Job summary
Manchester Cytology Centre receives approximately 450,000 cervical cytology samples per year, providing the laboratory services for the NHS Cervical Screening Programme to all eligible patients across the North West region.
We currently have opportunities for some new Medical Laboratory assistants to join our busy specimen reception team, supporting the department with the sorting and receipt of around 1500 - 2000 samples per day, and even more during peak periods. You will work alongside other MLA team members and some clerical staff, supported by one or more of the Biomedical Scientists on duty.
**Please note that this is not a training post, and there is currently no scope for promotional opportunities. Candidates seeking trainee BMS positions or similar need not apply**
Main duties of the job
Main duties will include:
Following Health & Safety requirements
Sorting specimens upon receipt into the laboratory
Confirming the patient is eligible for the test using an online database
Checking the condition of the sample and form, ensuring they match
Labelling up and recording information on vial/form accurately
Data entry
Record keeping
Loading, cleaning and routine maintenance of automated equipment
General housekeeping duties
About us
MFT is one of the largest NHS Trust In England with a turnover of over £3bn & 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 30,000 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 Electronic Patient Record system which 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 Green Plan which sets 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.
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.
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
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- GCSEs (or equivalent), with a Grade C or above in English and Maths
Desirable
- Vocational experience over higher education
Experience
Desirable
- Previous experience of working in a role with repetitive tasks
- Previous admin/office role
Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Attention to detail
- Basic IT skills
- Able to follow instructions / protocols accurately
- Good written skills, legible handwriting
- Able to work quickly and accurately
- Understanding of patient confidentiality and data protection
- Acknowledges the role is not a trainee post
Desirable
- Interest in healthcare science
- Aware of limit of practice and when to seek advice from senior colleagues
- Good typing skills
- Willingness to support and train more junior staff
- Organised and tidy
- Understanding of the NHS Cervical Screening Programme
Interpersonal skills
Essential
- Evidence of team working
- Takes responsibility for own actions
- Respect the diversity of our staff, patients and visitors and treat people equally and fairly
- Works well under pressure
Desirable
- Good time keeping skills
- Pride in your work no matter how small the task
- Comfortable in a role that is unlikely to change over time
- Excellent reliability
Other requirements
Essential
- Comfortable working within a laboratory environment and wearing appropriate PPE as required
- Flexibility to participate in a rota system, including occasional Saturday working
- Knowledge of Trust Values, willingness to abide by these
Desirable
- Keen to get involved with additional Trust or department initiatives and/or be a champion for staff group(s)
- Comfortable answering the phone and dealing with queries professionally
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- GCSEs (or equivalent), with a Grade C or above in English and Maths
Desirable
- Vocational experience over higher education
Experience
Desirable
- Previous experience of working in a role with repetitive tasks
- Previous admin/office role
Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Attention to detail
- Basic IT skills
- Able to follow instructions / protocols accurately
- Good written skills, legible handwriting
- Able to work quickly and accurately
- Understanding of patient confidentiality and data protection
- Acknowledges the role is not a trainee post
Desirable
- Interest in healthcare science
- Aware of limit of practice and when to seek advice from senior colleagues
- Good typing skills
- Willingness to support and train more junior staff
- Organised and tidy
- Understanding of the NHS Cervical Screening Programme
Interpersonal skills
Essential
- Evidence of team working
- Takes responsibility for own actions
- Respect the diversity of our staff, patients and visitors and treat people equally and fairly
- Works well under pressure
Desirable
- Good time keeping skills
- Pride in your work no matter how small the task
- Comfortable in a role that is unlikely to change over time
- Excellent reliability
Other requirements
Essential
- Comfortable working within a laboratory environment and wearing appropriate PPE as required
- Flexibility to participate in a rota system, including occasional Saturday working
- Knowledge of Trust Values, willingness to abide by these
Desirable
- Keen to get involved with additional Trust or department initiatives and/or be a champion for staff group(s)
- Comfortable answering the phone and dealing with queries professionally
Employer details
Employer name
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Cytology Department, 1st Floor Clinical Sciences Building 2, Manchester Foundation Trust
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9WL
Employer's website
https://mft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)
