Job vacancy: Associate Practitioner, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester

Job summary

Main area: Blood Sciences
Grade: NHS AfC: Band 4
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 358-7057936-CSI-FIT-BC

Employer: University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: University Hospitals of Leicester
Town: Leicester
Salary: £26,530 - £29,114 per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 12/05/2025 23:59

Associate Practitioner

NHS AfC: Band 4

AI tools like chatbots and virtual assistants can support you as you complete your application. For example, they can check for spelling or grammar errors, or help you to decide what to include.

But they shouldn’t replace your own responses or be used to write the application for you.

Relying too much on AI can negatively impact your chances of success, because automatically generated answers:

might not be specific or relevant enough to address the criteria in the recruitment profile
often seem generic and not personalised enough – an AI response won’t show your unique voice and perspective
could misrepresent information about you, such as your qualifications, skills and experience

We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Technical/scientific: Undertake routine and non-routine tests or activities as identified by individual laboratories, up to but not including the point of authorisation, with exception of auto-authorised procedures. Work to standard operating procedures. Use scientific knowledge to recognise incorrect results and take action to correct errors. Be able to perform
laboratory tests requiring a high degree of manual dexterity.

Equipment maintenance: Responsible for monitoring and performing daily, weekly and monthly maintenance of centrifuges, automated analysers and other laboratory equipment, ensuring that logs are completed by all staff. Check the safety and functioning of all equipment perform simple troubleshooting and report malfunctions to BMS staff.

Stock Control: Maintain sufficient stocks of reagents, supplies etc. for the day-to-day operation of the laboratory. Maintain stock control records and order more stock where a system has been set up for this. Liaise with senior staff and Pathology stores staff to ensure deliveries are correct and received on time.

Information and IT: Ensure that the Standard Operating Procedures for own work area are kept up to date and displayed appropriately. Assist in proposing, developing and implementing new procedures. Use word processing and spreadsheet packages to produce draft SOPs, audit reports and laboratory data.

Planning: Plan and organise own workload and may be required to assign work to Biomedical assistants.

Supervisory: Participate in the training of new biomedical assistants and associate practitioners. Supervise biomedical assistants and less experienced staff, allocating work, training, etc.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Appropriate Level 5 Qualification or equivalent e.g. Foundation degree or IBMS Certificate of achievement Level 2 (Higher)

Desirable criteria

BSc Biomedical Science or BSc (Hons) degree

Experience

Essential criteria

Relevant NHS laboratory experience in Blood Sciences
Experience of working in a laboratory to include processing specimens and understanding of laboratory health and safety and quality systems

Desirable criteria

Any other laboratory experience

Analtyical and Judgement skills

Essential criteria

Knowledge and understanding of pathology tests and medical terminology
Can work accurately and methodically following verbal and written instructions

Desirable criteria

Supervisory skills Knowledge and understanding of Blood Sciences laboratory tests

Planing and organisation skills

Essential criteria

Can prioritise work and use initiative when appropriate within an NHS laboratory

Desirable criteria

Able to work under pressure or to deadlines

Additional Information

Please submit your application form without delay to avoid disappointment; we will close vacancies prior to the publishing closing date if we receive a sufficient number of completed application forms.

Please check the email account (including your junk mail) that you supplied as part of your application on a regular basis following the closing date and throughout the recruitment process, as this is how we will communicate with you.

UHL is an equal opportunities employer. We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds who match our job criteria.

Applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the job will be interviewed if you indicate you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme. If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process please make the recruitment services team aware as soon as possible.

UHL is committed to helping colleagues balance the demands of both their work and personal needs through flexible working arrangements wherever reasonably practicable and subject to service needs.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Please note if you are successful in obtaining this position and the post involves regulated activity you will be required to undertake a Disclosure & Barring Service check.

The Trust will pay for the check initially and the money will then be deducted from your salary over a three month period commencing on your first month's payment.

The current price of a check is £38 for an enhanced and £18 for a standard check.

COVID 19 Risk Assessment

Due to the current Covid pandemic we have introduced a staff risk assessment into our pre-employment process. This now forms part of the mandatory pre-employment checks that will be carried out if you receive a conditional offer.

The risk assessment is intended to ensure you are able to safely perform your duties in any of our work areas, and if you have been identified as being particularly vulnerable to coronavirus. Our main aim is to reduce risk and to ensure the safety of all new starters to the Trust as well as current staff, patients and visitors.

If it is identified that you are within a vulnerable category, we will endeavor to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate this through discussions with both Occupational Health and your recruiting manager.

Covid Vaccination Status

Covid-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, family, colleagues and our patients/service users from the Covid-19 virus. We therefore continue to encourage our current and potential colleagues to get vaccinated.

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust holds the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything it does and all that it stands for. We are committed to developing a workforce that is representative of the community we serve. We welcome applications from the diverse community of Leicester, Leicester and Rutland, to help deliver healthcare services that meets the needs of our diverse communities.