Medical Laboratory Assistant, Band 2 Pre-Analytical

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 14 May 2025

Job summary

We are looking an enthusiastic person to join Pathology in our Pre-Analytical Area as a Medical Laboratory Assistant Band 2. You will be part of a team that provides a high quality and effective service to support our Haematology and Biochemistry laboratories.

The Pre-Analytical Area processes up to 5000 samples per day and is the first point of contact and an important part of the patient pathway. All samples enter the laboratory through the Pre-Analytical Area and are fed to the specialist laboratories, Haematology, Biochemistry, Immunology, Microbiology and Histology. The Pre-Analytical Area is extremely important to the care of our patients.

Full Time and Part Time positions will be considered. The department is open 24/7 and you will be required to work overnight as part of your rostered hours and weekends on an additional rota.

Main duties of the job

You will have the ability to work well within a large team and have a meticulous orderly approach to your work.

You will be able to work under pressure and still be accurate.

You will unpack a range of blood samples, recognise and fast-track urgent samples.

The main focus of the role is to input test requests onto the computer system with a high degree of accuracy and to barcode label samples as they arrive into the department.

When working on the urgent bench you will need to be able to move from one task to another and be able to remain focused.

This role has a large element of data entry sat at computer.

We work across sites at both Cheltenham General Hospital and Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and the successful applicant will be required to work at both sites.

About us

We take pride in placing people at the centre of everything we do, working together as a united team. Driven by a shared ambition to continually grow, develop, and learn, we recognise and value every contribution. By combining our experience and skills, we not only support our vibrant, diverse communities, but also support one another.

With a team of over 9,000 employees, we are proud to be the largest employer in Gloucestershire and rank among the top 10 largest Trusts in the South West region. By joining our Trust, you will benefit from an excellent package that includes exclusive benefits, flexible working opportunities and the chance to gain valuable experience in one of our innovative hospitals. As well as generous annual leave allowance, access to the excellent NHS pension scheme, competitive bank rates, discounts at local shops and restaurants, access to two on-site nurseries, discounted public transport, reward and recognition and a range of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

In the Pre-Analytical Area there is a great team spirit, staff are very inclusive and we appreciate our diversity. The days go quickly and there is always something to do!

Date posted

30 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,169 a year (pa pro rata if part-time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

318-25-T0335

Job locations

Trustwide (Gloucester and Cheltenham)

Gloucestershire

GL1 3NN


Job description

Job responsibilities

You will have the ability to work well within a large team and have a meticulous orderly approach to your work. You will be able to work under pressure and still be accurate.

You will unpack a range of blood samples, recognise and fast-track urgent samples.

The main focus of the role is to input test requests onto the computer system with a high degree of accuracy and to barcode label samples as they arrive into the department.

When working on the urgent bench you will need to be able to move from one task to another and be able to remain focused.

You will be able to work across sites.

You will be able to work overnight and weekends on a rota basis

Additional contact:

Dawn Hunt - Deputy Pre-Analytical Area Manager.

dawn.hunt3@nhs.net

Job description

Job responsibilities

You will have the ability to work well within a large team and have a meticulous orderly approach to your work. You will be able to work under pressure and still be accurate.

You will unpack a range of blood samples, recognise and fast-track urgent samples.

The main focus of the role is to input test requests onto the computer system with a high degree of accuracy and to barcode label samples as they arrive into the department.

When working on the urgent bench you will need to be able to move from one task to another and be able to remain focused.

You will be able to work across sites.

You will be able to work overnight and weekends on a rota basis

Additional contact:

Dawn Hunt - Deputy Pre-Analytical Area Manager.

dawn.hunt3@nhs.net

Person Specification

Qualifications, Experience and Skills

Essential

  • Good basic education including GCSEs in IT, Science, Mathematics and English
  • Experience of common IT software
  • Experience of working in an environment where accuracy is vital
  • Experience of team working and a good team player
  • Able to work at both sites, Cheltenham and Gloucester
  • Able to work evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays as rostered
  • Able to prioritise task and organise a busy workload
  • Able to work under pressure without loss of concentration or performance
  • Able to conform to Trust requirements for confidentiality and data protection

Desirable

  • Experience of working in an NHS Laboratory
  • Experience in a role where there is a high volume of data entry
  • Experience in a customer service/customer facing role
  • Call centre experience
  • Experience in using TRAC (TCLE)
Person Specification

Qualifications, Experience and Skills

Essential

  • Good basic education including GCSEs in IT, Science, Mathematics and English
  • Experience of common IT software
  • Experience of working in an environment where accuracy is vital
  • Experience of team working and a good team player
  • Able to work at both sites, Cheltenham and Gloucester
  • Able to work evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays as rostered
  • Able to prioritise task and organise a busy workload
  • Able to work under pressure without loss of concentration or performance
  • Able to conform to Trust requirements for confidentiality and data protection

Desirable

  • Experience of working in an NHS Laboratory
  • Experience in a role where there is a high volume of data entry
  • Experience in a customer service/customer facing role
  • Call centre experience
  • Experience in using TRAC (TCLE)

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

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trustwide (Gloucester and Cheltenham)

Gloucestershire

GL1 3NN


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trustwide (Gloucester and Cheltenham)

Gloucestershire

GL1 3NN


Employer's website

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

For questions about the job, contact:

Pre-Analytical Area Manager

Kathy Shaw

kathy.shaw3@nhs.net

03004225290

Date posted

30 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,169 a year (pa pro rata if part-time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

318-25-T0335

Job locations

Trustwide (Gloucester and Cheltenham)

Gloucestershire

GL1 3NN


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)