The Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust

Level 6 Apprentice Medical Laboratory Assistant

The closing date is 20 July 2025

Job summary

The Blood Sciences Specimen Reception department at The Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust is seeking a motivated and practical individual to join our team. This is a permanent position working primarily at Pinderfields Hospital, in the blood sciences laboratory. The vacancy is a full time (37.5 hours per week).

The department operates 24 hours a day and the successful candidate will be required to work a variety of shifts including day, late, overnight, weekend and bank holiday shifts.

The blood sciences laboratory process patient samples from the emergency department, hospital wards and outpatient departments at Pinderfields Hospital plus patient samples from GP surgeries in the surrounding area.

Specimen Reception is where the patient samples enter the laboratory. They are then prioritised and processed before analysis by the departments of Biochemistry, Blood Transfusion and Haematology.

The role requires the use of several IT systems alongside the use of a GLP pre-analytical track system. Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential, and a level of computer literacy will be useful, as a large proportion of the duty will include inputting patient information onto the Laboratory computer system. An ability to follow instructions, work under pressure and demonstrate good manual dexterity will be an advantage.

Please note that the interview will take place over half a day on the 7th of August and will involve practical exercises as well as interview.

Main duties of the job

Receive pathology specimens from hospital staff and patients in a courteous and helpful manner.

To sort patient samples and distribute to relevant departments. Identify samples requiring urgent analysis.

To ensure samples and the appropriate request forms are correctly labelled and that the correct container has been used.

To label request forms and specimens with laboratory numbers as required. Use of laboratory information system to input patient data and order analytical tests.

To successfully undertake the necessary training to fulfil the requirements of the required competency documents.

Liaise with other laboratory and hospital staff to pass on information and solve problems that have arisen.

To follow departmental standard operating procedures.

About us

We are an acute trust caring for over one million people in Wakefield and Kirklees. Our 10,000 staff members work in patients homes, the community, and our three hospitals in Pontefract, Dewsbury, and Pinderfields (Wakefield). Committed to continuous improvement, we prioritise our people and values so we can deliver excellent patient experience.

Our team is friendly, passionate and always seeking better ways to work through research and innovation. We support work-life balance and foster a diverse, inclusive environment where everyone belongs. Our staff networks offer safe spaces for honest conversations and to share ideas, thoughts and concerns so we can increase awareness and appreciation of equality, diversity, and inclusion.

As a member of the team, you will have access to the NHS pension plan, a generous holiday allowance, employee health and wellbeing services and extensive benefits and support. These include onsite nurseries, childcare vouchers, car lease and home electronics schemes, working carers support, carer-friendly policies, and more.If you value caring, high standards, improvement, and respect, join the MY team to make a difference every day.

Date posted

15 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

000504

Job locations

Pinderfields Hospital

Wakefield

West Yorkshire

WF1 4DG

Job description

Job responsibilities

GCSE grade A-C or equivalent in English Language and Maths.
Level 3 qualification in science (or about to complete).
A reasonable knowledge of Health and Safety laws.
Must understand the nature of patient confidentiality.
Able to communicate clearly and precisely both verbally and in writing with patients and all levels of staff inside and outside Pathology.
Able to work quickly and accurately.
To be IT literate.
Able to work well within a small team. Able to work alone if required.
Enthusiasm for work. Enthusiasm to undertake appropriate training as required to facilitate service developments.
Willingness to work flexibly.
Friendly and approachable.

Desirable

Previous experience of working with the public/service environment.

Job description

Job responsibilities

GCSE grade A-C or equivalent in English Language and Maths.
Level 3 qualification in science (or about to complete).
A reasonable knowledge of Health and Safety laws.
Must understand the nature of patient confidentiality.
Able to communicate clearly and precisely both verbally and in writing with patients and all levels of staff inside and outside Pathology.
Able to work quickly and accurately.
To be IT literate.
Able to work well within a small team. Able to work alone if required.
Enthusiasm for work. Enthusiasm to undertake appropriate training as required to facilitate service developments.
Willingness to work flexibly.
Friendly and approachable.

Desirable

Previous experience of working with the public/service environment.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Please click 'apply now' to view the full person specification (there is no obligation to submit an application).

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Please click 'apply now' to view the full person specification (there is no obligation to submit an application).

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.