSE level).
• Healthcare work experience desirable; training will be provided.

Responsibilities

• Receive, sort and process pathology samples.
• Data entry of requests onto Telepath computer system.
• Unpack deliveries and maintain laboratory equipment.
• Assist with stock control, waste disposal and general lab duties.
• Participate in training and support other staff as required.

Skills

Confidentiality

Manual dexterity

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Shift flexibility

Typing speed

Education

GCSE science preferred

Basic literacy & numeracy

Tools

Telepath

Job description

Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Medical Laboratory Assistant

The closing date is 05 November 2026

We are looking for an enthusiastic person to work as a Medical Laboratory Assistant in the Specimen Reception section of the Pathology Department.

Your duties will include receipt, sorting and processing of samples. Entering requests onto the laboratory computer system, Telepath. Previous NHS and laboratory experience is desirable, further training will be given.

Please be aware that although this is a laboratory post, this is not a training position for Biomedical Scientist.

Specimen Reception is within the Pathology Department at Kettering General Hospital.

Kettering General NHS Foundation Trust and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust are both part of the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group. Both hospitals are separate hospitals/employers with hospital board and leadership. We share a group executive team leading on a shared vision, mission, priorities, strategies and Dedicated to Excellence Values.

Please include an example you demonstrating one of the Trust's Excellence values in your supporting information.

Please visit the following websites for more information about working for us:

• Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Best of Both Worlds Northamptonshire
• University Hospitals Northamptonshire NHS Group

Main duties of the job

Your duties will include receipt, sorting and processing of pathology samples and data entry of requests onto the laboratory computer system, Telepath, waste disposal, unpacking deliveries and general equipment and laboratory maintenance. Other laboratory support tasks as required. Training will be provided.

The role will require covering shifts between 6am and 8pm 7 days per week.

About us

We recognise that AI tools can support application writing; however, candidates are asked to keep their use to a minimum. Responses should reflect your own experience, skills and knowledge, as over-reliance on AI-generated content may result in generic answers that do not accurately represent your abilities.University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) brings together Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust. As a group, we are committed to improving services for our communities through collaboration, modernising care delivery and striving for excellence. Working together enables us to share expertise, strengthen services and create greater opportunities, and there may be a requirement to work across sites depending on service needs.Our Excellence Values are Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Integrity and Courage. UHN welcomes applications from all backgrounds and is committed to an inclusive working environment. We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and hold the Gold Award under the Employer Recognition Scheme. Candidates who identify as members of the Armed Forces community and meet the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview.

Job responsibilities

1. 1.Prioritisation (fast-tracking) of urgent specimens. Knowledge of request, sample type and analyser combinations needed to ensure correct specimen processing.
2. 2. Solving of day-to-day problems, including mislabelled and lost specimens.
3. 3. Keyboard entry of patient and specimen details onto laboratory computer system,ensuring accuracy of input.
4. 4. Loading/unloading of specimens onto automated analysers. Storage of specimensaccording to written procedures.
5. 5. Basic use of the analysers, following suitable training
6. 6. Photocopying and general filing, including various request forms and collation ofresults from specialist external laboratories.
7. 7. Daily checking of refrigerator and freezer temperatures.
8. 8. Assistance with stock control to ensure supplies of specimen containers, labels andall consumables are available daily.
9. 9. Participates in training of other laboratory assistants as required by supervisor
10. 10. Disposal of laboratory waste. General cleaning and disinfection duties.
11. 11. Deal with paediatric and other low-volume samples.
12. 12. Any other duties consistent with this grade, as determined by the relevantsupervisor, in relation to the smooth running of the department.
13. 13. Answering the telephone for result enquiries and transferring calls appropriately.

For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the Shortlisting Criteria section of the document.

Person Specification

Skills

• Understanding of confidential nature of patient data
• Manual dexterity to manipulate specimens for processing
• Ability to concentrate to process large blocks of repetitive work
• Integrate into the sample reception team
• Flexibility to work shifts and change hours if needed
• Able to type specimen information accurately and quickly from a printed or hand-written request form
• Understanding of H&S requirements in a laboratory
• Knowledge of medical and/or laboratory terminology
• Ability to understand and accurately pass on telephone messages

Educations, Training and Qualifications

• Basic literacy and numeracy qualifications (English, Mathematics and ideally a science to GCSE level)

Knowledge and Experience

• Healthcare work experience
• Computer use and data entry experience
• Laboratory work experience

Key Competencies/Personal Qualities and Attributes

• Passionate and committed to bring our Dedicated to Excellence values to life, improving the way we work with each other, particularly focusing on empowerment, equality diversity and inclusion of our staff, patients and service users

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

University Hospitals of Northamptonshire

University Hospitals of Northamptonshire