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University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Bank Senior Medical Laboratory Assistant

The closing date is 18 November 2025

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Job summary

BANK

We are looking for an enthusiastic Senior Medical Laboratory Assistant to join a dedicated team in a modern department, providing a high-quality service

Duties will include laboratory and administrative tasks which maybe of a complex nature.

Although no formal qualifications are required for this post, it will be important to demonstrate literacy and numeracy skills. Previous experience in laboratory support work is also essential

University Hospitals Dorset Cellular Pathology department has a high quality UKAS accreditation record and it is an approved laboratory for Registration and Specialist training by the IBMS.

The Cellular Pathology team is made up of different grades of Scientist, including Medical laboratory staff, associate practitioners and biomedical scientists the aim being putting the patient first and delivering a high-quality service

Main duties of the job

The main duties of this role will be to support BMS staff in providing analysis of specimens received using complex diagnostic procedures across Cellular Pathology. Other duties include microtomy and assisting the Specialist Biomedical Scientist at dissection.

About us

Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued team mates and colleagues.

UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

UHD has active networks including Women's, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.

AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process

Details

Date posted

11 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year pa

Contract

Bank

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

153-TBS00161

Job locations

One Dorset Pathology HUB, Royal Bournemouth Hospital

Bournemouth

BH7 7DW


Job description

Job responsibilities

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Good General Education
  • 'A' levels or equivalent in Science

Desirable

  • Completion of Pathology Support Worker qualification or IBMS Support Staff portfolio part 1 and 2.
  • Further scientific qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience of working in scientific area as a Medical Laboratory Assistant or equivalent
  • Able to work accurately and with good hand-eye co-ordination
  • Experience of using common IT software

Desirable

  • Experience of quality management system
  • Experience of using hospital IT systems
  • Previous experience working as a MLA in Cellular Pathology

Technical Skills Competencies

Essential

  • Must be able to understand and work within established Standard Operating Procedures and relevant Health & Safety policies, including COSHH
  • Work flexibly in response to changing circumstances. Works within limits of responsibility
  • Good interpretive skills at bench level
  • Good attention to detail and accuracy
  • Recognises and reports problems as they arise
  • Handling biological specimens

Desirable

  • Understand the importance of quality at all levels of our work.
  • Happy to work in a busy environment
  • Knowledge of microtomy
  • Demonstrable experience in assisting dissection

Knowledge

Essential

  • Understanding of Cellular Pathology

Desirable

  • Understanding of UKAS requirements
  • Understand the role of Histopathology within the NHS.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Good General Education
  • 'A' levels or equivalent in Science

Desirable

  • Completion of Pathology Support Worker qualification or IBMS Support Staff portfolio part 1 and 2.
  • Further scientific qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience of working in scientific area as a Medical Laboratory Assistant or equivalent
  • Able to work accurately and with good hand-eye co-ordination
  • Experience of using common IT software

Desirable

  • Experience of quality management system
  • Experience of using hospital IT systems
  • Previous experience working as a MLA in Cellular Pathology

Technical Skills Competencies

Essential

  • Must be able to understand and work within established Standard Operating Procedures and relevant Health & Safety policies, including COSHH
  • Work flexibly in response to changing circumstances. Works within limits of responsibility
  • Good interpretive skills at bench level
  • Good attention to detail and accuracy
  • Recognises and reports problems as they arise
  • Handling biological specimens

Desirable

  • Understand the importance of quality at all levels of our work.
  • Happy to work in a busy environment
  • Knowledge of microtomy
  • Demonstrable experience in assisting dissection

Knowledge

Essential

  • Understanding of Cellular Pathology

Desirable

  • Understanding of UKAS requirements
  • Understand the role of Histopathology within the NHS.

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 Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

One Dorset Pathology HUB, Royal Bournemouth Hospital

Bournemouth

BH7 7DW


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

One Dorset Pathology HUB, Royal Bournemouth Hospital

Bournemouth

BH7 7DW


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Senior Biomedical Scientist

Rita Perdigao

Rita.Perdigao@nhs.net

03000194830

Details

Date posted

11 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year pa

Contract

Bank

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

153-TBS00161

Job locations

One Dorset Pathology HUB, Royal Bournemouth Hospital

Bournemouth

BH7 7DW


Supporting documents

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