Associate Practitioner Microbiology

Overview

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking motivated and enthusiastic individuals to join our busy Microbiology Department as an Associate Practitioner. This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to develop their career within diagnostic laboratory services and contribute to high-quality patient care.

The closing date for applications is 20 January 2026
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As an Associate Practitioner, you will play a key role in supporting our team of Biomedical Scientists and laboratory support staff. Working in accordance with established Standard Operating Procedures, you will help deliver an efficient and accurate clinical laboratory service.

Full-time, 37.5 hours per week;
Part-time, 22.5 hours per week. Includes Saturday (approx. 1:6) and Sunday (approx. 1:9) and participation in the Bank Holiday rota (8am–4pm).

If you are enthusiastic, committed to high standards, and eager to develop your skills in Microbiology, we would love to hear from you.

JOB SUMMARY
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As an Associate Practitioner in the Microbiology Department, you will contribute to the provision of the clinical laboratory service as part of a team of Biomedical Scientists and support workers, performing work activities in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures. Under supervision of qualified staff, you will perform a range of scientific procedures on biological samples that contribute to the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of diseases and the investigation of other pathological processes.

You will be trained to make decisions that impact end results to facilitate accurate and timely reports within available resources.

After suitable training and competence assessment you will perform tasks including pre-analytical preparation of specimens, preliminary analyses on a limited range of culture investigations and automated analyses using complex laboratory equipment. These tasks are more advanced than those of a Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA).

JOB PURPOSE:

Place and prepare samples for automated analysers under the direction of more senior staff. Following appropriate training, specific Microbiology duties include:

• Follow good laboratory practice in line with professional guidelines and UKAS standards.
• Inoculation of specimens for culture, including urine, swabs, body fluids, respiratory samples and faeces.
• Deal promptly with any sample identified as urgent to ensure timely and accurate results.
• Assist in the analysis of routine and urgent clinical samples using optical, manual, semi-automated and fully automated equipment.
• Preparation of samples for microscopy (swabs, faeces, body fluids).
• Reading and recording results of a limited number of chromogenic cultures.
• Preparation of antibiotics susceptibility tests (manual and automated).
• Processing and recording IQC, reporting out-of-range results to BMS staff.
• Processing and recording pre-acceptance testing of reagents and reporting out-of-range results to BMS staff.
• Participation in QC and EQA schemes and maintenance of the quality system.
• Take corrective action when QC/assurance procedures indicate loss of performance; daily, weekly and monthly maintenance of equipment.
• First-line troubleshooting of equipment or methods and keeping records of actions.
• Assistance with cleaning and decontamination of equipment and benches.
• Safe disposal of waste materials; tracking, storage and retrieval of samples.
• Reagent preparation and stock control; general housekeeping in the Microbiology lab.
• Report incidents, accidents and defects according to Trust and Directorate guidelines.
• Participate in regular review and updating of Laboratory Standard Operating Procedures as directed by the Departmental Quality Manager or Deputy.
• Provide cover for Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays as required; undertake other appropriate duties as designated by a senior member of staff.
• To maintain the effective operation of the department, you may be required to perform duties as performed by Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLAs).

Asset management responsibilities include maintaining adequate stocks and using equipment safely in accordance with Health & Safety legislation.

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