SHSCT_Healthcare Scientist Associate Practitioner

Job details

• Branch: Craigavon Area Hospital (SHSCT)
• Location: Craigavon Area Hosp-Main Building
• Directorate: HR & Corporate Services
• Salary: Band 4 (£27,485 - £30,162)
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Opening Date: 08/05/26
• Closes: Fri, 22 May 2026 @ 4:00 PM
• Interview Dates: To be confirmed.

Notes

If you are submitting a manual application, please post it to: Recruitment Shared Services, Rosewood Villa, Longstone Hospital Site, 73 Loughgall Road, Armagh, BT61 7PR. Applications received after the advertised closing date/time cannot be considered, so please allow enough time for postage. “A waiting list may be created for similar posts that may arise while the waiting list is live, this may include temporary or part-time posts. This will be managed in line with the updated HSC waiting list principles effective from 1 April 2026”. Where a part-time waiting list is required, one part-time waiting list will be created- regardless of any specific hours advertised, this waiting list will cover all future vacancies where part-time posts arise. A part-time post is defined as any post that has less than 37.5 hours per week.” Please remember to save or print a copy of the job description before submitting your application, as it will not be accessible afterwards. Flexible Working We welcome flexible working requests from day one. All HSC organisations offer a range of flexible working options. The options available for this post will depend on the requirements of the role. Find out more about flexible working options on our website.

Job Description

Healthcare Scientist Associate Practitioner

Haematology/Transfusion Laboratories

Job Description

SOUTHERN HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE TRUST

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE Healthcare Scientist Associate Practitioner

BAND 4

DIRECTORATE Acute

INITIAL LOCATION CAH

REPORTS TO Lead BMS Haematology & Blood Transfusion

ACCOUNTABLE TO Head of Laboratory Services

JOB SUMMARY

The post holder will be working as an Associate Practitioner to assist in the provision of an efficient and smooth running diagnostic service by following the departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and protocols throughout all sections of the department. The job will involve the receipt and analysis of samples using both manual techniques and automated equipment.

Services are provided to hospital clinicians and general practitioners and the post holder is required to liaise with these, other healthcare professionals, patients and their representatives

KEY DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

Scientific and Clinical Responsibilities

Analyses samples using a range of laboratory procedures, by either manual or automated techniques, to produce results of a quality consistent with excellent patient care. Undertakes these duties in areas of the relevant discipline appropriate to training and experience.

Efficient use of IT equipment that underpins the job role. Including but not limited to use of WinPath LIMS, Blood Tracking Software and common Microsoft based packages such as MS Excel

Works in co-operation with other staff members to ensure that the workload is processed in a timely and efficient manner. Staff groups include departmental clinicians, consultants, scientific staff of all grades, nurses and support staff.

Is fully conversant with departmental policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), ensuring that personal performance complies with ISO15189, BSQR 2005 and other professional standards.

In conjunction with experienced Biomedical Scientists (BMS) or Senior BMS staff ensures the validity of results by the use of appropriate calibration and control materials, applicable to both manual and automated systems in the laboratory and on the wards. Ensures that appropriate records are kept.

Carries out simple maintenance on highly complex and expensive automated systems. Ensures that appropriate records are kept.

Accepts clinical samples into the department, working with staff from transport and portering services. Assesses such samples for suitability and takes appropriate action in cases of non- compliance.

Takes an active role in the maintenance of transfusion tractability including but not limited to matching samples with request forms, inputting patient and test information into the laboratory computer system and assisting Haemovigilance colleagues when required

Performs telephone duties that include making and receiving calls from and to the laboratory, verbally transmitting confidential results and conveying sensitive information to healthcare professionals.

Responsible for resolving errors and for recording instances and actions on the Laboratory’s Quality Management system.

Ensures efficient use and maintenance of resources, is aware of stock levels and rotation, storage conditions, batch numbers and expiry dates, thus ensuring the viability of the reagents and/or blood products used.

Assists in material and stock management duties. Including placing orders of reagents and materials for the approval of senior staff.

Assists in the validation and maintenance of equipment that requires periodic performance verification, including the processing of quality control materials for day-to-day activities.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The post holder will be required to

Ensure the Trust’s policy on equality of opportunity is promoted through his/her own actions and those of any staff for whom he/she has responsibility.

Co-operate fully with the implementation of the Trust's Health and Safety arrangements, reporting any accidents/incidents/equipment defects to his/her manager, and maintaining a clean, uncluttered and safe environment for patients/clients, members of the public and staff.

Adhere at all times to all Trust policies/codes of conduct, including for example

Smoke Free policy

IT Security Policy and Code of Conduct

standards of attendance, appearance and behaviour

Contribute to ensuring the highest standards of environmental cleanliness within your designated area of work.

Co-operate fully with regard to Trust policies and procedures relating to infection prevention and control.

All employees of the trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Trust including patients/clients, corporate and administrative records whether paper-based or electronic and also including emails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exception, under the Freedom of Information act 2000 the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and the Data Protection Acts 1998. Employees are required to be conversant with the Trusts policy and procedures on records management and to seek advice if in doubt.

Take responsibility for his/her own ongoing learning and development, including full participation in KSF Development Reviews/appraisals, in order to maximise his/her potential and continue to meet the demands of the post.

Represent the Trust’s commitment to providing the highest possible standard of service to patients/clients and members of the public, by treating all those with whom he/she comes into contact in the course of work, in a pleasant, courteous and respectful manner.

Available / able to work any 5 days out of 7 over the 24 hour period, which may include oncall / stand-by / sleep-in duties, shifts, night duty, weekends and Public Holidays if required immediately on appointment or at a later stage following commencement in response to changing demands of the service.

Understand that this post may evolve over time, and that this Job Description will therefore be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

It is a standard condition that all Trust staff may be required to serve at any location within the Trust's area, as needs of the service demand

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

Title of Post: Healthcare Scientist Associate Practitioner Band of Post: 4

Notes to applicants

You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.

Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.

Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

Volunteering experience may be considered appropriate in particular for roles within the context of direct patient/client care.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor

Criteria

Method of Assessment

Qualifications/ Registration

5 GCSE’s or equivalent at Grade C or above including a Science subject

And -

NVQ3 in a Laboratory Medicine related subject

-or-

Completed the IBMS Certificate of Achievement for laboratory support staff

-or-

2 years’ experience in a diagnostic laboratory.

Shortlisting

Other

Skills / Abilities

Ability to work as part of a Team

Ability to use own initiative

Good organisational skills with an ability to prioritise own workload.

Effective Communications skills to meet the needs of the post in full.

Hold a full current driving license valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment.

Interview

Knowledge

Has experience with common Microsoft based IT systems

Interview

Special Circumstances

Value Based Recruitment

Value Based Recruitment is a process adopted by the Northern Trust to attract and select employees on the basis that their individual values and behaviours align with those of the Trust.

It focuses on the ‘how’ and ‘why’ people do what they do.

Candidates who are short-listed for interview will need to demonstrate at interview that they have the required knowledge, skills, competencies and values to be effective in this new role.

In answering the value based questions you have the opportunity to share examples of when you have demonstrated values relevant to the Northern Trust.

Criminal Offences, Investigations and Charges

Having a criminal record will not necessarily debar you from working with the Trust. This will depend on the nature of the position, together with the circumstances and background of your offences or other information contained on a disclosure certificate. Where it is necessary to obtain an Access NI disclosure the Trust operates in line with the Access NI Code of Practice (www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/accessni-code-practice).

If you require further information or a copy of the policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders or the policy on the Secure Handling, Use, Storage and Retention of Disclosure Information, please contact the Trust Human Resources Department.

Essential Leadership Capabilities

The successful candidate will need to provide evidence and demonstrate their Leadership capabilities against the required dimension on the NHS Leadership framework.

A shortlist of candidates for interview will be prepared on the basis of the information contained in the application form. It is therefore essential that all applicants demonstrate through their application how and to what extent their experience and qualities are relevant to this post and the extent to which they satisfy each criterion specified. An assessment centre may also be used as part of the short-listing process.

Candidates who are short-listed for interview will need to demonstrate at interview that they have the required competencies to be effective in this demanding leadership role. The dimensions concerned are given in the Healthcare Leadership Model details of which can be found at http://www.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/resources/healthcare-leadership-model.

Particular attention will be given to the following

Inspiring shared purpose

Leading with care

Evaluating information

Connecting our service

Sharing the vision

Engaging the team

Holding to account

Developing capability

Influencing for results

As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for the Trust to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed.

THE TRUST IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

Successful applicants

may be required to attend for a Health Assessment

can expect to be placed at the minimum point of the pay scale, although a higher starting salary, within the range of the pay band may be available if the person appointed has experience relevant & equivalent to the post. If the successful candidate is an existing HSC employee moving to a higher band, AfC Pay on Promotion will apply.

are able to request Flexible Working from the 1st day of their employment. A number of flexible working provisions are offered by all HSC Organisations including Full-time working, Fixed working patterns, Part-time working, Flexi-time, Compressed/elongated hours, Average hours working patterns, Job-share or Homeworking for some or all of the working pattern, depending on the role being undertaken. Successful applicants are encouraged to discuss with their manager what Flexible Working provisions may be available in the role they are taking up, prior to commencing employment, to help them achieve a positive Work/Life Balance.

All staff are expected to display the HSC Values at all times