Job summary
- Main area
- Histopathology
- Grade
- Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 430-CC25-558A
- Employer
- Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Histopathology (Dept)
- Town
- Milton Keynes
- Salary
- £24,937 - £26,598 Per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 16/12/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Assistant Technical Officer - Histopathology
Band 3
At Milton Keynes University Hospital, you will be welcomed into a friendly and supportive environment where teamwork and respect are at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to live our Trust values and behaviours every day, creating a culture where everyone feels heard and valued.
MKUH staff's Motivation and Involvement scores are among the highest in our peer group, showing that our people feel inspired and included in decision-making (Staff Survey, 2024).
Our benefits
We believe in recognising and rewarding the amazing contribution of our staff and that is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, work-life balance, and professional growth, including:
- Free on-site parking including EV charging
- Complimentary refreshments
- Flexible working arrangements
- Discounted gym membership
- Salary sacrifice car scheme
- Generous annual leave, with the option to bank holiday entitlement
- Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme
- On-site nursery (charges apply)
- A wide-ranging staff health and wellbeing programme including EAP
- VIVUP products to support your mental, physical, and financial Wellbeing
Job overview
Assistant Technical Officer
Cellular Pathology Department
Band 3 £24,937 - £26,598 pa
Hours: 37.5 per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
Cellular Pathology is a busy but friendly department processing more than 22,000 histology specimens and 1200 cytology specimens per year and plays a vital role in the Trust’s diagnostics cancer service.
We are looking for competent and versatile individuals with a positive ‘can do’ attitude who are willing to learn new skills to join our team in the role of Assistant Technical Officer (ATO).
The successful candidates will participate in core laboratory duties including receiving and processing patient’s samples, data entry, assisting at tissue dissection, equipment operation and maintenance, managing laboratory waste disposal and microtomy among other tasks. Training will be given to achieve competency.
Ideally you will have GCSEs in Science, Maths, and English, and/or an NVQ level 3 or equivalent level qualification or qualifications with a laboratory relevance. In addition to this, you must also have good verbal and written communication skills, have basic IT skills, enjoy working individually and as part of a team and be able to manage some lifting and handling tasks.
For more information, please contact Amanda Brice, the Laboratory Manager or Marie Delaney, Operational Manager / Chief Biomedical Scientist on 01908 995820.
Interview date: 08/01/2026
We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role
Main duties of the job
''NHS Survey, 2024''A notable 91% believe their roles significantly impact patients and service users.
We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute
• To support the delivery of a high quality, responsive and comprehensive Cellular Pathology service for the trust and its users.
• To be part of a team of Biomedical Support workers delivering technical and administrative support to ensure the provision of an efficient and effective diagnostic service.
• To work with the laboratory management and technical team to ensure compliance with regulatory standards including those of ISO 15189, the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) and screening programmes.
• Help the Cellular Pathology team to meet departmental and trust KPI’s.
• To work safely in accordance with trust health and safety policy and departmental policies to deliver a safe, high-quality service for its users.
• To comply with clinical governance and risk management policies and ensure
Working for our organisation
Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a “Good” rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.
As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.
We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.
Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards – a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards – and the recently approved Women and Children’s Centre, set to open by 2030.
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Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Communication and Relationship Skills
· Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills.
· Liaise closely with departmental technical, administrative, and clinical staff to ensure that all technical work is performed to required standards.
· To liaise with other healthcare professionals in a professional and competent manner providing approved departmental information as appropriate, using verbal and electronic communication.
· Be able to work both independently and as part of a departmental team.
· To attend departmental and other meetings as required.
· Always maintain a professional approach to work behaving courteously and with professional maturity.
Core Responsibilities
· To establish effective and collaborative working relationships with key staff.
· To organise and prioritise your daily duties in the provision of a quality service.
· To be accountable for your actions and maintain high personal standards of work.
· Work in a safe manner in accordance with department and trust health and safety and risk management policies.
· To maintain a high standard of confidentiality and always comply with relevant Trust policies.
· Perform requested tests in accordance with laboratory Standard Operating Procedures.
· To receive specimens for laboratory investigation and accurately enter patient and sample data on the laboratory LIMS.
Please refer to the job description for further details.
Person specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential criteria
- Science, English and Maths GCSEs at C or above (or equivalent)
- NVQ level 3 or equivalent level qualification
- Basic computer skills
- Knowledge of importance of confidentiality
Desirable criteria
- Qualifications with a laboratory relevance
- Knowledge of anatomical / medical terminology
Experience
Desirable criteria
- NHS experience
- Experience of working in a health care environment
- Experience of working in a laboratory
- Experience of data entry into information management systems
Skills
Essential criteria
- Possess excellent communication skills – communicate effectively and sensitively
- Follow detailed protocols and procedures.
- Good time management skills with an ability to prioritise
- Good use of initiative
- Well developed organisational skills
- Good people skills
- Effective team worker
- Ability to work under pressure
Desirable criteria
- Ability to prioritise and manage conflicting priorities.
Personal and people development
Essential criteria
- Demonstrable ability to: Work on own or as part of a team.
- Be confident, diplomatic and have personal & professional maturity.
- Be enthusiastic.
- Polite and courteous
- Be self-motivated and patient focused.
- Initiative and common sense
- Willing to learn
Desirable criteria
- Commitment to personal development
Communication
Essential criteria
- To possess: Clear, accurate written and verbal communication
- Effective listening skills
- Good interpersonal skills.
- Participate in departmental meetings.
Specific requirements
Essential criteria
- Demonstrable ability to: To perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
- Demonstrate reliabilty and commitment
- To carry out the lifting and handling requirements of the post
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- John Cator
- Job title
- Senior Biomedical Scientist
- Email address
- [email protected]
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