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Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Healthcare Science Assistant

The closing date is 20 May 2025

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Job summary

Senior Healthcare Science Assistant (Pathology Support Unit)

Department Pathology (Blood Science)

Band 3 £24,071 to £25,674 Full Time pro rata if part-time

Hours: 37.5 per week, worked across 7 days including Weekends/BH. Shifts worked between the hours 0845-2100 or as required.

all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working

Here at Milton Keynes we have committed leadership who engage our staff, listen to innovative ideas, and involve our people in the challenges and improvements that our organisation faces. Continuing professional and personal development is encouraged and supported. We provide a comprehensive 24/7 service which staff support through flexible rostering.

Applications are invited to join the Pathology Support Unit of Blood Sciences as a Senior Healthcare Science Assistant working with a team of dedicated healthcare professionals to deliver a high quality service that is responsive to patient requirements. You will be a key member of the PSU team providing support services to departments analysing and reporting on, blood, urine, faeces and other materials to achieve the objectives of efficient and effective patient care. You will be required to deliver a service that meets the quality standards of ISO 15189 and participate in work patterns that support our 24/7 service.

Interview Date - 29/05/2025

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be a part of a team of Healthcare Science Support staff delivering services to laboratories analysing and reporting on, blood, urine, faeces and other materials to achieve the objectives of efficient and effective patient care.

The post holder will be managed and expected to prioritise their own workload and communicate with laboratory staff and clinicians as well as patients, members of the public and external healthcare staff.

The post holder will also be expected to maintain adequate supplies of reagents and consumables.

The post holder will undertake technical and administrative tasks to ensure a reliable service and will be required to undertake their responsibilities within any of the sections of their department to meet all required national standards e.g. ISO 15189.

The post holder will be expected to train all grades of staff working in the Support Unit following personal training and demonstrated competency.

About us

"We care we communicate we collaborate we contribute"

MKUH staff scored highest for 'I look forward to coming to work' (NHS Staff Survey 2023).

You can expect a warm welcome at Milton Keynes University Hospital, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours. At MKUH we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:

  • Free on-site parking
  • Free refreshments
  • Great flexible workingopportunities
  • Discounted gym membership
  • Lease car scheme
  • Generous annual leave and pension scheme
  • On site nursery (chargeable)
  • Extensive staff health and well-being programme

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital; we conduct research and teaching on site to improve the care of our patients. The hospital is undergoing significant investment, and we are proud to be rated good by the CQC. Visit our website to catch up on our latest news.

Details

Date posted

07 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,625 to £25,674 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

430-CC25-60A

Job locations

General Pathology (Dept)

Milton Keynes

MK6 5LD


Job description

Job responsibilities

Maintain a professional approach to work at all times and to deal courteously with enquiries from within and outside the hospital.

Manage Pathology reception, receiving visitors and patients, dealing with enquiries and ensuring that printed results are sent to requesters at an acceptable rate.

Manage telephone enquiries, ensuring the caller is authorised to receive personal and/or confidential information, passing on enquiries to BMS (biomedical scientist) staff where appropriate & giving out authorised results to medical & nursing staff.

Please refer to the Job Description for full details

Job description

Job responsibilities

Maintain a professional approach to work at all times and to deal courteously with enquiries from within and outside the hospital.

Manage Pathology reception, receiving visitors and patients, dealing with enquiries and ensuring that printed results are sent to requesters at an acceptable rate.

Manage telephone enquiries, ensuring the caller is authorised to receive personal and/or confidential information, passing on enquiries to BMS (biomedical scientist) staff where appropriate & giving out authorised results to medical & nursing staff.

Please refer to the Job Description for full details

Person Specification

Qualifications and knowledge

Essential

  • Level 3 qualification i.e. A level in Maths and/or Science. In the absence of this Level 2 qualification i.e. GCSE in Maths, Science or English with experience in Healthcare science.
  • Knowledge and understanding of Microsoft Office applications
  • Knowledge of Manual Handling and Health & Safety legislation
  • Knowledge of ISO 15189 Standards for Medical laboratories
  • Knowledge of Data Protection Action and GDPR

Desirable

  • Level 4 Science based qualification i.e HND or first part Foundation Degree

Experience

Essential

  • Experience in Healthcare and/or Healthcare Science
  • Experience using with Laboratory Information Systems
  • Customer Service/Care experience

Desirable

  • Experience in NHS Healthcare Science
  • Experience in leading teams

Skills

Essential

  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Record Keeping skills
  • Good organisational skills
  • Methodical and accurate approach to tasks

Personal and People Development

Essential

  • Ability to work individually and in a team
  • Ability to work under pressure
  • Ability to manage conflict
  • Ability to train other staff

Communcation

Essential

  • Clear and accurate written and verbal use of English communication at all levels of the organisation
  • Good Telephone ability
  • Ability to apply principles of GDPR

Specific requirements

Essential

  • Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
  • Physically able and mobile
  • Able to work 7 day pattern between 0845-2100
  • Flexible to changing service requirements
Person Specification

Qualifications and knowledge

Essential

  • Level 3 qualification i.e. A level in Maths and/or Science. In the absence of this Level 2 qualification i.e. GCSE in Maths, Science or English with experience in Healthcare science.
  • Knowledge and understanding of Microsoft Office applications
  • Knowledge of Manual Handling and Health & Safety legislation
  • Knowledge of ISO 15189 Standards for Medical laboratories
  • Knowledge of Data Protection Action and GDPR

Desirable

  • Level 4 Science based qualification i.e HND or first part Foundation Degree

Experience

Essential

  • Experience in Healthcare and/or Healthcare Science
  • Experience using with Laboratory Information Systems
  • Customer Service/Care experience

Desirable

  • Experience in NHS Healthcare Science
  • Experience in leading teams

Skills

Essential

  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Record Keeping skills
  • Good organisational skills
  • Methodical and accurate approach to tasks

Personal and People Development

Essential

  • Ability to work individually and in a team
  • Ability to work under pressure
  • Ability to manage conflict
  • Ability to train other staff

Communcation

Essential

  • Clear and accurate written and verbal use of English communication at all levels of the organisation
  • Good Telephone ability
  • Ability to apply principles of GDPR

Specific requirements

Essential

  • Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
  • Physically able and mobile
  • Able to work 7 day pattern between 0845-2100
  • Flexible to changing service requirements

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

General Pathology (Dept)

Milton Keynes

MK6 5LD


Employer's website

https://www.mkuh.nhs.uk/working-at-mkuh (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

General Pathology (Dept)

Milton Keynes

MK6 5LD


Employer's website

https://www.mkuh.nhs.uk/working-at-mkuh (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Deputy PSU Manager

Jonathan Popoola

Jonathan.Popoola@mkuh.nhs.uk

01908995758

Details

Date posted

07 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,625 to £25,674 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

430-CC25-60A

Job locations

General Pathology (Dept)

Milton Keynes

MK6 5LD


Supporting documents

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