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Job summary

Main area
Pathology
Grade
Band 3
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Part time - 18.75 hours per week
Job ref
290-NWLP-460
Employer
North West London Pathology
Employer type
NHS
Site
Charing Cross Hospital
Town
London
Salary
£31,554 - £33,270 pa inclusive pro rota
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
22/09/2026 23:59

Employer heading

North West London Pathology logo

Senior Medical Laboratory Assistant

Band 3

North West London Pathology (NWLP) is an NHS pathology partnership joint venture between Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Chelsea & Westminster NHS Foundation Trust and The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. NWLP is modelled as a shared services organisation jointly owned by the three Trusts. The organisation is hosted by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and as the legal entity for NWLP our staff are employed by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

NWLP is based on a ‘hub and spoke’ structure; the majority of routine, specialist and non-urgent activity is centralised at our hub site at Charing Cross Hospital. Urgent tests required for immediate patient management and treatment are performed in 24/7 Essential Service Laboratories based on-site within the seven hospital sites in the group.

The partnership has created an innovative and sustainable service that delivers outstanding quality to users and patients alike. This innovative approach allows the service to better manage demand, standardise operations, improve value for money and make use of state-of-the-art technology.

Our values are to be patient-focused, collaborative, expert and caring.

Job overview

We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic part-time Medical Laboratory Assistant to join our friendly and dedicated Histopathology team at Charing Cross Hospital, working 18.75 hours per week.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with an interest in laboratory sciences who is seeking a flexible part-time role within a busy and supportive Histopathology department.

As a valued member of the team, you will contribute to the delivery of both routine and specialised diagnostic services for patients across our hospitals and external users.

As part of our commitment to enhance the working lives of our staff, we offer flexible working arrangements, childcare vouchers and staff benefits including an excellent pension scheme. 

Duties will include carrying out sample reception, triage, assistance to the dissection team, equipment maintenance and general clerical duties including data entry on the LIMS.

 

Main duties of the job

  • Efficiently receive and prioritize samples for all Pathology departments, sorting them into appropriate categories for collection by relevant staff. 
  • Accurately enter and verify patient demographics, test request information, and clinical details into the Pathology laboratory system, ensuring all documentation meets Trust standards. 
  • Participate in the identification, preparation, and separation of blood and urine samples into secondary containers, adhering to health and safety policies for handling potentially infectious materials, including the safe use of concentrated hydrochloric acid and Dry ice. 
  • Utilize laboratory equipment, such as automatic pipettes, balances, and centrifuges, with precision, including the recording of refrigerator temperatures. 
  • Troubleshooting and rejection of unsuitable samples. 
  • To monitor and store consumables overseeing a procedure of stock rotation and support the department in maintaining appropriate stock levels. 
  • To monitor the cleanliness and disinfection of laboratory surroundings and equipment is 
    maintained.

Working for our organisation

Benefits include career development, flexible working, staff wellbeing programmes, staff awards and recognition scheme. We also have available benefits including Cycle to Work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.

Environmental sustainability
Climate change and poor air quality is a health emergency that harms people’s health and wellbeing and widens health inequalities. The Trust is also committed to reducing its impact on the environment by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions to Net Zero by 2045. All our employees have a role to play, and we have an active green network that supports staff to act in ways that ensures that our services are efficient, sustainable and reduce our impact on the environment www.imperial.nhs.uk/about-us/our-strategy/green-plan

NWLP Induction

The NWLP induction will run on the first Monday of each month (provided it does not fall on a bank holiday) and includes laboratory training (for relevant laboratory roles). All new staff must attend the NWLP induction during their first week with NWLP.

2026-2027 start dates which you will be able to book once you have completed all your pre-employment checks.

Monday 7 September 2026
Monday 5 October 2026
Monday 2 November 2026
Monday 7 December 2026
Monday 4 January 2027
Monday 1 February 2027
Monday 1 March 2027
Monday 5 April 2027

Candidates are advised to consider these start dates before agreeing end of service date with their current employer.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.

Person specification

Education

Essential criteria
  • Educated to GCSE in Science, English and Maths or equivalent level 3
Desirable criteria
  • NVQ 3 in clinical laboratory support or equivalent
  • Completion of a medical laboratory assistant competency portfolio or evidence of laboratory working and competency

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Laboratory based practical work
  • Able to receive and communicate routine information to work colleagues or external contacts
  • Ability to work systematically and under pressure in a busy environment.
  • Ability to work effectively as part of the laboratory team.
  • Able to deal with problems in a calm efficient manner

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Previous laboratory experience
  • Good computer skills

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveInvestors in People: GoldImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Disability confident employerNHS Rainbow Badge - BronzeWe Work FlexiblyGreen Plan

Application numbers

This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date. You are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Alpana Vithal
Job title
Cellular Pathology Laboratory Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
02033111377
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