Senior Medical Laboratory Assistant

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust Senior Medical Laboratory Assistant The closing date is 08 July 2025

We are seeking an individual with excellent literacy andnumeracy skills to work as a Senior Medical Laboratory Assistant in our verybusy Department of Blood Sciences which processes 1500-2000 samples per siteeach day.
The Medical Laboratory Assistant role involvesworking as a member of staff providing support to Specimen Reception,Biochemistry, Immunology, Haematology and Blood Transfusion. You will beworking alongside a team of Biomedical Scientists and Associate Practitioners.
Main duties of the job Main tasks include:
Prioritising urgent and AE samples to avoid delays andensure best patient care.
Receipt of samples from within the Hospital via a vacuum tubesystem or in person and from GP surgeries via courier services.
Booking a large volume of patient samples on to theLaboratory Computer System and ensuring the correct test requests are inputted.There are thousands of different test codes and you must have excellentattention to detail to select the correct codes.
Centrifuging samples and correctly loading the samples on tothe relevant laboratory analysers.
Organising referral and packaging and sending of samples toother Trust sites and to other Trusts nationwide.
Answering reception and telephone queries and liaising withother Trust staff and the general public.
Receiving deliveries, ensuring they go to the correctdepartment within Pathology and unpacking and organising the stock asrequested.
Scanning request forms and ensuring printed reports are sentto the correct requesting departments, GPs or clinics in a timely manner.
Please refer to the Job Description and PersonalSpecification for full details.
About us If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks
We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents
Over reliance onAI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances ofsuccess
For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.
From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two yearsof experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to considersponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria andhave a current visa expiring within 3 months)
Job responsibilities You should be able to demonstrate good keyboard skills andbe computer literate and have experience of working in a reception or clericalenvironment. Previous Laboratory experience would be an advantage. If you arewell organised, have excellent attention to detail, are a good communicator,team player, conscientious and flexible this job may suit you. You must be ableto ask questions and take on board information given.
You must be able to work on a 24/7 shift rotawhich includes dayshifts, late shifts, nightshifts, weekend dayshifts andnightshifts, Bank Holiday dayshifts and nightshifts including Christmas Day.This is a requirement of the post. Dayshifts and late shifts are 7.5 or 8hours. Nightshifts and some weekends and Bank Holidays are 12 hours. Onweekends, bank holidays and nightshifts you will often be the sole PathologyReception worker on site (there will be Biomedical Scientists on site also).
Person Specification Special Requirements Able to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post
Able to handle blood and body samples
Able to work flexibly
Able to participate in shift working, week end working, bank holidays.
Qualifications NVQ 3 CLS or equivalent
IBMS Certificate of Achievement Part 1 or demonstrable assessed competency
CPD
NVQ 3 Health (Pathology stream) or equivalent
Science and/or Maths GCSE or above
Special Requirements Able to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post
Able to handle blood and body samples
Able to work flexibly
Able to participate in shift working, week end working, bank holidays.
Experience Previous laboratory experience
Employment with public interaction
Supervisory experience
Training experience
Special Skills & Knowledge Follow protocols and instructions accurately
Excellent communication skills, verbal and written
Excellent attention to detail
Ability to concentrate for long periods
Microsoft Office applications
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 County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
£24,625 to £25,674 a yearper annum, pro rata

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