Quality Control Laboratory Assistant

East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust; Stevenage; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

An NHS Trust in Hertfordshire is seeking a Quality Control Laboratory Assistant. The role involves supporting laboratory functions, handling samples, conducting testing, and processing documentation. Candidates should have a relevant NVQ 3 qualification or equivalent experience, along with excellent communication skills and attention to detail. Training will be provided in a non-clinical environment. This position offers opportunities for development in a dynamic laboratory setting.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Experience in a technical role in a science-based laboratory environment.
• Understanding of confidentiality and Data Protection regulations.

Responsibilities

• Deal with customers and health professionals on a first line contact basis.
• Process documentation, samples, and products and their dispatch.
• Conduct physical, chemical, and microbiological testing.

Skills

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Customer care awareness

Good IT skills

Ability to work accurately at speed

Education

Relevant NVQ 3 qualification or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Databases

Job description

East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust

Quality Control Laboratory Assistant

Closing date is 19 December 2025

We are recruiting for a Quality Control Laboratory Assistant who shares our vision to be trusted to provide consistently outstanding care and exemplary service to our patients.

The Quality Control Department at Lister hospital is a specialist unit providing pharmaceutical and scientific services to NHS Trusts, private healthcare providers and commercial organisations.

We are looking for a conscientious individual who has a keen eye for detail and a strong work ethic.

Please note that this is a non-clinical role, and you will not be in contact with patients or any patient specimens, but you will work in a laboratory environment.

Our laboratory assistant role supports various functions of the Quality Control laboratories. You will need to be organised to meet deadlines and able to prioritise your own workload in a busy environment. Your role will rotate between the administrative tasks in the sample reception and technical tasks in the laboratories. Training for this role will be provided and on‑going support from senior staff will be available.

This role will include occasional weekend, out of hours or bank holiday work.

At the heart of everything we do are our core values: Include, Respect, and Improve. We encourage you to embrace these values throughout the recruitment process and in your role with us.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will deal with customers and health professionals on a first line contact/response basis.

The role includes various duties such as answering phone calls, receipt and logging of samples, processing of documentation, samples and products and their dispatch to customers.

You will also undertake physical, chemical, and microbiological testing and microbiology media preparation.

You will undertake all support duties assigned by senior staff in chemistry and microbiology laboratories as well as in the sample reception strictly in accordance with the approved Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and in line with the requirements of Good Manufacturing and Good Laboratory Practice.

You will actively participate in all training activities related to the post and keep own training records up to date.

About us

At East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust, we are proud of the range of general and specialist services we provide and our 6,000 or so dedicated staff ensure our patients get the best care. Our ability to be flexible and innovative in the way in which we work and deliver our services to our catchment has never been more important than it is now.

We run the following hospitals:

• The Lister Hospital, Stevenage
• New Queen Elizabeth II (New QEII), Welwyn Garden City
• Hertford County, Hertford

We have ambitious plans to become an outstanding, patient‑led Trust where dedicated staff provide high‑quality, compassionate care to our patients. We continue to undergo significant transformation and our staff and patients are at the heart of delivering this ambitious agenda.

We are committed to a positive work life balance for our employees. This means that any employee is entitled to seek to work flexible working patterns and we are committed to listen and consider all requests. Such requests, of course, have to be made and considered formally, and will need to be balanced against service needs, but our starting point will always be to find ways to support making them happen.

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification applicant pack for further detailed information regarding this role.

Person Specification

Qualifications / Training

• Relevant NVQ 3 qualification or equivalent level of relevant work experience

Previous Experience

• Previous relevant work experience of working in a technical role in a science based laboratory environment

Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills (including legible hand writing) to ensure clear communication with all staff and customers.
• High level of customer care awareness and good interpersonal skills (including a very clear and courteous telephone manner)
• Good IT skills (use of Microsoft Word, Excel, Access and Databases)
• Office procedures: data entry, document scanning, filing and archiving, use of office equipment (computer, photocopier, scanner etc.)
• Ability to work accurately at speed and concentrate on repetitive tasks being undertaken following written procedures

Knowledge

• Understanding of confidentiality and Data Protection regulations
• Understanding of Health and Safety at Work and COSHH regulations

Other Requirements

• Understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion
• Role model our Trust values every day
• Able to travel between sites easily

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.

Employer name

East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust