Medical Laboratory Assistant

Royal Berkshire Nhs Foundation Trust; Reading; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Reading is searching for a competent individual to join their Histopathology Department. Duties include providing efficient service and managing stock. Essential qualifications include at least 5 GCSEs and teamwork experience. The Trust values personal growth and offers extensive employee benefits, including flexible working, generous leave, and development opportunities. Join us to make a difference and enjoy a rewarding career with us.

Benefits

Flexible working opportunities

27 days annual leave plus bank holidays

NHS pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to work scheme

Access to Health Service Discounts

Qualifications

• Experience in a Histology environment is an advantage.
• Able to work in a team and communicate effectively.
• Must work accurately and adapt to changes.

Responsibilities

• Provide an efficient Histology service.
• Assist staff in effective service delivery.
• Monitor and manage stock levels.

Skills

Team working

Communication skills

Accuracy

Education

Minimum 5 GCSEs including English, Maths and Sciences

Tools

Computer systems

Job description

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is "Working together to provide outstanding care for our community." Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated 'Good' with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements. The Trust's overall rating has also improved to 'good'. We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions. We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate. We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live. We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice. At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, we value candidates who bring their unique personalities, skills, and experiences to the Trust. When completing your application, we encourage you to highlight your individual achievements and strengths, showing us how they align with the requirements outlined in the job description and person specification. While we recognise that some applicants may use AI tools during the process, please be mindful that AI-generated responses can often lack the personal detail and relevance needed to demonstrate your suitability for the role. AI generated content is discouraged by the Trust and may diminish the candidate's chances of success. Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don't you come and join us. We offer a range of learning and development for all employees may you be clinical or non-clinical.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the provision of an efficient and cost-effective Histology service within Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services.
• Assist other members of staff to provide an efficient and effective service to all users of the Histopathology Department.
• Sort all deliveries and arrange stock and rotations.
• Place orders within the NHS supply chain.
• Provide consumables to wards, outpatients and mortuary.
• Monitor stock levels and liaise with senior staff on replacements.

We are looking for a candidate who is a competent and versatile individual with excellent team working and communication skills and must be able to work with accuracy at all times. Previous experience in a Histology environment is not essential as training will be given but would be an advantage. We very much encourage personal development and so if you're looking for a challenge, are versatile and can adapt to rapidly changing scenarios then this could be the job for you. We are a lively bunch and have various social events throughout the year.

Essential Criteria

• Minimum 5 GCSEs including English, Maths and Sciences.
• Experience of using computer systems.
• Experience of working in a team.

Desirable Criteria

• NHS experience.
• ECDL.

Reading sits on the river Thames and is served by great road and rail links to London, Oxford and Southampton. With excellent leisure and shopping facilities, and a thriving cultural scene, Reading is a wonderful place to live, work and play and provides excellent facilities for families, including some of the best state and private schools in the UK.

Staff Benefits

• Flexible working opportunities and a strong emphasis on your work, life balance.
• Annual leave - 27 days for new starters, plus bank holidays. Increasing to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years NHS service. Pro rata for part time staff.
• NHS pension scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Money Advice Service.
• Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave for eligible staff.
• On-site nursery (based at RBH).
• Full educational library services.
• Cycle to work scheme, lockable storage for cycles.
• Bus to work scheme.
• Excellent rail and bus links.
• A huge range of Health Service Discounts at hundreds of big brands from holidays to gadgets and restaurants to retail.

The CQC rated the care provided by the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust as Good. Our "CARE" values: Compassionate, Aspirational, Resourceful, Excellent, reflect the type of Trust we aspire to be and you can join our dedicated and talented staff to make this happen.

By applying for this post you are agreeing to Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are appointed to a post information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Appointment to any position is conditional on the satisfactory completion of the core NHS Employment Checks Standards. Information disclosed in your application will be checked and any offer of appointment may be withdrawn if you knowingly withhold information or provide false or misleading information. All new appointments to the Trust, with the exception of executive positions, are subject to a 6 month probationary period. The Trust may close any vacancy prior to the advertised closing date due to the high level of responses we receive for some of our vacancies. Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is committed to improving the health of its staff, patients and the wider community by providing a smoke free environment. A smoke free policy is in operation and smoking is not permitted on any of the Trust's sites.