Job summary
The Directorate of Laboratory Medicine encompasses Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology, Immunology, Microbiology and Cytogenetics. The directorate provides a range of analysis of blood, body fluids and tissues for the Hospital inpatient and out-patient population, local GP's and other neighbouring Trusts.
The automated Clinical Biochemistry Department at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital currently has an automated Track and analysers to help provide a service to a very busy department.
Under the supervision of Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered Biomedical Scientist (BMS), the role involves utilising knowledge and skills gained through a Foundation Degree or equivalent. It also involves the preparation and processing of biological specimens such as blood, urine, faeces, tissues and other body fluids in accordance with agreed protocols and standard operational procedures.
This will include:
- Preparation of reagents, calibrators and controls
- Perform daily and weekly maintenance on analysers
- To ensure operational continuity of analyzers by replenishing reagents as required.
- To receive large volumes of specimens, carefully check information and, providing it meets acceptance criteria, prepare for analysis
- To perform appropriate internal and external quality assurance procedures to analyze and recognize poor performance, take simple corrective action, informing HCPC registered BMS of un-resolvable poor performance issues.
Main duties of the job
As post holder, your duties will include:
- To prepare and process specimens such as blood, urine, faeces, tissues and other body fluids according to agreed protocols, prioritising according to urgency of test and managing high volume workloads.
- To perform a range of simple tests, assays and operate complex automated instruments, if appropriate, following standard operational procedures and validate according to departmental policy, with minimal guidance. This may include initial preparation, accurately pipetting very small volumes of fluid, fine manipulation of laboratory equipment or performing time critical procedures.
- To perform appropriate internal and external quality assurance procedures to analyse and recognise poor performance, take simple corrective action, informing HCPC registered BMS of un-resolvable poor performance issues.
Hours will be:
0800-16:00 or 14:00-22:00 (Monday to Friday)
Weekend cover is also required- 08:00-16:00
Interview date: 9th February 2026
About us
Join us at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and be part of a workforce of over 10,000 staff!
The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first-class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We are pleased to work closely with the University of East Anglia, providing teaching opportunities for our staff and placement opportunities for their students. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world.
We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity
We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:
- Flexible working hours
- Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
- Multi Faith prayer room
- Discounted gym memberships
- Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
- Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
- Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH site
- Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
- On-site Nursery
- On-site cafes offering staff discounts
- Support in career development
- Flexible staff bank
- Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Liaise and communicate with other members of the laboratory team, across the Pathology Directorate and with users of the service including Trust Clinical staff, Primary Care staff, patients and members of the general public as appropriate, maintaining confidentiality at all times.
- Be aware of and adhere to all Trust policies/laboratory operating procedures/Pathology guidelines when undertaking any activities.
- Adhere to Trust infection control procedures, demonstrating an understanding of cross infection.
- To be responsible for the preparation of reagents and complex automated analysers for treatment, investigations or procedures as directed by departmental procedures under guidance of an HCPC registered BMS.
- To ensure operational continuity of analysers by replenishing reagents as required.
- To receive large volumes of samples, check and examine electronic and paper requests, accurately select test profiles according to specimen type, clinical details and collection conditions and transfer requests on to laboratory information system.
- To prepare and process specimens such as blood, urine, faeces, tissues and other body fluids according to agreed protocols, prioritising according to urgency of test and managing high volume workloads.
- To perform a range of simple tests, assays and operate complex automated instruments, if appropriate, following standard operational procedures and validate according to departmental policy, with minimal guidance. This may include initial preparation, accurately pipetting very small volumes of fluid (< 0.005ml), fine manipulation of laboratory equipment or performing time critical procedures.
- To perform appropriate internal and external quality assurance procedures to analyse and recognise poor performance, take simple corrective action, informing HCPC registered BMS of un-resolvable poor performance issues.
- To be able to recognise and report any situation that gives cause for concern or any observed changes in instrument performance to an HCPC registered BMS
Please see the attached job description for full details.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Liaise and communicate with other members of the laboratory team, across the Pathology Directorate and with users of the service including Trust Clinical staff, Primary Care staff, patients and members of the general public as appropriate, maintaining confidentiality at all times.
- Be aware of and adhere to all Trust policies/laboratory operating procedures/Pathology guidelines when undertaking any activities.
- Adhere to Trust infection control procedures, demonstrating an understanding of cross infection.
- To be responsible for the preparation of reagents and complex automated analysers for treatment, investigations or procedures as directed by departmental procedures under guidance of an HCPC registered BMS.
- To ensure operational continuity of analysers by replenishing reagents as required.
- To receive large volumes of samples, check and examine electronic and paper requests, accurately select test profiles according to specimen type, clinical details and collection conditions and transfer requests on to laboratory information system.
- To prepare and process specimens such as blood, urine, faeces, tissues and other body fluids according to agreed protocols, prioritising according to urgency of test and managing high volume workloads.
- To perform a range of simple tests, assays and operate complex automated instruments, if appropriate, following standard operational procedures and validate according to departmental policy, with minimal guidance. This may include initial preparation, accurately pipetting very small volumes of fluid (< 0.005ml), fine manipulation of laboratory equipment or performing time critical procedures.
- To perform appropriate internal and external quality assurance procedures to analyse and recognise poor performance, take simple corrective action, informing HCPC registered BMS of un-resolvable poor performance issues.
- To be able to recognise and report any situation that gives cause for concern or any observed changes in instrument performance to an HCPC registered BMS
Please see the attached job description for full details.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- IT literate including Microsoft Office
- Foundation degree or Certificate of Achievement Part 2
Experience
Essential
- Competent in Blood Sciences services (Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology and Transfusion) to the level required for Band 4 staff. To be achieved within 6-12 months of starting post
Skills
Essential
- Ability to work under pressure
- Able to use laboratory equipment ranging from manual pipettes to large automated analysers
- Ability to perform a range of tests appropriate to the post
Attitude, aptitude
Essential
- Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH's PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
- Demonstrates understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- IT literate including Microsoft Office
- Foundation degree or Certificate of Achievement Part 2
Experience
Essential
- Competent in Blood Sciences services (Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology and Transfusion) to the level required for Band 4 staff. To be achieved within 6-12 months of starting post
Skills
Essential
- Ability to work under pressure
- Able to use laboratory equipment ranging from manual pipettes to large automated analysers
- Ability to perform a range of tests appropriate to the post
Attitude, aptitude
Essential
- Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH's PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
- Demonstrates understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
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.
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.
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).
