Medical Laboratory Assistant - Specimen Reception

Overview

Medical Laboratory Assistant – Specimen Reception, Band 2, for University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. Location: St Richard\’s Hospital, Chichester. Salary £24,465 per annum pro rata. Closing date 09/10/2025 23:59.

Job overview

The Pathology Support Service at University Hospitals Sussex is looking to recruit a focused and methodical Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) to join the Specimen Reception team at St Richard\’s Hospital in Chichester.

Working as part of a large and diverse team of support staff to provide an efficient and effective pre and post-analytical service to the Blood Science laboratory, in accordance with the training and operational requirements of the department.

This post is a Permanent Position, 15 Hours Per Week

The successful applicant will be expected to work flexibly between the hours of 08:00 and 20:00 Monday to Sunday; however our core operational hours are currently 11:00 and 18:00 Monday to Friday. In addition there is also the requirement to work public holidays on a rota basis.

Main duties of the job

The role includes pre-analytical sample sorting, preparation, data entry, receipt of stock, attending to telephone queries from service users and adhering to health & safety responsibilities. You will also be expected to provide support in our Pathology Office which involves interacting with patients, booking appointments and liaising with clinical staff.

You should have good attention to detail, manual dexterity and the ability to follow defined protocols whilst working quickly but effective under pressure. Experience of manually entering patient information quickly and accurately onto various laboratory computer systems, including ICE and Winpath, would be advantageous.

• To assist in the receipt, verification and preparation of patient samples, the data entry of patient and specimen details onto the Pathology IT system as well as processing stock and consumable requests from service users.

Working for our organisation

At UHSussex (UHSx), diversity is our strength, & we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness & experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, & can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) & a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients & staff with the same compassion & empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above & beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our candidate information pack & wellbeing programme, for staff which is extensive & designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance – because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching & training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us & throughout your career we will help you to grow & develop.We hope that in choosing UHSx you are choosing a long & happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make & feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application & the start of your journey with UHSx.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Working as part of a team of Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLA’s) in Specimen Reception to provide an efficient and effective pre and post analytical service to the Blood Science laboratory, in accordance with the training and operational requirements of the department.

To assist in the receipt, verification and preparation of patient samples, the data entry of patient and specimen details onto the Pathology IT system as well as processing stock and consumable requests from service users.

Please note: This role does not meet the minimum criteria for visa sponsorship under the current UK immigration rules, which set specific salary and skill thresholds. As such, we are unable to provide sponsorship for this post. Applicants will therefore need to already have the right to work in the UK to be considered. We include this information at the outset to provide clarity and avoid unnecessary inconvenience for applicants.

Person specification

Administrative

• GCSE (or equivalent) in English and Mathematics at grade C / Level 5 or above.
• Previous experience in the NHS.

Information Resources / IT

• Proficient and accurate computer skills including data entry and word processing.
• Knowledge of data protection, data quality and patient confidentiality.

Planning and Organisation

• Effective time management skills and able to deal with conflicting or changing priorities.

Communication and Relationship Skills

• Excellent communication skills, both written and spoken English.

Scientific

• Previous experience in Pathology or equivalent laboratory environment.
• Knowledge of ICE and WinPath Laboratory systems.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles
• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues

Important information for applicants:

A Note on AI Use in Applications
We value the individuality and authenticity that each candidate brings to the application process. While AI tools are increasingly accessible, we strongly discourage their use in completing your application. Your responses should reflect your own voice, experiences, and motivations—elements that are essential to a fair and accurate evaluation.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content may misrepresent your abilities and could result in your application being rejected. We encourage you to take the time to present your genuine self, as this helps us better understand your potential and ensures a transparent selection process.

Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.

Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.

Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.

DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check . We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.

Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria.For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.

UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications

Further Information

For help with the application process for Nursing vacancies, please email uhsussex.nursingteam@nhs.net.

For help with the application process for Non-Nursing vacancies, please email uhsussex.nonnursingteam@nhs.net.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Name Alison Jones or Jordan Reed Job title Pathology Support Service Managers Email address uhsussex.pssmanagers@nhs.net Telephone number 07979701429 Additional information

For more information or for an informal discussion about this vacancy please contact the senior management team using the email address below, or telephone one of the following individuals directly;

Uhsussex.PSSManagers@nhs.net

Alison Jones, Patient & Specimen Reception Team Leader – Ext 33600.

Jordan Reed, Head of Pathology Support Services – 07979701429