The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust

Medical Laboratory Assistant Supervisor

The closing date is 13 March 2026

Job summary

An opportunity has arisen for an experienced individual to join our Specimen Reception team as a Medical Laboratory Assistant Supervisor at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. The post holder will be required to work as part of a 24/7 rota when training new staff for out of hours shifts. Weekends and bank holidays will be part of a rotation.

Core hours Monday -Friday would be 09:00-17:30. You will be responsible for the day-to-day supervision of Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLAs) working in Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology and Blood Transfusion. You will also assign staff to sections within the laboratory and identify the training needs of all staff under your supervision. You will refer all matters outside your area of responsibility to the Specimen Reception Manager.

Main duties of the job

The MLA Supervisor is expected to supervise and organise the MLA staff and perform a range of tasks of a similar nature and level of responsibility that contribute towards an integrated, diagnostic service. You will be required to supervise, instruct and train MLA staff to a level defined by your grade.

You will be expected to prioritise your own workload and organise the day-to-day work activities of the MLA team. You will also be expected to assist in the recruitment, training and induction of new staff. In addition to this, you will perform staff appraisals and make recommendations for further training and develop personal development plans, as appropriate.

You will be required to work under direct or indirect supervision at all times. You will also need to liaise professionally with other staff in Pathology and handle enquiries from external users of the service appropriately.

About us

Our vision is to put patients at the centre of everything we do.

In the Blood Sciences department, you will be working alongside a friendly, expert and energetic team of Consultants, Clinical Scientists, Biomedical Scientists and Associate Practitioners.

Visits to the department are welcome and can be arranged.

Please note, for vacancies that receive a high number of applications, we reserve the right to close the post before the stated closing date, so please apply as soon as possible.

Please also ensure that you comply with the person specification otherwise your application may not be considered.

Our vision, 'To provide excellent care for the communities we serve,' is not just a statement; it's a promise we live by every day. Guided by our core Values - Partnering, Ambitious, Caring, and Trusted - we're determined to make a real difference in the lives of those who matter most: our patients and their families.

If you're ready to be part of a team that's dedicated to continuous improvement, come join us and let's make a difference together!

Date posted

27 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

223-MLS-183

Job locations

Department of Pathology, Royal Shrewsbury Hospital

Mytton Oak Road

Shrewsbury

SY3 8XQ

Job description

Job responsibilities

For full duties and responsibilities please refer to the attached document entitled Job Description.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For full duties and responsibilities please refer to the attached document entitled Job Description.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Good general education up to "O" Level / GCSE including Maths, English and Science (Grades A-C) or equivalent.
NVQ level 2, Clinical Laboratory Support or substantial experience as Medical Laboratory Assistant.
NVQ level 3 First Line Management, or substantial experience as a supervisor / team leader.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Experience

Essential

Substantial hospital laboratory experience.
Substantial experience of acting as a supervisor / team leader.
Experience of working within the NHS.

Skills

Essential

Accurate data entry and keyboard skills.
Ability to pay close attention to detail.
Effective communication skills, interpersonal skills and organisational skills
Ability to work as part of a team and with indirect supervision as necessary. Ability to prioritise work and approach new tasks flexibly. Able to identify service developments and implement solutions.

Knowledge

Essential

Understanding of the need for confidentiality and data protection.
Basic theoretical knowledge to support sample processing / analytical processes

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Good general education up to "O" Level / GCSE including Maths, English and Science (Grades A-C) or equivalent.
NVQ level 2, Clinical Laboratory Support or substantial experience as Medical Laboratory Assistant.
NVQ level 3 First Line Management, or substantial experience as a supervisor / team leader.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Experience

Essential

Substantial hospital laboratory experience.
Substantial experience of acting as a supervisor / team leader.
Experience of working within the NHS.

Skills

Essential

Accurate data entry and keyboard skills.
Ability to pay close attention to detail.
Effective communication skills, interpersonal skills and organisational skills
Ability to work as part of a team and with indirect supervision as necessary. Ability to prioritise work and approach new tasks flexibly. Able to identify service developments and implement solutions.

Knowledge

Essential

Understanding of the need for confidentiality and data protection.
Basic theoretical knowledge to support sample processing / analytical processes

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

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust

Address

Department of Pathology, Royal Shrewsbury Hospital

Mytton Oak Road

Shrewsbury

SY3 8XQ

Employer's website

http://www.sath.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust

Address

Department of Pathology, Royal Shrewsbury Hospital

Mytton Oak Road

Shrewsbury

SY3 8XQ

Employer's website

http://www.sath.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)