West London NHS Trust
Medical Laboratory Assistant
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North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This creates an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.
Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Considering this, if you are interested in this role, please do apply as soon as you can.
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Job Overview
We are seeking an enthusiastic, motivated individual to join the Department of Immunology and Immunogenetics based at Southmead Hospital. The department is housed within a modern, purpose-built laboratory, and you will become part of a busy, supportive, and friendly team.
The Immunology Department at Bristol NHS Foundation Trust provides a comprehensive diagnostic service for the local community, serving a population of approximately 500,000, as well as a specialist referral service across the South West.
We are looking for a team player with excellent administrative, communication, computer, and practical skills to support our Specimen Reception team within Immunology.
Please note this role operates on a monthly rota covering shifts of: 7am-3pm, 9am-5pm and 12pm-8pm. Working hours and shift patterns may be subject to change to meet the operational needs of the laboratory.
This is not an HCPC trainee position.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient applications are received. Early application is therefore encouraged.
Unfortunately we are not able to offer visa sponsorship on this role.
For more information about working in pathology, see our video here: https://youtu.be/cJiNgR-TwUY?si=H6kkwCD5FvSv6UpW
Main duties of the job
Working under the direction of senior staff, you will support the day-to-day operation of the Immunology Laboratory. This is primarily a data entry role, with additional responsibilities relating to specimen processing and general laboratory support.
Key Responsibilities Include
- Data input and administration of patient samples and test requests.
- Receiving, booking, and preparing clinical specimens for testing.
- Handling a range of clinical samples, including blood, urine, and faecal specimens.
- Prioritising and processing Faecal Immunochemical Tests (FIT).
- Carrying out pre-analytical sample processing, including faecal sample extraction.
- Supporting laboratory housekeeping activities, including cleaning and decontamination of equipment and work areas.
- Undertaking clerical tasks such as scanning, filing, and photocopying documentation.
- Supporting the Immunogenetics and Immunophenotyping teams with pre-analytical sample processing when required.
- Providing assistance across all areas of the laboratory as needed.
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The successful candidate will be based primarily within the Immunochemistry section of the department, supporting faecal testing services.
Working for our organisation
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol City Centre and Weston.
With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
Please see the job description attached for a full list of role responsibilities.
Interpersonal And Communication Skills
- To work in a polite and professional manner maintain a good working relationship with colleagues
- Communicate effectively both verbally and written
- Work effectively as part of a team
- Deal with telephone calls in line with departmental policy in a polite and professional manner
- Notify senior staff of any issues and queries as appropriate
- Assist with training of more junior or new MLAs as required
Professional knowledge and expertise
- Educated to GCSE standard or equivalent
- Previous experience of working in a pathology laboratory desirable
- Completion of laboratory competences
- Working knowledge of appropriate protocols and safe laboratory practice
- Work within health and safety guidelines
Problem-solving and decision-making
- Deal with queries and problems and refer as appropriate
- Ability to work and exercise initiative under the supervision of senior staff
Planning and coordination
- Ability to organise and prioritise own workload
Practical And Technical Skills
- Ability to follow standard operating procedures accurately
- Ability to work accurately and to deadlines according to laboratory safety guidelines
- Have good hand and eye coordination for processing samples and using equipment accurately
Information and data management
- Ability to work with all types of bodily fluids and samples, particularly faecal samples
Physical demands and work environment
- The post is laboratory based
- Involves movement between geographically separate areas of the laboratory
- Frequent transport of samples, equipment and consumables
- Exposure to blood and other bodily fluids and faecal matter
- Long periods of sitting/standing in fixed positions at laboratory benches
- Occasional exposure to, hazardous chemicals, UV, and laser light
- Frequent performance of repetitive tasks
- Frequent prolonged periods of VDU usage
- The post holder may be required to work alone / outside of routine hours.
- Exposure to low temperatures when storing/retrieving samples and reagents
- Frequent manual handling including lifting boxes and waste bags daily.
- Requirement to wear personal protective equipment e.g., gloves, goggles, etc.
- Occasional use of equipment with potential risk of exposure to sharps injury
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Cognitive demands
- Requirement to concentrate for long periods at technically demanding procedures.
Emotional resilience
- Occasional identification, and communication of sensitive and distressing results
Person specification
Education
Essential criteria
- Educated to GCSE standard or equivalent
Work experience
Essential criteria
- Previous experience of data entry
Desirable criteria
- Previous experience of working in a pathology laboratory
Knowledge, Skills And Abilities
Essential criteria
- Good communication skills both verbal and written
- Good IT and keyboard skills
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of good general laboratory practice
Personal qualities
Essential criteria
- Good interpersonal skills
- Ability to handle pathology samples
We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.
As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.
BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.
If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
Please be aware of scams – unless specified above, we will only communicate with you via @recruit.trac.jobs or nhs.net e-mails and we will never ask you for any payments.
Important
Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.
Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Therefore, please apply for this post as soon as you can,
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