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Job summary

Main area
Pathology Family Health
Grade
Band 2
Contract
0 months (Bank)
Hours
  • Part time
  • Flexible working
  • Other
0 hours per week (Covering bank shifts between 6am and 8pm 7 days per week)
Job ref
264-7568887-BANKMLA
Employer
Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Kettering General Hospital
Town
Kettering
Salary
£24,465 pro rata/per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
31/10/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust logo

Medical Laboratory Assistant - Bank

Band 2

Job overview

We are looking for an enthusiastic person to work as a Bank Medical Laboratory Assistant in Specimen Reception and the Blood Sciences Laboratory as required.

Your duties will include  receipt, sorting and processing of samples. Entering requests onto the laboratory computer system, Telepath. Previous NHS and laboratory experience is desirable,  further training will be given.

Please be aware that although this is a laboratory post, this is not a training position for Biomedical Scientist.

Specimen Reception is within the Pathology Department at Kettering General Hospital.

Kettering General NHS Foundation Trust and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust are both part of the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group.  Both hospitals are separate hospitals/employers with hospital board and leadership. We share a group executive team leading on a shared vision, mission, priorities, strategies and Dedicated to Excellence Values.

Please visit the following websites for more information about working for us:

  • Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
  • Best of Both Worlds Northamptonshire
  • University Hospitals Northamptonshire NHS Group

Main duties of the job

Your duties will include receipt, sorting and processing of pathology samples and data entry of requests onto the laboratory computer system, Telepath. Waste disposal, unpacking deliveries and general equipment and laboratory maintenance. Other laboratory support tasks as required. Training will be provided.

 

Working for our organisation

Please submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close adverts once we have received sufficient applications

Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is on an exciting journey with all of our divisions committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered a Group Model with neighbouring Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN). As part of this collaborative approach, there may be a requirement for you to work across both the Kettering and Northampton hospital sites, depending on the needs of the service.

Our Excellence Values

  • Compassion
  • Accountability
  • Respect
  • Integrity
  • Courage

We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across UHN and help to unleash everyone's full potential. 

UHN encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups.  We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.

We recognise the valuable contribution that the Armed Forces community make to our organisation. We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and achieved Silver Award under the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme. 

We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for UHN.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1.Prioritisation (fast-tracking) of urgent specimens. Knowledge of request, sample type and analyser combinations needed to ensure correct specimen processing.

2. Solving of day-to-day problems, including mislabelled and lost specimens.

3. Keyboard entry of patient and specimen details onto laboratory computer system, ensuring accuracy of input.

4. Loading/unloading of specimens onto automated analysers. Storage of specimens according to written procedures.

5. Basic use of the analysers, following suitable training

6. Photocopying and general filing, including various request forms and collation of results from specialist external laboratories.

7. Daily checking of refrigerator and freezer temperatures.

8. Assistance with stock control to ensure supplies of specimen containers, labels and all consumables are available daily.

9. Participates in training of other laboratory assistants as required by supervisor

10.Disposal of laboratory waste. General cleaning and disinfection duties.

11.Deal with paediatric and other low-volume samples.

12.Any other duties consistent with this grade, as determined by the relevant supervisor, in relation to the smooth running of the department.

13.Answering the telephone for result enquiries and transferring calls appropriately.

 

For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the Shortlisting Criteria section of the document.

Person specification

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Understanding of confidential nature of patient data
  • Manual dexterity to manipulate specimens for processing
  • Ability to concentrate to process large blocks of repetitive work
Desirable criteria
  • Able to type specimen information accurately and quickly from a printed or hand-written request form
  • Understanding of H&S requirements in a laboratory
  • Knowledge of medical and/or laboratory terminology
  • Ability to understand and accurately pass on telephone messages

Experience

Desirable criteria
  • One of the following: Healthcare work experience, Computer data entry experience or Laboratory work experience

Educations, Training and Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Literacy/numeracy qualifications
Desirable criteria
  • Typing/word processing qualifications

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerAge positiveDisability confident leaderInvestors in People: GoldImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Mindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.National Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Andrew Langham
Job title
Blood Sciences Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01536 493376
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