Medical Laboratory Assistant

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals is seeking a Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) to join the Pathology team at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. The post focuses on processing specimens and supporting patient diagnosis within Biochemistry, with full MLA shift rota training provided.

You will work in a fast-paced environment, handling data and specimens, contributing to timely clinical care and quality service delivery, and collaborating with colleagues across the pathology service.

Qualifications

• Experience with computers and laboratory environments.
• Basic numeracy and literacy
• Ability to follow instructions and work under pressure

Responsibilities

• To maintain/operate the functioning of the Specimen Sample Sorter by performing maintenance, cleaning, troubleshoot procedures and resolve/repair commonly occurring faults according to manufacturer’s specifications (full training given).
• To understand the importance for the urgent analysis of samples with special requirements, prioritising this work accordingly
• To process and file patient samples.

Skills

Experience with computers

Experience in laboratory environment

Basic numeracy

Basic literacy

Able to follow instructions

Ability to work under pressure

Education

GCSE or equivalent in sciences, mathematics and English

Job description

We hope to be welcoming you to the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals team soon; we've shown you exactly why we're 'a great place to work', now it's time to see for yourself! Have a look at our current vacancies down below and make the first step to starting a fantastic new career. Need help with your NHS application? We've got you covered! Our brand-new step-by-step NHS Application Help Video will guide you through the process, making it easier, faster, and stress-free to apply. Additionally, you can check out our helpful Application Guide as well!

You can also look at our recruitment flipbook , an interactive brochure showcasing various entry-level roles. It includes a fun quiz to help you find the right role and links to more information about our hospitals and our fantastic staff.

Corporate Services Roles

For roles in our corporate services departments including – Digital Services (I.T), Recruitment, Employment Services, Temporary Staffing, Rostering, Procurement and Finance, these departments are now part of OneLSC and can be found on the ELHT website: https://elht.nhs.uk/working-us/our-vacancies

Main area Pathology Grade Band 2 Contract Fixed term: 12 months (Need maternity leave form to be able to progress) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Early Shift 08:00-16:15, Day shift 09*:00-17:15, evening shift 16:00-00:00. Some weekends) Job ref 438-PB4940

Site Blackpool Teaching Hospital Town Blackpool Salary £25,272 Enhances salary for evening and weekend shifts Salary period Yearly Closing 12/11/2026 23:59

Job overview

Are you a driven, passionate individual looking to join an innovative and fast paced team in Pathology? Then this could be the role for you!

You will find satisfaction in knowing your role in processing samples and handling data directly supports patient diagnosis and clinical care together with friendly daily interactions and strong camaraderie with our co-workers within Biochemistry

Main duties of the job

The post holder will serve as a Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) for the Lancashire and South Cumbria Pathology Service based at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. Main responsibilities include processing specimens and routine laboratory tasks. Full training is provided. They will be required to participate in the MLA shift rota.

Working for our organisation

We have 10,000 fantastic people working hard to deliver quality services to our patients. Whatever your role, you help look after 370,000 people in our local area & give specialist care to 1.5 million people across Lancashire & Cumbria.

Working with us gives you the knowledge and sense of pride that every activity you do genuinely does make a difference to support our patients & staff, ensuring we keep thriving & delivering outstanding healthcare right across our local towns.

You’ll have access to varied development opportunities, learn new skills, meet fab people & do things you’d never have done. You’ll learn about working in a hospital, interacting with people from all different roles to build skills & enhance your career path.

You’ll make an impact, be challenged to think differently, be bold & help innovate to keep improving things. Everything we do centres around patient care which means your role is pivotal and something really to be proud of.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To maintain/operate the functioning of the Specimen Sample Sorter by performing maintenance, cleaning, troubleshoot procedures and resolve/repair commonly occurring faults according to manufacturer’s specifications (full training given).
• To understand the importance for the urgent analysis of samples with special requirements, prioritising this work accordingly
• To process and file patient samples.

Person specification

Knowledge & Experience

• Experience with computers
• Experience of working in a laboratory environment

Qualifications & Education

• GCSE or equivalent in sciences, mathematics and English

Skills & Abilities

• Must be prepared to undergo in-house training
• Basic numeracy
• Basic literacy
• Able to follow instructions without deviation
• Ability to work under pressure

Values & Behaviours

• Good organisational skills
• Able to work as part of a dedicated team
• Flexibility of working pattern

Thanks for taking the time to view this advert; we’re looking forward to receiving your application. You should be aware that the vacancy may close earlier than the published date if sufficient applications are received so it would be best to apply as soon as you can. We’ll contact you by e-mail to update you on the progress of your application so please check the e-mail account that you applied from (including spam/junk) regularly.

We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership, neurodiversity or veteran status are encouraged to apply for this post. Our Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders is available Here

To support you in your application process we’ve created a What we can offer you guide that shows what you can expect when you join our hospitals. The guide includes links to our strategic aims and objectives as well as our values, development support and rewards and benefits. To help you get the best from your application we’ve also put together two guides to help you make your application the best it can be. Just click here and here to go through them, or have themopen as you complete your application.

We recognise that the recruitment process may present barriers for some and you may need personal adjustments to enable you to participate in our recruitment process. Please make contact with the recruitment team at the earliest opportunity to ensure that measures can be put in place to enable your application for this post.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) when writing job applications

If you choose to use AI or other tools to assist in writing your application, it's essential to personalise this information, particularly your supporting information section. While AI can help streamline the writing process, these tools cannot fully grasp the context or requirements of the job you’re applying for. There is also a risk that it can generate false or misleading information.
AI-generated job applications can often be generic, impersonal and may not accurately reflect your qualifications, knowledge, skills, and experiences. It is crucial that you personalise your supporting statement by articulating these in your unique voice. Relying solely on AI to write your application or supporting information section is not advocated by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals and could negatively impact your chances of success in the application process.

We have added a disclaimer to our application process advising that the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Supporting Information

The supporting information section is an opportunity for you to showcase how your qualifications, knowledge, skill and experiences align with the requirements and criteria outlined in the job description and person.
Our recruiting managers score applications based on the criteria listed in the person specification. They will be looking for evidence of how you meet these criteria. To increase your chances of securing an interview, provide examples of how you have applied your skills and knowledge in real-life situations. Share work-related successes and challenges you’ve navigated that align with the criteria. These could be from various aspects of your life, including work, education, and personal experiences.
Consider structuring your supporting information section with clear headings or bullet points. This approach will help both you and the recruiting manager navigate through your application more effectively.

Working Smarter pledge

We are reminded everyday of how important life is, so as part of our Working Smarter pledge we offer a variety of flexible working options and wellbeing support to enable our people to find and maintain the right work-life balance.

Secondments

If you are applying for a secondment role please ensure you have agreement from your current line manager prior to attending an interview. Also please ensure you have read the LTHTR Secondment Policy. A copy of this can be found on the intranet or by contacting [e-mail]

Please note a young person must be in part-time education or training until they’re 18. therefore if you are under 18 we are unable to employ you on a full time basis, unless it is in an apprenticeship role.

Disclosure and Barring Service checks

If the role you’ve applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this on your behalf and the cost will be recovered from your salary, either as a one-off payment, or over 3 months. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently the charges are - Basic DBS check £26.40 Standard DBS check £26.40 and Enhanced DBS check £54.40. You should be aware that if you are successful in obtaining a position that requires a DBS check but later withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check. DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions. The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here .

In line with guidance from United Kingdom Health Security Agency, all staff and volunteers are required to comply with Trust Infection Prevention and Control processes in relation to safe working. This includes mask wearing and adherence to social distancing at all Trust sites.

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We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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