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Job overview
Associate Practitioner in Point of Care Testing - AfC Band 4
An opportunity for a permanent band 4 Associate Practitioner post has arisen in the Point of Care Testing service at Southmead Hospital, Bristol.
Point of Care Testing covers a wide range of services through the trust, including
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Main duties of the job
Point of Care Testing (POCT) is the performance of diagnostic laboratory tests undertaken by non-laboratory personnel in a near patient setting. The POCT Associate Practitioner will be expected to work as part of a team in the delivery of a flexible service across the hospital and will:
- Radiometer ABL90 Blood Gas analysers Nova StatStrip glucose & ketone meters Respiratory virus analysers e.g., Abbott ID Now or Cepheid GeneXpert Abbott iSTAT Coaguchek Clinitek Status urinalysis strip reader and many more!
- Radiometer ABL90 Blood Gas analysers
- Nova StatStrip glucose & ketone meters
- Respiratory virus analysers e.g., Abbott ID Now or Cepheid GeneXpert
- Abbott iSTAT
- Coaguchek
- Clinitek Status urinalysis strip reader
- and many more!
- Operate, maintain and troubleshoot specialist POCT equipment, such as:
- Support the day-to-day provision of the POCT services across the Trust.
- Contribute to a professional POCT service, working effectively as a team member, and maintain excellent working relationships with POCT Users across the Trust.
- Work unsupervised to ensure that all POCT devices are operational and well maintained with adequate consumable availability.
- In conjunction with the POCT team, deliver training on POCT equipment to a range of healthcare professionals.
- Work in a potentially stressful environment where work patterns may be disrupted by frequently changing, unscheduled demands, and be able to prioritise workload to the overall benefit of patients. Be able to work independently and manage own workload and prioritise effectively.
- Act as the first point of contact for POCT related enquiries.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- For more details please refer to the attached job description and person specification for the Band 4 Associate Practitioner in Point of Care Testing.
Person specification
Experience
Essential
- Practical experience working in a routine clinical laboratory or POCT setting
- Knowledge of Health & Safety legislation and practice applicable to laboratories and/or POCT
- Knowledge of POCT equipment
- Experience of troubleshooting analysers and systems
Desirable
- Experience of delivering training to other healthcare professionals
Personal qualities
Essential
- Be an effective team worker
- Able to prioritise effectively
- able to show initiative
- Demonstrate a commitment to personal development
Education and qualifications
Essential
- Good standard of general education
- Evidence of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and ongoing training in a clinical laboratory or POCT setting
Desirable
- Foundation Degree in Healthcare Science or equivalent experience
Knowledge, Skills and abilities
Essential
- Good interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal
- Understanding of quality control procedures
- Possess strong organisational skills
- Experience using full range of MS Office software including Excel and Outlook
- Technically competent in a range of laboratory and/or POCT procedures
- Ability to multitask
- Understands importance of compliance with standard operating procedures
Desirable
- Ability to use, maintain and troubleshoot a variety of POCT equipment including glucose and ketone meters and blood gas analysers
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Associate Practitioner in Point of Care Testing with University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust in Bristol, South West, England. It is listed as a Band 4 Nurse practitioner role. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 06 Aug 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (31 Jul 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
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