Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Biomedical Support Worker

The closing date is 13 August 2025

Job summary

Working Full Time: 37.5 hours per week

The Blood Sciences Department have a vacancy for a Biomedical Support Worker to be part of a team providing 24/7 laboratory testing. This includes supporting seasonal rapid Covid-19 and influenza testing.

The role involves receiving a variety of pathological samples, entering the requests onto the hospital computer system, pre-analytics (preparing the samples for processing), loading and unloading analysers, preparing a variety of sample types for tests e.g. Covid-19 testing.

  • The role will include rotation into the laboratory departments/ sections as required.
  • For this role it is essential that you have the ability to work flexibly, including covering Early (08:00 - 16:00), Mini Late (10:30 - 19:00), Late (14:00 to 22:00) and Night Shifts (when required - 22:00-08:00), Monday to Sunday. This will be alongside core working days of 09.00 - 17.30.

Main duties of the job

  • Sample reception duties including receiving requests and booking requests into the hospital IT system.
  • Preparing a variety of samples for analysis.
  • Loading and unloading samples onto the laboratory automation and analysers.
  • Answering phone enquiries and giving out validated test results.
  • Providing 24/7 cover by participating in early, day, evening, night and weekend shifts when required.
  • Performing sample analysis e.g. Covid-19 and HbA1c testing.
  • Storeroom and stock control duties.
  • Manual handling is required as part of these duties.

About us

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. Its services are provided from three locations:

  • The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 438 general and acute beds
  • Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 56 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility
  • Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Trust employs over 5916 staff (headcount) which includes temporary bank staff and provides acute emergency and elective services, primary care direct access services and obstetric services to a population of approximately 411,000. This includes 361,000 residents in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire which has a population of approximately 50,000.

Details

Date posted

05 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year pa

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

210-2025-537

Job locations

Countess of Chester Hospital

Liverpool Road

Chester

CH2 1UL


Job description

Job responsibilities

See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.

Job description

Job responsibilities

See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.

Person Specification

Education

Essential

  • 5 GCSEs grade C or above, including English Language

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Computer literate

Desirable

  • Previous laboratory experience
  • Use of Cerner
Person Specification

Education

Essential

  • 5 GCSEs grade C or above, including English Language

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Computer literate

Desirable

  • Previous laboratory experience
  • Use of Cerner

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

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Countess of Chester Hospital

Liverpool Road

Chester

CH2 1UL


Employer's website

https://www.coch.nhs.uk/working-with-us.aspx (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Countess of Chester Hospital

Liverpool Road

Chester

CH2 1UL


Employer's website

https://www.coch.nhs.uk/working-with-us.aspx (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Blood Sciences Operational Manager

Julie Pierce

j.pierce@nhs.net

01244362175

Details

Date posted

05 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year pa

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

210-2025-537

Job locations

Countess of Chester Hospital

Liverpool Road

Chester

CH2 1UL


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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