Trac proudly powers the recruitment for
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

About
Contact
- Address
- Blackpool Victoria Hospital
- Whinney Heys Road
- Blackpool
- Lancashire
- FY3 8NR
Login changes are coming
From July 2025 onwards, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) will be introduced to this site. This will add an extra step to the login process: a requirement to enter a One Time Passcode (OTP) upon login to minimise fraud and maintain security. See our summary page here for more details.
Medical Laboratory Assistant
Closed for applications on: 24-Apr-2024 00:01
Vacancy status: Closed
Closed for applications on: 24-Apr-2024 00:01
Key details
Location
- Site
- Blackpool Teaching Hospitals
- Address
- Whinney Heys Road
- Town
- Blackpool
- Postcode
- FY3 8NR
- Major / Minor Region
- Lancashire
Contract type & working pattern
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (This will include some weekend working)
Salary
- Salary
- £22,816 - £24,336 per annum (pro rata for part time)
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Grade
- (NHS AfC: Band 3)
Specialty
- Main area
- Histology
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people.
We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. Plus, we provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries.
We welcome and encourage application from anyone with protected characteristics, as well as supporting reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS.
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals encourages flexible working in all our roles to support staff in maintaining healthy home-life balance. Working patterns such as: part time working, self-rostering, compressed hours, annualised hours, term time, reverse term time and flexitime working can be explored.
Job overview
The post holder will work in the context of the Objectives of the Pathology Directorate and the Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as a Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA)/Health Care Scientist in the Department of Cellular Sciences.
The principal duty of the post holder will be to assist with tests and background tasks of the Cellular Sciences Department, which do not require interpretation or the skill and training of a HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist. Duties will be carried out following established Standard Operating Procedures, under the supervision of the HCPC registered Biomedical Scientists, and/or the Head of Department.
Additional duties will be undertaken as directed by the Head of Department, in consultation with the post holder.
The post holder will be expected to work in one of the following areas, as directed
- Archiving, mailing & administration
- Specimen reception & dissection
- Histology processing
Rotation between sections is anticipated, but flexibility is expected.
Advert
- To support Biomedical Scientists and Consultant Pathologists in performing tests and background tasks of the Cellular Sciences Department, without interpretation, to the required standards, under supervision by State Registered Biomedical Scientists.
- To receive, sort, prepare, process and dispatch clinical samples, including tissue embedding and sectioning.
- To prepare for, attend on, and clean down afterwards, clinical dissection sessions, take notes, and support the pathologist or biomedical scientist as appropriate.
- To prepare specimen containers and manage their supply to service users.
- To archive and/or dispose of specimens and preparations in accordance with operating procedures.
- To provide accurate data entry of patient and process details using computer/database systems
Working for our organisation
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, and offers a full range of district hospital services and community health services to a population of 1.6 million in Lancashire and South Cumbria.
The Trust provides services to the 440,000 residents of Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre and North Lancashire, as well as specialist tertiary care for Cardiac and Haematology services across the wider region.
We recommend that all individuals employed in patient facing roles, or those located on a ward or department where patients receive a service should be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1. Scientific and Technical :
- To support Biomedical Scientists and Consultant Pathologists in performing tests and background tasks of the Cellular Sciences Department, without interpretation, to the required standards, under supervision by State Registered Biomedical Scientists.
- To receive, sort, prepare, process and dispatch clinical samples, including tissue embedding and sectioning.
- To prepare for, attend on, and clean down afterwards, clinical dissection sessions, take notes, and support the pathologist or biomedical scientist as appropriate.
- To prepare specimen containers and manage their supply to service users.
- To archive and/or dispose of specimens and preparations in accordance with operating procedures.
- To provide accurate data entry of patient and process details using computer/database systems
- Timely response to telephone enquiries (excluding interpretation of, or release of, results)
- To plan and organise day to day tasks to ensure accurate and timely discharge of duties.
- Contribute to, and maintain, high professional standards of the Pathology service.
- To comply with all Departmental, Directorate, Trust and Statutory policies and Operating Procedures.
- To ensure safe handling of hazardous and infective materials and waste, according to defined protocols.
- To ensure equipment is used safely and according to manufacturers guidelines and local Operating Procedures, and that faults and breakdowns are reported to senior staff in a timely fashion.
- Observe and adhere to all legislation pertaining to the Human Tissue Act.
- Participate in the application of internal and external quality control measures and audits.
- Observe confidentiality of patient and intellectual information.
- Conform to the standards as laid down in the National Occupational Standards for Healthcare Scientists.
Personal
- To ensure personal compliance with regards to mandatory, professional and personal development according to service needs, to attend annual appraisal and maintain an appropriate up to date knowledge base and complete all mandatory training requirements as directed
- To communicate with all grades of staff, and work as both an individual and part of a team.
- To ensure personal compliance with professional codes of conduct.
Please click here to view our Care and Compassion Day video
Any invitation to interview will be sent to the email account stated on your application form.
If the role you have applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this as part of your pre-employment checks. Please note, you will be required to repay the cost on appointment. This will be collected via a salary deduction. You can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months from your salary or as a one-off payment on commencement in post. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently the charges are - Basic DBS check £25.50, Standard DBS check £25.50 and Enhanced DBS check £53.50.
You are encouraged where possible, to register for the DBS update service. This is an annual registration fee of £16. By registering for the update service you will not have the additional cost of repeated disclosures.
Should you withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check.
DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions.
By submitting an application for this vacancy you are confirming your agreement to the above in the event you are successfully appointed.
The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here.
Please ensure that you read the Person Specification attached below as your application will be judged against this.
Please note that every effort will be made to keep the vacancy live until published closing date, though there may be instances where such interest is generated, that for administrative reasons the post may close earlier.
Please note that in line with national NHS guidelines this Trust operates a strict non-smoking policy. Members of staff are not permitted to smoke on Trust premises or grounds at any time nor take breaks during working hours for the purposes of smoking.
The Trust does not offer interview expenses to shortlisted candidates unless indicated in the advert.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- • GCSE or equivalent in sciences, mathematics and English.
Desirable criteria
- • “A” level/GCSE or equivalent in sciences, mathematics and English.
- • NVQ level 2 or 3 in Laboratory Sciences or Clinical Lab Support.
Experience
Essential criteria
- • Experience of working in a laboratory environment.
- • Experience with computers/P.C.s
Desirable criteria
- • Experience of histology techniques.
- Administration / Office skills
Skills & Knowledge
Essential criteria
- • Able to follow instructions without deviation.
- • Good telephone technique.
- • Ability to work under pressure.
- • Good organisational skills.
- • Able to work as part of a dedicated team.
- • Flexibility of working pattern.
- • Good communication skills
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Joanne Sharples
- Job title
- Cellular Pathology Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01253 953151
No longer accepting applications
Sorry, this vacancy is no longer accepting applications.
You can search for similar jobs on the employer's job board, or visit our national jobs board Health Jobs UK.