Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to assist in processing patient samples and support diagnostic services.
- Company: Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides exceptional care across multiple hospitals and community services.
- Benefits: Enjoy a supportive work environment, opportunities for professional development, and a chance to make a real impact.
- Why this job: Be part of a friendly team dedicated to high-quality patient care and innovative laboratory practices.
- Qualifications: Basic literacy and numeracy skills required; pursue a lab-focused qualification while gaining hands-on experience.
- Other info: This role offers career progression through the Agenda for Change Annex 20 framework.
The predicted salary is between 24000 - 36000 £ per year.
Job summary
The post holder will work effectively as part of a team providing histopathology, cytopathology and autopsy clinical technical services to Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and local Primary Care Trusts.
They will perform a variety of technical, clerical and administrative duties that will facilitate the processing of patient samples for analysis to primarily assist in the differential diagnosis of cancer related disease.
The work involves handling biological samples and paperwork associated with this process therefore the departmental health and safety policies must be adhered to at all times.
They will support biomedical scientists and pathologists in the provision of an efficient diagnostic service and, apart from the assistant technical duties, much of this function involves in-depth use of IT software. The applicant should therefore be very familiar and comfortable with the use of computers.
Annex 20
This post falls within the provisions of Agenda for Change Annex 20 – Development of Professional Roles, whereby upon completion of an agreed set of competencies you may move onto the next pay band without the need for an application for a post at a higher level.
For further information on Annex 20, please see:
http://www.nhsemployers.org/tchandbook/annex-16-to-20/annex-20-development-of-professional-roles
Please note that this vacancy will close once we have received a suitable number of applications
Main duties of the job
The main duties of the job role are split amongst two main areas of work; Within Specimen Reception the post-holder will receive and book-in human tissue samples (biopsies, organs, fluids), and assist the laboratory scientists in preparing the samples for automated processing. Within the Main Lab, the post-holder will (subject to experience and qualification) accurately embed tissues into wax blocks, sort blocks and paperwork, maintain laboratory equipment, collate microscope slides for quality control and operate the digital pathology slide scanners. In addition to these varied roles, there are also general filing duties and stock receipt to perform.
The Cellular Pathology laboratory is based at North Tyneside General Hospital, serving Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital and the General Hospitals at Hexham, Wansbeck and North Tyneside. The department serves a population of approximately 550,000 encompassing both hospital and community.
The Dept comprises a small team of well-supported, busy, friendly staff, and uses a modern laboratory workflow to achieve excellent results for our Patients. The applicant should therefore be highly-motivated with great attention to detail, and should be an excellent team-player.
About us
We manage three major locality hospitals at North Tyneside, Wansbeck and Hexham, plus a number of smaller community hospitals and clinics from Tynemouth to Berwick on Tweed, in addition to our state-of-the-art Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, the first of its kind in England. We also care for people in their homes and provide services from facilities in local communities such as health centres. We give people greater choice and control over their care to help them to live independently at home and avoid hospital admission where appropriate. High quality patient care is at the heart of everything we do and we strive to ensure every single patient and service user has an exceptional experience with us. We have one of the most extensive patient experience programmes of any trust in England.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The main duties of the job role are split amongst two main areas of work; Within Specimen Reception the post-holder will receive and book-in human tissue samples (biopsies, organs, fluids), and assist the laboratory scientists in preparing the samples for automated processing. Within the Main Lab, the post-holder will (subject to experience and qualification) accurately embed tissues into wax blocks, sort blocks and paperwork, maintain laboratory equipment, collate microscope slides for quality control and operate the digital pathology slide scanners.
In addition to these varied roles, there are also general filing duties and stock receipt to perform.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The main duties of the job role are split amongst two main areas of work; Within Specimen Reception the post-holder will receive and book-in human tissue samples (biopsies, organs, fluids), and assist the laboratory scientists in preparing the samples for automated processing. Within the Main Lab, the post-holder will (subject to experience and qualification) accurately embed tissues into wax blocks, sort blocks and paperwork, maintain laboratory equipment, collate microscope slides for quality control and operate the digital pathology slide scanners.
In addition to these varied roles, there are also general filing duties and stock receipt to perform.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good basic literacy and numeracy skills
- Post holders will be required to work towards a laboratory focused qualification such as Institute of Biomedical Scientists Certificate of Achievement Part 1
Desirable
- GCSE maths and English
- ECDL / RSA or similar
- Experience of Working in a medical Laboratory
- Experience of data entry
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good basic literacy and numeracy skills
- Post holders will be required to work towards a laboratory focused qualification such as Institute of Biomedical Scientists Certificate of Achievement Part 1
Desirable
- GCSE maths and English
- ECDL / RSA or similar
- Experience of Working in a medical Laboratory
- Experience of data entry
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details
Employer name
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Address
North Tyneside General Hospital
Rake Lane
North Tyneside
NE29 8NH
Employer\’s website #J-18808-Ljbffr
Medical Laboratory Assistant - Cellular Pathology employer: Northumbria Healthcare Nhs Foundation Trust
Contact Detail:
Northumbria Healthcare Nhs Foundation Trust Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Medical Laboratory Assistant - Cellular Pathology
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific duties of a Medical Laboratory Assistant in Cellular Pathology. Understanding the processes involved in handling human tissue samples and the importance of accuracy in this role will help you stand out during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Brush up on your IT skills, especially those related to laboratory software. Since the role involves significant use of digital pathology slide scanners and data entry, being comfortable with technology will be a big plus.
✨Tip Number 3
Network with professionals in the field. Reach out to current or former employees of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust on platforms like LinkedIn to gain insights about the work environment and expectations.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for potential questions about teamwork and attention to detail. Given that the role requires collaboration with biomedical scientists and pathologists, showcasing your ability to work well in a team will be crucial.
We think you need these skills to ace Medical Laboratory Assistant - Cellular Pathology
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description thoroughly to understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Medical Laboratory Assistant position. Highlight key skills such as attention to detail, teamwork, and familiarity with IT software in your application.
Tailor Your CV: Customise your CV to reflect relevant experience in medical laboratories or similar environments. Emphasise any qualifications you have, such as the Institute of Biomedical Scientists Certificate, and include specific examples of your technical skills.
Craft a Strong Cover Letter: Write a compelling cover letter that explains why you are interested in the role and how your background makes you a suitable candidate. Mention your motivation for working in healthcare and your commitment to high-quality patient care.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting your application, carefully proofread all documents for spelling and grammatical errors. A polished application reflects your attention to detail, which is crucial for this role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Northumbria Healthcare Nhs Foundation Trust
✨Know Your Role
Familiarise yourself with the specific duties of a Medical Laboratory Assistant in Cellular Pathology. Understand the processes involved in handling human tissue samples and the importance of adhering to health and safety policies.
✨Showcase Your IT Skills
Since the role involves in-depth use of IT software, be prepared to discuss your experience with relevant computer systems. Highlight any previous roles where you used similar technology or software to process data.
✨Emphasise Teamwork
This position requires excellent collaboration with biomedical scientists and pathologists. Be ready to share examples of how you've successfully worked in a team environment and contributed to achieving common goals.
✨Attention to Detail is Key
Given the nature of the work, attention to detail is crucial. Prepare to discuss situations where your meticulousness has positively impacted your work, especially in a laboratory setting.
