Medical Laboratory Assistant

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare facility in Liverpool seeks a clerical and laboratory support staff member. You will provide essential support to neuropathologists and manage clinical samples, ensuring precise data entry and record keeping. The ideal candidate will have GCSE level education in English, Maths, and Science, along with experience in laboratory practices and strong organisational skills. This role promotes teamwork and requires adaptability in a dynamic setting.

Qualifications

• Experience in Laboratory practices and procedures.
• Experience of manual filing systems.
• Experience with data entry systems.
• Previous experience of working in a healthcare or related setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide support to Neuropathologists and scientific staff.
• Handle and process clinical samples safely.
• Maintain accurate records of samples and tests.
• Enter clinical data into research databases.

Skills

Good written and verbal communication skills

Computer literate

Good organisational skills

Ability to work in a team or alone

Adaptable and flexible

Good level of manual dexterity

Education

Educated to GCSE level in English, Maths and Science

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

MS Access

Job description

Overview

The post holder will be a member of a team of clerical and laboratory support staff providing support to Neuropathologists and scientific staff in the reception, handling, processing, storage and retrieval of clinical samples (tissue / blood / CSF).

The post holder will demonstrate excellent organisational skills, must be flexible in approach, able to exercise initiative and demonstrate a consistently high standard of professionalism, being aware of the need for confidentiality and integrity.

The post holder is responsible for processing and storage of Biobank samples within the Liverpool Neuroscience Biobank at the Walton Centre (LNBW), according to agreed procedures. They will monitor consumable stock levels and alert senior staff when ordering required.

Maintenance of accurate and comprehensive records, both paper and electronic is an essential aspect of this post.

Main duties of the job

• Deal with all aspects of specimen reception in Neuropathology, Neurobiochemistry and Neuroimmunology.
• Provide safe and effective handling and storage of fresh and fixed specimens.
• Aliquot, package and send referral samples to other hospitals, ensuring that the sample is of the correct type, all relevant patient details and test request is correct. The sample has been treated in the correct manner and is packaged in accordance with postal regulations.
• Assist pathologists, scientific and secretarial staff in their duties as requested.
• Collect clinical data and enter this data into the research database. Liaise with clinicians to ensure correct data collection and to resolve queries in an accurate and timely way.
• Be competent in the use of departmental computer systems, maintain databases and ensure the information in them is up to date.
• Be able to process blood samples (e.g., prepare serum) and store samples appropriately.
• Work in accordance with departmental safety policies and ensure proper maintenance of equipment and safety within the workplace.
• Ensure that all accidents and incidents are properly reported in accordance with WCFT departmental and trust policies.
• Deal in a safe manner with chemical and biological substances and be aware of their hazards.
• Receive reagents on arrival and ensure that they are correctly recorded and stored.

About us

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust is the only NHS trust to hold dual accreditation for the Investors in People. We invest in people and we invest in wellbeing standards and have been awarded Gold status for both. The Walton Centre is a leader in the treatment and care of neurology and neurosurgery, placing the patient and their family at the heart of everything we do. As the only specialist hospital trust in the UK dedicated to providing comprehensive neurology, neurosurgery, spinal and pain management services we are proud to be rated as an Outstanding Trust by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and champion change throughout the field of neuroscience. Originally formed in 1992, the Trust received Foundation Trust status in 2009.

With around 1,450 staff, The Walton Centre treats more than 127,000 outpatients and 18,000 inpatients each year. We have leading specialists and incredibly dedicated staff delivering excellent clinical outcomes for brain, spinal and neurological care nationally and internationally. Teams across our site in Fazakerley, Liverpool, offer a world-class service in diagnosing and treating injuries and illnesses affecting the brain, spine and peripheral nerves and muscles, and in supporting people suffering from a wide range of long-term neurological conditions.

Job responsibilities

This role involves contributing to the duties described above as part of a clerical and laboratory support team providing support to Neuropathologists and scientific staff in the reception, handling, processing, storage and retrieval of clinical samples (tissue / blood / CSF).

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Educated to GCSE level in English, Maths and Science

Knowledge & Experience

• Experience in Laboratory practices and procedures
• Experience of manual filing systems
• Experience with data entry systems
• Previous experience of working in a healthcare or related setting

Skills & Attributes

• To have good written and verbal communication skills
• To adhere to confidentiality policies
• To be computer literate
• Have a good level of manual dexterity
• Good organisational skills
• Ability to work in a team or alone without close supervision in a pressurised environment
• Ability to prioritise own workload
• Adaptable and flexible
• Working knowledge of MS Word, Excel and Access

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.