• Job Description

  Req#: C9432-25-0855?language=en&page=292&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  We are looking for Medical Laboratory Assistants to join our Specimen Reception team in the Blood Sciences Pathology Department at Ipswich Hospital. We have a permanent position, full time 37.5 hours per week.

  This role is based in our pathology laboratory in Ipswich and you will work within a large team of Medical Laboratory Assistants. You will be responsible for receipt and pre-analytics processing of pathology samples which are then passed on to our other specialities.

  You will be required to work a variety of shifts over a 24 hour period to help support the technical staff to maintain a safe and effective service. Flexible shift working including evenings, weekends and nights is essential for this role.

  We are looking for a Healthcare professional who can understand the changing services of pathology and represent the new service going forward.

  You will start in a band 2 developmental role while you complete competencies in specimen reception. Once you have gained these competencies you will progress to a band 3.

  Training will be provided however knowledge of pathology would be advantageous.

  About our Pathology Service

  Main duties of the job

  Our vision is to deliver innovations and high-performing pathology services that are focussed on our customers whilst delivering high quality and fully compliant services.We are clinically led and designed to achieve the benefits of scale that can be achieved by working together, while remaining close enough to our customers to meet their needs and support the excellent clinical care provided by our hospitals.

  Responsible for sample receipt, numbering and data entry on to the computer system.

  Identify, action and report mislabelled or mislaid specimens, unsuitable sample or process failure.

  Participate in the day to day management of stock control and usage.

  About us

  We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes

  We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff

  We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options

  Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services

  Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients

  We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what's widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients

  If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you

  Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A

  Details

  Date posted

  01 July 2025

  Pay scheme

  Agenda for change

  Band

  Band 2

  Salary

  £23,615 to £25,674 a year per annum pro rata

  Contract

  Permanent

  Working pattern

  Full-time

  Reference number

  432-HR424-25

  Job locations

  Ipswich Hospital

  Heath Road

  Ipswich

  IP4 5PD

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

  Person Specification

  Education

  Essential

  • GCSE Maths and English (A-C) or equivalent

  Knowledge and Experience

  Essential

  • Demonstrable knowledge of a range of routine and non-routine healthcare science duties equivalent to an NVQ level 3/diploma

  Desirable

  • Practical experience of working in a Biomedical Science laboratory
  • Previous relevant experience of working in the NHS
  • Knowledge of Pathology IT systems
  • Knowledge of Quality Management Systems
  • European Computer Driving Licence or equivalent

  Skills and Aptitude

  Essential

  • Good communication skills
  • Willingness to undertake cross training to extend skill set to deliver role
  • Demonstrable interpersonal skills - can work as part of a team.
  • Ability to supervise less experienced staff, e.g. can demonstrate own work.

  Person Specification

  Education

  Essential

  • GCSE Maths and English (A-C) or equivalent

  Knowledge and Experience

  Essential

  • Demonstrable knowledge of a range of routine and non-routine healthcare science duties equivalent to an NVQ level 3/diploma

  Desirable

  • Practical experience of working in a Biomedical Science laboratory
  • Previous relevant experience of working in the NHS
  • Knowledge of Pathology IT systems
  • Knowledge of Quality Management Systems
  • European Computer Driving Licence or equivalent

  Skills and Aptitude

  Essential

  • Good communication skills
  • Willingness to undertake cross training to extend skill set to deliver role
  • Demonstrable interpersonal skills - can work as part of a team.
  • Ability to supervise less experienced staff, e.g. can demonstrate own work.

  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

  East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

  Address

  Ipswich Hospital

  Heath Road

  Ipswich

  IP4 5PD

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.esneft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

  Address

  Ipswich Hospital

  Heath Road

  Ipswich

  IP4 5PD

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.esneft.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.

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