University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Band 3 EQA (External Quality Assessment) Assistant

The closing date is 22 February 2026

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for three External Quality Assessment (EQA) Assistants to support in the day to day running of our post room and laboratory.

We are looking for an EQA Assistants to work within a friendly, professional and busy team dedicated to providing EQA programmes to Hospital Laboratories, both nationally and internationally. Birmingham Quality is the foremost provider of Clinical Biochemistry EQA services in the UK.

Birmingham Quality is proud to be part of the UHB NHS Foundation Trust, based at Birmingham Research Park.

Your role will make a real difference to patient care by providing services designed to assess the quality of patient test results, and drive improvements in test performance and ensure that patients receive the best possible care.

Are you an enthusiastic, well-motivated individual with excellent attention to detail, and able to follow procedures accurately?

Would you like to work in a laboratory environment where you would be handling biological materials?

Are you able to communicate effectively as part of a team and with external participants?

If you can answer 'yes' to these questions, then this may be the opportunity for you.

If you are interested in this post, we strongly encourage a visit to us prior to application. Please contact Hailey Goodman (Operations Manager) on 0121 414 7300 or email birminghamquality@uhb.nhs.uk .

The hours are Monday - Friday, 08:30 and 17:00 on a full time basis and is permanent.

Main duties of the job

The job is varied and includes:

*Receiving and storing biological and other raw materials

*Maintaining accurate stock records of various things including biological materials, chemicals, and consumables

*Manufacture of EQA specimens including the processing of biological fluids, labelling of and dispensing into tubes, and storage of EQA specimens

*Laboratory housekeeping

*Packing and dispatch of EQA specimens, including logistical arrangements such as booking couriers

*Sorting and filing of paperwork associated with EQA specimens and deliveries

*Some communication with external participants, including by email or phone

Full details are given in the job description and person specification. Experience gained in a clinical laboratory or an EQA centre within the Biochemistry discipline would be a distinct advantage.

About us

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people. As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.

Details

Date posted

09 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

304-1094114

Job locations

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Mindelsohn Way

Birmingham

West Midlands

B15 2TH


Job description

Job responsibilities

*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*

Job description

Job responsibilities

*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • GCSE Maths and English or equivalent
  • at grade C or above (E)
  • NVQ level 3 or equivalent experience.
  • (E)

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in laboratories
  • (E)

Desirable

  • Experience of laboratory techniques and
  • automation (D)
  • Experience of dealing with the public or
  • customer care (D)

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • Awareness of National Health Service
  • (E)
  • Understanding the need for
  • confidentiality (E)
  • Awareness of Health and Safety issues
  • (E)
  • Honesty (E)
  • Reliability (E)
  • Resilience and adaptability (E)
  • Self-motivated (E)
  • Expected to participate in all out of
  • hours periods as required by service
  • provision (E)
  • Able to work across all UHB sites (E)
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • GCSE Maths and English or equivalent
  • at grade C or above (E)
  • NVQ level 3 or equivalent experience.
  • (E)

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in laboratories
  • (E)

Desirable

  • Experience of laboratory techniques and
  • automation (D)
  • Experience of dealing with the public or
  • customer care (D)

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • Awareness of National Health Service
  • (E)
  • Understanding the need for
  • confidentiality (E)
  • Awareness of Health and Safety issues
  • (E)
  • Honesty (E)
  • Reliability (E)
  • Resilience and adaptability (E)
  • Self-motivated (E)
  • Expected to participate in all out of
  • hours periods as required by service
  • provision (E)
  • Able to work across all UHB sites (E)

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

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Mindelsohn Way

Birmingham

West Midlands

B15 2TH


Employer's website

https://www.uhb.nhs.uk/jobs.htm (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Mindelsohn Way

Birmingham

West Midlands

B15 2TH


Employer's website

https://www.uhb.nhs.uk/jobs.htm (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Hiring Manager

Heather Moreby

heather.moreby@uhb.nhs.uk

01214147300

Details

Date posted

09 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

304-1094114

Job locations

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Mindelsohn Way

Birmingham

West Midlands

B15 2TH


Supporting documents

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