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Job summary

Main area
Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics
Grade
Band 4
Contract
18 months (Fixed term/secondment)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Flexible working, 7.5 hours per day Monday to Friday, with core times being 09:30 to 15:30 in accordance with WBS flexi policy)
Job ref
120-ACS012-0625
Employer
Welsh Blood Service
Employer type
NHS
Site
Welsh Blood Service
Town
Pontyclun
Salary
£26,928 - £29,551 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
19/06/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Welsh Blood Service logo

Associate Practitioner

Band 4

Here at Velindre University NHS Trust we are extremely proud of the specialist services we provide across the whole of Wales in our cutting-edge Velindre Cancer Centre and our award-winning Welsh Blood Service, as well as the expertise of our corporate functions that bring the two divisions together. We are also fortunate to host the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership and Health Technology Wales and have developed strong partnership working with these expert services.  

As a division of Velindre University NHS Trust, the Welsh Blood Service (WBS) is an amazing place to work and develop your career.  Our caring and motivated staff are designing, developing and delivering improvements, which will enable the WBS to strive towards its vision of working with our staff & the people of Wales to deliver an easy to use, safe and sustainable service for blood and stem cell donation. 

As a trusted healthcare provider, we work tirelessly to maintain the highest standards of quality, safety and donor experience.

 

We are currently embarking an ambitious 5 year strategy called “WBS Futures” where we have set out our vision for blood and transplant services in Wales for the next 5 years. It sets out where we are now, where we want to be in 2028 and the steps we will take to get there.

You can read more about our strategy here: www.welsh-blood.org.uk/welsh-blood-service-strategy-2023-2028

WBS is a committed equal opportunities employer.

Take a look at what we do. Our dedicated career pages can be found at https://welsh-blood.org.uk/careers/ 

Applications may be submitted in Welsh.  Applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Please check your email account regularly. Successful applicants will receive all recruitment related correspondence via the email account registered on the application form.

Please be advised that there is a temporary top up for Bands 2 and 3 to reflect the incorporation of the top up to the living wage of £12.60 per hour - £24,638 per annum.

This temporary top up will be in place until the annual pay uplift for 2025/26 is confirmed

Job overview

THIS POST IS FIXED TERM/SECONDMENT FOR UPTO 18 MONTHS DUE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE SERVICE

The post holder will provide specialist complex technical support for the Welsh Transplantation Service Laboratory which provides laboratory testing for renal and hemopoietic stem cell transplant programmes and for the platelet immunology service for thrombocytopenic patients. 

The post holder will work in rotation in the Solid Organ Transplantation Services and Stem Cell Transplantation Services laboratories. The post holder will be required to maintain technical expertise and knowledge to support these services and the testing performed across each of the Sections.

The post holder will work in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers in Wales under the supervision of the laboratory’s Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered Biomedical and Clinical Scientists.

The post is fixed term/secondment for 18 months to cover maternity leave.

If applying for secondment, you need permission from manager to apply as this is mandatory for all secondment posts.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

This is a fixed term/Secondment until January 2027

 

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work autonomously in accordance with defined policies and procedures referring to HCPC Registered Scientists as required.

The post holder will be responsible for managing and prioritising their own workload according to agreed parameters.

The post holder will assist in the preparation, processing, testing and analysis of patient and donor samples.

Receive, check sample suitability, validate identifiers and log samples into laboratory database, assigning tests required according to agreed profiles.

Prepare genomic DNA, serum and lymphocytes from blood and other sources for use in laboratory assays.

Provide Human Leucocyte Antigen (HLA) typing services for clinical diagnosis of patient and donor samples using a range of DNA-based techniques E.g. RT-PCR, NGS.

Perform clinical HLA-antibody screening and definition testing of patient samples using Luminex® assays.

Prepare and dispense laboratory chemicals and reagents in accordance with laboratory usage and current/projected usage.

Interpret and assign individual test results in accordance with agreed criteria.

Assist in maintaining a programme of cleaning, decontamination and basic preventative maintenance of equipment and the completion of appropriate records.

Use specialist scientific equipment requiring a high degree of concentration, co-ordination accuracy and precision e.g. DNA sequencers, luminex analyser.

 

Working for our organisation

Here at Velindre University NHS Trust we are extremely proud of the specialist services we provide across the whole of Wales in our cutting-edge Velindre Cancer Centre and our award-winning Welsh Blood Service, as well as the expertise of our corporate functions that bring the two divisions together. We are also fortunate to host the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership and Health Technology Wales and have developed strong partnership working with these expert services. 

Formed in 1994, the Trust has a dedicated workforce that continuously strives to provide the key principles of prudent healthcare through a wide array of roles. We play a vital role in the communities we support and have ambitious plans for the future to continue to improve the services we deliver. We strive to maintain our core values in everything we do by being; accountable, bold, caring and dynamic, and ensuring the best possible care for our patients and donors.

If you want to work for an organisation that prides itself on making a real difference and offers exciting career opportunities then Velindre University NHS Trust is the place for you.

Visit our website to find out more https://velindre.nhs.wales/

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will be able to find a full Job Description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click “Apply now” to view in Trac.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • HNC/HND/Foundation Degree in a relevant scientific subject
  • Knowledge of the principles of Good Laboratory Practice
  • Knowledge of the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers in Wales
Desirable criteria
  • Understanding of the role of H&I laboratories in supporting transplantation services
  • Understanding of the impact of working in a regulated environment

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Previous teamwork
  • Experience of working to set procedures
  • Previous laboratory experience
Desirable criteria
  • Previous work requiring prolonged and intense concentration.
  • Previous experience in a pathology laboratory
  • Previous experience of working in an NHS environment

Aptitude and abilities

Essential criteria
  • Computer literate
  • Standard keyboard skills
  • Good organisational skills
  • Able to work to deadlines
  • Able to use initiative
  • Able to work with precision and accuracy
  • Good communication skills
  • Able to work as part of a large team
  • Adaptable and flexible approach to work
  • Good self-motivator
  • Enthusiastic style
  • Able to concentrate for long periods
Desirable criteria
  • Welsh speaker

values

Essential criteria
  • Commitment to Patient care
  • Demonstration of trust values

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoAge positiveInvestors in People: GoldImproving working livesStop Smoking Wales is the NHS Smoking Cessation Service in WalesStonewall Hyrwyddwr Amrywiaeth Diversity ChampionMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerCore principles

Applicant requirements

Welsh language skills are desirable

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Michael Richardson
Job title
Healthcare Scientist Team Leader
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01443 622186
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