The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Healthcare Science Assistant

The closing date is 23 November 2025

Job summary

An opportunity has arisen for a motivated and reliable individual to take on the role of part time (20 hours per week) Healthcare Science Assistant in the Newcastle Genetics Laboratory. The successful candidate will join a team of 100 Scientific and Technical staff and will be responsible for supporting the work of the laboratory in administrative tasks. They may also be required to assist in general laboratory housekeeping tasks.

This is a suitable post for a candidate with a mature attitude who is aware of the responsibilities involved in NHS laboratory work.

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

Literacy and numeracy skills to GCSE level or equivalent
Excellent organisational skills
Experience of working in an environment where attention to detail and the ability to concentrate are important.
Previous experience of administrative tasks
Ability to work well with other staff and function as part of a team

We provide testing for a wide variety of inherited and acquired conditions for a local population of over three million people and in addition provide specialised services to patients throughout the UK and internationally. The Newcastle Genetics Laboratory is located in purpose built accommodation at the Institute of Genetic Medicine close to Newcastle city centre, and has a close association with the high profile academic groups working in the Institute of Genetic Medicine research laboratories.

Main duties of the job

The Newcastle Genetics laboratories form part of the Yorkshire and North East Genomic Laboratory Hub. In response to NHS England's recent Strategy and Service Specification for the future of Genomics services in England, Newcastle Hospitals, Leeds Teaching Hospitals, Sheffield Children's Trust and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals have formed the Yorkshire and North East Genomics Laboratory Hub; an exciting collaboration to provide services for Genomics across Yorkshire and Humber and the North. The combined size of our geography makes this the largest collaboration in the country with the Trusts offering a range of both general and specialist hospital services with excellent clinical outcomes for patients. We have an international reputation for excellence in specialist care, research and academic training.

Data entry onto internal and external information systems

Administrative tasks associated with the laboratory and sample receipt and patient information

General housekeeping duties

About us

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.

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

Date posted

17 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

317-2025-46-30-DR

Job locations

International Centre for Life

317 07 Northern Genetics Service

NE1 3BZ

Job description

Job responsibilities

Interview date: 5th December 2025
20 hours/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.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

To work as a member of the laboratory technical staff, providing support to all sections of the laboratory.
Under the direction of the Laboratory Manager, the post holder will be responsible sending samples to other centres, both within the UK and abroad for specialist tests; dealing with the delivery, storage and distribution of laboratory disposables, reagents and equipment; cleaning and basic maintenance of laboratory equipment, and preparation of laboratory reagents and solutions.
The post holder will also deal with sample reception duties; storage of laboratory records, both manual and electronic and basic data entry into laboratory databases.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Interview date: 5th December 2025
20 hours/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.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

To work as a member of the laboratory technical staff, providing support to all sections of the laboratory.
Under the direction of the Laboratory Manager, the post holder will be responsible sending samples to other centres, both within the UK and abroad for specialist tests; dealing with the delivery, storage and distribution of laboratory disposables, reagents and equipment; cleaning and basic maintenance of laboratory equipment, and preparation of laboratory reagents and solutions.
The post holder will also deal with sample reception duties; storage of laboratory records, both manual and electronic and basic data entry into laboratory databases.

Person Specification

Knowledge

Desirable

Basic understanding of Health and Safety and Manual Handling

Skills

Essential

Basic computer and keyboard skills
Basic scientific skills

EXPERIENCE

Desirable

Some experience in the use of Microsoft Word, Access, Excel and the internet
Previous laboratory or similar experience

Qualifications

Essential

Good literacy and numeracy skills to GCSE level

Person Specification

Knowledge

Desirable

Basic understanding of Health and Safety and Manual Handling

Skills

Essential

Basic computer and keyboard skills
Basic scientific skills

EXPERIENCE

Desirable

Some experience in the use of Microsoft Word, Access, Excel and the internet
Previous laboratory or similar experience

Qualifications

Essential

Good literacy and numeracy skills to GCSE level

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.