Job summary
The post holder will be required to support provision of 24/7 Hot Lab service by working evening shifts, weekend shifts and night shifts once trained on 1:8 rota. The post holder will be required to work in microbiology at the Freeman site on a rotational basis.
The department of Microbiology and Virology is looking for motivated and enthusiastic individuals to join our department. The posts are primarily supporting the Molecular Hot Lab which is based at the RVI, however there will also be rotations through the main laboratory at the Freeman Hospital.
The successful applicants will work as part of a team carrying out a range of analytical procedures, providing a 24/7 service to patients across the Trust. Participation in late shifts, night shifts and weekends is therefore an essential requirement of the successful applicant.Comprehensive training will be provided and future personal development is actively encouraged.
- Interview Date: Wednesday 18th June 2025
- 37 Hours 30 Minutes per a week
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will support the department by performing microbiological analysis on a range of patient samples. They will be given the opportunity to rotate through other sections of the department and will also be required to assist in departmental quality assurance programmes.
Applicants must have experience in laboratory medicine. They must have effective communication skills and demonstrable leadership qualities. They must align to Trust Values and be flexible and reactive to service needs.
From an academic perspective the post holder must have attained a foundation degree or equivalent in a health care sciences subject. It is important that applicants have the ability to effectively use common IT packages such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.
About us
Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:
o Freeman Hospital
o Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
o Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)
o Newcastle Dental Hospital
o Newcastle Fertility Centre
o Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
o Northern Genetics Service
o Cramlington Manor Walks
These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Job description
Job responsibilities
- A Healthcare Science Associate is part of a clinical support team whose purpose is to provide timely and accurate high quality scientific information that will assist service users from the hospital and community, in the establishment of a clinical diagnosis and monitoring of patient treatment.
- The Healthcare Science Associate will use practical skills to carry out tasks associated with the pre-analytical preparation of specimens as well as direct analysis of samples for a limited range of tests using rapid molecular techniques, blood sciences platforms and some culture-based investigations.
- Specimen reception: To deal with the reception, sorting and labelling of patient specimens, identifying inadequate and mislabelled specimens and ensuring urgent samples are prioritised.
- To ensure correct and timely transfer of microbiology and virology samples between testing sites.
- Data entry, preparing specimens for analysis, including booking in-patient and specimen details, storing, retrieving and disposing of specimens.
- To analyse a limited range of patient samples to detect microbial pathogens such as SARS-COV-2, Influenza A Virus, Strep A and MRSA in line with departmental SOPs.
- To provide contingency support to ED-Runner service if capacity allows
- To load/unload blood culture bottles from automated blood culture system and ensure positive bottles are transported appropriately.
- To learn new tasks appropriate to role of healthcare science associates as scope of role expands to meet the needs of service delivery.
- Operate, maintain and basic trouble shoot departmental analysers, in line with departmental SOPs.
- To undertake simple analytical procedures under guidance, maintain and operate laboratory equipment in accordance with departmental SOPs.
- To manually transcribe and record laboratory data, input to and manipulation of the laboratory computer system and derivation of worksheets
- To receive requests for information by telephone and respond appropriately.
- To prepare and reconstitute reagents and control materials and other processes as required, recording stock levels, maintenance of instruments and equipment, and keeping appropriate records both manually and electronic.
- To manage the day-to-day Quality Assurance for rapid testing provision by conducting, monitoring and resulting tests on appropriate schemes.
- To support in the management of Point of Care Testing (POCT) devices across the Trust, including training, audit and quality control.
- To work in compliance with local health and safety rules to ensure a safe working environment for yourself, colleagues and visitors. To adhere to department and Trust Health and Safety policies (including COSHH, Risk assessments and Standard Operating Procedures) and to report any non-compliances to a senior member of staff.
- Supporting in the training of new members of HCSA staff.
