Job summary
- Main area
- Microbiology
- Grade
- Band 2
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Full Flexibility Required)
- Job ref
- 153-SP06708
- Employer
- University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Royal Bournemouth Hospital
- Town
- Bournemouth
- Salary
- £25,272 pa pr
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 22/09/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 01/10/2026
Employer heading
Medical Laboratory Assistant - Microbiology
Band 2
As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.
We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.
In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.
We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.
We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.
At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.
As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.
We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.
Job overview
An opportunity has arisen for a Medical Laboratory Assistant to join the Microbiology department at University Hospitals Dorset.
The Microbiology laboratory is well-equipped, fully computerised, holds UKAS accreditation and is approved for training. We currently offer diagnostic microbiology to The Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Poole Hospital and general practices. The laboratory routinely handles in excess of 250,000 specimens per year.
The successful candidate will be part of the microbiology team providing a diagnostic medical microbiology service contributing to the clinical care of patients and control of infectious diseases within the hospital and community, by providing support to the Biomedical Scientists and other staff. As such this post will be a varied and interesting role that will require an adaptable and flexible working ethic. All training will be provided to the candidate who will then backfill for staff leave between the sections.
This is an exciting time to join the pathology team in Dorset as we are in the process of reconfiguring the services across the county.
Working hours are 37.5 hours per week, which includes participation in a weekend rota.
Base Location: Royal Bournemouth Hospital
Interview Date: 1st October 2026
Main duties of the job
The main duties of the role include receiving, checking, labelling, booking in and processing patient samples in line with departmental procedures. Following training, the post holder will carry out a range of routine laboratory procedures accurately and efficiently, receive and record incoming goods, monitor equipment and report any non-conformances. They will also carry out daily housekeeping duties, including cleaning and decontaminating equipment and keeping laboratory work areas clean, tidy and safe.
Working for our organisation
Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued teammates and colleagues.
UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.
AI tools can be used to help you structure and check your application, but they should not replace your own examples and experience. Applications that appear to have been generated entirely by AI and do not clearly demonstrate your suitability for the role will not be considered.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Good general education, numerate & literate, A-levels or other suitable qualifications
Desirable criteria
- Vocational NVQ2
Personal attributes
Essential criteria
- Ability to concentrate for long periods at technically demanding procedures
- Ability to use initiative.
Technical Skills
Essential criteria
- Basic keyboard/computer skills
- Good communication skills
- Ability to dealing with telephone calls politely and professionally
- Ability to follow detailed and complex protocol
- Ability to work effectively as part of the laboratory team
- High degree of accuracy in all work
- Ability to work under pressure in a busy environment.
Experience
Desirable criteria
- Experience of work in a laboratory or hospital environment
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Katy Dallow
- Job title
- Laboratory Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0300 019 4846
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