Job summary
Do you want to help with the critical diagnosis of infections?
Do you want to use the latest laboratory technology and diagnostics?
Do you want to continually develop and learn something new every day?
Then working for the NHS East and South East London Pathology partnership is for you!
An exciting opportunity has arisen in both the Microbiology Department at the Royal London Hospital, the hub site for the NHS East and South East London Pathology Partnership.
We are looking for some enthusiastic Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) staff to work a night shifts within the department including occasional day shifts.
The successful candidate will ideally have previous laboratory work experience and they will be able to demonstrate attention to detail and be able to work as part of a team. Successful candidates will be required to participate in 24/7 shift rotas alongside a team of Biomedical Scientists, Associate Practitioners and Medical Laboratory Assistants. Night teams consist of a minimum of 2 MLA and 2 BMS staff.
Typical shift working hours are 8pm to 8am. If working a day shift 9am-5:30pm. Shifts also start at 8am and 11:30am, 7 days a week including weekends and bank holidays. Shift patterns are fully compliant with the Working Time Regulations. All weekend, bank holiday and night shift work will form part of your contracted 37.5 hour week with appropriate rest breaks being rostered and Agenda for Change shift work payment enhancements applied
Main duties of the job
Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are advised that the minimum salary threshold must be met, therefore sponsorship cannot be guaranteed due to government guidelines. For further information visit https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration
The post holder is required to carry out scientific and technical duties in the Microbiology department within the NHS East & South East London Pathology Partnership.
The post holder will be based at the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel site.The post holder may also be required to work across other Patrhology Partnership laboratory sites as and when required.
Duties will include entry of patient details and other data into laboratory information systems, operating analysers and other laboratory equipment, maintaining and running system checks, quality control and troubleshooting on analysers and other equipment, preparation of reagents, pre analytical preparation of samples for testing and general housekeeping duties.
The post holder will provide a high quality and responsive service and work to ensure that all regulatory and accreditation requirements are met and that a culture of continuous improvement is achieved.
About us
The NHS East and South East London Pathology Partnership is an arms-length organisation providing pathology services to Barts Health NHS Trust, Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. The Pathology Partnership is hosted by Barts Health.
The Pathology Partnership is based on well-established models for pathology networks, with the Royal London Hospital becoming the main hub laboratory for the network and Essential Service Laboratories (ESL) as a minimum at all other Hospital sites.
Pathology is made up of the following services - Blood Sciences including Haematology, Blood Transfusion and Biochemistry; Infectious Diseases including Microbiology and Virology; Cellular Pathology including Histopathology, non-gynae Cytology and mortuary services; Immunology; Cytogenetics and Molecular Haematology; Immunophenotyping; Clinical Transplantation and Retinoblastoma.
The 2020/21 total operating costs across the Partnership were c. £126m per annum with a workforce establishment of circa. 822 WTE. We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are underrepresented within Barts Health at this band.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Grade C or higher GCSE passes in English and Maths or equivalent
Desirable
- Grade C or higher GCSE in science subjects or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Experience of undertaking computer workstation work.
- Experience in answering and dealing with telephone enquiries.
- Experience of working in a team.
- Experience of working in Healthcare laboratory setting
Desirable
- Work experience in NHS.
- Experience in using laboratory equipment.
- Previous Microbiology work experience.
Knowledge
Essential
- Good literacy and numeracy.
- Awareness of Pathology laboratory diagnostics.
- Awareness of laboratory health and safety.
Desirable
- Awareness of medical microbiology.
Skills
Essential
- Able to follow instructions and standard operating procedures
- Methodical, organised and efficient.
- Manual dexterity.
- Ability to work on own initiative.
- Helpful and confident manner.
- Attention to detail.
- Good keyboard skills.
Desirable
- Able to troubleshoot equipment issues.
- Able to prioritise tasks following an agreed protocol
- Ability to multitask.
Other
Essential
- Reliable, responsible person.
- Hold no reservations in handling human body fluids, faeces, tissue, organs, or infected material in accordance with Health & Safety policies.
- The post holder must be willing to have appropriate vaccinations e,g. Hepatitis B
- Must be able to participate in night shifts.
- Must be able to participate in early, late, weekend and Bank Holiday shifts.
- Adaptable and flexible.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Grade C or higher GCSE passes in English and Maths or equivalent
Desirable
- Grade C or higher GCSE in science subjects or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Experience of undertaking computer workstation work.
- Experience in answering and dealing with telephone enquiries.
- Experience of working in a team.
- Experience of working in Healthcare laboratory setting
Desirable
- Work experience in NHS.
- Experience in using laboratory equipment.
- Previous Microbiology work experience.
Knowledge
Essential
- Good literacy and numeracy.
- Awareness of Pathology laboratory diagnostics.
- Awareness of laboratory health and safety.
Desirable
- Awareness of medical microbiology.
Skills
Essential
- Able to follow instructions and standard operating procedures
- Methodical, organised and efficient.
- Manual dexterity.
- Ability to work on own initiative.
- Helpful and confident manner.
- Attention to detail.
- Good keyboard skills.
Desirable
- Able to troubleshoot equipment issues.
- Able to prioritise tasks following an agreed protocol
- Ability to multitask.
Other
Essential
- Reliable, responsible person.
- Hold no reservations in handling human body fluids, faeces, tissue, organs, or infected material in accordance with Health & Safety policies.
- The post holder must be willing to have appropriate vaccinations e,g. Hepatitis B
- Must be able to participate in night shifts.
- Must be able to participate in early, late, weekend and Bank Holiday shifts.
- Adaptable and flexible.
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.
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.
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).
