QC Laboratory Assistant Technical Officer and Van Driver

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A local health service provider in Tees Valley is seeking a dedicated individual for a role focused on laboratory sample processing and transportation. The successful candidate will manage samples and deliver goods to healthcare premises while maintaining comprehensive records. Responsibilities include liaising with customers, ensuring timely deliveries, and adhering to cleanliness and safety standards. Candidates should have relevant experience in healthcare or laboratory settings and strong communication and data entry skills.

Benefits

Health and well-being initiatives

Opportunities for personal development

Inclusive workplace environment

Qualifications

• Experience with laboratory sample processing and transportation.
• Strong communication skills for customer interactions.
• Ability to manage time and prioritize tasks effectively.

Responsibilities

• Process laboratory samples and respond to customer enquiries.
• Transport goods from the laboratory to customer premises.
• Maintain accurate records of data and samples.

Skills

Attention to detail

Customer service

Data entry

Logistics and transportation

Education

Relevant experience or qualification in a laboratory or healthcare environment

Job description

Role Overview

The post holder is responsible for processing of samples received by the laboratory for testing and collection and delivery of items between hospitals. Within the laboratory this includes the handling and maintaining of supplies, maintenance of equipment, ensuring that the laboratory is clean and tidy, preparing goods for delivery to laboratory users and recording goods and tests in IT systems. When performing the van driving element of the role this includes ensuring that goods are transported in an appropriate and timely manner.

Key Responsibilities

• Processing of laboratory samples
• Responding to customer enquiries
• Accurate recording of data
• Transportation of goods from the Laboratory to customer premises
• Successfully liaise with customers regarding this service

Administrative Responsibilities

• Author controlled forms and approve procedures, forms, methods and specifications.
• Accurate entry of data onto Microbiological Reporting System.
• Logging samples and goods into the laboratory database and ensuring the correct paperwork is attached to the request for analysis sheet.
• Ensuring all associated paperwork is completed, up to date and filed appropriately.
• Despatch results to customers and other general office duties.
• Checking standing orders.

Clinical Responsibilities

• Transportation of goods from the Laboratory to customer's premises.
• Be responsible for the vehicle and contents including safe transportation of samples between hospitals.
• Ensuring samples and consumables are stored in the appropriate location.
• Assembling deliveries for customers, ensuring drivers receive all items in a timely manner, taking into account schedules when dealing with urgent orders.
• Disinfect items into a clean room following standard operating procedures.
• Cleaning of equipment as specified in the cleaning schedule.
• Ensure own area is clean and safe for use.
• To be responsible for ensuring the above workload is completed by team working and planning for expected absences and increased workloads etc.
• To inform Internal Operations Lead about any upcoming problems that cannot be solved within the team.
• Be responsible for loading a van with all goods and items required to be transported.
• Liaise with other laboratory staff regarding the delivery of items to customers, in conjunction with the required van schedule.

Policy and Service Development

• Communicate with customers regarding the delivery of items to the Quality Control Laboratory and other healthcare premises taking into account the urgency of the request, the van schedules and movement of other laboratory staff.

Managing Resources Responsibilities

• Advise the Head of Internal Service or Duty Manager if any van fault or accident occurs.
• Maintain the QC vans ensuring they are in a clean and roadworthy condition and liaising with garages and recovery firms regarding maintenance and repair.
• Where necessary make decisions with regards to routes, taking into account current traffic and weather conditions.
• Maintain all equipment according to schedule accurately and to the required standard to ensure performance is maintained.
• Monitoring stock levels and expiry dates and ordering as required to ensure that adequate supplies are always available, assessing preparation and delivery times as appropriate.

Important Information

Please be aware: Once sufficient applications have been received this vacancy may close early.

Disclosure and Barring Checks (DBS)

It is the policy of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, that all successful candidates who are new to the Trust who require DBS clearance for the post they have been offered, are required to pay the cost for their DBS certificate. The method of payment for this is via salary deduction from your first month’s pay on commencement with the Trust. The DBS check will be undertaken during the pre‑employment check screening.

Probation

For any new employees commencing employment with North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, you will be subject to satisfactory completion of a 6 month probationary period. Please note that internal applications and individuals that are appointed to fixed term appointments of less than 6 months duration are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or a bank member of staff).

Employment References

As part of our pre‑employment screening process, all applicants are required to provide references covering their last three years employment history including any gaps. Applicants are requested to ensure e‑mail addresses for all referees are included on their application form. Personal references are not acceptable.

Working Hours

If the hours advertised for the post are up to full time (37.5 hours per week), applications are still welcomed from individuals who may be seeking to work less than full-time hours and all requests will be considered in line with the post being appointed to for the successful applicant.

Visa Sponsorship

We are able to offer sponsorship for a Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker visa, subject to candidate and position eligibility. Please review the job eligibility guidance for skilled workers here: Skilled Worker visa: Your job - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Employer Information

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust now form University Hospitals Tees and as such you may be required to work at any site across both Trusts. At North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, we want our organisation to be the best place to work with the right staff, the right roles, the right time, to ensure we deliver exceptional patient care and experience. We will support staff through providing an inclusive and supportive workplace with health and well‑being initiatives, staff benefits and opportunities for personal and professional development. We recruit for values and \"Together we are North Tees & Hartlepool\".

Armed Forces Covenant

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust are proud to be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant. We recognise that reservists and veterans bring a variety of transferable skills and qualities to our workplace, developed through their military careers. Our commitment to supporting the Armed Forces Community has been recognised through the Armed Forces Covenant as a Silver Employer.