Associate Practitioner

Associate Practitioner

The closing date is 19 March 2026

Go back Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts

The Bowel Cancer Screening Laboratories at Nottingham University Hospitals are looking for an enthusiastic candidate to join the team in the role of Associate Practitioner. Associate practitioners are high level support staff who work with biomedical scientists to ensure effective service delivery on a rotational basis. Duties include data entry, equipment maintenance and processing of samples, among others. Previous laboratory experience would be an advantage;

however, full training will be given. The role is based at the Queens Medical Centre Campus and does not involve working weekends or bank holidays.

As an Associate Practitioner, the post holder will be a member of the departmental team and assist in the delivery of a quality driven, cost effective, patient focused service consistent with the Nottingham University Hospitals Trust's objectives. The post holder's main role is to provide technical support to State Registered Biomedical Scientists in carrying out the analysis of pathological samples using faecal immunochemical technologies and to present the results for validation or authorisation as appropriate.

The list of duties will include:

• Technical/Scientific: undertake routine and non‑routine tests or activities as identified by individual laboratories, up to but not including the point of validation, with exception of auto‑authorised procedures. Follow standard operating procedures and use scientific knowledge to recognise incorrect results and take action to correct errors. Perform laboratory tests requiring high manual dexterity.
• Equipment maintenance: monitor and perform daily, weekly and monthly maintenance of automated analysers and other laboratory equipment, ensuring that logs are completed by all staff. Check the safety and functioning of all equipment and perform simple troubleshooting; report malfunctions to BMS staff.
• Stock control: maintain sufficient stocks of reagents, supplies etc. for the day‑to‑day operation of the laboratory. Maintain stock control records and order more stock where a system has been set up. Liaise with Laboratory Leads and Suppliers to ensure deliveries are correct and received on time.
• Information and IT: keep the Standard Operating Procedures for own work area up to date and displayed appropriately. Assist in proposing, developing and implementing new procedures. Use word processing and spreadsheet packages to produce draft SOPs, audit reports and laboratory data.
• Planning: plan and organise own workload and may be required to assign work to Screening Administrators and helpline Operatives (SAHOs).
• Supervisory: participate in the training of new Screening Administrators and helpline Operatives (SAHOs), Senior Screening Administrators (SSAs) and Associate Practitioners. Supervise Screening Administrators and helpline Operatives (SAHOs) alongside Senior Screening Administrators (SSAs) to ensure all service areas are staffed appropriately, allocating laboratory work, training, etc.
• Audit: perform audits as required by the Quality Manager or the Laboratory Lead.
• Quality: perform quality control as appropriate and report any out‑of‑consensus results to BMS staff.
• Perform other technical duties as required within post holder's training and competence.

Training relevant to this post, including safety aspects in the handling of biological material, will be given.

• At least 12 months UK hospital laboratory experience covering duties explained in JD
• Word processing, spreadsheets and laboratory information system experience
• Aware of Health and Safety and confidentiality issues
• Experience of working in a clinical laboratory
• Experience of FIT

• Appropriate Level 5 Qualification or equivalent e.g. Foundation degree or equivalent in Biomedical Science or BSc (Hons) degree in a relevant science subject. IBMS Certificate of achievement Level 2 (Higher) or equivalent experience
• FIT analyser training
• BCSS training

• Written work legible. Can communicate clearly verbally by phone and face to face. Can use tact and persuasive skills
• Evidence of working and integrating as part of a team
• Can work accurately and methodically following verbal and written instructions
• Knowledge and understanding of clinical laboratory tests and medical terminology

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 name:
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts