NHS
Associate Healthcare Science Practitioner (XR04)
This job is now closed
Job Description
- Req#: C9298-PATH-511?language=en&page=434&sort=publicationDateDesc
- Experience of working in a hospital laboratory.
- Microbiology experience
- Knowledge/experience of stock control requirements
- Knowledge/experience of Quality control
- Ability to collaborate with others and work as part of a team
- Able to use initiative in complex situations
- Ability to communicate with staff at all levels both face to face and digitally
- NVQ3 or equivalent
- Diploma/foundation degree (Biomedical Science).
- Experience of working in a hospital laboratory.
- Microbiology experience
- Knowledge/experience of stock control requirements
- Knowledge/experience of Quality control
- Ability to collaborate with others and work as part of a team
- Able to use initiative in complex situations
- Ability to communicate with staff at all levels both face to face and digitally
- NVQ3 or equivalent
- Diploma/foundation degree (Biomedical Science).
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join an established team of Associate Practitioners within the Microbiology department based at the Centre for Laboratory Medicine, St James Hospital.
This role is pivotal in supporting the department, delivering strong supervision, stock management alongside laboratory work to assist the scientific staff.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly capable individual to take on this role. Ideally you will already have experience of working within a laboratory environment and have a strong teamwork ethic. You will have the ability to train others and support members of a team to achieve results.
Main duties of the job
The role of the B4 is based within Bacteriology, Mycology and Environmental and Water Testing. The team are rotational throughout laboratories. Expansion of the team will aid in delivering:
TB Testing: Assisting in set up within CL3 laboratories and management of stock
Environmental and Water Testing: production of results, under supervision, including performing colony counts and identifications, accessing and inputting data into the laboratory software
WASPlab: Supervision and training of support staff, workflow management
Mycology: Set up of serological based assays
The team are also pivotal in managing and ordering stock, liaising with procurement teams and suppliers and reviewing quality control of products received.
We provide a full 24/7 laboratory service supported by a shift system covering weekends & extended days. (agenda for change T&Cs). As a Associate Healthcare Science Practitioner you will participate in providing cover for the service after suitable training.
About us
The department is currently located within St James University Hospital processing in excess of two million samples per annum. The department uses a number of technologies to deliver the service including WASPlab, MS Prime, UF5000 & Serosep alongside traditional culture based Microbiology. The successful candidate will be working in a busy laboratory; delivering services to one of the UKs largest teaching hospitals leading to a diverse workload.
The department is also the lead laboratory for Public Health England in the Yorkshire and Humber region and plays important role in delivering Microbiology & Virology services to support this function.
The team are diverse and enthusiastic to deliver a quality service
Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.
Details
Date posted
16 March 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 4
Salary
£28,392 to £31,157 a year
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number
C9298-PATH-511
Job locations
St. James's University Hospital
Beckett Street
Leeds
LS9 7TF
Job descriptionJob description
Job responsibilities
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
The postholder will be expected to hold an NVQ3 or equivalent plus a diploma/foundation degree in Biomedical Science. Study at Foundation Degree level must include biology and chemistry and a work-based module in Biomedical Science.
He / she will need to have worked in a laboratory environment and have the ability to understand and apply a range of work routines and practices, for which formal on the job training will be provided.
9.CORE BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS
The job holder will be expected to demonstrate the following behaviours:
-A willingness to gain new knowledge through experience and participation in in-house training
-To use his / her initiative within the limits of departmental policies and SOPs
-To work collaboratively with colleagues to meet the laboratorys prescribed quality standards e.g. the turnround times for sample processing
-To work responsibly and with a minimum of supervision
-To exercise care, work with precision and follow accurately the documented laboratory standard operating procedures
-To take advice whenever he / she is confronted with a situation which is outside his / her area of expertise and where patients or colleagues safety might be compromised
-To operate highly complex laboratory equipment safely and efficiently
-To contribute actively towards the improvement of service quality and efficiency by observing and reflecting on departmental practices and making proposals for improvement
-To participate actively in the departmental appraisal scheme
-To demonstrate a flexible approach to work when the situation demands it
-To act professionally and as an ambassador for the Pathology Directorate
10.CORE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
As the job holder you will acquire sufficient knowledge and understanding to:
-Carry out a range of basic and technical procedures. This will include instruction in the safe and effective use of laboratory equipment. The level of knowledge and understanding achieved will be consistent with that to allow you to recognise system failures and errors. You will understand the need to report adverse events in the event of errors and failures.
-Participate actively in departmental internal and external quality assurance schemes. Your level of knowledge and understanding will allow you to recognise when expected levels of quality have not been met.
-Participate in the maintenance of a safe working environment. This will include an awareness of the hazards associated with your work. In addition you will be made aware of any suitable actions to take in the event of breaches in health and safety. Such hazards include fire, manual handling, and breaches of security, controlled and uncontrolled exposure to chemical, biological and radioactive materials.
