Medical Laboratory Assistant - Virology

York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS organization in Hull is looking for an enthusiastic Medical Laboratory Assistant to join their team. This role requires reliability and practical skills as the assistant will perform key laboratory duties supporting diagnostic testing. Key benefits include generous holidays and training opportunities. Ideal candidates should demonstrate good teamwork, communication skills, and flexibility in working hours.

Benefits

Access to the NHS Pension Scheme

27 days holiday rising to 33 days

Confidential advice and support through the Employee Assistance Programme

NHS Car Lease scheme

Extensive learning and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Practical skills in laboratory environments are essential.
• Competency in handling clinical samples safely is expected.
• Good communication skills are necessary to collaborate effectively.

Responsibilities

• Receive and register requests for Virology tests.
• Perform data entry and manage sample reception duties.
• Participate in late shifts, weekends, and bank holiday rosters.

Skills

Working as a member of a team

Good practical skills including manual dexterity

Good computer and keyboard skills

Good communication and interpersonal skills

Able to work flexibly

Job description

Please note that contact with applicants will usually be by email, and so please check all of your mail folders regularly.

Our Values

• We are KIND
• We are OPEN
• We pursue EXCELLENCE

We are looking for applications from people who share our values to help make us a valued and trusted partner within our care system, that delivers safe effective care to our local population.

People for Patients. Our People, our Patients, our Priority

Job overview

We are looking for a suitable candidate to join our busy and friendly team in a NHS Specialist Virology laboratory. This opportunity has arisen in Hull for a motivated and enthusiastic Medical Laboratory Assistant (Pathology Support Worker) we are looking to appoint a candidate who is reliable, hard-working, and who would welcome the challenge of joining our team.

The Laboratory is UKAS accredited and committed to training, high-quality diagnostics and clinical excellence. You will be joining a team of laboratory staff that delivers a medical laboratory service to the Trust and the wider region as part of the SHYPS network (Scarborough, Hull, York Pathology service). You will perform a wide range of tasks to support Biomedical Scientists performing diagnostic testing in the department.

It will eventually be a contractual requirement for the successful candidate to participate in the late shifts, weekend and bank holidays rosters.

Main duties of the job

The main duties of the post are within the Virology reception areas, receiving and registering requests for Virology tests as required. Duties include computer data entry, aspects of sample reception and pre-analytical treatment of samples, in addition to referral of samples and general laboratory duties.

General responsibilities

• Complies with good work practices in accordance with the standards of UKAS and other relevant professional and legislative bodies.
• Attend and complete appropriate meetings and mandatory training
• Maintain good working relations with all staff, and promote effective teamwork.
• Participate in weekend/bank holiday rosters as required.

Technical

• Perform work strictly in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures.
• Safe handling of blood, urine and other clinical samples.
• Stores samples and reagents appropriately.
• Sorts specimens and forms, identifying any problems or anomalies with samples.
• Performs general housekeeping duties, such as cleaning, disinfecting and record-keeping.
• Deals with queries from other departments or the public, complying with relevant Trust confidentiality policies.

Laboratory informatics

• Uses laboratory computer systems according to the authorised protocols - includes data input and recall.

Benefits

We offer a range of benefits to support our staff including:

• Access to the NHS Pension Scheme, providing generous benefits upon retirement, as well as a lump sum and pension for dependants
• 27 days holiday rising to 33 days (depending on NHS Trust service)
• A variety of different types of paid and unpaid leave covering emergency and planned leave
• Confidential advice and support on personal, work, family and relationship issues, 24/7, from our Employee Assistance Programme
• NHS Car Lease scheme and Cycle to Work scheme
• An extensive range of learning and development opportunities
• Discounts on restaurants, getaways, shopping, motoring, cinema and finance from a range of providers

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Working as a member of a team
• Good practical skills including manual dexterity
• Good computer and keyboard skills
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Able to work flexibly

Desirable criteria

• Previous laboratory work
• Knowledge and understanding of laboratory safety and use of PPE

Please note that some of our substantive vacancies may be available on a smaller number of hours than advertised. If you would be interested in applying on this basis, we would encourage you to contact the appointing manager to enquire further.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to helping all staff balance their work with other commitments and have recently launched our new Agile and Flexible Working policy to support this, entitling all staff to request flexible working from day one - for all posts.