Higher Level Biomedical Assistant, Microbiology

Job overview

We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic Biomedical Assistant to join our Microbiology team. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys working as part of a team and is committed to delivering a world‑class laboratory service for the communities of Coventry and Warwickshire.

You will play a key role in supporting diagnostic services by undertaking pre‑analytical, laboratory support and administrative duties, ensuring specimens are processed safely, accurately and efficiently in line with Trust policies and Standard Operating Procedures.

Please be advised that sponsorship is not eligible for this post.

Closing Date: Please be advised that this job advert will close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Please apply for this job as soon as you can, if interested.

Successful applicants will be required to provide an immunisation and vaccination report, from either their current UK occupational health provider or their UK GP.

Main duties of the job

The role supports the delivery of a safe, efficient, and high‑quality laboratory service through accurate specimen handling, data management, and pre‑analytical laboratory processes. The postholder is responsible for the timely and accurate entry of patient and specimen information onto Trust computerised systems, ensuring confidentiality, traceability, and patient safety.

Core duties include the receipt, sorting, checking, and preparation of specimens for testing, identifying discrepancies and taking appropriate action in line with Standard Operating Procedures. The postholder undertakes sample processing tasks such as measurement and pipetting and provides practical support to Biomedical Scientist staff, including basic supplementary work under supervision.

The role emphasises health and safety, including the correct disposal of sharps, contaminated materials, and confidential waste, and adherence to procedures for incidents, spillages, and injuries. The postholder promotes compliance with Trust health and safety policies at all times.

As a key point of contact, the postholder handles telephone and face‑to‑face enquiries professionally, manages workload priorities, supports analyser maintenance, receives deliveries, dispatches samples, and communicates authorised results. They also contribute to staff training, participate in appraisals, support quality control activities, and help ensure laboratory performance targets and turnaround times are met.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Responsible for inputting accurate and timely patient and specimen data on to Trust computerised systems.
• Responsible for the safe disposal of contaminated materials, including sharps and confidential waste.
• Undertake first point of contact for all telephone and face-to-face enquiries dealing in a professional manner.
• Responsible for the sorting and identifying of specimens received, identifying and taking appropriate action in the event of any discrepancies.
• Undertake preparation of an extended range of samples for testing by laboratory staff and provide support with laboratory tasks as required by BMS staff.
• Potential to work in the containment level 3 facilities to perform primary specimen processing and laboratory housekeeping; working to embedded stringent safety systems.
• Preparation of basic confirmatory/supplementary work to support BMS staff, but will exclude unsupervised interpretive tasks.
• Responsible for the dispatching and posting of samples to authorised persons and outside laboratories ensuring compliance with all statutory regulations.
• Undertake agreed clinical and non-clinical tasks following training ensuring referral to appropriately trained staff as required.
• Participate in the training and support less experienced members of staff in their orientation to the department and role.

For further details of the role please see the attached job description.