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Job summary

Main area
Biochemistry
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 4
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Part time - 30 hours per week (Weekday 13:30-20:00)
Job ref
349-CSS-7273028*
Employer
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Trafford General Hospital
Town
Manchester
Salary
£27,485 - £30,162 Per Annum, Pro Rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
28/07/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust logo

Associate Practitioner - Biochemistry

NHS AfC: Band 4

Job overview

MFT hosts one of the largest diagnostic Biochemistry services within the NHS. Now as its own directorate, Biochemistry resides within the division of laboratory medicine and currently comprises of laboratories across Oxford Road, Wythenshawe, Trafford and North Manchester Hospitals. Collectively the laboratories provide a diverse range of complex and specialist services for both adults and paediatrics, with MFT being a large tertiary referral centre and university teaching hospital.

We have an exciting opportunity at our Trafford site seeking an enthusiastic and highly motivated Associate Practitioner who has experience within the Biochemistry department and a passion for clinical excellence, quality and a drive for career development. The post holder will act as a support to Biomedical Scientists, who provide scientific services to patients as an aid to clinical diagnosis. The successful candidate will be required to undertake a wide range of analytical procedures, performing a range of manual, semi-automated and automated tests using scientific knowledge and experiences.

The successful candidate joins MFT in providing commonality of platforms and processes but also robustness and business continuity across our sites.

Main duties of the job

We’re looking for an enthusiastic, aspirational and highly motivated Associate Practitioner who has experience within the Biochemistry department and a passion for clinical excellence, quality and a drive for career development to join our Trafford General Hospital team. The role will involve routine processing of analytical samples, training and development of the support staff, and involvement in maintaining protocols on the section in line with ISO 15189 such as reagent control, documentation, quality assurance, audit processes and general overall performance. As a progressive department, we currently provide a significant amount of specialist services to both clinical users and external laboratories and invest in staff development offering support and encouragement in CPD with the opportunity to attend approved seminars and external courses when available.

The department is looking for a part time applicant, the post will be static in Trafford General Hospital, however, you may be expected to attend the other sites for meetings and service requirements.

The department has full HCPC training status for pre and post registration IBMS portfolios and full ISO 15189 accreditation.

Working for our organisation

MFT is one of the largest NHS Trust In England with a turnover of  over £3bn & is on a different scale than most other NHS Trusts. We’re creating an exceptional integrated health & social care system for the 1 million patients who rely on our services every year.

Bringing together 10 hospitals & community services from across Manchester, Trafford & beyond, we champion collaborative working & transformation, encouraging our 30,000 workforce to pursue their most ambitious goals. We set standards that other Trusts seek to emulate so you’ll benefit from a scale of opportunity that is nothing short of extraordinary.

 

We’ve also created a digitally enabled organisation to improve clinical quality, patient & staff experience, operational effectiveness & driving research, and innovation through the introduction of Hive; our Electronic Patient Record system which launched in September 2022.

 

We’re proud to be a major academic Research Centre & Education provider, providing you with a robust infrastructure to encourage and facilitate high-quality research programmes. What’s more, we’re excited to be embarking on our Green Plan which sets out how MFT continues to play its part in making healthcare more sustainable.

 

At MFT, we create and foster a culture of inclusion and belonging, provide equal opportunities for career development that are fair, open, and transparent, protecting your health and wellbeing and shaping the future of our organisation together.

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the ‘Supporting Documents’ heading.   So that you’re even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, you’ll need to take time to read the ‘Candidate Essentials Guide’ that sits with the Job Description and Person Specification.  This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how ‘we care for you as you care for others’.  Most importantly, it also contains critical information you’ll need to be aware of before you submit an application form. 

Diversity Matters

MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post.  As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you.  If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at [email protected].

We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

Person specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Foundation degree or equivalent in relevant field
Desirable criteria
  • Demonstrates desire to progress, interest in further training and education

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Laboratory experience including performing basic laboratory tests and procedures.
  • Experience in clinical laboratory setting
Desirable criteria
  • At least one-year clinical laboratory experience.

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Can follow standard operating procedures (SOP’s).
  • Ability to perform specified tests to required quality standards.
  • Can organise and prioritise tasks in their work area. Can work on own initiative.
  • Has good hand to eye co-ordination, manual dexterity and can perform tasks efficiently and accurately.
  • Must be able to work as part of a team
Desirable criteria
  • Able to complete basic maintenance of analytical equipment.
  • Demonstates basic computer skills, able to use laboratory software

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Demonstrates knowledge of a range of laboratory procedures
  • Knowledge of quality Assurance
Desirable criteria
  • Basic knowledge of health & safety

Aptitudes

Essential criteria
  • Confident handling and processing clinical samples.
  • Ability to cope with busy workload/ stressful periods.
  • Flexible approach to working hours which may vary according to Departmental needs.

Values

Essential criteria
  • Demonstrates trust values

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareApprenticeships logoArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardDisability confident employerStep into healthHappy to Talk Flexible Working

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Olivia Roach
Job title
Senior Biomedical Scientist
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0161 746 2480
Additional information

Emma Cowdell

Lead Biomedical Scientist

[email protected]

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