Associate Practitioner Healthcare Scientist: Sponsorship Available

Wirral University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Job Summary

The Biochemistry department at Wirral University Teaching Hospitals is seeking an enthusiastic candidate to join their department in the role of Associate Practitioner.

Associate Practitioners are highly skilled Biomedical Support Staff who work closely with HCPC registered Biomedical Scientists to ensure an effective, high quality service is delivered to our patients.

Participation in the Associate Practitioner shift rota will be required, including working evening and weekend sessions.

Main duties of the job

  • To liaise and communicate with other members of the laboratory team, across the Pathology Directorate and with users of the service including Trust Clinical staff, Primary Care staff, patients and members of the general public as appropriate, maintaining confidentiality at all times.
  • To receive large volumes of samples, check and examine electronic and paper requests, accurately select test profiles according to specimen type/ clinical details/ collection conditions and transfer requests on to the Laboratory Information System.
  • To prepare and process biological specimens according to agreed protocols, prioritising according to urgency of test and managing high volume workloads in a pressurised environment.
  • To perform a range of manual and semi-automated assays and operate automated instruments following standard operational procedures. This may include initial preparation, accurate pipetting of very small volumes of fluids, fine manipulation of laboratory equipment and performing time critical procedures.
  • To perform appropriate internal and external quality assurance procedures, recognise poor performance and take simple corrective action, informing an HCPC registered BMS if poor performance occurs.
  • To be able to recognise and report to an HCPC registered BMS, any situation that gives cause for concern or any observed changes in instrument performance. To acknowledge and action instrument alarms appropriately.

Person Specification

Qualifications, Specific Experience & Training

Essential

  • 5 GCSE’s or equivalent including English and Mathematics.
  • A level or equivalent in Biology, Chemistry, Physics or other appropriate science subjects.
  • An Institute of Biomedical Science Support Staff Certificate of Achievement Level 2 (equivalent to an NVQ Level 3) Or a Foundation degree (or higher) in a relevant Healthcare Science, or equivalent
  • Experience in a modern Blood Sciences laboratory

Desirable

  • Experience of using a laboratory information management system
  • Experience of using large automated Blood Sciences analysers
  • Experience of performing manual / semi-automated assays e.g. electrophoresis

Knowledge and Skills

Desirable

  • Experience of carrying out audits

Personal Attributes

Essential

  • Good standard of written English with ability to convey all relevant information concisely

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Closing Date: 18 February 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.