Associate Practitioner

Job overview

Are you a team player looking to advance your career in a world-leading healthcare environment? The Blood Sciences Specimen Reception Department is looking for enthusiastic and reliable Associate Practitioner to join our dynamic and friendly pre-analytic team as a supervisor to deliver training and ensure the smooth workflow day to day in a fast paced and diverse sample reception area.

Ideally, you will have previous experience of working in a laboratory or preanalytical environment, be able to demonstrate an organised and thorough approach to your work and the ability to work under pressure. You will be involved in performing a wide variety of pre-analytic duties, troubleshooting and managing workflow, as well as data entry and general housekeeping in accordance with laboratory protocol.

We provide a full 24/7 service supported by a shift system (Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions apply), including weekends and Bank Holidays. You will be expected to participate in the shift system, predominately covering evenings following suitable training and successful competency assessments.

The department is very proactive in education and development and a strong commitment to personal and professional development and teamwork are all essential for this post. We support a variety of CPD activities. This role is not suitable for candidates wishing to complete Registration and/or Specialist IBMS Portfolios.

Main duties of the job

• Performs a number of healthcare technical and preanalytical activities under supervision, e.g. data entry and sample separation.
• Maintains clinical records in relation to activities carried out; may input/interrogate work of others.
• Supervise, organise and allocate work and train less experienced staff in own area.
• To work flexibly in reflection of service needs which may include an extended working day and/or participation in delivery of a 24 hour, 7 days per week service.
• The work of the service brings staff into constant contact with human body fluids, tissues and hazardous chemicals.  This may include blood, pus, urine, faeces, and respiratory secretions.
• Maintain and promote professional image of the CUH Trust.

NB: Post holder must not work outside their defined field of competence

Note: An on-site practical assessment may be required as part of the recruitment process.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have: -    applied for a Graduate visa -    or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment -    or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment

This vacancy will close at midnight on 21st April 2026

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.