Medical Laboratory Assistant - Virology

Transformationunitgm; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS trust in Liverpool is seeking a Medical Laboratory Assistant to join their Virology department. The role involves processing specimens, maintaining laboratory equipment, and participating in a 24/7 service. Applicants should have laboratory experience and a GCSE-level education. Full training will be provided, and the position offers a competitive salary within the NHS pay scale.

Qualifications

• Numerate and literate to GCSE level.
• Knowledge of biomedical tests and medical terminologies.
• Previous experience in a laboratory environment.

Responsibilities

• Receive and process specimens for routine and specialist testing.
• Undertake day-to-day maintenance and operation of laboratory equipment.
• Participate in 24/7 shift work across all LCL sites.

Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Organisational skills

Education

GCSE level (including English and Mathematics)

Tools

Laboratory equipment

Job description

Main area Virology Grade Band 3 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (24/7 shifts) Job ref 287-LCL-18-25

Employer Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Liverpool Clinical Laboratories Town Liverpool Salary £24,625 - £25,674 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 03/06/2025 23:59

Medical Laboratory Assistant - Virology

Band 3

Job overview

The Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) role will be based in the department of Virology. We are looking for applicants with clinical laboratory experience to participate in the activities of the department. The successful applicant will be trained to participate in the weekly bench duties performed by our MLA team, as well as wider involvement in quality, health and safety and service development.

Our Virology laboratory benefits from fully automated serology and molecular work solutions that run alongside our specialist molecular work areas, allowing us to put our patients and service users at the heart of an innovative and forward-thinking diagnostic service.

The successful candidate will be expected to participate in an extended seven-day service 8am to 8pm and to participate in overnight working when required by the Trust in response to service needs such as increases in seasonal activity.

Knowledge and experience of working in a Virology laboratory would be desirable and full training will be made available to the successful candidate. If you believe that you have the knowledge, skills and an approach that fits with our department then we want to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will receive and process specimens for routine and specialist testing. The work will be multidisciplinary in nature and consist of the analysis of multiple specimen types utilising various manual, semi-automated and automated techniques and equipment as instructed. The postholder will also maintain analytical equipment in optimum operational condition.

As directed, the post holder will participate in 24/7 shift work across all LCL sites.

The postholder will undertake training as necessary to ensure both professional and personal development. They will also undertake annual appraisal and bi-annual competency assessment.

The post holder will liaise with both scientific and clinical staff within the LCL and staff across the wider Trust as necessary and within their scope of practice.

With supervision available, the post holder will carry out any other reasonable duties commensurate with the role and aligned to the needs of the service.

Working for our organisation

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients.

UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.

For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.

Aintree University Hospital is the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility. Broadgreen Hospital is home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation. Liverpool Women’s Hospital specialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK’s largest single site maternity hospital each year. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• To develop the knowledge and skills required for the preparation of specimens for processing relevant to the department (within departmental scope of practice and SOPs).
• Adhere to all Health and Safety policies and work within HSE and departmental Health and Safety regulations.
• Undertake day to day maintenance, calibration, control, troubleshooting and operation of all routine and specialised equipment within the section(s), as directed by department
• Comply with all quality standards and adhere to the quality management systems pertaining to the department.
• Stock control and where directed the ordering of supplies as required.
• Ensure compliance with Standard Operating Procedures, working on own initiative with supervision available.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulatory bodies and legislation

For full details, please refer to the attached job description and person specification

Person specification

Qualifications

• Numerate and Literate to GCSE level (To include English and Mathematics)
• Knowledge of Biomedical tests
• Knowledge of medical terminologies

Experience

• Previous experience in a laboratory environment

Knowledge

• Demonstrably Computer literate, with demonstrable data entry experience
• Knowledge/understanding of confidentiality and data protection issues
• Knowledge and interest in biomedical science.
• Understands the role of medical laboratories and quality systems
• Awareness of Health and Safety issues

Skills

• Ability to communicate courteously verbally and in writing. Work as part of a team or on own initiative. Work in an organised, time efficient and methodical manner.
• Familiar with use of basic laboratory equipment e.g., pipette, pH meter, centrifuge etc. Scientifically numerate.

Other

• Ability to follow and occasionally give clear written and verbal instructions
• Willingness to work with biological materials
• Ability to organise and prioritise own work

Please ensure you check the email account (including junk/spam boxes) from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.

Posts advertised to ‘internal staff’ are open to employees of hospitals within University Hospitals of Liverpool Group and you should confirm your employment within your application form.

Note: Under current Home Office Immigration Rules we are currently unable to offer right to work visa sponsorship for Band 2 and 3 roles with a salary of less than £25,000 pa as they do not meet the UK Visas & Immigration criteria.

Only those applicants who demonstrate clearly how they meet our person specification will be shortlisted for interview.

We reserve the right to close any vacancies from further applications when we have received a minimum number of applications from which to make a shortlist. Please ensure you apply without delay if you wish to be considered for this role.

Candidatesapplying for the role of Healthcare Assistant on the staff bank should note that due to the nature of the role, workers must be aged 18 or above when commencing in post. Applicants are therefore welcome from those aged over 18 or within 3 months’ of their 18 th birthday.

The Trust is committed to promoting a healthy work-life balance and achieve fair, equitable and consistent practice. We welcome flexible working requests and will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements from day one of your employment. Not all roles are suitable for every flexible working opportunity all of the time. Flexible working options may include reduced hours, compressed hours, fixed shifts, time back in lieu and home working.

The Trust is committed to promoting equality and diversity; we value the contribution of individual talent, skills, knowledge and experience and aim for a workforce demography representative of the local community. We encourage applicants from the following groups that are currently under-represented in our workforce black, Asian and minority ethnic, lesbian, gay, bisexual and Transgender (LGBTQ+), disabled, male and age 16-24.

Trust policy requires that the cost of submitting & processing the successful applicant/s DBS application be recovered via salary deduction following start in post. The amount of £23 (standard disclosure) or £43 (enhanced disclosure) will be deducted from salary, in manageable monthly instalments for up to 3 months following commencement of employment. Bank posts require upfront payment. DBS applications submitted from 2nd December will be subject to the new DBS fee of £26.50 (standard) and £54.50 (Enhanced).

From April 2017, Skilled visa applicants and their adult dependant(s) will be required to provide a criminal record certificate from each country they have lived in consecutively for 12 months or more in the past ten years.

Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.

This organisation has a zero-tolerance approach to the abuse of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All staff must ensure they adhere to the organisations safeguarding children and adults’ policy and comply with the Local Safeguarding Children and Adult Board procedures.

Staff should be mindful of their responsibility to safeguard children and adults in any activity performed on behalf of the organisation in line with the requirements of statutory guidance and legislation.

All employees (and volunteers)are expected maintain their safeguarding knowledge and skills by completing mandatory safeguarding training which includes understanding and recognising the signs of abuse and neglect and taking appropriate action.

As an organisation, we have adopted the Merseyside Domestic abuse workplace scheme which supports our staff who are experiencing Domestic Abuse /any forms of sexual violence.

If you have any personal requirements that will enable you to participate in our recruitment process please contact a member of the Recruitment Services by phone on 0151 706 4666 at the earliest opportunity to ensure that measures can be put in place to enable your application for this post.

Please note: new entrants to the NHS will commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.