Associate Practitioner Blood Transfusion

Main area Blood Transfusion Grade NHS AfC: Band 4 Contract Permanent: Out of hours 24/7 working required, including nights and weekends Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (37.5 hours per week) Job ref 216-AM-C7564135Employer University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust Employer type NHS Site University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust Town Plymouth Salary £27,485 - £30,162 £27,485 - £30,162 Per Annum Salary period Yearly Closing 11/12/2025 23:59NHS AfC: Band 4Job overviewApplications are invited to join the busy Blood Transfusion Department of Combined Labs at University Hospitals Plymouth, as an Associate Practitioner (AP). This post will be based in the Blood Transfusion Department in Derriford hospital. The AP position directly manages a small team of 6 dedicated Transfusion ATO staff, who carry out support duties essential for the smooth running of the Department. The AP also assists the Biomedical Scientists in the examination of a wide range of clinical samples from patients, in order to determine the laboratory diagnosis, and appropriate treatment, for patients. The role is interesting, varied, and full training and supervision is provided.***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***Main duties of the jobThe post holder will provide vital technical and operational support within the Blood Transfusion department, ensuring the timely and accurate processing of samples and test requests. They will be responsible for a wide range of duties including sample preparation, operation and maintenance of laboratory equipment, stock control, data entry, and support for Biomedical Scientists.In addition, the role includes coordinating and line managing support staff, including rota management, training, supervision, and performance monitoring. The post holder will uphold departmental protocols, contribute to service improvement initiatives, maintain high standards of health and safety, and support quality assurance through active participation in the Quality Management System.Excellent communication, attention to detail, and the ability to work efficiently both independently and within a team are essential. The role also involves participation in a 24/7 shift rota and occasional cover for Assistant Technical officer (ATO) staff, along with responsibility for the department's lease vehicles.You will need to have a full clean driving licence with 2 years of driving experience.The applicant may be required to work nightshifts and additional weekend hours at an enhanced pay rate.Working for our organisationWe are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.Detailed job description and main responsibilities1. Work with colleagues to ensure timely processing of all blood transfusion samples and test requests.2. Plan, prioritise, and carry out own work efficiently and accurately, following departmental procedures and SOPs.3. Ensure stock levels of reagents, consumables, and stationery are maintained and reorder/alert appropriate members of staff to supply issues as necessary.4. Assist in receipt, sorting, barcoding, processing, and storage of all samples received in the section.5. Be aware of pre-analytical variables, sample acceptance criteria, and handle discrepancies according to SOPs. Using professional judgment to identify courses of action having taken into account analysis and a range of options.6. Book test requests into the laboratory computer system (LIMS) and enter patient/test information, checking for previous results to optimise processing.7. Prepare samples for analysis, including centrifugation, separation, aliquoting, attaching barcode labels, and completing documentation for special tests dispatched to reference labs following postal regulations.8. Support Biomedical Scientists in preparation, running, maintenance, and decontamination of analysers and other equipment.9. Operate analytical and other laboratory equipment safely and competently, including start-up, shutdown, scheduled maintenance, and running internal quality controls.10. Answer telephone enquiries and provide advice on test requests, sample types, emergency requests, and results, adhering to telephone SOPs.For further details please see attached JD&PS.Person specificationKnowledge & ExperienceAbility to be trained to perform the laboratory investigations relevant to the Section in which you work, irrespective of their complexity.Proven knowledge of quality assurance procedures.Proven knowledge of Quality ManagementAn understanding of the basic biomedical principles underpinning the Blood Transfusion assays performed within the sectionProven technical skills in a Pathology laboratoryProven knowledge of all assays performed and sent away by the departmentProven knowledge of all relevant Health & Safety legislation and its application to the SectionProven demonstrable experience of Service Improvement within the NHSQaulificationsNVQ Level 3 in Laboratory Science or equivalent qualification, or demonstrate proven equivalent experience to this level of technical achievementProven demonstrable experience of training or mentoring or line management duties.Excellent communication skills, being able to deal with staff and patientsGood interpersonal skillsPLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY INCLUDING YOUR JUNK FOLDER.If you need support with the online application process or require reasonable adjustments with the application and/or interview process please contact the Recruiting Manager for this post.We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants about less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. We recommend contacting the manager of the role prior to applying and we commit to giving requests full consideration.We welcome and encourage applicants who identify with all protected characteristics to apply for our roles. We believe that diversity strengthens our teams and improves our patients' experience. At UHP we aim to create an inclusive workplace and hospital where everyone feels they belong and included .It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.Providing false information is an offence & could result in the application being rejected or summary dismissal/police action if an applicant is successful.Please note that if you are successful in your application & accept the position you agree that the Staff Health and Wellbeing Department can access your health records from your current/previous employer in order to check the status of your inoculations & screening tests. This is an automated process & the information will only be used for these purposes prior to your taking up the position with us.For Doctors Roles:Unsolicited CVs and Candidate Profiles/Details University Hospitals Plymouth has a commitment to sourcing candidates directly and as such we do not accept speculative CVs from agencies.We do, however, work with a defined list of preferred HTE Framework suppliers who may be invited to support us in sourcing candidates for particular roles.In line with our preferred supplier, we only pay agency fees where we have a signed agreement in place and an agency has been instructed by a member of the Trust’s Medical Workforce team.We do not pay agency fees where speculative and unsolicited CVs are submitted the Trust or Trust employees by any other means than the official route above. Where this is not observed the Trust reserves the right to contact these candidates directly and initiate discussions without payment of any agency fee.Any candidate details (whether written or spoken) or CVs that are referred directly will not constitute an introduction. The Trust will under no circumstances be responsible for any recruitment fees in relation to these contacts.Submission of any unsolicited CVs, candidate’s details and/or proposals to the Trust will not be considered further and will be deemed evidence of full and unlimited acceptance of this Agency Protocol.In order to establish and maintain good working relationships with the Trust’s agency suppliers, we ask that this Protocol is adhered to and thank you for your co-operation.Employer certification / accreditation badges #J-18808-Ljbffr