Job overview
Medical Laboratory Assistant
We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Medical laboratory Assistant with strong organisational skills and a positive attitude to support our busy histopathology team. To assist in the routine Histology lab & cut-up and diagnostic cytology preparation areas.The ideal candidate should have experience of working in Cellular Pathology (Histopathology).
The successful candidate will be primarily based at QEH but may occasionally support other ESEL sites depending on service needs. The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specifications outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required.
Main duties of the job
• To enter patient sample request details and result details accurately into the departmental and designated Trust computer systems and ensure data integrity.
• To use the laboratory information management system to search for test results in response to telephone and other enquiries, in accordance with the Data Protection and the Freedom of Information Acts.
• To assist in the routine Histology lab & cut-up and diagnostic cytology preparation areas.
• To be able to liaise and interact with clerical, medical and technical staff in a respectful and considerate manner
Working for our organisation
The NHS East and South East London Pathology Partnership is an arms-length organisation providing pathology services to Barts Health NHS Trust, Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. The Pathology Partnership is hosted by Barts Health.
The Pathology Partnership was formed in May 2021. Between 2021 and 2024 the Partnership undertook a complex transformation programme to establish a single network of laboratories, underpinned by a single Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and single Quality Management System (QMS).
The Partnership has a main hub laboratory at the Royal London Hospital and Essential Service Laboratories (ESL) as a minimum at the six other hospital sites served by the Partnership.
The Partnership has three operational divisions:
Blood Sciences including Haematology, Blood Transfusion and Biochemistry
Microbiology and Virology
Cellular Pathology and Cancer Diagnostics
The 2024/25 total operating costs across the Partnership were c. £121m per annum with a workforce establishment of circa. 860 WTE.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are underrepresented within the Pathology Partnership and Barts Health at this band
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
*PLEASE NOTE – WE ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE SPONSORSHIP FOR THIS ROLE*
Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa, please click on the link to check your eligibility before applying for this post -
1. To ensure that efficient electronic and paper filing systems are maintained to facilitate effective data retrieval.
2. Receive and distribute supplies and goods.
3. To communicate with colleagues, healthcare professionals and patients in a polite and courteous manner, showing the degree of professionalism expected.
4. Collect samples from other Pathology departments or other areas of the hospital as directed.
5. To check, send and sign out routine, specials and immunohistochemical slides for reporting following local SOPs.
6. To use initiative and be able to organise themselves on a daily basis in response to fluxes in workflow.
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the recruitment information pack.
**We reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the advertised closing date, once a sufficient number of applications has been received and we regret that we are unable to provide notification if your application is unsuccessful**
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. GCSE grade C/ equivalent in Maths and English
Desirable criteria
2. GCSE standard attained in other science subjects or equivalent
Experience
Essential criteria
3. Substantive experience in working with computer systems.
4. Experience in using databases
5. Experience of working to deadlines
6. Previous experience in answering and dealing with telephone enquiries.
Desirable criteria
7. Previous computing experience or VDU work
8. Previous experience in answering and dealing with telephone enquiries
9. Previous experience working in a Cellular Pathology Department
Knowledge
Essential criteria
10. Good literacy and numeracy
11. Knowledge of Health & Safety
Desirable criteria
12. Previous laboratory-based work experience
Skills
Essential criteria
13. Good attention to detail. Supervisory and training skills
14. Ability to work with large volumes of data entry
15. Good organisational and interpersonal skills
16. To be able to organise personal workload to meet deadlines
17. Able to follow and learn instructions and standard operating procedures
18. Methodical and organised
19. Manual dexterity Ability to work on own initiative. Polite, helpful, and confident manner.
Desirable criteria
20. Good interpersonal skills.
21. Courteous. Self-motivated
22. Able to show initiative
23. Able to build and develop working relationships with colleagues within and outside the Trust.
24. Good IT skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Office
25. Good keyboard skills
Personal and People Development
Essential criteria
26. Ability to work under pressure and achieve deadlines and targets
Communication
Essential criteria
27. Able to communicate effectively (written and verbal)
Desirable criteria
28. Able to communicate and empathise with patients and other members of the public.
Specific Requirement
Essential criteria
29. Able to undertake ‘house-keeping duties’
30. Able to perform required duties with any appropriate aids or adaptations
31. Hold no reservations in handling human body fluids, tissue, organs, or infected material in accordance with Health & Safety policies
32. The post holder must be willing to have appropriate vaccinations
33. Highly motivated and flexible attitude
34. Enthusiastic and hard working.
35. Be able to work whilst being frequently interrupted
Desirable criteria
36. Previous NHS experience
37. Able to prioritise workload
38. Able to work using own initiative.
**Visa Sponsorship Information**
Recent changes to UK immigration policy on the Health and Care Visa and Skilled Worker Visa could mean that this role is not eligible for sponsorship or that you may not meet the eligibility criteria.
Sponsorship can only be offered if this post and any individual offered employment meet all the Home Office’s requirements under the UK Skilled Worker visa scheme.
If you are applying from outside the UK or will require sponsorship, please mention this clearly in your application.
To be eligible for sponsorship, the following conditions must be met:
39. Eligible role: The position must be on the UK Skilled Worker visa list. You can check your eligibility here: -.
40. Salary threshold: The role must meet the minimum salary set by the Home Office. Please note that for roles employed under Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions, the High-Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) is not included when calculating the basic salary for the purposes of sponsorship.
41. Skill level: The role must meet the minimum skill requirement of RQF Level 6 or above (graduate level).
42. English language: Applicants must demonstrate English proficiency at CEFR level B1 or higher.
43. Other criteria: Applicants must meet all other criteria as set out by the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)