Team Leader - Medical Laboratory Assistant team

Salisbury; Salisbury; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS Pension Scheme

Generous annual leave

Staff discounts

Onsite facilities

Job summary

Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Team Leader to manage the Medical Laboratory Assistant team within Microbiology. The role involves supervising staff, rota management, and contributing to recruitment while maintaining high quality microbiology services for the local population.

You will join a friendly, established team and work under BMS leadership. Applicants should have leadership experience in a microbiology lab, strong communication skills, and awareness of ISO/UKAS standards.

Qualifications

• Must hold Level 2 English and Maths (GCSE, Functional Skills or equivalent).
• Institute of Biomedical Science Certificate of Achievement Part I/II.

Responsibilities

• Supervise, organise and develop the MLA team, including the maintenance of rotas, appraisals and staff development.
• Involvement in recruitment and contributing to workforce planning.
• Ensure good laboratory practice and a high-quality microbiology service for the department.

Skills

Verbal and written communication

Clinical laboratory knowledge

Organisation and planning

UKAS/ISO awareness

Problem solving

Health and safety COSHH

Prioritisation and time management

Staff training

Microbiology knowledge

Education

Level 2 English & Maths (GCSE/Functional Skills)

Institute of Biomedical Science Certificate of Achievement Part I/II

Tools

LIMS

IT packages

Job description

Team Leader - Medical Laboratory Assistant team

Band 4

Main area Microbiology Grade Band 4 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (to include weekend working.) Job ref 269-SFT9984

Site Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust Town Salisbury Salary £28,392 - £31,157 per annum pro rata if part time Salary period Yearly Closing 12/10/2026 23:59

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used, then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Job overview

Please note: we are unable to provide sponsorship for this position

The Microbiology department at Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust is a busy, friendly laboratory. We are looking for a reliable and self-motivated candidate to manage and lead the Medical Laboratory Assistant team, and to be involved all the role will entail, including supervision and development of staff, problem solving, production of work rotas, and involvement in recruitment.

You will be joining a friendly and well established team who are dedicated to providing a high quality Microbiology to our local population.

Any interested candidates are encouraged to contact the department for an informal discussion prior to application.

All candidates should be aware that there is no clear progression to a Biomedical Scientist role from this post.

Main duties of the job

To learn and maintain good laboratory practice in the interests of the departmental commitment to provide an effective high-quality service.

To effectively supervise, organise and develop the MLA team, under the management of the BMS team managers and laboratory manager, including the maintenance of rotas, the ordering of goods and appraisals.

Please see attached job description and person specification for full details of roles and responsibilities

Working for our organisation

Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust (SFT) is part of the Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) Hospitals Group, alongside Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust. Together, we are committed to delivering outstanding, sustainable healthcare through collaboration, innovation and excellent patient care.

With a history spanning more than 250 years, SFT combines a proud heritage with a forward-looking approach to healthcare. We employ more than 4,000 staff, provide around 470 beds and deliver acute, specialist and regional services across Wiltshire and beyond.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to creating an inclusive, supportive workplace where colleagues feel valued, developed and empowered to reach their potential. Flexible working helps colleagues balance work and personal commitments while meeting the needs of patients.

• NHS Pension Scheme
• generous annual leave
• staff discounts
• onsite facilities

Salisbury offers an exceptional quality of life, combining a historic city with beautiful countryside, access to the south coast and excellent transport links. Find out more at Experience Salisbury.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached Job description and person specification for full details of roles and responsibilities

Person specification

Education, Qualifications and Training

• Must hold level 2/Grade C English and maths (GCSE, Functional skills or equivalent)
• Institute of Biomedical Science Certificate of Achievement part I/part II

Experience

• Previous experience managing/leading a team
• Previous experience working in a Microbiology Laboratory

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Knowledge of working in a clinical laboratory
• Excellent organisation skills
• Knowledge of using a LIMS and other standard IT packages
• Experience in problem solvingUnderstanding of Health and Safety requirements, including COSHH regulations
• Ability to deal with urgent work and changing priorities during the working day
• Experience training other staff members
• Understanding of UKAS requirements and ISO standards
• Prior Microbiology knowledge

• Holiday starting at 27 days plus Bank Holidays rising to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years for Agenda for Change staff
• Holiday entitlement for Medical and Dental staff starts at 27 days for Junior/Senior Clinical Fellows, Specialty Doctors and rises to 32 days after 5 years. Consultant entitlement starts at 32 days and rises to 34 days after 7 year.
• Access to a career average revalued earnings pension scheme
• Life assurance if a member of the pension scheme
• An extensive Health and Wellbeing offer to help you deal with life's challenges
• Exclusive deals and discounts websites saving you money on everyday purchases, treats for the family, eating out and utility bills for home
• Cycle to work scheme
• Uniform provided (where required)
• 40% bus discount exclusive to SFT employees (period tickets only)
• On site Day Nursery and Holiday Play scheme
• On site health and fitness club
• On site car parking (fees and restrictions apply)
• Opportunities to get on - take advantage of our ongoing learning opportunities and training, to help you achieve the job and career you want.

Please note - Due to recent changes in UK immigration and visa rules applicants who do not currently have the right to work in the UK may not be considered. Candidates requiring sponsorship (or will need sponsorship at the end of a current visa eg those with graduate visa's) should review the eligibility criteria on the gov.uk website before applying

Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if we receive a large number of applications. We will not accept any applications or queries via agencies, under any circumstances.

We continue to encourage and support our staff to participate in the seasonal respiratory vaccination programme in order to protect themselves, colleagues and their patients.

GETTING TO WORK

We offer parking on site at Salisbury District Hospital, a daily charge applies. We encourage our staff to utilise other green methods of getting to work such as cycling or walking where possible, and our Trust is well connected through the bus services to the city centre and other areas.

OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUALITY

We are committed to making Salisbury an inclusive and welcoming place for every single staff member, regardless of who they are and where they come from. Equality sits at the heart of everything we do, and we ensure that all employees have equal opportunity to develop, to apply for promotions and to work flexibly.

The Trust actively promotes a work environment free from harassment and discrimination and provides training for staff to ensure this happens. We also closely monitor recruitment activity, training, development and employment practices to ensure equality of practice with regard to race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability, martial status and age.

OTHER INFORMATION

If this job requires you to have DBS check to enable you to properly fulfil the requirements of the job, on appointment, you will be required to replay the cost of obtaining a DBS check and this amount will be reclaimed in instalments from your salary. Many staff use the DBS update service at a cost of £16 per annum but you need to sign up for this via their website.

Please read the job description and person specification carefully and ensure that your application reflects the knowledge, skills and experience required.

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