- The post holder will be required to support provision of 24/7 Hot Lab service by working evening shifts, weekend shifts and night shifts once trained on 1:8 rota. The post holder will be required to work in microbiology at the Freeman site on a rotational basis.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate.The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- A Healthcare Science Associate is part of a clinical support team whose purpose is to provide timely and accurate high quality scientific information that will assist service users from the hospital and community, in the establishment of a clinical diagnosis and monitoring of patient treatment.
- The Healthcare Science Associate will use practical skills to carry out tasks associated with the pre-analytical preparation of specimens as well as direct analysis of samples for a limited range of tests using rapid molecular techniques, blood sciences platforms and some culture-based investigations.
- Specimen reception: To deal with the reception, sorting and labelling of patient specimens, identifying inadequate and mislabelled specimens and ensuring urgent samples are prioritised.
- To ensure correct and timely transfer of microbiology and virology samples between testing sites.
- Data entry, preparing specimens for analysis, including booking in-patient and specimen details, storing, retrieving and disposing of specimens.
- To analyse a limited range of patient samples to detect microbial pathogens such as SARS-COV-2, Influenza A Virus, Strep A and MRSA in line with departmental SOPs.
- To provide contingency support to ED-Runner service if capacity allows
- To load/unload blood culture bottles from automated blood culture system and ensure positive bottles are transported appropriately.
- To learn new tasks appropriate to role of healthcare science associates as scope of role expands to meet the needs of service delivery.
- Operate, maintain and basic trouble shoot departmental analysers, in line with departmental SOPs.
- To undertake simple analytical procedures under guidance, maintain and operate laboratory equipment in accordance with departmental SOPs.
- To manually transcribe and record laboratory data, input to and manipulation of the laboratory computer system and derivation of worksheets
- To receive requests for information by telephone and respond appropriately.
- To prepare and reconstitute reagents and control materials and other processes as required, recording stock levels, maintenance of instruments and equipment, and keeping appropriate records both manually and electronic.
- To manage the day-to-day Quality Assurance for rapid testing provision by conducting, monitoring and resulting tests on appropriate schemes.
- To support in the management of Point of Care Testing (POCT) devices across the Trust, including training, audit and quality control.
- To work in compliance with local health and safety rules to ensure a safe working environment for yourself, colleagues and visitors. To adhere to department and Trust Health and Safety policies (including COSHH, Risk assessments and Standard Operating Procedures) and to report any non-compliances to a senior member of staff.
- Supporting in the training of new members of HCSA staff.
- The post holder will be required to support provision of 24/7 Hot Lab service by working evening shifts, weekend shifts and night shifts once trained on 1:8 rota. The post holder will be required to work in microbiology at the Freeman site on a rotational basis.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate.The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- NVQ4, or Foundation Degree in Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities, or IBMS certificate of Achievement portfolio or equivalent level experience
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Experience as a Healthcare Science Assistant (HCSA)
- Understanding a range of routine laboratory procedures and competence in pipetting, weighing, dilution, reagent preparation and quality checks
- Knowledge and understanding of the role of biomedical science in the diagnosis and treatment of disease
- Understanding of basic scientific techniques
Desirable
- Knowledge / interest in Biomedical Sciences
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Basic computer and keyboard skills
- Ability to work under pressure and prioritise work
- Good communication skills
- Ability to accurately follow protocol and instructions
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- NVQ4, or Foundation Degree in Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities, or IBMS certificate of Achievement portfolio or equivalent level experience
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Experience as a Healthcare Science Assistant (HCSA)
- Understanding a range of routine laboratory procedures and competence in pipetting, weighing, dilution, reagent preparation and quality checks
- Knowledge and understanding of the role of biomedical science in the diagnosis and treatment of disease
- Understanding of basic scientific techniques
Desirable
- Knowledge / interest in Biomedical Sciences
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Basic computer and keyboard skills
- Ability to work under pressure and prioritise work
- Good communication skills
- Ability to accurately follow protocol and instructions
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).
