Welsh Blood Service

Associate Practitioner

The closing date is 19 June 2025

Job summary

THIS POST IS FIXED TERM/SECONDMENT FOR UPTO 18 MONTHS DUE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE SERVICE

The post holder will provide specialist complex technical support for the Welsh Transplantation Service Laboratory which provides laboratory testing for renal and hemopoietic stem cell transplant programmes and for the platelet immunology service for thrombocytopenic patients.

The post holder will work in rotation in the Solid Organ Transplantation Services and Stem Cell Transplantation Services laboratories. The post holder will be required to maintain technical expertise and knowledge to support these services and the testing performed across each of the Sections.

The post holder will work in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers in Wales under the supervision of the laboratory's Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered Biomedical and Clinical Scientists.

The post is fixed term/secondment for 18 months to cover maternity leave.

If applying for secondment, you need permission from manager to apply as this is mandatory for all secondment posts.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

This is a fixed term/Secondment until January 2027

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work autonomously in accordance with defined policies and procedures referring to HCPC Registered Scientists as required.

The post holder will be responsible for managing and prioritising their own workload according to agreed parameters.

The post holder will assist in the preparation, processing, testing and analysis of patient and donor samples.

Receive, check sample suitability, validate identifiers and log samples into laboratory database, assigning tests required according to agreed profiles.

Prepare genomic DNA, serum and lymphocytes from blood and other sources for use in laboratory assays.

Provide Human Leucocyte Antigen (HLA) typing services for clinical diagnosis of patient and donor samples using a range of DNA-based techniques E.g. RT-PCR, NGS.

Perform clinical HLA-antibody screening and definition testing of patient samples using Luminex assays.

Prepare and dispense laboratory chemicals and reagents in accordance with laboratory usage and current/projected usage.

Interpret and assign individual test results in accordance with agreed criteria.

Assist in maintaining a programme of cleaning, decontamination and basic preventative maintenance of equipment and the completion of appropriate records.

Use specialist scientific equipment requiring a high degree of concentration, co-ordination accuracy and precision e.g. DNA sequencers, luminex analyser.

About us

Here at Velindre University NHS Trust we are extremely proud of the specialist services we provide across the whole of Wales in our cutting-edge Velindre Cancer Centre and ouraward-winning Welsh Blood Service, as well as the expertise of our corporate functions that bring the two divisions together. We are also fortunate to host the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership and Health Technology Wales and have developed strong partnership working with these expert services.

Formed in 1994, the Trust has a dedicated workforce that continuously strives to provide the key principles of prudent healthcare through a wide array of roles. We play a vital role in the communities we support and have ambitious plans for the future to continue to improve the services we deliver. We strive to maintain our core values in everything we do by being; accountable, bold, caring and dynamic, and ensuring the best possible care for our patients and donors.

If you want to work for an organisation that prides itself on making a real difference and offers exciting career opportunities then Velindre University NHS Trust is the place for you.

Visit our website to find out more https://velindre.nhs.wales/

Details

Date posted

05 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,928 to £29,551 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

18 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

120-ACS012-0625

Job locations

Welsh Blood Service

Ely Valley Road

Pontyclun

CF72 9WB


Job description

Job responsibilities

You will be able to find a full Job Description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.

Job description

Job responsibilities

You will be able to find a full Job Description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • HNC/HND/Foundation Degree in a relevant scientific subject
  • Knowledge of the principles of Good Laboratory Practice
  • Knowledge of the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers in Wales

Desirable

  • Understanding of the role of H&I laboratories in supporting transplantation services
  • Understanding of the impact of working in a regulated environment

Experience

Essential

  • Previous teamwork
  • Experience of working to set procedures
  • Previous laboratory experience

Desirable

  • Previous work requiring prolonged and intense concentration.
  • Previous experience in a pathology laboratory
  • Previous experience of working in an NHS environment

Aptitude and abilities

Essential

  • Computer literate
  • Standard keyboard skills
  • Good organisational skills
  • Able to work to deadlines
  • Able to use initiative
  • Able to work with precision and accuracy
  • Good communication skills
  • Able to work as part of a large team
  • Adaptable and flexible approach to work
  • Good self-motivator
  • Enthusiastic style
  • Able to concentrate for long periods

Desirable

  • Welsh speaker

values

Essential

  • Commitment to Patient care
  • Demonstration of trust values
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • HNC/HND/Foundation Degree in a relevant scientific subject
  • Knowledge of the principles of Good Laboratory Practice
  • Knowledge of the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers in Wales

Desirable

  • Understanding of the role of H&I laboratories in supporting transplantation services
  • Understanding of the impact of working in a regulated environment

Experience

Essential

  • Previous teamwork
  • Experience of working to set procedures
  • Previous laboratory experience

Desirable

  • Previous work requiring prolonged and intense concentration.
  • Previous experience in a pathology laboratory
  • Previous experience of working in an NHS environment

Aptitude and abilities

Essential

  • Computer literate
  • Standard keyboard skills
  • Good organisational skills
  • Able to work to deadlines
  • Able to use initiative
  • Able to work with precision and accuracy
  • Good communication skills
  • Able to work as part of a large team
  • Adaptable and flexible approach to work
  • Good self-motivator
  • Enthusiastic style
  • Able to concentrate for long periods

Desirable

  • Welsh speaker

values

Essential

  • Commitment to Patient care
  • Demonstration of trust values

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Welsh Blood Service

Address

Welsh Blood Service

Ely Valley Road

Pontyclun

CF72 9WB


Employer's website

https://www.welsh-blood.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Welsh Blood Service

Address

Welsh Blood Service

Ely Valley Road

Pontyclun

CF72 9WB


Employer's website

https://www.welsh-blood.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Healthcare Scientist Team Leader

Michael Richardson

michael.richardson@wales.nhs.uk

01443622186

Details

Date posted

05 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,928 to £29,551 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

18 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

120-ACS012-0625

Job locations

Welsh Blood Service

Ely Valley Road

Pontyclun

CF72 9WB


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Welsh Blood Service's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)