Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

Medical Laboratory Assistant

The closing date is 30 September 2025

Job summary

Berkshire & Surrey Pathology Services

(A joint venture with Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust , Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Ashford & St Peters Hospitals NHS Trust and Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust and East Surrey Hospital)

Are you looking for a Full-time Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) position with a desire to work as part of the largest NHS led Pathology Services in the UK? You will be based at Frimley Park Hospital.

We are looking for an energetic, enthusiastic and well-motivated individual with good scientific background to complement our existing MLA team.

Essential qualities expected are efficiency, being well organised, having good communication skills and attention to detail. Good keyboard skills are desirable. In addition, you should be a reliable individual who is able to demonstrate good practical skills and work as part of a team.

You must be keen to embrace new ways of working and develop your knowledge and skills and able to participate in the shift system. Support and encouragement will be given for career development.

You will be expected to work according to our working time compliant shift system and on rare occasions may be required to work at the Wexham Park Hospital site to maintain quality, training and service requirements.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will assist in the preparation of analytical work for the Bacteriology Department across a range of department work areas under the supervision of a Registered Biomedical Scientist. The postholder is required to follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) at all times for any tasks carried out. There is a requirement to communicate with pathology staff, hospital staff, porters, drivers and couriers.

The postholder will provide support to the BMS staff through sorting, numbering and entering onto Laboratory Information Management System. The postholder will be required to operate the department waste disposal systems including use of autoclaves in a safe manner.

The diagnostic work of the department includes processing, for example, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, faeces, sputum, tissues and diverse secretions. Processed samples are then interpreted for the presence of pathogens, these could be bacterial, fungal or parasitic.

About us

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme. We provide first class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available.

Here at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we know how important it is to have a healthy work life balance; this benefits not only individuals but the patients we care for too.

We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service and its users.

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Date posted

23 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£25,768 a year per annum incl HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

151-NM178

Job locations

Frimley Park Hospital

Portsmouth Road, Frimley

Camberley

GU16 7UJ

Job description

Job responsibilities

To keep the laboratory manager informed of all matters regarding laboratory procedures and help with the smooth running of the department
Displays and maintains an appropriate level of IT skills. Is able to input patient and request data, maintain and amend patient records, interrogate the laboratory and hospital databases and perform basic word processing and spreadsheet work
Ensures appropriate stock levels are maintained in own area of operation, this may include issuing stock to external departments and GP surgeries
To keep the autoclave suites tidy and well organised
To works as part of a team to ensure that departmental performance targets are met by continually assessing priority of work
To understand and acknowledge limits of capability and seek advice as appropriate
To assist in the departmental work as instructed, following SOPs under the supervision of the laboratory managers, team leaders and / or Biomedical Scientist staff
To ensure the safety of staff, visitors and the department by checking that Risk Assessment, COSHH and Local Rules are followed and to inform the laboratory manager of any potential risks

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for more information

Job description

Job responsibilities

To keep the laboratory manager informed of all matters regarding laboratory procedures and help with the smooth running of the department
Displays and maintains an appropriate level of IT skills. Is able to input patient and request data, maintain and amend patient records, interrogate the laboratory and hospital databases and perform basic word processing and spreadsheet work
Ensures appropriate stock levels are maintained in own area of operation, this may include issuing stock to external departments and GP surgeries
To keep the autoclave suites tidy and well organised
To works as part of a team to ensure that departmental performance targets are met by continually assessing priority of work
To understand and acknowledge limits of capability and seek advice as appropriate
To assist in the departmental work as instructed, following SOPs under the supervision of the laboratory managers, team leaders and / or Biomedical Scientist staff
To ensure the safety of staff, visitors and the department by checking that Risk Assessment, COSHH and Local Rules are followed and to inform the laboratory manager of any potential risks

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for more information

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Good basic education
Willing to undergo relevant training

Desirable

Interest in working to higher level of qualification

Experience

Essential

Able to perform technically challenging procedures where applicable
Ability to develop knowledge and understanding of microbiology techniques sufficient to undertake specimen processing and reception

Desirable

Some experience of diagnostic microbiology

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

Able to understand and follow Standard Operating Procedures
Ability to follow laboratory H&S practice
Possess basic IT skills
Ability to take a support role
Understands need to work to deadlines and is able to do so

Desirable

Understanding of need for service quality
Experience of working in a relevant routine laboratory
Ability to prioritise tasks and organise daily work
Experience of team working

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Good basic education
Willing to undergo relevant training

Desirable

Interest in working to higher level of qualification

Experience

Essential

Able to perform technically challenging procedures where applicable
Ability to develop knowledge and understanding of microbiology techniques sufficient to undertake specimen processing and reception

Desirable

Some experience of diagnostic microbiology

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

Able to understand and follow Standard Operating Procedures
Ability to follow laboratory H&S practice
Possess basic IT skills
Ability to take a support role
Understands need to work to deadlines and is able to do so

Desirable

Understanding of need for service quality
Experience of working in a relevant routine laboratory
Ability to prioritise tasks and organise daily work
Experience of team working

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

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Frimley Park Hospital

Portsmouth Road, Frimley

Camberley

GU16 7UJ

Employer's website

https://www.fhft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Frimley Park Hospital

Portsmouth Road, Frimley

Camberley

GU16 7UJ

Employer's website

https://www.fhft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)