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Assistant Technical Officer

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
This job is closed to applications

Location
Salary
£24,169 per annum
Profession
Administrative and IT
Grade
Band 2
Deadline
02 Jul 2025
Contract Type
Permanent
Posted Date
25 Jun 2025

Job overview

We are looking to appoint a highly enthusiastic individual to support the Microbiology Section by ensuring samples are registered and are ready for analysis. To help ensure reagents and media are ready for use and that the laboratory environment is maintained in an appropriate condition. To perform routine microbiological tasks of non-complex and routine nature.. The successful candidate will have excellent problem solving skills and will be able to show initiative.

Quality Control North West is part of Stockport Foundation Trust and is an NHS regional specialty department responsible for providing pharmaceutical quality control services to NHS and non-NHS clients. The laboratories at Stockport are well equipped and advanced in analytical instrumentation and are accredited to ISO 17025 by UKAS.

Main duties of the job

To receive, unpack and sort large numbers of environmental and pharmaceutical samples so as to enable accurate analysis and clear reporting by the Section.

To ensure sample documentation is complete, accurate and filed appropriately.

To register all samples on the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), assign a unique sample identifier and ensure the analytical tests requested are assigned.

To sample raw materials from the Pharmaceutical Production Unit on request, ensuring no contamination of the bulk material. To ensure the correct hazard label is applied to the samples.

To assist in maintaining the laboratory environment by regular disinfection of laboratory surfaces and disposal of samples and microbiological waste.

To be responsible for the receipt and storage of media from suppliers, and the assembly and packing of media for onward distribution to a range of Pharmacy Aseptic and Production Units

To perform routine microbiological techniques requiring aseptic technique and a degree of manual dexterity, including sterility testing when the facility re-opens.

To manage the incubation of environmental samples, ensuring the samples are incubated promptly and safely at the correct temperatures for the correct amount of time.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities To receive, unpack and sort large numbers of environmental and pharmaceutical samples so as to enable accurate analysis and clear reporting by the Section. To ensure sample documentation is complete, accurate and filed appropriately. To register all samples on the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), assign a unique sample identifier and ensure the analytical tests requested are assigned. To sample raw materials from the Pharmaceutical Production Unit on request, ensuring no contamination of the bulk material. To ensure the correct hazard label is applied to the samples. To assist in maintaining the laboratory environment by regular disinfection of laboratory surfaces and disposal of samples and microbiological waste. To be responsible for the receipt and storage of media from suppliers, and the assembly and packing of media for onward distribution to a range of Pharmacy Aseptic and Production Units To perform routine microbiological techniques requiring aseptic technique and a degree of manual dexterity, including sterility testing when the facility re-opens. To manage the incubation of environmental samples, ensuring the samples are incubated promptly and safely at the correct temperatures for the correct amount of time.

Communications To participate in regular Section and departmental staff meetings. To communicate verbally with Production Unit and Pharmacy Aseptic Unit staff where necessary to resolve sample receipt problems. To communicate verbally to team members any urgent notices or special requests accompanying samples.

Responsibility for Patient Care To help to ensure the microbiological safety of medicines prepared by the pharmaceutical production units and pharmacy aseptic units throughout the Greater Manchester area.

Planning and organising To plan work on a day-to-day basis in conjunction with the section head, ensuring duties are performed in a timely manner.

Responsibilities for Physical and / or Financial Resources To ensure good stock control of large amounts of microbiological media, and accurate recording of issues to clients.

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development and Implementation To contribute ideas regarding the work of the Section during staff meetings. To follow set procedures in accordance with the organisation Quality Manual

Responsibilities for data and information resources To use the LIMS to register all samples received by the section. Production of daily reports listing all samples received. To maintain a database recording all stock items issued to clients, and to produce reports from this database when required by the Office Manager. To maintain accurate written records in line with the requirements of Good Laboratory Practice for own analytical work.

Physical Skills and Effort Manual dexterity Computer data entry Keyboard skills Aseptic technique Some lifting of moderate weights involved.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and promote safeguarding by implementing the Trust’s policies and procedures, acting promptly on concerns, communicating effectively and sharing information appropriately.