Apprentice Healthcare Science Assistant

Job overview

*Please note this post will be closed early once a sufficient amount of applications have been received*

Are you a self-motivated, hardworking and enthusiastic individual looking to take your first step into a Healthcare Science Career? Why not earn, learn and make a difference with a Healthcare Science Apprenticeship with a NHS Pathology Service. Our apprenticeships offer routes into scientific careers within the Pathology Service, through a mix of on-the-job training and classroom learning.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a professional, motivated and innovative individual to join the Pathology Laboratory at North Tees and Hartlepool NHSfT working in Pathology Reception as an apprentice Healthcare Science Support Worker.  The department has full UKAS accreditation and IBMS training approval. CPD is actively encouraged.

What you need to know about Level 2 - Healthcare Science apprenticeships

• If you are aged 18+ in your first year of an apprenticeship, the minimum you should receive is £4.81 an hour (the National Minimum Wage for apprentices)
• Many NHS Pathology employers will pay you more than the minimum wage
• They take 16 months to complete
• Anyone over the age of 18 can do one
• You'll develop your skills, and gain a competence qualification (based on what you can do in the workplace together with a knowledge qualification)

Main duties of the job

The pathology departments at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundations Trust and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are working collaboratively to develop a joint service with services being delivered on both hospital sites.

This post is mainly based at the University Hospital of North Tees site, but cross site working may be required. The department operates a 24 hour, 7 days per week shift system and the successful candidate is expected to be fully flexible and work the full range of shifts.

Main duties:

• Work under supervision to provide high quality care within a clinical setting
• Perform sample reception duties including, receiving, sorting, labelling, barcoding and racking of samples on arrival including aliquoting urine samples.
• Load samples onto centrifuges, pre-analytical automation, tracking systems or other preparation equipment
• Support in manual pre-analytical sample processing
• Distribute specimens to relevant laboratories, fast tracking urgent samples as appropriate. This may include packaging of samples for referral to external and internal agencies.

Applying for a Healthcare Science apprenticeship

There has never been a better time to start an NHS apprenticeship but often there's a lot of competition for a place. This means your application and interview are crucial. Some things to think about:

• show that you are committed
• make sure you are aware of your responsibilities
• demonstrate that you are able to cope with work and study

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

See attached Job Description for details of the role, for the full details of the positions roles and responsibilities.