Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Associate Practitioner

The closing date is 25 January 2026

Job summary

We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Band 4 Associate Practitioner to join the Point of Care Testing (POCT) team within Blood Sciences and Pathology Services (BSPS) as a permanent part-time position, 28.5 hours per week.

This role is integral to the delivery of high-quality, efficient and reliable near-patient diagnostic testing across the organisation.

The post holder will support the implementation, maintenance and monitoring of POCT services, ensuring timely and accurate test results that enhance clinical decision-making and patient care.

You will work closely with clinical and laboratory staff to provide training, quality assurance and troubleshooting, while ensuring compliance with regulatory, accreditation and governance standards.

This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to patient-centred diagnostics within a dynamic and supportive pathology service.

Main duties of the job

  • The post holder will maintain, operate and troubleshoot POCT devices in accordance with agreed protocols, quality standards and accreditation requirements.
  • Responsibilities include managing stock control, ordering consumables within agreed budgets, and liaising with manufacturers to resolve technical issues.
  • The role involves effective communication with clinical teams, conducting audits, monitoring internal and external quality control, and recording and escalating non-compliance.
  • The post holder will train users, assess competency, maintain training records and contribute to the review and updating of standard operating procedures.
  • They will support the implementation of new POCT technologies and IT connectivity, ensure compliance with health and safety requirements, report incidents, and participate in service delivery across core and non-core hours at any BSPS POCT site.

About us

Ashford and St. Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of more than 410,000 people living in North-West Surrey, parts of Hounslow and beyond.

Over 3,700 highly trained doctors, nurses, midwives, therapists, healthcare scientists and other support staff make up our workforce, providing a wide range of services across our two hospital sites, Ashford, Surrey and St Peter's, Chertsey, Surrey.

We also run many specialist clinics in the community and local community hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Our vision is to be one of the best healthcare Trusts in the country. There has never been a better time to join us in the NHS at ASPH. We are committed to providing continuous professional development and flexibility to shape our workforce around our patient care.

We are expanding our theatres at Ashford Hospital and moving towards this becoming our dedicated elective centre. We want to create a state-of-the-art centre for excellence for planned surgical procedures.

We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:

  • Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
  • On-site Nurseries
  • On-site staff cafes
  • On-site parking
  • Support in career development
  • Salary Sacrifice schemes including wage stream, lease cars, Cycle to Work schemes and home electronics

Adverts may close early, so applicants are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.

For more information about a career at ASPH please visit:www.asph-careers.org

Details

Date posted

12 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£28,860 to £31,671 a year Including HCAS pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

323-ACS2417-ED

Job locations

St Peters Hospital

Chertsey

KT16 0PZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • The post holder plays a key role in delivering high-quality, efficient and reliable Point of Care Testing (POCT) services across the organisation.
  • They will support the implementation, maintenance and monitoring of POCT devices, ensuring timely, accurate and clinically reliable results to aid patient care and clinical decision-making.
  • Responsibilities include troubleshooting equipment, managing stock and consumables within agreed budgets, liaising with manufacturers, and maintaining effective communication with clinical teams.
  • The post holder will monitor internal and external quality control, undertake audits, record and escalate non-compliance, and support regulatory and accreditation requirements.
  • They will train users, assess competency, maintain training records, update SOPs, support new technologies and IT connectivity, ensure health and safety compliance, report incidents, and contribute to service delivery across core and non-core hours at any BSPS POCT site.

This job description is an indication of the type and range of tasks that are expected of the post holder, and other duties may be required, in line with the role and the banding. It will be reviewed and amended from time to time in consultation with the post holder to take account of changing organisational need.

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • The post holder plays a key role in delivering high-quality, efficient and reliable Point of Care Testing (POCT) services across the organisation.
  • They will support the implementation, maintenance and monitoring of POCT devices, ensuring timely, accurate and clinically reliable results to aid patient care and clinical decision-making.
  • Responsibilities include troubleshooting equipment, managing stock and consumables within agreed budgets, liaising with manufacturers, and maintaining effective communication with clinical teams.
  • The post holder will monitor internal and external quality control, undertake audits, record and escalate non-compliance, and support regulatory and accreditation requirements.
  • They will train users, assess competency, maintain training records, update SOPs, support new technologies and IT connectivity, ensure health and safety compliance, report incidents, and contribute to service delivery across core and non-core hours at any BSPS POCT site.

This job description is an indication of the type and range of tasks that are expected of the post holder, and other duties may be required, in line with the role and the banding. It will be reviewed and amended from time to time in consultation with the post holder to take account of changing organisational need.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • NVQ level 3 qualification or equivalent

Desirable

  • BTEC Higher level or relevant vocational qualification

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

  • Knowledge of IQC/EQA
  • Good knowledge in IT skills- Computer & working with MS office suite
  • Able to troubleshoot and equipment
  • Knowledge of training
  • Good organisational skills

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in a pathology laboratory
  • Experience of troubleshooting equipment

Desirable

  • Previous experience of working in POCT
  • Experience with Siemens Poccelerator & AQURE

Special requirements

Essential

  • Ability to travel to all BSPs sites
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • NVQ level 3 qualification or equivalent

Desirable

  • BTEC Higher level or relevant vocational qualification

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

  • Knowledge of IQC/EQA
  • Good knowledge in IT skills- Computer & working with MS office suite
  • Able to troubleshoot and equipment
  • Knowledge of training
  • Good organisational skills

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in a pathology laboratory
  • Experience of troubleshooting equipment

Desirable

  • Previous experience of working in POCT
  • Experience with Siemens Poccelerator & AQURE

Special requirements

Essential

  • Ability to travel to all BSPs sites

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

Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

St Peters Hospital

Chertsey

KT16 0PZ


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

St Peters Hospital

Chertsey

KT16 0PZ


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

POCT Coordinator

Sudhakar Vimalanathan

sudhakar.vimalanathan@nhs.net

01932723040

Details

Date posted

12 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£28,860 to £31,671 a year Including HCAS pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

323-ACS2417-ED

Job locations

St Peters Hospital

Chertsey

KT16 0PZ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)