Job overview

We are looking for a Senior Assistant Healthcare Scientist within the Microbiology discipline (Virology and Serology) at William Harvey Hospital.  Prospective candidates will be highly motivated, enthusiastic and educated to at least level 3 qualification or above (A-levels or equivalent).  You will also have a keen eye for detail along with the ability to work accurately and efficiently. This Band 3 role is permanent, substantive and full-time 37.5 hours per week.

The post-holder will work in all sections of Microbiology and undertake duties to support Biomedical Scientists in the diagnosis of infectious disease. One of your most important responsibilities will be the supervision and training of Assistant Healthcare Scientists.

Microbiology is known for its inclusivity, strong team spirit and open friendly culture.  There is great emphasis on cross communication between technical and diagnostic teams. We currently hold UKAS Accreditation, and are an IBMS training laboratory.

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

The laboratory is open 7 days per week, with core hours covering 8.30am to 5pm. We are looking for applicants to cover a range of shifts including 1:4 weekends, bank holidays, and Late shifts working until 7pm, but are open to flexible working options within the core hours (no night working).

Main duties of the job

The role is based within Microbiology to support Biomedical Scientists in the specimen reception, and preparation and examination of biological samples.  The post-holder will use a wide range of analysers and manual laboratory techniques. You will contribute to quality management and improvement, through production of high-quality results and maintaining ISO 15189 accreditation. You are flexible, able to prioritise and manage your time effectively, and able to remain calm under pressure. You possess good keyboard skills, a high level of accuracy, and are a good team player with a flexible approach to working.

Duties include:

·         To be actively involved in the induction and training of new staff in serology reception, data entry duties and telephone enquiries.

·         To raise orders on Business World and NHS Supply Chain.

·         To liaise with Suppliers to deal with queries regarding goods (e.g. damage, shortage, non-delivery).

·         To enter patient information onto the Pathology Laboratory Information Management System to ensure patient information is accurate and available in a timely manner.

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust’s vision, mission and values. The Supporting Information Section in your application should 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 and behaviours.

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.

Please note that if you require a Certificate of Sponsorship to work in the UK you must declare this on your application form, even if you currently have a certificate of sponsorship or a work permit for another role and are already working in the country. Please note we are only able to sponsor candidates on a Skilled Worker Visa applying for roles Band 5 and above.