Phlebotomist

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Chester; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 20,000; Part time

Job summary

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust invites applications for a part-time phlebotomy post (30 hours per week). The role covers inpatient wards, outpatient services and GP hubs, with weekend rotas and travel to multiple sites. The team supports flexible working and a positive work-life balance within an inclusive environment.

The post entails collecting blood samples, accurate labeling, and liaising with labs; DBS/Disclosure and Sponsorship guidance apply as part of NHS recruitment.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of Infection Control Policies/procedures.
• Computer literate with ability to use electronic patient records.
• Able to work well in a team and communicate effectively.
• Previous phlebotomy experience is desirable.
• Experience in a healthcare setting is advantageous.
• Experience with Cerner/EPR systems.

Responsibilities

• Ensure patient comfort and obtain consent for blood collection.
• Collect blood samples in line with training and procedures.
• Accurate, legible labelling to confirm patient identity.
• Check patient ID against GP/nurse request and confirm with patient.
• Record collection of samples via electronic methods.
• Dispatch samples to laboratories promptly.
• Report incidents to a senior member via Datix.
• Liaise with laboratory staff.

Skills

Infection control policies

Computer literate

Team player

Previous phlebotomy experience

Healthcare setting experience

Cerner/EPR experience

Education

GCSEs grade C+ including English & Science

Accredited phlebotomy training e.g. geopace

Tools

Cerner/EPR

Job description

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, staff pride themselves on not only leading through clinical excellence, but also by creating an environment where all staff are valued and appreciated. To achieve this, the Trust has embarked on an exciting new strategy focused on continuous improvement.

Our vision is to improve the lives of our community and provide excellence in healthcare, through partnership and innovation

Our High Performance Culture will support everyone to be the best version of themselves by being true to our Trust vision, values and behaviours.
We welcome applications from colleagues from our local and neighbouring communities of all backgrounds and identities, who are currently under-represented within our region such as Black, Asian, Minority ethnic and those with disabilities.

As a region we are reviewing the way we work, and exploring how new working practices that support flexible working can create a positive work-life balance. As part of our recruitment process we will explore how our inclusive employment policies, flexible working, staff engagement forums, Trust facilities and services can be of mutual benefit.

Job overview

Working Part Time : 30 hours per week

Monday to Sunday working between the hours of 7.30am - 18:00pm

An exciting opportunity to work within the Phlebotomy Department .

The phlebotomy team provides essential services both within the Trust and the wider health care community. This post includes working within The Countess of Chester Hospital on inpatient wards, outpatient services, as well as clinic settings. We also provide services at the Chester GP Phlebotomy Hub located on The Countess of Chester Hospital Site for GP bloods and offsite locations that include a GP Phlebotomy Hub in Ellesmere Port and ward/outpatient services in Ellesmere Port Hospital. This role includes working at all of the listed locations.

The Phlebotomy team covers weekend duties on a rotational basis; therefore flexibility of the successful candidate is essential.

Main duties of the job

• Ensuring that the patient is as comfortable and relaxed as possible and confirming their agreement to the collection of a blood sample.
• Collection of samples(s) of blood in accordance with training and procedures
• Accurate, legible labelling of all samples to confirm patient identity.
• Checking patient identification against GP/nurse request and confirming with patient whenever possible
• Recording collection of blood sample via electronic method
• Ensuring that samples are dispatched to the appropriate laboratories in a timely fashion.
• Ensuring that anomalies or incidents are reported to a senior member of staff and reported via the Datix incident reporting system
• Liaising with laboratory staff

Working for our organisation

The Trust’s services are provided from three locations:

• The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.
• Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
• Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire.

The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies which is payable to the DBS Service.Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

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.

The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.

Person specification

Knowledge and Experience

• A knowledge of Infection Control Policies/procedures
• Computer Literate
• Ability to work well within a team and communicate effectively
• Previous phlebotomy experience
• Previous experience in the healthcare setting
• Use of Cerner/EPR

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to learn phlebotomy techniques
• Ability to communicate in a polite and courteous manner and able to demonstrate an empathetic nature to patients.
• Ability to work well within a team and communicate effectively
• Ability to communicate with patients at varying levels of understanding

Qualifications

• 5 GCSE's Grade C and above or equivalent including English and Science
• Accredited training course in phlebotomy e.g. geopace

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
If the role is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 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.

Enhanced DBS check applications that are submitted with omitted or incorrect information will be withdrawn. In the event errors are identified on your original application, a new application will need to be submitted and you will be required to pay the DBS application fee again.

The cost of the DBS application will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. 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 - Check if you need a UK visa - GOV.UK

The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet these immigration rules

For further details on skilled worker sponsorship, please consult the UK Home Office guidance: Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.UK. Additionally, the New guidance for overseas applicants | NHS Employers provides helpful information on the recruitment process for candidates applying for roles in the UK.

Overseas candidates are responsible for their travel expenses.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependent's (over 18 years old) will also be subject to this requirement.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.