Job summary
- Main area
- Microbiology
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 4
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job ref
- 432-HR734-25
- Employer
- East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Ipswich Hospital
- Town
- Ipswich
- Salary
- £27,485 - £30,162 per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 29/09/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Associate Practitioner - Microbiology
NHS AfC: Band 4
We are one of the largest NHS organisation in England. Our scale provides exciting opportunities for development, innovation, research, education and training.
Talk to us about our range of flexible working opportunities, apprenticeships and staff benefits
Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of all we do; and it forms part of the ESNEFT’s core activities. The Trust operates and relies on everyone treating each other with dignity and respect, to receive equitable and fair treatment in the implementation of Policies, Procedures and in its Practices, to foster positive work relationships, and finally to act with integrity as a professional within ESNEFT as well as a representative of the NHS as a whole. The EDI Agenda reflects the Trust values such as Optimistic, Appreciative and Kind. In line with the NHS Long Term Plan, People Plan, People Promise and a Model Employer intrinsic in the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Agenda, we consistently strive to improve, to take the learning into Action for a better ESNEFT.
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge then we are keen to hear from you.
Job overview
We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated individuals who are professional, reliable, innovative and flexible to join our friendly team in our Microbiology Laboratory.
Your role will involve supporting the Biomedical Scientists working in the Microbiology Laboratory.
Based at Ipswich Hospital our vision is to deliver innovative, high-performing pathology that is focused on our customers and delivers high quality and fully compliant services.
We want the best staff and are committed to attracting and retaining the best pathology staff and if you want to work with us to develop your own career and help us to achieve our vision then we would like to hear from you. We are in the unique position of providing a dedicated Pathology Training Team with the aim of producing a highly skilled workforce through the provision of continued training and development for our staff.
Work flexibly in reflection of service needs. This may include an extended working day and it will include weekend working.
Main duties of the job
- Perform a number of healthcare science clinical/technical/scientific activities under supervision, e.g. performs standard Microbiology tests.
- Maintain clinical records in relation to activities carried out; may input/interrogate test results of others.
- May be required to supervise, organise and allocate work and/or train less experienced staff in own area.
- Maintain and promote professional image of the pathology department
Our pathology department is part of the collaborative East Coast Pathology Network (see attached document)
About our Pathology Service https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBrydUl_c5w
Working for our organisation
We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients’ own homes
We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff
We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options
Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services
Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients
We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you
Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.
Person specification
Education
Essential criteria
- Appropriate NVQ 3/diploma or equivalent
- Additional theoretical or applied training to diploma equivalent level
Desirable criteria
- Working towards Foundation degree or equivalent
Experience
Essential criteria
- Demonstrable knowledge of a range of routine and non-routine healthcare science duties
- Demonstrable practical experience of working in a laboratory
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of Pathology IT systems
- Knowledge of Quality Management Systems
- Previous relevant experience of working in the NHS
- European Computer Driving Licence or equivalent
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Emma Whittaker
- Job title
- Microbiology Laboratory Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01473 703750
If you have problems applying, contact
- Address
-
Colchester General Hospital
- Telephone
- 07789651269
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