Medical Laboratory Assistant - Blood Sciences

Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Weekend OOH and night shifts as required)

The Laboratory Medicine department has an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated Medical Laboratory Assistant to join our team. The post holder will be working within Haematology, Clinical Biochemistry and Specimen Reception. The post holder will contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of patients within the hospital by providing technical, scientific and data entry assistance to the Biomedical Scientists and other Departmental staff. The post holder will take part in the shift rota which which includes weekend and night shifts. 

The working pattern in this role is rota based. Therefore your contracted hours of 37.5 per week (full time working equivalent) will be calculated across a rota period of 13 weeks in accordance with agenda for change. Dependant on the needs of the service, your total working hours will fluctuate due to the different length of time of the shifts, however as part of rota management your shifts will balance to be within your contracted time. 

The post holder will be part of a team providing a diagnostic Blood Sciences service to the Trust. The team comprises Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLA), Biomedical Scientists, Associate Practitioners, Clinical Scientists, Healthcare Scientists, clerical staff and Medical staff. In addition, you will interact with other staff in the Directorate.

This job advert may close early if a sufficient number of suitable applications have been submitted. 

Main duties of the job

• Collecting, sorting, prioritising and processing of samples in a busy environment while maintaining good working relationships with colleagues and service users.
• Specimen reception – activation of requests and checking that request forms and specimens are labelled according to laboratory policy.
• Under supervision, analysis of samples received for testing.
• Storing of samples following completion of analysis into the appropriate storage system.
• Retrieval of consumables and reagents from the stores, advising the senior BMS when the stock becomes low.
• Use of laboratory information management system (LIMS).
• Use of the laboratory consumables ordering system to ensure stocks of reagents and consumables are maintained.
• To observe all applicable safety regulations and attend any mandatory and statutory training as required.
• To undertake such training as necessary to enhance and to improve performance within the Department.
• To respond professionally to incoming telephone calls.
• To liaise regularly with section heads/seniors to ensure the smooth running of the sections.
• Order, receive and store consumables & general goods delivered to the laboratory.
• Other duties as directed by the Department Manager or technical staff.

Person specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential criteria

• At least five GCSE’s grade C (level 4) or above to include English, Mathematics and Science.

Knowledge and Experience

Desirable criteria

• Experience in a customer service role.
• Work experience in a laboratory.

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria

• Keyboard skills.
• Ability to learn and use PC laboratory software packages after training.
• Ability to organise own work.
• Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines.
• Ability to prioritise work as required.