Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the largest microbiology departments in England as a Band 4 Associate Practitioner. The Manchester Medical Microbiology Partnership (MMMP) is a collaboration between Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and UKHSA.The microbiology partnership provides comprehensive routine services and specialist services to a wide range of hospitals across the North West and beyond and also assists in any UKHSA co-ordinated responses or activity of a national/international nature, e.g. Bioterrorism incident or major disease e.g enteric outbreaks, COVID19, SARS.
The department employs around 130 staff and has a workload of approximately 1.2 million specimens covering major clinical specialties including respiratory medicine, transplantation, burns, renal medicine, urology & paediatrics. The department embraces all aspects of a modern clinical bacteriology service combining traditional methodologies with laboratory automation.
Main duties of the job
The scope of this role is to learn and maintain good laboratory practice in the interests of the departmental commitment to provide an efficient service and to become a positive member of a team or teams in the function of service provision.The applicant must have either a Foundation degree in Healthcare Science, a Certificate of Achievement Part 2, an Apprenticeship Level 4 or an equivalent qualification. Previous extensive experience of working in a clinical microbiology laboratory, evidence of using complex laboratory equipment and an understanding of Laboratory Health and Safety procedures and protocols is essential.
The post holder will report on biomedical investigations and utilise the appropriate testing to assist the Biomedical Scientists. You will rotate through different sections in the laboratory and be expected to supervise and train staff. You should be a good communicator and effective at prioritising competing workloads.
The laboratory is accredited by UKAS and we actively encourage CPD activities. In return we will provide a comprehensive induction programme and you will be appraised on a yearly basis with a view to developing knowledge and skills where appropriate.
The department requires staff to support a rotational shift pattern, which may include shifts throughout a 24 hours a day/7days per week period, to meet the service needs of the department.
About us
MFT is England's largest NHS Trust with a turnover of £2.5bn & is on a different scale than most other NHS Trusts. We're creating an exceptional integrated health & social care system for the 1 million patients who rely on our services every year.
Bringing together 10 hospitals & community services from across Manchester, Trafford & beyond, we champion collaborative working & transformation, encouraging our 28,000 workforce to pursue their most ambitious goals. We set standards that other Trusts seek to emulate so you'll benefit from a scale of opportunity that is nothing short of extraordinary.
We've also created a digitally enabled organisation to improve clinical quality, patient & staff experience, operational effectiveness & driving research and innovation through the introduction of Hive; our brand-new Electronic Patient Record system which we've launched in September 2022.
We're proud to be a major academic Research Centre & Education provider, providing you with a robust infrastructure to encourage and facilitate high-quality research programmes. What's more, we're excited to be embarking on our new Green Plan which will set out how MFT continues to play its part in making healthcare more sustainable.At MFT, we create and foster a culture of inclusion and belonging, provide equal opportunities for career development that are fair, open and transparent, protecting your health and wellbeing and shaping the future of our organisation together.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading. So that youre even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, youll need to take time to read the Candidate Essentials Guide that sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how we care for you as you care for others. Most importantly, it also contains critical information youll need to be aware of before you submit an application form.
COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not currently a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated, there is helpful advice and information available by searching on the NHS England website where you can also find out more about how to access the vaccination.
Diversity Matters
MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at resourcing@mft.nhs.uk.
Were looking forward to hearing from you!
Job description
Job responsibilities
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading. So that youre even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, youll need to take time to read the Candidate Essentials Guide that sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how we care for you as you care for others. Most importantly, it also contains critical information youll need to be aware of before you submit an application form.
COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not currently a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated, there is helpful advice and information available by searching on the NHS England website where you can also find out more about how to access the vaccination.
Diversity Matters
MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at resourcing@mft.nhs.uk.
Were looking forward to hearing from you!
Person Specification
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- Evidence of training & development within a relevant pathology discipline.
- Competent to process specimens on all laboratory benches
- Evidence of training & development within a relevant pathology discipline
- Evidence of using complex laboratory equipment
Desirable
- Experience of supervision and training
Skills
Essential
- Able to communicate information both verbally and in writing in a clear and concise manner
- Able to read, understand and follow written instructions and apply knowledge so as to undertake and assist in reporting on biomedical investigations.
- Able to communicate information both verbally and in writing in a clear and concise manner
- Manual dexterity for procedures where precision is required.
- Ability to recognise and understand what good standards of quality are and apply them at all times.
Desirable
- Flexible approach to work and hours which may vary according to departmental needs.
Qualifications
Essential
- Foundation degree in Healthcare Science, Certificate of Achievement Part 2, Apprenticeship Level 4 or equivalent qualification.
Desirable
- IT skills as evidenced by e.g. CLAIT/ECDL
Person Specification
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- Evidence of training & development within a relevant pathology discipline.
- Competent to process specimens on all laboratory benches
- Evidence of training & development within a relevant pathology discipline
- Evidence of using complex laboratory equipment
Desirable
- Experience of supervision and training
Skills
Essential
- Able to communicate information both verbally and in writing in a clear and concise manner
- Able to read, understand and follow written instructions and apply knowledge so as to undertake and assist in reporting on biomedical investigations.
- Able to communicate information both verbally and in writing in a clear and concise manner
- Manual dexterity for procedures where precision is required.
- Ability to recognise and understand what good standards of quality are and apply them at all times.
Desirable
- Flexible approach to work and hours which may vary according to departmental needs.
Qualifications
Essential
- Foundation degree in Healthcare Science, Certificate of Achievement Part 2, Apprenticeship Level 4 or equivalent qualification.
Desirable
- IT skills as evidenced by e.g. CLAIT/ECDL
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).
