Healthcare Science Assistant

Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest and largest NHS foundation trusts in the country, with around 15,000 staff and an annual budget of £1.6 billion. We have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally. We’re in the top five providers of specialised health services in the country, supporting people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders. Our staff oversee around 6,500 patient contacts each day, delivering high standards of healthcare.

We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under‑represented groups.

Newcastle Hospitals are proud to be one of the exemplar organisations across the NHS on sustainability, with a long history of delivering Sustainable Healthcare in Newcastle (Shine) and the first healthcare organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency. Our strategy includes commitments to being Net Zero by 2030, for our direct carbon footprint, and Net Zero by 2040 for our footprint plus. Delivering these ambitions will not be possible without the help, support and action of every single member of our team.

Applications are invited from enthusiastic individuals to expand our team of full time Healthcare Science Assistant in Cellular Pathology at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne. The Department provides Histology, Cytology and Mortuary services. It is purpose‑built within a prime City‑centre location, offering an attractive career opportunity.

A Healthcare Science Assistant (HCSA) is part of a clinical support team in a hospital laboratory whose purpose is to provide timely and accurate high quality scientific information that will assist service users from the hospital and community, in the establishment of a clinical diagnosis and monitoring of patient treatment. The HCSA will use practical skills to carry out a variety of laboratory duties including reception and data entry of requests received, filing of slides/sample blocks and some basic pathological tests under the supervision and guidance of a Biomedical Scientist.

Applicants should meet the essential requirements with experience of working in a laboratory. The laboratory core working hours are from 7am and 6pm, some flexibility in shift patterns may be required to support service needs. Participation in a Saturday rota will also be required.

Main duties of the job include:

• Receipt and processing of patient samples, which include anatomically identifiable body tissues and fluids
• Assisting Biomedical Scientists and Pathologist during specimen dissection
• Slides from patient samples for issue, Sorting, transport and filing of blocks and slides from patient sample
• Inputting data into Laboratory Information Systems (APEX), machine maintenance
• Restocking of laboratory consumables and reagents
• Discard of laboratory waste
• Other general laboratory duties supporting Biomedical Scientists and Medical Staff in preparing patient samples for diagnosis

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Qualifications & Education:

• Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above including English, Maths and Science or equivalent qualification (e.g. NVQ Level 2 in Clinical Laboratory Support)

Knowledge & Experience:

• Understanding of a basic range of routine laboratory processes including assisting in basic sample processing, using laboratory equipment
• Basic understanding of human biology
• Previous NHS Laboratory experience
• Understanding of Health and Safety
• Experience of using Laboratory equipment

Skills & Abilities:

• Able to concentrate for long periods of time
• Good hand‑eye coordination
• Self‑organisation and ability to prioritise
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Able to meet the physical requirements of the role (Lifting weights of 10kg or more and carry out repetitive tasks for prolonged periods of time)
• Ability to tolerate exposure to samples of a distressing nature and prolonged exposure to unpleasant smells

Important note on completion of reference section of Application Form: All references from current and previous employers will be sought and must cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.

Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay. Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e‑mail. You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.