Healthcare Scientific Support Worker/Medical Laboratory Assistant

Job content

• Grade & Salary: AO (National) £20,472 - £22,377
• Location: Manchester University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, M13 9WL.

This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the largestmicrobiology departments in England as an AO gradeHealthcare Scientific Support Worker/Medical LaboratoryAssistant. The Manchester Medical Microbiology Partnership(MMMP) is a collaboration between UKHSA and ManchesterUniversity NHS Foundation Trust.The microbiology partnership provides comprehensiveroutine services and specialist services to a wide range ofhospitals across the North West and beyond and alsoassists in any UKHSA co-ordinated responses or activity of anational/international nature, e.g. Bioterrorism incident ormajor disease e.g enteric outbreaks, COVID19, SARS.

The department employs around 130 staff and has aworkload in excess of 1.2 million specimens covering majorclinical specialties including respiratory medicine,transplantation, burns, renal medicine, urology & paediatrics.

The department embraces all aspects of a modern clinicalbacteriology service combining traditional methodologies withlaboratory automation.

The post holder will act as a laboratory assistant to providesupport to the scientific team providing services to patientsand clients as an aid to clinical diagnosis.

You will be expected to work 37.5 hours, flexible between the
hours of 8am - 8pm Monday to Sunday.

Your main duties would include:

• Working as part of Laboratory Team
• Rotate through various managed units within

Microbiology

• Sample receipt and handing.
• Sample preparation and reagent preparation following

protocols.

• Clerical duties, including use of computers, and data

entry, telephone enquiries.

• Provide results service to wards, GPs and other

hospitals

• Dealing with patients, visitors and deliveries.
• Monitor and maintain appropriate stock levels, receipt

of deliveries and preparation of orders.

• Cleaning and disinfection of equipment and

laboratory areas.

• Monitoring and routine maintenance of equipment.
• Perform manual, semi-automated and automated

tests according to protocols.

• Disposal of patient samples in accordance with

relevant guidelines

• Autoclaving of waste material and patient samples

(involves moderate lifting).

• Portering duties
• Work in a safe manner in accordance with Laboratory

Health and Safety policies and procedures.

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where
Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to
actively encourage applications from everyone, including
groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our
staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an
inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions
to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities.
We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by
removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of
opportunity for all.

Your responsibilities would include:
Processing specimens, sub culturing of specimens, cleaningand maintenance of equipment, assisting BMS staff inanalytical techniques, and use of automated equipmentwithin Containment Level 3 laboratory.

Your would be using automated equipment and assist with itsmaintenance within Containment Level 2 laboratories.

You would need to participate in Quality Assurance andQuality Control activities, and assist the department inmaintaining UKAS accreditation.

The postholder would participate in audit processes, drugtrials, research projects as required. You would be assisting in the production of bacteriological culture media.

You may be expected to provide emergency cover betweenthe laboratories at Manchester Medical MicrobiologyPartnership.

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:
You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria – please do provide evidence of how you meet this.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW

This competition will involve an interview by video or onsite face to face.

As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.

Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).

You will also be asked to provide information within the ‘Employer/ Activity history’ section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history.

Please note that you may be required to provide a presentation or undertake a test at interview.

For further information on the selection process, please refer to the full job description.

Expected Timeline:
Advert close: 23:55hrs on 22nd August 2023 – unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Interviews: TBC

Please note these dates could be subject to change.