North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Medical Laboratory Assistant

The closing date is 23 January 2026

Job summary

Band 3 Medical Lab Assistant Histopathology

Band 3 applicants will be considered if they meet the Essential Qualifications in the Person Specification and if they demonstrate experience of working in a diagnostic histology department.

Candidates who cannot demonstrate experience of working in a histology department will be appointed to the band 3 position on annexe 21 until they have completed all departmental training logs and competency assessments then the successful candidate will automatically progress to the band 3 (Higher) position.

Based at the Cumberland Infirmary, Pathology Department.

Applications are invited for this post within Cell Sciences. The histology department is part of Cell Sciences and is well equipped and is ISO 15189 accredited. We use Telepath LIMS with ICE electronic requesting and reporting, and Q-Pulse quality management system.

You should be able to demonstrate good planning, organisational and interpersonal skills as well as evidence of competence in problem solving and prioritising workloads. Excellent communication skills are essential for this post.

Main duties of the job

Support biomedical scientists in a range of laboratory duties including the processing of clinical specimens for testing, registration of patients onto the pathology computer system, specimen reception duties, telephone enquiries and general housekeeping duties

About us

At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.

Our 5 key principles demonstrate our belief in the delivery of 'safe, high quality care every time':

Being a clinically led organisation

Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust

A positive patient experience every time

A great place to work

Managing our money well

As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.

Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.

Details

Date posted

09 January 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

262-A-25-7703367

Job locations

Cumberland Infirmary

Newtown Road

Carlisle

CA2 7HY


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment.Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed. For further information visit theUK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligible vacancies.

Disclosure and Barring Service:

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.

The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as follows if applicable to the post:

Standard Check: £21.50 + Administration cost of £5.90 = £27.40. Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

Enhanced Check: £49.50 + administration cost of £5.90 = £55.40. Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

NCIC can offer successful future employees the following benefits:

27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years

Flexible working Scheme

NHS Discounts*

Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work*

Excellent opportunities for development*

Competitive NHS Pension scheme

Vivup is a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems

*Subject to eligibility

Important Information

Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.

If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment.Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed. For further information visit theUK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligible vacancies.

Disclosure and Barring Service:

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.

The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as follows if applicable to the post:

Standard Check: £21.50 + Administration cost of £5.90 = £27.40. Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

Enhanced Check: £49.50 + administration cost of £5.90 = £55.40. Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

NCIC can offer successful future employees the following benefits:

27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years

Flexible working Scheme

NHS Discounts*

Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work*

Excellent opportunities for development*

Competitive NHS Pension scheme

Vivup is a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems

*Subject to eligibility

Important Information

Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.

If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • NVQ 3 in clinical Laboratory support or equivalent. (Examples of equivalence, 2 A levels, Completion of laboratory based competence training manual, IBMA Certificate of Achievement Part 1)

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Computer use.
  • Working in a laboratory environment understanding procedures and practices requiring a base level of theoretical knowledge
  • Data entry
  • Equality issues

Desirable

  • Medical terminology.
  • Microsoft Office

Skills and Aptitudes

Essential

  • Able to use initiative appropriately
  • Team Work
  • Good communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Able to prioritise work to meet deadlines in a busy environment
  • Ability to follow laid down procedures and guidelines

Desirable

  • Use of IT systems

Other requirements

Essential

  • Flexible approach to working patterns
  • Willing to undertake training and development
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • NVQ 3 in clinical Laboratory support or equivalent. (Examples of equivalence, 2 A levels, Completion of laboratory based competence training manual, IBMA Certificate of Achievement Part 1)

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Computer use.
  • Working in a laboratory environment understanding procedures and practices requiring a base level of theoretical knowledge
  • Data entry
  • Equality issues

Desirable

  • Medical terminology.
  • Microsoft Office

Skills and Aptitudes

Essential

  • Able to use initiative appropriately
  • Team Work
  • Good communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Able to prioritise work to meet deadlines in a busy environment
  • Ability to follow laid down procedures and guidelines

Desirable

  • Use of IT systems

Other requirements

Essential

  • Flexible approach to working patterns
  • Willing to undertake training and development

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

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Cumberland Infirmary

Newtown Road

Carlisle

CA2 7HY


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Cumberland Infirmary

Newtown Road

Carlisle

CA2 7HY


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

BMS Team Manager

Debbie Crewe

Debbie.crewe@ncic.nhs.uk

01228814515

Details

Date posted

09 January 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

262-A-25-7703367

Job locations

Cumberland Infirmary

Newtown Road

Carlisle

CA2 7HY


Supporting documents

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