Medical Laboratory Assistant - Blood Sciences

Job OverviewBerkshire & Surrey Pathology Services is a partnership between Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Ashford & St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, and Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.As the largest NHS-led pathology network in the UK, we are seeking motivated applicants for a Medical Laboratory Assistant position based at Wexham Park Hospital.This role is vital in supporting the Blood Sciences department, encompassing Biochemistry, Haematology, and Blood Transfusion.The successful candidate will work within a collaborative and inclusive team, contributing to the delivery of a high-quality diagnostic service.Comprehensive training will be provided to support your development in the post.Main duties of the jobThe main duties of the Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLAs) include but are not limited to.Loading and unloading patient samples onto laboratory analysers, ensuring correct handling, identification, and traceability are maintained at all times.Performing routine maintenance on laboratory analysers, including cleaning, calibration checks, and basic quality control procedures, to ensure efficient and uninterrupted workflow.Assisting with manual assay procedures under the supervision of Biomedical Scientists, in accordance with established standard operating procedures.Monitoring and maintaining adequate stock levels of laboratory consumables, ensuring timely replenishment to support continuous service delivery.Undertaking general laboratory duties such as preparing samples, correctly disposing of waste, maintaining a clean and safe working environment, and ensuring compliance with relevant health and safety standards.Supporting the department with essential administrative responsibilities, including data entry, record management, and handling routine telephone enquiries.Working for our organisationFrimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme. We provide first class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available.Here at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we know how important it is to have a healthy work life balance; this benefits not only individuals but the patients we care for too.We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service and its users.Frimley Health Trust benefits on VimeoDetailed Job Description And Main ResponsibilitiesThe post holder will work closely with the Team Leader and Biomedical Scientist staff to support the delivery of a high-quality technical service in line with UKAS and ISO 15189:2022 standards.They will be responsible for developing and maintaining effective working relationships with colleagues across all grades, both technical and medical, to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the service.For further information regarding the detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the attached job description and person specification documents.Person specificationExperience/KnowledgeEssential criteriaPossess basic IT skillsAbility to communicate effectively with colleagues and other healthcare staffDesirable criteriaExperience of a diagnostic laboratoryExperience of working in a relevant routine HUB laboratoryQualificationsEssential criteriaBasic knowledge of Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics4 GCSEs to include English and Maths.Desirable criteriaBasic knowledge of common tests performed in Blood SciencesSkillsEssential criteriaAbility to work effectively under pressureCommitted to working in healthcare environmentAble to contribute to shift patternsWorks well in a team environment and supports colleagues when neededDesirable criteriaAwareness of patient confidentiality and data protection responsibilitiesFrimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (FHFT) is proud of its strong reputation, record of achievement and ambition for the future. We serve a population of over 900,000 people across Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and South Buckinghamshire, and remain committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our communities.Our new organisational strategy – FHFT 2030 – sets out our ambition to be the best place to receive care and the best place to work in the NHS. Underpinned by our Trust values – Committed to Excellence, Working Together, Facing the Future, and being a modern, compassionate, Healthcare Organisation – we are creating a culture where our people can thrive and patients always come first.We continue to invest heavily in our services and facilities. This includes the development of a new hospital at Frimley Park, major expansion of diagnostics and inpatient capacity, and the continued transformation of services across our sites. We have already delivered a brand-new £100m state-of-the-art Heatherwood Hospital, a £49m Emergency Assessment Centre at Wexham Park, and a £10m upgrade to maternity services.We are also committed to sustainability and the NHS Net Zero ambition. Our new hospital and estate developments are being designed to be environmentally responsible, energy efficient, and future-proofed, featuring on-site renewables energy and intelligent energy systems. Through our green plan, we are embedding sustainable practices across all areas of care and operations, ensuring we reduce our environmental impact while improving population health and wellbeing. Our staff are key to helps us deliver on our ambition and to ensure sustainability is a core component of care delivery and our operations.Alongside estates’ investments, we are embedding a strong focus on digital innovation and quality improvement. Our electronic patient record (Epic), launched in 2024, is already enabling safer, more connected, and more effective care for patients, while giving staff the tools they need to do their best work. Our electronic patient record also supports safe and effective digitised care pathways, savings time and carbon, whilst delivering excellent quality of care.Everything we do is guided by our values, shaping how we care for patients, support colleagues, and build a sustainable future for healthcare together.Apply online now