Job overview
Maidstone Hospital, situated in the heart of the Kent countryside, covers a large population and includes the regional Oncology centre which is expanding in support of the Kent cancer network.
The Histology department provides services for Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trusts, Medway NHS Foundation Trust and Dartford & Gravesham NHS Trust. Consequently there is a combined Histology workload of around 88,000 cases per year. The department carries out a wide range of investigations including various specialist resections from hospitals within the Kent & Medway.
The department moved to a custom built new facility in May 2011. It is computerised and well equipped. Career development and participation in CPD are actively encouraged.
Applications are invited for the post of Medical Laboratory Assistant. This post would suit an enthusiastic and self-motivated person with good interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team. Good hand eye coordination and attention to detail are essential requirements.
This post would suit candidates with an interest in laboratory diagnostics, particularly those looking to start a career in Biomedical Sciences within the NHS.
Please note that this role may often attract a high level of applications. Please note this role may close earlier than the original closing date so please ensure you submit your application as soon as possible.
Main duties of the job
Kent and Medway Pathology Network
Working for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust you will be part of the Kent and Medway Pathology Network (South 8 network). Kent and Medway Pathology Network is made up of seven laboratories across three pathology services in four acute Trusts – East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust and North Kent Pathology Services (hosted by Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust and providing services to Medway Foundation Trust).
The network provides services across the health sector to a population of nearly 2 million.
The network vision is based around:
1. A single laboratory information management system (LIMS) and managed services contract (MSC);
2. A Director of Pathology Transformation who will work closely with teams and services to design and implement service changes which benefit the whole network;
3. A commitment to consider a single management structure at a point in the future; and,
4. A general agreement to collaborate, and to align processes and Standard Operating Procedures where it makes sense to do so.
You will not be expected to work at sites outside of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. However, there will be opportunities for collaborative working within this network
Working for our organisation
MTW is a large acute hospital trust in the south-east of England.
We provide a full range of general hospital services and some aspects of specialist and complex care to around 600,000 people living in west Kent and East Sussex. We have a team of over 8,000 full and part-time staff. We also provide specialist cancer services to around 2 million people across Kent and East Sussex via the Kent Oncology Centre.
In the 2024 NHS staff survey, our employees ranked MTW among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and the second-best Trust to work for in the South East.
Would you like to work flexibly? In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Once your pre-employment checks have been completed you will be contacted by Recruitment to arrange your start date which will be in line with one of our Corporate Inductions.
At MTW, we seek to develop a culture where everyone can reach their full potential with opportunities to grow and develop their career. We recognise and value the unique contributions that each of our staff bring, delivering the best quality care and service to our patients. We are committed to being a diverse employer and strive to reflect everyone in our local communities. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences and celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that will make our Trust the best place to work.
We support our staff with disabilities to ensure they have the adjustments they need to be the best they can be in the workplace. Collaborating with Access to Work means that our staff are assessed by experts in the workplace and we ensure that their recommendations are implemented as quickly as possible. You can find out more here: Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition: What Access to Work is - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Interview Date: To be confirmed.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
5. Evidence of numeracy and literacy (e.g. standard pass or better for GCSEs in mathematics and English Language).
6. A level or equivalent
Desirable criteria
7. Certificate of achievement Part 1
Experience & Knowledge
Essential criteria
8. Experience of skilled manual activity or work
9. Basic understanding of laboratory health and safety requirements
10. An understanding of the need for confidentiality
11. Basic understanding of Cellular Pathology
Desirable criteria
12. Experience working in a laboratory
13. Experiences working with databases
Skills
Essential criteria
14. Good verbal and written communications skills
15. Good level of manual dexterity and good hand-eye co-ordination.
16. Competent use of Microsoft applications.