Job overview
Band 4 Associate Practitioner (AP) in Blood Sciences, Guy’s Hospital (GH), St Thomas’ Hospital (STH)
This is a 12-month fixed-term contract (FTC) offer. If you already hold a permanent role, this can be taken as a secondment, with arrangements to return to your substantive post at the end of the fixed-term contract.
This is a sought-after position for anyone looking for a truly varied and rewarding role. You will support our laboratory to deliver a first-class service to patients whether they be in hospital, attending outpatient clinics, or seeing their GP.
As an AP in Haemostasis you are responsible for every aspect of the sample pathway from receiving in, to running the analysers. The post holder is responsible for maintaining effective communication between medical and nursing teams, and other Synnovis colleagues including Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLAs), Biomedical Scientists (BMS) & Clinical Scientists.
Main duties of the job
This role supports the delivery of Haemostasis Diagnostic investigations and supervises MLAs as part of the Laboratory teams in Synnovis. Reporting to the Senior Specialist BMS, you will hold a variety of responsibilities to ensure the successful delivery of pathology services, in line with our corporate objectives.
Duties include sorting and receipt of samples, stock management and using the laboratory information management system (LIMS) that integrates into the electronic patient record system.
You will assist the BMS staff to ensure that equipment is maintained and ready for use and all patient samples are tested in a timely manner to comply with agreed turnaround times.
Although primarily based at St Thomas’, the post holder may be required to work at Guy’s depending on service needs.
Working for our organisation
Migrating our lab to a new location will be an exciting time within our department with scope for all staff to contribute to the project and learn new skills. 2025/2026 sees the culmination of a large Synnovis-wide project to deliver a hub and spoke operating model. Analysers on each site are being upgraded to provide standardisation of laboratory methods, harmonisation of reference ranges and the ability to deliver accurate and timely results across the South East London GP network and six hospitals.
Your development and learning
We offer many benefits to staff, especially in terms of your development and training. You will have a suite of learning opportunities available through The Synnovis Way Development Programme, the Scientific Learning and Development Fund and the Synnovis Academy, through which you can receive funding and support for advanced qualifications.
Through our Innovation Accelerator Fund, you can apply for finance to get that new innovative scientific project off the ground, and participate with the wider scientific community through symposiums, conferences and other peer group meetings.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
At Synnovis, we are shaping the future of pathology services by creating a world-leading Hub and Spoke pathology network with our NHS partners. The job you are applying for will be based at both hospital sites (Guy’s and St Thomas’). We are currently preparing to move our department to the same location as the Blood Sciences labs in St Thomas’ and you will be part of this Migration project.
Main duties and responsibilities
1. You will hold a variety of accountabilities in the laboratory environment. These will include, but are not limited to:
2. Deliver work autonomously, within all regulations and legislative requirements.
3. Handle and manage samples, in line with standard operating procedures (SOPs) and assessed competencies.
4. Perform tasks, operate and troubleshoot laboratory equipment within all safety standards and according to local SOPs relevant to your area.
5. Prepare solutions, reagents etc., and utilise a variety of laboratory equipment to carry out investigations.
6. Rotate around the laboratory to ensure a broad range of understanding and knowledge is cultivated.
7. Day-to-day supervision of MLAs and new members of the laboratory where necessary.
8. Use cost-effective methods in your practice and maintain levels of consumable goods and supplies in your area, and report shortages accordingly.
9. Provide administrative support to all areas of the laboratory, as appropriate and dependent on experience and training.
This post may involve working a combination of shifts to include early shifts, day shifts and late shifts (Monday – Friday).
Rotation across both sites may be required in accordance with service needs.
Synnovis is a pathology partnership between SYNLAB UK and Ireland, and the NHS, including sites: Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to deliver and transform pathology services across South East London.
The partnership provides services to 1.7 million people living in South East London, as well as to hundreds of thousands of patients from outside the region who use local healthcare services.
The partnership provides diagnostics, testing and digital pathology for hospital trusts, GP services and other healthcare providers.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital Foundation Trust is a major emergency and specialist teaching Trust which has all the specialties associated with a fascinating and career-defining case load including Women’s Services, Fetal Medicine, Haematology, Oncology, Transplantation, and is also home to the Evelina Children’s Hospital and the Cancer Centre on the Guy’s site.
You will be close to the vibrant Borough Market and the South Bank, which are exceptional London locations; perfect places to work and relax next to such iconic venues as Big Ben, The London Eye and The Shard.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
10. Good all-round education to GCSE standard including English and Maths at grade 4/C or equivalent or L2 Healthcare Science apprenticeship.
11. A Level / BTEC in Science or L3 Laboratory Technician Apprenticeship or L4 Healthcare Science Apprenticeship or equivalence experience.
Experience
Essential criteria
12. Supervising, training or inducting junior members of the laboratory.
13. Working in a pathology laboratory environment.
14. Handling of biological specimens.
15. Using standard laboratory equipment.
16. Working in a busy environment.
Desirable criteria
17. Experience of working in Haemostasis
Skills and Knowledge
Essential criteria
18. Ability to accurately follow written procedures.
19. Ability to perform technical laboratory processes and procedures, use precision equipment and troubleshoot.
20. Ability to communicate with other professionals at all levels.
21. Ability to lift, move and manipulate stock and specimens etc.
22. Sound knowledge of good laboratory practice (GLP).
Applications are welcomed from applicants with a disability. We can make reasonable adjustments and offer support and advice in a variety of ways throughout the application process. All applicants are welcome to apply regardless of age, disability, gender, marital status, race, nationality or ethnic origin, religion, or sexual orientation. Equality of opportunity is our policy.
Our Bank workers enjoy competitive market rates and flexible contract assignments across all of our sites, dependent on your availability and location.
For our Permanent workforce we offer a competitive benefits package.
All employees are entitled to:
23. Contributory pension scheme
24. Generous annual leave entitlement
25. Ground breaking development
opportunities
Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. All employees have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in the course of their daily duties and for ensuring that they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.