Senior Medical Laboratory Assistant – County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Closing date: 16 June 2026. Salary: £25,760 to £27,476 a year (pro rata). Working hours: 24/7 shift rota including days, evenings, nights, weekends, Bank Holidays and Christmas.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates, as these groups are currently under‑represented.
Main duties
- Prioritise urgent samples to ensure timely patient care.
- Receive samples from hospital, GP surgeries and courier services.
- Book large volumes of patient samples into the Laboratory Computer System, selecting correct test codes.
- Prepare samples for analysers: centrifuge, load and organise for the haematology, biochemistry, immunology, and blood transfusion teams.
- Arrange referral and packaging of samples to other Trust sites nationally.
- Respond to reception and telephone queries and liaise with Trust staff and the public.
- Receive deliveries to Pathology and organise stock.
- Scan request forms, ensure printed reports reach the correct departments, GPs or clinics on time.
- Record incidents on the Trust Ulysses system or lab QMS.
Person specification
Qualifications
- NVQ Level 3 College and Careers Services (CLS) or equivalent.
- IBMS Certificate of Achievement Part 1 or demonstrable assessed competency.
- CPD.
- NVQ Level 3 Health (Pathology stream) or equivalent.
- Science and/or Maths GCSE or above.
Special skills & knowledge
- Follow protocols and instructions accurately.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Excellent attention to detail.
- Concentration for long periods.
- Microsoft Office applications.
Special requirements
- Able to travel across Trust sites.
- Able to handle blood and body samples.
- Flexible working, including shift, weekend and Bank Holiday duties.
Experience
- Previous laboratory experience.
- Public interaction experience.
- Supervisory experience.
- Training experience.
This position requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.
Employer
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Location
Primary sites: Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. Additional sites include Bishop Auckland centre, and community hospitals in Chester‑Le‑Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale.
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