Overview
Associate Practitioner, Blood Sciences, Band 4, Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle.
Support biomedical scientists in the day to day activities of the laboratory, including performing laboratory tests according to protocol, interpreting routine results and acting accordingly within agreed protocols, supervising and training support staff.
Responsibilities
* Provision of a comprehensive Blood Sciences service to North Cumbria Hospitals and primary care. The departments offer core analyses on a frequent basis, processing urgent requests and a variety of specialised tests. The Blood Sciences service is provided on a 24/7 basis with out of hours cover delivered via shift patterns according to the urgency and volume of the work.
* Receive samples into the laboratory, ensuring compliance with minimum acceptance criteria, and dealing with discrepancies where appropriate.
* Prepare samples for analysis (specimen handling, centrifugation).
* Perform daily analyser start-up procedures, including accurate pipetting.
* Load and operate general laboratory equipment as required under supervision, following standard operating procedures.
About the Organisation
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital and community services across north Cumbria and beyond. The organisation aims to deliver safe, high quality care and to be a diverse and inclusive workplace.
* Clinical leadership
* Quality and safety at the heart
* A positive patient experience every time
* A great place to work
* Managing resources effectively
We encourage staff to engage with sustainability initiatives and to embed carbon reduction in everyday work.
Details
Date posted: 10 September 2025
Pay scheme: Agenda for Change
Band: Band 4
Salary: £27,485 to £30,162 a year, plus Unsocial Hours payments
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference: 262-A-25-7408715
Location: Cumberland Infirmary, Newtown Road, Carlisle, CA2 7HY
Job description – Responsibilities and Criteria
Please see attached job description and person specification for the essential and desirable criteria.
Note: Eligibility related to immigration and sponsorship is in place; applicants must check eligibility before applying. If applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all essential criteria, you will be guaranteed an interview. Relocation assistance may be available for eligible posts.
Essential and Desirable Criteria
Qualifications
* Essential: NVQ 3 in laboratory practice or equivalent.
* Desirable: Foundation degree in laboratory practices, or equivalent.
Knowledge and Experience
* Essential: Pathology duties; Supervision and training; Technical audit; Data entry; Underpinning theory of pathology techniques; Laboratory health and safety, COSHH, and risk assessment; Equality issues.
* Desirable: Use of specialist laboratory instruments including microscopes, analysers, sample processors, centrifuges.
Skills and Aptitudes
* Essential: Practical laboratory skills (specimen handling and processing, analysis and interpretation); initiative within a team; ability to analyse work to ensure compliance with standards; effective communication and interpersonal skills; good organisational skills; ability to plan work to meet deadlines; good hand/eye coordination; keyboard skills.
* Desirable: Ability to analyse and interpret laboratory results in accordance with protocol.
Personal Circumstances
* Essential: Meticulous; Motivation; Enthusiasm.
* Other requirements: Flexibility in working hours; able to work extended hours, weekends or 24 hour shift pattern.
Other Information
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are required where applicable; the post may require sponsorship considerations for skilled worker visa eligibility. The organisation offers benefits including holiday entitlement, flexible working, NHS Pension, and employee assistance programs as applicable.
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