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Job summary

Main area
Blood Sciences
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 2
Contract
Permanent: includes out of hours shifts
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (weekends and late shifts)
Job ref
193-8013804NCG
Employer
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Royal Berkshire Hospital
Town
Reading
Salary
£25,272 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
21/06/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust logo

Medical Laboratory Assistant (Blood Sciences)

NHS AfC: Band 2

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is “Working together to provide outstanding care for our community.”

Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated ‘Good’ with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements.  The Trust’s overall rating has also improved to ‘good’.  

We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions

We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate

We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live

We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, we value candidates who bring their unique personalities, skills, and experiences to the Trust. When completing your application, we encourage you to highlight your individual achievements and strengths, showing us how they align with the requirements outlined in the job description and person specification. While we recognise that some applicants may use AI tools during the process, please be mindful that AI-generated responses can often lack the personal detail and relevance needed to demonstrate your suitability for the role. AI generated content is discouraged by the Trust and may diminish the candidates chances of success.

Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don’t you come and join us.  We offer a range of learning and development for all employees may you be clinical or non-clinical.  

Please note: all vacancies automatically close when 50 applications have been received.

Job overview

Band 2 Medical Laboratory Assistant (Blood Sciences)

A Band 2 Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) in Blood Sciences provides essential support to the laboratory team in delivering accurate and timely diagnostic services for patient care. The role involves assisting Biomedical Scientists and other laboratory staff within areas of Haematology, Biochemistry, and Blood Transfusion.

The role requires excellent attention to detail, good communication skills, and the ability to work effectively within a fast-paced laboratory environment while maintaining patient confidentiality and quality standards.

This position includes participation in late shifts, weekend working, and rotational shift patterns to support the delivery of a 24/7 Blood Sciences service.

Flexibility and reliability are essential to ensure continuous laboratory operations and timely processing of urgent and routine samples.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will work as part of a multidisciplinary team and contribute to maintaining high standards of patient care and laboratory service delivery.

Key responsibilities include receiving, sorting, and preparing patient samples for analysis, data entry using laboratory information systems, maintaining laboratory equipment and stock levels, and ensuring specimens are handled according to laboratory protocols and health and safety standards.

The post holder may also assist with sample transportation, storage, and disposal of clinical waste.

Working for our organisation

Reading sits on the river Thames and is served by great road and rail links to London, Oxford and Southampton. With excellent leisure and shopping facilities, and a thriving cultural scene, Reading is a wonderful place to live, work and play and provides excellent facilities for families, including some of the best state and private schools in the UK.

The CQC rated the care provided by the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust as Good.

Our "CARE" values: Compassionate, Aspirational, Resourceful, Excellent, reflect the type of Trust we aspire to be and you can join our dedicated and talented staff to make this happen.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details of the job role.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • A-Level (or equivalent) sciences subjects at grade D or above
  • GCSE (or equivalent) including English and Math at Grade 4/C or above
  • Basic IT literacy
Desirable criteria
  • NVQ level 2/3 Healthcare

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience in the NHS or healthcare facility
  • Experience using laboratory information system
  • Laboratory skills
Desirable criteria
  • Experience working in Pathology laboratory

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Florence Nightingale FoundationNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark 2024

Application numbers

This vacancy will automatically close when 50 applications have been received.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Ibtisam Osman
Job title
Laboratory Site Lead
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01183227769
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