Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

Biomedical Support Worker - Microbiology

The closing date is 06 July 2025

Job summary

This very busy department provides Microbiology services for the patients of Wigan, Wrightington and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, The Christie and surrounding GPs. You will support technical Microbiology activities and the provision of a high quality service.

Previous laboratory experience may be an advantage, but is not essential as full in-house training is given. If successful and when competent you will be expected to contribute to all relevant areas of Microbiology including operation of autoclaves and removal of waste.

Main duties of the job

Duties are varied and include direct contribution to the testing of samples, as well as sample reception, data input, autoclaving of samples and other waste, cleaning of equipment and other general laboratory duties. Duties will require the processing of human samples, such as urine, faeces and swabs. Some duties will include the lifting and moving of moderately heavy loads.

You must be very organised and methodical with good communication and excellent team working skills and be educated to GSCE level, or equivalent in English and Maths. Accurate data entry, with efficient typing skills is required. A strong commitment to efficiency and taking personal responsibility to ensure high standards of work is vital.

Please note it is NCA Pathology Policy that IBMS registration portfolios are only supported for staff members in a trainee BMS position.

About us

The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) provides hospital and integrated health and social care services to over one million people living across Greater Manchester. Our 20,000 colleagues care for people in hospital and in the community, working across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and Salford, to save and improve lives.

As a large NHS trust we are committed to enhancing the health of our local population by delivering consistently high standards of care and working closely with local authorities and key partners. We believe in our power and potential to make a difference and we're always looking for people who demonstrate our three core values - care, appreciate and inspire - to join our team.

In return, we can offer you a job role with purpose and flexibility. The size and scale of the NCA means we can provide more challenge and opportunities so your career can always be moving in the right direction. By joining us you can also access a competitive benefits package, including, a fantastic annual leave allowance, flexible working opportunities and protected hours for health and wellbeing activities, helping you to achieve more personal downtime and a better work-life balance.

Details

Date posted

23 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,625 to £25,674 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

236-DPG-CS197-25

Job locations

Salford Royal

Stott Lane

Salford

M6 8HD


Job description

Job responsibilities

To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about working at the Northern Care Alliance within the attached Candidate Information Pack or by visiting our careers website: www.careers.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk

Job description

Job responsibilities

To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about working at the Northern Care Alliance within the attached Candidate Information Pack or by visiting our careers website: www.careers.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Good standard of general education
  • NVQ, GCSE (5 or more at Grade C or above) / GCE

Knowledge, Training & Experience

Essential

  • Good verbal communication
  • Basic numeracy Basic literacy
  • Awareness of confidentiality issues
  • Awareness of health and safety issues

Desirable

  • Evidence of previous Microbiology laboratory experience

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Ability to follow protocols
  • Keyboard skills
  • Ability to develop a range of skills enabling them to carry out multistage procedures
  • Ability to acquire the theoretical knowledge required to undertake laboratory tasks
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Good standard of general education
  • NVQ, GCSE (5 or more at Grade C or above) / GCE

Knowledge, Training & Experience

Essential

  • Good verbal communication
  • Basic numeracy Basic literacy
  • Awareness of confidentiality issues
  • Awareness of health and safety issues

Desirable

  • Evidence of previous Microbiology laboratory experience

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Ability to follow protocols
  • Keyboard skills
  • Ability to develop a range of skills enabling them to carry out multistage procedures
  • Ability to acquire the theoretical knowledge required to undertake laboratory tasks

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Salford Royal

Stott Lane

Salford

M6 8HD


Employer's website

https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Salford Royal

Stott Lane

Salford

M6 8HD


Employer's website

https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Operational Manager

Sam Fish

samantha.fish@nca.nhs.uk

01612065031

Details

Date posted

23 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,625 to £25,674 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

236-DPG-CS197-25

Job locations

Salford Royal

Stott Lane

Salford

M6 8HD


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust 's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)