Main area Combined Specimen Reception/Pathology Grade NHS AfC: Band 2 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Majority of shifts will be 11:45-20:00. Optional rotation to cover mornings, weekends and nights.) Job ref 382-CS39-26
Employer Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Blackpool Teaching Hospitals Town Blackpool Salary £24,465 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 07/04/2026 23:59
Medical Laboratory Assistant – Central Specimen Reception
NHS AfC: Band 2
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) in the Department. The principal duties of the post holder will be to receive and process specimens, and carry out routine tasks in the laboratory, which do not require the skill and training of a State Registered BMS.
Main duties of the job
The Pathology Directorate is seeking a responsible and enthusiastic individual to work as a Medical Laboratory Assistant in the Combined Specimen Reception Department. Applicants will need to be able to cover a potential 24hour working pattern on a rotational basis, most weeks will be 11:45 till 20:00. Participation in weekend and Bank Holiday sessions will also be required.
The principle duties of the post holder will be to maintain and operate sample processing equipment and to facilitate the movement of samples through the laboratory, in addition to other routine tasks which do not require the skill and training of a State Registered BMS.
Working for our organisation
The Trust's mission is "Together We Care" which encompasses the strategic vision for operating as a high performing organisation within an Integrated Care System (ICS), which provides quality, safe and effective care. This will be achieved in a financially sustainable way through our values-driven, skilled and motivated workforce:
People-centred - Serving people is the focus of everything we do;
Positive - having a "can do" response whatever the situation;
Excellence - continually striving to provide the best care possible.
Our Values are drivers for the behaviours that all our staff strive to demonstrate.
The values and behaviours have been and continue to be embedded and communicated across the organisation via a number of initiatives - including our recruitment processes, corporate induction, team briefings, meetings, appraisals and our annual awards ceremony.
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.
There is no sponsorship for this role.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL
* To receive, label and centrifuge clinical samples and to enter patient details into the laboratory computer system, data entry.
* Responding to telephone enquiries
* To ensure safe handling of hazardous and infective materials according to defined protocols, fully training given.
* To comply with all Departmental, Directorate, Trust and Statutory policies
* To ensure that a high standard of care and service is maintained to patients, members of staff and the general public in accordance with Directorate Polices
* To assist in the training of Students, Trainees and new MLA’s within the Central Specimen Reception (CSR)
DEVELOPMENT / COMMUNICATION
* To ensure personal compliance with regards to mandatory, professional and personal development according to service needs
* Maintain an appropriate up to date knowledge base
* To ensure personal compliance with professional codes of conduct
* Attendance at relevant meetings and Staff Service Review Meetings
* Maintain awareness of future needs and contribute towards service developments
* Maintenance of personal training log in conjunction with Section Leader.
* To attend annual appraisal
* Comply with attached general requirements
Person specification
Qualifications
* O’ level/GCSE or equivalent in sciences, mathematics and English
Experience and Achievements
* Experience with computers
* Experience of working in a laboratory environment
Skills and knowledge
* Must be prepared to undergo in-house training
* Basic numeracy
* Basic literacy
* Able to follow instructions without deviation
* Ability to work under pressure
Personal Attributes
* Good organisational skills
* Able to work as part of a dedicated team
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.
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