Job overview

We are looking for applicants to work as Assistant Healthcare Scientists (Band 2) in Pathology Sample Reception at William Harvey Hospital (WHH). 2 full-time positions are available, 37.5 hours per week, based at WHH in Ashford, Kent. Part-time working may be available.

A keen eye for detail and excellent customer service skills are essential.

Successful applicants will be required to participate in the ‘7-day working’ pattern including weekends, nights and Bank Holidays.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Pathology Blood Sciences team at the Trust and to help shape future strategy and services for our local population.

We currently hold UKAS Accreditation, an HTA Licence and are an IBMS training laboratory.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work in the Sample Reception area of the main laboratory and undertake duties to support Biomedical Scientists in the preparation and examination of biological samples. Duties include receiving and checking of samples, data entry, reagent preparation, general maintenance, stock control and pre-analytical duties such as the centrifugation of samples. The post holder regularly interacts with patients and other service users, also dealing with phone queries.

As an ideal candidate, you have good keyboard skills with a high level of accuracy and are a good team player with a flexible approach to working. Ideally you have some laboratory experience, or an interest and aptitude for science. You are highly motivated and enthusiastic – and educated to at least GCSE level or equivalent.

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust’s vision, mission and values, which can be found in our candidate information pack. The Supporting Information Section in your application should therefore reflect your understanding of the Trust’s Values and associated Behaviours. You will be expected to provide us with examples from work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values.

Working for our organisation

We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is 'great healthcare from great people'. Everything we do is guided by our values: 'People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference’. We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called 'We care'. It's about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day. We're looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.

KMPN: Kent and Medway Pathology Network is a formal partnership of seven laboratories across three pathology services in four acute Trusts. Our 1000 colleagues provide services across the health and care sector to a population of nearly 2 million.

We are at an exciting point of our network development with a recommendation to form a joint venture across the four Trusts leading transformation.  Our projects including single IT solutions, procurement and digital projects, to ensure our services are able to meet growing demand for our service users, patients and communities.