Associate Practitioner - Biochemistry

NHS

  • Gateshead, Tyne and Wear
  • £27,485-30,162 per year
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 2 hours ago
The post holder will take on operational and/or administrative responsibility for a specific area or to provide advanced administrative and operational support within a laboratory area. This role may include supervision of PSWs involved in the role. Advanced training will be given to allow the post holder to work without direct supervision, referring to the line manager of the section when required.As an Associate Practitioner in the Biochemistry Department, the post holder will contribute to the provision of the clinical laboratory service, as part of a team of Biomedical Scientists and support workers, performing work activities in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures.The post holder will follow an in-service certificated competency training programme. Under the guidance of qualified staff, the Associate Practitioner will be responsible for performing a range of scientific procedures on biological samples that contribute to the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of diseases and the investigation of other pathological processes.The post holder will be trained to make decisions that have an impact on the end result in order to facilitate the provision of accurate and timely reports within available resources.Main duties of the job
  • Act in a way that promotes patient care and maintains the integrity of the Department
  • Maintain and promote the professional image of South of Tyne and Wear Pathology Services and Gateshead Health NHS Trust.
  • Maintain patient confidentiality at all times in line with the Trust Information Management and Technology (IM&T) Information Security Policy.
  • Deal with members of the Public/Patients in a Professional manner.
  • Comply with good work practices in accordance with the Laboratory Standard Operating Procedures and Health and Safety Policies.
  • Prioritise work in accordance with guidance from operating procedures and senior members of staff.
  • Follow good laboratory practice in line with professional guidelines and Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) Ltd standards.
  • Work within the Terms and Conditions of Employment of your Trust Contract.
  • Report incidents, accidents and defects according to Trust and Directorate guidelines.
  • Participate in the maintenance of the quality system by participating in QC and EQA schemes.
About usBased in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.Our values should be the 'golden thread' which runs through everything we do - they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronymICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement.We have a number of staff networks including the BAME network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women's Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our armed forces network is one of our emerging networks.The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our 'Balance' programme balancegateshead.com to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.DetailsDate posted03 September 2025Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 4Salary£27,485 to £30,162 a year per annumContractPermanentWorking patternFull-time, Part-timeReference number297-7420696Job locationsQueen Elizabeth HospitalQueen Elizabeth AvenueGatesheadNE9 6SXJob descriptionJob responsibilities
  • Participate in the laboratory rotation through appropriate areas of the department.
  • Deal promptly and appropriately with any sample identified as urgent to ensure that timely and accurate results are available to the requester.
  • Participate in the regular review and update of the Laboratory Standard Operating Procedures as directed by the Departmental Quality Lead or Deputy
  • Assist in the maintenance and preparation of reagents and equipment, as specified in Standard Operating Procedures.
  • Ensure maintenance and control of stock as appropriate.
  • Maintain good work relations with all members of staff, and to promote effective teamwork
  • Participation in the Departments 24/7 service, which includes working late shifts and through the night as deemed necessary for service delivery by the Departmental Manager.
  • Contribute to the Departmental delivery of any specialised Patient-Focused Clinics requiring dedicated staffing allocation
  • Provide information for Multi-Disciplinary Meetings as appropriate
  • Contribute to the provision of materials, advice and support for the Clinical Users of the service
  • Referral of samples both within and out with the department including the monitoring and follow up of outstanding results
  • Provide and receive routine information verbally, in writing and electronically to inform clinical users of the service, patients, the public or other external contacts
  • Assist in the analysis of routine and urgent clinical samples in accordance with laboratory procedures using specialist optical, manual, semi-automated and fully automated laboratory equipment.
  • Ensure that reagents are prepared, stored and used according to manufacturer guidelines and laboratory procedures.
  • Ensure that appropriate preventative maintenance has been carried out, and recorded, on laboratory instruments and equipment prior to being used for patient investigations.
  • Measure and monitor the quality of laboratory investigations using appropriate internal and external quality procedures.
  • Take corrective action when quality control or assurance procedures indicate loss of performance of the laboratory instruments or methods,
  • Carry out first line troubleshooting of equipment or methods, keeping a proper record of all actions and communications.
  • Ensure that resources are used efficiently and effectively.
  • Enter patient data into IT systems
  • Contribute to the delivery of the Near-Patient Testing analysis service as appropriate
  • Perform specific procedures as deemed necessary by the Departmental Manager aligned to the competence assessment programme specific to each Department.
  • Prepare and process biological samples using manual, semi-automated and fully automated laboratory equipment.
  • Prepare and perform a limited range of diagnostic serology and molecular tests
  • Prepare samples for more complex automated processes.
  • Interpret preliminary results from a range of environmental and clinical samples
  • Report negative results from a range of laboratory tests
  • Monitor and re-order reagents and other consumables as delegated by senior staff
  • Enter laboratory results from reference laboratory reports.
Job descriptionJob responsibilities
  • Participate in the laboratory rotation through appropriate areas of the department.
  • Deal promptly and appropriately with any sample identified as urgent to ensure that timely and accurate results are available to the requester.
  • Participate in the regular review and update of the Laboratory Standard Operating Procedures as directed by the Departmental Quality Lead or Deputy
  • Assist in the maintenance and preparation of reagents and equipment, as specified in Standard Operating Procedures.
  • Ensure maintenance and control of stock as appropriate.
  • Maintain good work relations with all members of staff, and to promote effective teamwork
  • Participation in the Departments 24/7 service, which includes working late shifts and through the night as deemed necessary for service delivery by the Departmental Manager.
  • Contribute to the Departmental delivery of any specialised Patient-Focused Clinics requiring dedicated staffing allocation
  • Provide information for Multi-Disciplinary Meetings as appropriate
  • Contribute to the provision of materials, advice and support for the Clinical Users of the service
  • Referral of samples both within and out with the department including the monitoring and follow up of outstanding results
  • Provide and receive routine information verbally, in writing and electronically to inform clinical users of the service, patients, the public or other external contacts
  • Assist in the analysis of routine and urgent clinical samples in accordance with laboratory procedures using specialist optical, manual, semi-automated and fully automated laboratory equipment.
  • Ensure that reagents are prepared, stored and used according to manufacturer guidelines and laboratory procedures.
  • Ensure that appropriate preventative maintenance has been carried out, and recorded, on laboratory instruments and equipment prior to being used for patient investigations.
  • Measure and monitor the quality of laboratory investigations using appropriate internal and external quality procedures.
  • Take corrective action when quality control or assurance procedures indicate loss of performance of the laboratory instruments or methods,
  • Carry out first line troubleshooting of equipment or methods, keeping a proper record of all actions and communications.
  • Ensure that resources are used efficiently and effectively.
  • Enter patient data into IT systems
  • Contribute to the delivery of the Near-Patient Testing analysis service as appropriate
  • Perform specific procedures as deemed necessary by the Departmental Manager aligned to the competence assessment programme specific to each Department.
  • Prepare and process biological samples using manual, semi-automated and fully automated laboratory equipment.
  • Prepare and perform a limited range of diagnostic serology and molecular tests
  • Prepare samples for more complex automated processes.
  • Interpret preliminary results from a range of environmental and clinical samples
  • Report negative results from a range of laboratory tests
  • Monitor and re-order reagents and other consumables as delegated by senior staff
  • Enter laboratory results from reference laboratory reports.
Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential
  • Working towards a level 4 science qualification (BSc, HND, Foundation degree)
ExperienceEssential
  • NHS Laboratory Experience
Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential
  • Working towards a level 4 science qualification (BSc, HND, Foundation degree)
ExperienceEssential
  • NHS Laboratory Experience

NHS