Job summary The Microbiology department are looking to recruit an enthusiastic individual to join our friendly team as a Laboratory Support Worker. As a support worker you will be working alongside Associate Practitioners and Biomedical Scientists to provide excellent patient care in a busy laboratory. If you are an overseas national who would require a Certificate of Sponsorship from the Trust to ensure your Right to Work in the UK, the Band 3 Healthcare worker role is unable to offer this if you are new to the NHS (or have less than 2 years' service in the NHS) and therefore your starting salary would be £24,071. This is due to a change in the increased salary threshold advised by the UK Home Office on 12th March 2025, stating that Employer sponsorship will only be available for starting salaries above £25,000. If you apply for the role and this restriction applies to you, your application would be automatically rejected prior to shortlisting stage. Main duties of the job Following full training the post holder will be responsible for processing a variety of samples using both manual and automated systems in routine bacteriology, serology & molecular areas of the department. Dealing with telephone calls from clinical users will also be part of the role. About us Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a caring and compassionate organisation that is both ambitious and innovative. We are committed to delivering the best outcomes for our patients and providing a positive experience of our staff. We aspire to be outstanding for our patients, our communities and our staff and are committed to being a great place to receive healthcare, work and learn. Straddling the neighbouring boroughs of Warrington and Halton we are part of the Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care system. Our hospitals are ideally situated to meet the growing healthcare needs of the 330,000 population of these boroughs. Warrington Hospital is home to our emergency, critical care and maternity services, Halton Hospital is focused on elective procedures and the Runcorn Urgent Treatment Centre, although many services are offered at both sites and in community hubs. A CQC-rated 'good' organisation with 'outstanding' features, we are working towards university hospital status, having achieved teaching hospital status in 2019. Our workforce of nearly 5,000 across both sites comprises more than 50 nationalities. We strive to be an equal, diverse and inclusive employer, which is recognised as a pioneer in its equality, diversity and inclusion work. The Trust is proud to have achieved numerous external accreditations and is working towards achieving the Anti-Racist Organisation Framework, recognising the importance of anti-racism in all that we do. Date posted 04 April 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 3 Salary £24,625 to £25,674 a year pa Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 370-AHP3CSS-V1353 Job locations Microbiology, Appleton Wing, Warrington Hospital Lovely Lane Warrington WA5 1QG Job description Job responsibilities Please see the uploaded document, job description and personal specification for further detailed information about the role and responsibilities. Job description Job responsibilities Please see the uploaded document, job description and personal specification for further detailed information about the role and responsibilities. Person Specification Experience Essential Evidence of recent laboratory experience Desirable Experience of working at support level within an NHS diagnostic laboratory Skills, knowledge and competencies Essential Able to work as part of a team. Keyboard and mouse skills - data entry Desirable Knowledge of laboratory LIMS systems Physical skills Essential Able to follow written instructions Physical effort Essential Able to lift containers Mental effort Essential Able to concentrate for prolonged periods Ability to work on own initiative Able to work accurately under pressure Working conditions Essential Able to handle and work with biological materials Person Specification Experience Essential Evidence of recent laboratory experience Desirable Experience of working at support level within an NHS diagnostic laboratory Skills, knowledge and competencies Essential Able to work as part of a team. Keyboard and mouse skills - data entry Desirable Knowledge of laboratory LIMS systems Physical skills Essential Able to follow written instructions Physical effort Essential Able to lift containers Mental effort Essential Able to concentrate for prolonged periods Ability to work on own initiative Able to work accurately under pressure Working conditions Essential Able to handle and work with biological materials Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Employer details Employer name Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHSFT Address Microbiology, Appleton Wing, Warrington Hospital Lovely Lane Warrington WA5 1QG Employer's website https://whh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)