Medical Laboratory Assistant in Uxbridge

Synnovis is a scientific organisation with a clinical purpose and is part of SYNLAB Group, Europe’s leading provider of laboratory diagnostic services. Harefield Hospital Blood sciences laboratory is part of Synnovis Analytics. Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospital Clinical Group is part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, the largest heart and lung centre in the UK and among the largest in Europe.

We are looking for an energetic, enthusiastic, and well-motivated individual with a good scientific background to complement our existing MLA team. We need someone who is proactive and shows initiative in working with the team and helps maintain our UKAS accreditation. Our laboratory is fully accredited with UKAS, MHRA and HCPC training status. You will be expected to work according to our working time compliant shift system weekdays (08:30 – 17:00) and occasional weekends (08:00 – 12:00).

The postholder will assist in the preparation of analytical work for the Blood sciences Department across a range of department work areas under the supervision of a Registered Biomedical Scientist. The postholder is required to always follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for any tasks carried out. There is a requirement to communicate with pathology staff, hospital staff, porters, drivers, and couriers.

Main duties of the job:

• The postholder will be expected to organise his/her own day-to-day work activities, considering the needs of colleagues and of the department, and under the supervision of registered biomedical scientists.
• The main laboratory tasks are to receive clinical specimens into the laboratory, prioritise urgent work, centrifuge specimens and separate serum as required, perform simple maintenance of laboratory equipment, and deal with telephone enquiries to the department.

Working for our organisation:

You will have a suite of learning opportunities available through The Synnovis Way Development programme, the Scientific Learning and Development Fund, and the Synnovis Academy through which you can receive funding/support for advanced qualifications. Through our Innovation Accelerator Fund, you can apply for finance to get that new innovative scientific project off the ground, and participate with the wider scientific community through symposiums, conferences, and other peer group meetings.

At Synnovis, we are currently shaping the future of pathology services by creating a world-leading Hub and Spoke pathology network with our NHS partners. A large part of this modernisation will involve moving 70% of our services to a purpose-built, state-of-the-art Hub laboratory in the heart of London. For now, the job you are applying for will be based at one of our hospital sites; however, from 1 April 2024, our people and services will start to move to our Hub laboratory in Blackfriars, Southwark, SE1, with some work remaining in refurbished essential services laboratories across our hospital network, focusing on the rapid turnover of urgent tests.

Synnovis is a pathology partnership between SYNLAB UK and Ireland, and the NHS, including sites, Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to deliver and transform pathology services across South East London. The partnership provides services to 1.7 million people living in South East London, as well as to hundreds of thousands of patients from outside the region who use local healthcare services. The partnership provides diagnostics, testing, and digital pathology for hospital trusts, GP services, and other healthcare providers.

Person specification:

Qualifications:

• Essential criteria: Minimum 2 A-levels
• Desirable criteria: Typing Qualification RSA2 or NVQ level 2

Experience:

• Essential criteria: Previous administration and clerical experience in a customer service environment
• Desirable criteria: Previous experience working in a pathology department.

Skills & Knowledge:

• Essential criteria: Ability to deal with confidential and sensitive patient information in a methodical and professional manner.
• Ability to work as part of a team across a range of staff groups.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and spoken English.
• Ability to ask and communicate with colleagues in an effective and positive manner.

Desirable criteria: Able to use laboratory information systems such as EPIC, ICE or Winpath.

Applications are welcomed from applicants with a disability. We can make reasonable adjustments and offer support and advice in a variety of ways throughout the application process. All applicants are welcome to apply regardless of age, disability, gender, marital status, race, nationality or ethnic origin, religion, or sexual orientation. Equality of opportunity is our policy.

Our Bank workers enjoy competitive market rates and flexible contract assignments across all of our sites, dependent on your availability and location. For our Permanent workforce, we offer a competitive benefits package. All employees are entitled to:

• Contributory pension scheme
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Groundbreaking development opportunities

All employees have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in the course of their daily duties and for ensuring that they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.