Job summary
- Main area
- Blood Sciences
- Grade
- Band 4
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 430-CC25-372A
- Employer
- Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- General Pathology (Dept)
- Town
- Milton Keynes
- Salary
- £27,485 - £30,162 Per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 17/09/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Rotational Associate Practitioner - POCT
Band 4
At Milton Keynes University Hospital, you will be welcomed into a friendly and supportive environment where teamwork and respect are at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to live our Trust values and behaviours every day, creating a culture where everyone feels heard and valued.
MKUH staff's Motivation and Involvement scores are among the highest in our peer group, showing that our people feel inspired and included in decision-making (Staff Survey, 2024).
Our benefits
We believe in recognising and rewarding the amazing contribution of our staff and that is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, work-life balance, and professional growth, including:
- Free on-site parking including EV charging
- Complimentary refreshments
- Flexible working arrangements
- Discounted gym membership
- Salary sacrifice car scheme
- Generous annual leave, with the option to bank holiday entitlement
- Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme
- On-site nursery (charges apply)
- A wide-ranging staff health and wellbeing programme including EAP
- VIVUP products to support your mental, physical, and financial Wellbeing
Job overview
Rotational Associate Practitioner - Point of Care Testing
Department: Point of Care Testing – MKUH Pathology
Band 4
Hours: 37.5 - all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
The Point of Care Testing (POCT) Team, part of the Pathology Department at MKUH, are seeking an engaging and enthusiastic individual to help support the service we provide to the wards and other clinical areas throughout the Trust, including community-based projects. Amongst other tasks the post holder will aid with the following:
· Manage 200+ POCT devices throughout the Trust, ensuring they are regularly maintained, serviced and repaired when needed.
· Run control checks (IQC and EQA) as required.
· Provide user training to clinical staff using the devices for patient testing.
· Carry out regular audits on the POCT services and equipment currently in use
· Aid POCT in meeting ISO 15189 standards.
In addition, the post holder will periodically rotate into the blood sciences laboratory. There they will assist in the delivery of a diagnostic service analysing blood, urine, faeces and other materials to achieve the objectives of efficient and effective patient care, and effective resource management within the hospital.
Further details can be found in the attached job description but if you have further questions or would like to arrange an informal visit please contact Phill Dickson, POCT coordinator ([email protected])
Main duties of the job
This is a new role and will involve rotation through Point of Care Testing (POCT) and also Blood Sciences laboratories. There are therefore 2 elements to the job description, Part A as the Associate Practitioner for Point of Care Testing and Part B – as an Associate Practitioner in Blood Sciences.
It is envisaged that the rotation period will be 6 monthly.
The post holder will be part of a team delivering Point of Care Testing Services, maintaining devices, training staff in their use and providing the necessary support required to achieve the objectives of efficient and effective patient care, and effective resource management within the hospital. (Rotation A)
The post holder will be part of a team of Associate Practitioners assisting in the delivery of a diagnostic service analysing blood, urine, faeces and other materials to achieve the objectives of efficient and effective patient care, and effective resource management within the hospital. (Rotation B)
The post holder will undertake their responsibilities within the Pathology department to meet all required national and Trust standards. They will be required to work both alone and as part of a departmental team. To attend departmental and other meetings as required and also attend external training and educational courses when required, i.e. instrument troubleshooting and repair.
73.8% of this team would strongly recommend their organisation as an excellent place to work. (Staff Survey, 2024).
Working for our organisation
We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute
Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a “Good” rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.
As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.
We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.
Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards – a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards – and the recently approved Women and Children’s Centre, set to open by 2030.
Visit our website to explore the latest news and opportunities at MKUH - News - Milton Keynes University Hospital -
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Main duties and responsibilities of the Point of Care Associate Practitioner (rotation post A)
Main Responsibilities.
To organise and liaise with the rest of the Point of Care Team, daily duties, duties out of the Department, and cover for absences within the Team, and the organisation of own work patterns.
To perform maintenance and troubleshooting of all point of care testing analysers supported by MKUH POCT, maintaining the operational effectiveness of the devices.
To maintain consumable stocks on board analytical equipment ensuring minimum down time.
Support
To ensure the operational effectiveness of the department is maintained, i.e. maintaining levels of consumables, keeping the department neat, tidy, and safe etc.
To deal with telephone enquiries in relating to Point of Care testing.
To prioritise workload, and deal with urgent issues appropriately.
Training
To provide training sessions in line with current SOPs in the correct use of Point of Care Testing equipment.
Maintain database of trained staff.
Main duties and responsibilities of the Blood Sciences Associate Practitioner (rotation post B)
Main Responsibilities
To organise and liaise with the rest of the Blood Sciences Technical Team to cover daily duties, out of hours duties, duties out of the department, and cover for absences within the Technical Team.
To run Internal Quality Controls through analysers to demonstrate the clinical suitability and reliability of results, and to follow SOPs when unacceptable results occur and carry out remedial action if indicated.
Please refer to the job description for further details.
Person specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential criteria
- Minimum of five GCSEs (A-C) including English Language, mathematics and a science subject.
- Level 3 qualification (A-level equivalent) in a science subject OR NVQ3 or equivalent experience in relevant discipline.
- Foundation Degree Course in Science or equivalent qualification.
- Knowledge of the principles of Health & Safety at Work
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience in Pathology laboratory.
- Practical experience of a range of diagnostic pathology techniques and equipment.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working unsocial hours shift patterns
Skills
Essential criteria
- Good organisational skills
- Able to achieve high standards of technical duties.
- Hand eye co-ordination and accuracy when performing tests.
- Ability to work unsupervised in a managed environment
Personal and people development
Essential criteria
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Ability to work in a team and be supportive to other team members.
- Concentration and attention to detail.
- Flexible approach
- Forward thinking
- Able and willing to work unsocial hours as required of the role
Communication
Essential criteria
- Good communication skills including a clear command of written and spoken English.
- Must have Information Technology skills
Specific requirements
Essential criteria
- Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Phillip Dickson
- Job title
- POCT Cordinator
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Additional information
Pathology services operate 24/7 and as such there will be a need for contractual hours to be worked across a 7 day period at hours determined by service need.
Interview date: Week commencing 29.09.2025
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