-Maintain patient confidentiality. You will recognise the absolute requirement to protect sensitive information that is related to patient care.
-Observe the requirements of departmental protocols relating to service provision, for example sample labelling and adverse event reporting.
Technical/scientific:
Undertake routine and non-routine tests or activities, up to but not including the point of validation. Work to standard operating procedures. Be able to perform laboratory tests requiring a high degree of manual dexterity.
Equipment maintenance:
Responsible for monitoring and performing daily, weekly and monthly maintenance of centrifuges, automated analysers and other laboratory equipment, ensuring that logs are completed. Check the safety and functioning of all equipment, perform simple troubleshooting, fault rectification, document and report all malfunctions to BMS staff.
Quality:
Perform quality control as appropriate and report any out of consensus results to registered BMS staff.
Participate in the departmental audit cycle, as required.
Job responsibilities
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
The postholder will be expected to hold an NVQ3 or equivalent plus a diploma/foundation degree in Biomedical Science. Study at Foundation Degree level must include biology and chemistry and a work-based module in Biomedical Science.
He / she will need to have worked in a laboratory environment and have the ability to understand and apply a range of work routines and practices, for which formal on the job training will be provided.
9.CORE BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS
The job holder will be expected to demonstrate the following behaviours:
-A willingness to gain new knowledge through experience and participation in in-house training
-To use his / her initiative within the limits of departmental policies and SOPs
-To work collaboratively with colleagues to meet the laboratorys prescribed quality standards e.g. the turnround times for sample processing
-To work responsibly and with a minimum of supervision
-To exercise care, work with precision and follow accurately the documented laboratory standard operating procedures
-To take advice whenever he / she is confronted with a situation which is outside his / her area of expertise and where patients or colleagues safety might be compromised
-To operate highly complex laboratory equipment safely and efficiently
-To contribute actively towards the improvement of service quality and efficiency by observing and reflecting on departmental practices and making proposals for improvement
-To participate actively in the departmental appraisal scheme
-To demonstrate a flexible approach to work when the situation demands it
-To act professionally and as an ambassador for the Pathology Directorate
10.CORE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
As the job holder you will acquire sufficient knowledge and understanding to:
-Carry out a range of basic and technical procedures. This will include instruction in the safe and effective use of laboratory equipment. The level of knowledge and understanding achieved will be consistent with that to allow you to recognise system failures and errors. You will understand the need to report adverse events in the event of errors and failures.
-Participate actively in departmental internal and external quality assurance schemes. Your level of knowledge and understanding will allow you to recognise when expected levels of quality have not been met.
-Participate in the maintenance of a safe working environment. This will include an awareness of the hazards associated with your work. In addition you will be made aware of any suitable actions to take in the event of breaches in health and safety. Such hazards include fire, manual handling, and breaches of security, controlled and uncontrolled exposure to chemical, biological and radioactive materials.
-Maintain patient confidentiality. You will recognise the absolute requirement to protect sensitive information that is related to patient care.
-Observe the requirements of departmental protocols relating to service provision, for example sample labelling and adverse event reporting.
Technical/scientific:
Undertake routine and non-routine tests or activities, up to but not including the point of validation. Work to standard operating procedures. Be able to perform laboratory tests requiring a high degree of manual dexterity.
Equipment maintenance:
Responsible for monitoring and performing daily, weekly and monthly maintenance of centrifuges, automated analysers and other laboratory equipment, ensuring that logs are completed. Check the safety and functioning of all equipment, perform simple troubleshooting, fault rectification, document and report all malfunctions to BMS staff.
Quality:
Perform quality control as appropriate and report any out of consensus results to registered BMS staff.
Participate in the departmental audit cycle, as required.
Person SpecificationPerson Specification
Experience
Essential
Desirable
Skills & behaviours
Essential
Qualifications
Essential
Experience
Essential
Desirable
Skills & behaviours
Essential
Qualifications
Essential
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details
Employer name
Leeds Teaching Hospitals
Address
St. James's University Hospital
Beckett Street
Leeds
LS9 7TF
Employer's website
https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
Leeds Teaching Hospitals
Address
St. James's University Hospital
Beckett Street
Leeds
LS9 7TF
Employer's website
https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
About the company
National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.
Notice
Talentify is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
Talentify provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities, including disabled veterans. Request assistance at accessibility@talentify.io or 407-000-0000.
Federal law requires every new hire to complete Form I-9 and present proof of identity and U.S. work eligibility.
An Automated Employment Decision Tool (AEDT) will score your job-related skills and responses. Bias-audit & data-use details: www.talentify.io/bias-audit-report. NYC applicants may request an alternative process or accommodation at aedt@talentify.io or 407-000-0000.