Senior Medical Laboratory Assistant

NHS; Chichester; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job description

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a permanent Band 3 SMLA post based in Haematology Laboratory based at our ST Richards site. On occasion you will be required to travel across sites, as dictated by the needs of the service.

You will be trained and competency assessed to be able to perform your role as a very valuable key Haematology team member. There will be expectation to rotate through all areas of Haematology and work outside of core hours covering until 08:00 to 20:00 with weekend and Bank holiday working expected.

Main duties of the job

To work as part of a team in the UHSx Haematology Department performing a wide range of routine and non-routine clinical, scientific or technical procedures as an appropriately regulated practitioner.

About us

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Date posted: 22 April 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 3

Salary: £24,625 to £25,674 a year per annum pro rata

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time

Reference number: 279-7119362-APR25

Job responsibilities

Once trained you will be expected to:

1. Work to standards dictated by Good Manufacturing practice (GMP) and UKAS 15181 and 17025.
2. Use all available IT and LIMS.
3. Answer the phone and handle clinical inquiries passing to more senior staff as required.
4. Maintain the day-to-day operation of the department by performing preventative routine daily and weekly maintenance, cleaning equipment, running Quality Assurance, partaking in External Quality Assurance, and re-validating (re-verification) of equipment once repaired or after Engineer preventative maintenance.
5. Monitor stock levels across sites, maintaining a clean and tidy department as described by GMP.
6. Accept deliveries and arrange for transfer of items and confirmation of send/receipt across sites.
7. Maintain your training records and monitor temperatures of our monitored and temperature-controlled equipment and department areas by using Tutela and local procedures.
8. Report all Non-conformance on our Quality Management System using Q Pulse.

Please see job description & person specs for full details.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential:

• GCSEs or equivalent.

Desirable:

• A demonstrable interest in Biological Sciences.
• Qualifications equivalent to NVQ level 3 or equivalent training and experience in Blood Sciences.

Knowledge (non-Clinical)

Essential:

• Experience in Pre-analytical section of a busy laboratory.
• Can demonstrate the ability to work to strict standards of quality and safety.

Desirable:

• Awareness of the Blood Transfusion standards.

Skills

Essential:

• Ability to work as part of a team of Biomedical Scientists, Medical Laboratory Assistants and Clerical staff.
• Excellent communication skills combined with the ability to ask and communicate with colleagues in an effective and positive manner.
• Teamworking.
• Good written and spoken English.

Analytical and Judgmental

Essential:

• A demonstrable ability to follow instructions and apply knowledge so as to undertake and assist in reporting on biomedical investigations.
• Ability to recognize and understand what good standards of quality are and apply them at all times.

IT

Essential:

• Use of a laboratory LIMS.
• Aware of the need for data quality, data protection, and the confidential use of patient information.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Essential:

• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles.
• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues.

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 details

Employer name: University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address: St Richard's Hospital, Spitafield Lane, Chichester, PO19 6SE

Employer's website: https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/