Paediatric Outpatients Care Assistant and Phlebotomist

NHS; England; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in England is seeking a Paediatric Outpatients Care Assistant and Phlebotomist to support high-quality care for children. The role includes taking blood samples, assisting with patient care, and working flexibly in a multi-disciplinary team. Candidates should have a phlebotomy certificate and experience working with children. The salary ranges from £24,937 to £26,598 per annum, pro rata, and a commitment to training and development is offered.

Qualifications

• Excellent standard of written and spoken English.
• Experience of caring for or working with children of all ages.
• Able to perform all aspects of phlebotomy without supervision.

Responsibilities

• Support paediatric outpatient services.
• Assist the nursing team with patient preparation.
• Handle biological samples from high-risk patients.

Skills

Ability to work independently

Attention to detail

Good interpersonal skills

Education

3 pass grades at GCSE level or equivalent

Phlebotomy certificate with proven practical experience

NVQ 3 qualification/apprenticeship course

Care Certificate

Tools

PIMS appointment management software

Job description

Go back Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Paediatric Outpatients Care Assistant and Phlebotomist

The closing date is 06 February 2026

This role supports high-quality care for children and families in the paediatric outpatient department. As a trained phlebotomist, you will help deliver an efficient phlebotomy service while assisting the nursing team with tasks such as preparing patients for appointments, taking weights and heights, performing observations and ECGs, and acting as a chaperone when needed. Accurate documentation is essential.

You will work independently and liaise with clinicians, laboratory staff, and other healthcare professionals. While mainly based in outpatients, you may also support paediatric patients in other hospital areas. The role involves handling biological samples, including those from high-risk or isolation patients, and requires adherence to all relevant policies and procedures, escalating concerns when appropriate.

Flexibility is important, as some shift or weekend work may be required.

Main duties of the job

• To be fully competent in all aspects of paediatric venepuncture and practice different approaches to the technique maintaining competency levels through annual reassessment protocols.
• Act as the first point of contact for routine day-to-day Phlebotomy queries and issues relating to their team. Use judgement to decide upon appropriate course of action and, where necessary, escalating these to the Service Manager / Paediatric outpatients sister / charge nurse for resolution.
• Take samples for procedures such as glucose tolerance testing etc. and where fasting samples are required ensure appointments are offered for the early morning.
• Assist in training of health care professionals in phlebotomy.
• Carry out routine stock taking and monitor stock levels.
• Act as receptionist in the Patient Waiting Area and help with patient enquiries when required.
• Deliver high quality care to patients within the clinical setting and/or the ward environment.

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trust’s core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Job responsibilities

The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities

To work effectively within the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT).

To work flexibly and innovatively to meet the needs of the service.

Treat patients as individuals.

Maintain accurate and contemporaneous documentation to ensure timely, effective communication and data collection.

Be accountable for maintaining skills, knowledge and competence in the use of the Trust IT systems.

Be aware of the Data Protection Act to ensure appropriate action is taken to ensure confidentiality and the protection of patient identifiable information at all times.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Excellent standard of written and spoken English
• 3 pass grades at GCSE level or equivalent
• NVQ 3 qualification/apprenticeship course (or working towards / evidence of equivalent experience)
• Care Certificate
• Experience of caring for or working with children of all ages.
• Phlebotomy certificate with proven practical experience

Experience

• Able to perform all aspects of phlebotomy without supervision.
• Understanding of pathology requests
• Awareness of correct blood taking techniques in all age ranges

Knowledge

• Infection Control
• Safeguarding Children

Personal Skills

• Ability to work independently, accurately and quickly in an organised manner with attention to detail.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Able to handle patients and relatives sympathetically.
• Ability to work in a team as well as individually.
• Able to recognise the additional needs of some patients and put in place appropriate measures to support eg; play specialist involvement / therapeutic holding.
• Experience of working with the PIMS appointment management software.

Other

• Must be prepared to take blood from "high risk" patients.
• Experience and understanding of SEND and additional needs

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.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

£24,937 to £26,598 per annum, pro rata