Apprentice Healthcare Science Assistants - Level 2

Job overview

Exciting opportunities have arisen for Apprentice Healthcare Science Assistants at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; the posts are available to anyone who is interested in working within an NHS Healthcare environment while completing a Level 2 qualification in Healthcare Science.

Staff new to the Trust will be employed on an apprentice contract so that they have an opportunity to 'earn while they learn'.

Our apprenticeships offer:

• The chance to earn a salary while studying.training in job specific and transferable skills
• Protected time to study towards a related qualification (including literacy and numeracy if required)
• Regular pastoral support and personal development reviewsemployment on a 16-month training contract
• Benefits such as paid annual leave, comprehensive mandatory training, protected time for your studies and NHS discounts

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds.

This post does not guarantee permanent employment on completion; however, the apprenticeship will provide you with valuable skills and experience to apply for other healthcare science supporting positions within the NHS.

This is an apprenticeship. To be eligible to apply you must meet the right to work and residency criteria outlined in the attached “Apprenticeship Guidance for applicants” document

Please note we reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the closing date once the required number of suitable applications have been received.

Main duties of the job

You will be trained to perform a variety of Healthcare Assistant roles within a busy department, which will involve meeting, communicating and working with people from all backgrounds.

You will be working directly with other Pathology staff, preparing samples for diagnostic tests, undertaking basic diagnostic investigations, inputting data, following procedures, ordering stock and any other associated administrative duties.

There will be taught sessions (some of these may be online) and work-based assessment which contribute to the learning element of the programme. Apprentices will complete a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate their learning and skills in practice in accordance with the apprenticeship framework.

The Level 2 Healthcare Science apprenticeship is suited to those who are interested in the welfare of others and have a caring attitude to other people, with a keen interest in science. We are looking for an individual who can put the patient's needs before their own, be honest, friendly and have a professional attitude to work. The work will be based in busy departments; therefore, will suit individuals who like to deal with a variety of tasks. Through your working practices you will apply dignity, respect and maintain confidentiality, you will work well in a team, be courteous, sympathetic and professional. It is also important that you maintain a safe working environment and contribute to the safeguarding of patients.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Apprentice Healthcare Science Assistants will undertake an initial structured departmental induction and then follow a training programme throughout the apprenticeship to enable them to:

• Work under the supervision of the Biomedical Scientist and other team members in the delivery of high-quality care.
• Provide assistance and support to a broad spectrum of service users, and the multi-disciplinary team.
• Perform a range of routine healthcare science activities under supervision.
• Perform basic sample reception and process duties including the receipt, labelling and preparation of samples for analysis, loading of samples onto analysers or other laboratory equipment and sample archiving.
• Perform clerical tasks including data input of patient demographics and test request information.
• Perform general housekeeping duties including maintaining stock levels, general cleaning, media preparation and waste disposal.
• Gain relevant work-based learning within a Healthcare environment.
• Become prepared and knowledgeable within the working environment and work towards gaining a Level 2 qualification in Healthcare Science.

The work of the service brings staff into constant contact with human body fluids, tissues, and hazardous chemicals. This may be blood, urine, other body fluids and faeces.

Please read person specification for essential qualifications before applying.

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.