Apprentice Healthcare Science Associate

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 24 February 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Apprentice Healthcare Science Associate at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. The post is available to anyone who is interested in working within an NHS Healthcare environment while completing a Level 4 Diploma in Healthcare Science (24 months).

Staff new to the Trust will be employed on an apprentice contract so that they have an opportunity to 'earn while they learn'.

Our apprenticeships offer:

the chance to earn a salary while studying.
training in job specific and transferrable skills
protected time to study towards a related qualification (including literacy and numeracy if required)
regular pastoral support and personal development reviews
employment on a 24-month training contract
benefits such as paid annual leave, comprehensive mandatory training, protected time for your studies and NHS discounts

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds.

This post does not guarantee permanent employment on completion; however, the apprenticeship will provide you with valuable skills and experience to apply for other healthcare science supporting positions within the NHS.

We'd be particularly keen to hear from you if:

You live in a neighbourhood with a low rate of progression to higher education
You have been looked after or in care
You would be in the first generation of your family to progress onto a level 4 qualification

Main duties of the job

You will be trained to perform a variety of Healthcare Associate roles within a busy department, which will involve meeting, communicating, and working with people from all backgrounds.

You will be working directly with other Pathology staff, preparing samples for diagnostic tests, undertaking basic diagnostic investigations, inputting data, following procedures, ordering stock and any other associated administrative duties.

There will be taught sessions (these may be online) and work-based assessment which contribute to the learning element of the programme. Apprentices will complete a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate their learning and skills in practice in accordance with the apprenticeship framework.

The Level 4 Healthcare Science apprenticeship is suited to those who are interested in the welfare of others and have a caring attitude to other people, with a keen interest in science. We are looking for an individual who can put the patient's needs before their own, be honest, friendly and have a professional attitude to work. The work will be based in busy departments; therefore, will suit individuals who like to deal with a variety of tasks. Through your working practices you will apply dignity, respect and maintain confidentiality, you will work well in a team, be courteous, sympathetic and professional. It is also important that you maintain a safe working environment and contribute to the safeguarding of patients.

About us

We manage three major locality hospitals at North Tyneside, Wansbeck and Hexham, plus a number of smaller community hospitals and clinics from Tynemouth to Berwick on Tweed, covering one of the largest geographical areas of any NHS trust in the country. Leading in innovation and quality - opening a state of the art Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, the first of its kind in England. Do you want to work in one of the best performing NHS organisations in England? Work in an organisation that supports its staff and focuses on staff experience as much as it does the experience of its patients? You can live and breathe in an area that has the cleanest air, cost effective living, great nightlife, some of the best schools with a wealth of history available on your doorstep. Sound too good to be true? Well it isn't, this is what you get when you work for Northumbria Healthcare, this is the Northumbria Way! Please read 'applicant guidance notes' before submitting your application.

Date posted

10 February 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,071 to £25,674 a year per annum

Contract

Apprenticeship

Duration

2 years

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

319-6956094SC

Job locations

Wansbeck General Hospital

Woodhorn Lane

Ashington

NE63 9JJ

Job description

Job responsibilities

Apprentice Healthcare Science Associates will undertake an initial structured departmental induction and then follow a training programme throughout the apprenticeship to enable them to:

Work under the supervision of the Biomedical Scientist, Clinical Scientist and other team members in the delivery of high-quality care.

Provide assistance and support to a broad spectrum of service users, and the multi-disciplinary team.

Take operational and administrative responsibilities for a specific area of the laboratory or provide operational and administrative support within a laboratory area. This may include the supervision of Medical Laboratory Assistants.

Assist with the daily workload within a department.

Assist with receipting orders.

Assist with maintenance of and setting up of analytical equipment.

Be responsible for performing a range of scientific procedures on biological samples that contribute to the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of diseases and the investigation of other pathological processes.

Gain relevant work-based learning within a Healthcare environment.

Become prepared and knowledgeable within the working environment and work towards gaining a Level 4 Diploma in Healthcare Science.

The work of the service brings staff into constant contact with human body fluids, tissues, and hazardous chemicals. This may be blood, urine, other body fluids and faeces.

The work involves exposure to case history information on a daily basis which may have the potential to cause emotional distress therefore candidates will need personal resilience and the ability to maintain a professional manner when dealing with these cases.

Please read the Person Specification for Essential Qualifications before applying.

Closing Date: Please be advised that this job advert will close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Please apply for this job as soon as you can, if interested.