Job summary
- Main area
- Cellular Sciences
- Grade
- Band 3
- Contract
- 12 months (Fixed term contract until 22 August 2027)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 430-CC26-865A-A
- Employer
- Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- General Pathology (Dept)
- Town
- Milton Keynes
- Salary
- £25,760 - £27,476 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 24/08/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 31/08/2026
Employer heading
Senior Healthcare Science Assistant
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
Senior Pathology Healthcare Science Assistant
Department: Pathology Support Unit
Band 3, £25,760 - £27,476 per annum
Hours: Full time, 37.5 per week, worked across 7 days including weekends and bank holidays. Shifts are worked between 08:45 and 21:00, in accordance with the departmental rota and service requirements, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
Do you enjoy working in a busy, fast-paced environment where your work makes a real difference? Are you organised, reliable and take pride in delivering a high-quality service? If so, we'd love to hear from you.
This is a fixed-term post to cover maternity leave until 22 August 2027.
'We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute'
Please note: We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.
Interview date: 31 August 2026
Main duties of the job
Join the Pathology Support Unit at Milton Keynes University Hospital and become part of a friendly, dedicated team at the heart of our ISO 15189 accredited diagnostic services. As a Senior Pathology Healthcare Science Assistant, you'll play a vital role in ensuring patient samples and requests are received, processed and prepared accurately, enabling timely laboratory testing and supporting excellent patient care.
From supporting patients and healthcare professionals at reception to handling specimens, data entry and laboratory support activities, no two days are the same, and every task contributes to the safe and efficient delivery of our Pathology service.
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
NHS Staff Survey: Motivation and Involvement scores are among the highest in our peer group, showing that our people feel inspired and included in decision-making.
We're looking for an enthusiastic individual who is motivated, organised and has excellent attention to detail. You'll enjoy working as part of a team, communicate confidently with a wide range of people and remain calm and focused in a busy environment where accuracy is essential. You'll be comfortable following established procedures, managing routine tasks, using computer systems and prioritising your workload. If you're keen to learn, committed to high standards and take pride in providing an excellent service, we'll provide the training and support you need to succeed.
Milton Keynes University Hospital is committed to investing in both its people and its laboratories. Our Pathology services have benefited from significant investment in modern equipment and facilities, and we foster a supportive culture where staff are encouraged to share ideas, contribute to service improvements and continue developing their skills
Please refer to attached Job description for further information.
We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity, and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.
MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices.
We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once enough applications have been received.
MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.
By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.
Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.
Person specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential criteria
- Level 3 qualification i.e. A level in Maths and/or Science. In the absence of this Level 2 qualification i.e. GCSE in Maths, Science or English with experience in Healthcare science.
- Knowledge and understanding of Microsoft Office applications
- Knowledge of Manual Handling and Health & Safety legislation
- Knowledge of ISO 15189 Standards for Medical laboratories
- Knowledge of Data Protection Action and GDPR
Desirable criteria
- Level 4 Science based qualification i.e HND or first part Foundation Degree
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience in Healthcare and/or Healthcare Science
- Experience using with Laboratory Information Systems
- Customer Service/Care experience
Desirable criteria
- Experience in NHS Healthcare Science
- Experience in leading teams
Skills
Essential criteria
- Good interpersonal skills
- Record Keeping skills
- Good organisational skills
- Methodical and accurate approach to tasks
Personal and people development
Essential criteria
- Ability to work individually and in a team
- Ability to work under pressure
- Ability to manage conflict
- Ability to train other staff
Communication
Essential criteria
- Clear and accurate written and verbal use of English communication at all levels of the organisation
- Good Telephone ability
- Ability to apply principles of General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)
Specific requirements
Essential criteria
- Physically able and mobile
- Able to work 7 day pattern between 0845-2100
- Flexible to changing service requirements
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
- Shane Breckenridge
- Job title
- Pathology Support Unit Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Additional information
For further information, please contact Shane Breckenridge, Pathology Support Unit Manager, at [email protected] or Jonathan Popoola, Deputy Pathology Support Unit Manager, at [email protected].
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