Job summary
- Main area
- Pathology
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 432-HR1385-25
- Employer
- East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Colchester Hospital
- Town
- Colchester
- Salary
- £31,049 - £37,796 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 30/03/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 08/04/2026
Employer heading
Specimen Reception Lead
NHS AfC: Band 5
We are one of the largest NHS organisation in England. Our scale provides exciting opportunities for development, innovation, research, education and training.
Talk to us about our range of flexible working opportunities, apprenticeships and staff benefits
Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of all we do; and it forms part of ESNEFT’s core activities. The Trust operates and relies on everyone treating each other with dignity and respect, to receive equitable and fair treatment in the implementation of Policies, Procedures and in its Practices, to foster positive work relationships, and finally to act with integrity as a professional within ESNEFT as well as a representative of the NHS as a whole. The EDI Agenda reflects the Trust values such as Optimistic, Appreciative and Kind. In line with the NHS Long Term Plan, People Plan, People Promise and a Model Employer intrinsic in the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Agenda, we consistently strive to improve, to take the learning into Action for a better ESNEFT.
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge then we are keen to hear from you.
Job overview
Colchester Hospital are looking for a Specimen Reception Lead to support the development of staff and services for the Blood Science laboratory.
Our Blood Science laboratory team processes hospital and outpatient work mainly and GP work as necessary.
You will be responsible for leading a team of medical laboratory assistants. You will therefore have close interaction with the lab and will require flexibility.
We deliver a 24/7 reception service and you will need good communication, coordination and leadership skills. This role will mostly be Monday to Friday working, however weekend working may be required if the reception needs to be covered.
Our vision is to deliver innovative, high-performing pathology that is focussed on our customers and delivers high quality and fully compliant services. We are committed to attracting and retaining the best pathology staff and if you want to work with us to develop your own career and help us achieve our vision then we would like to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
- Assist the Biochemistry Laboratory Manager in the leadership of the Pathology Reception area including managing the staff and processes within it when the Biochemistry Laboratory Manager is not available
- Support the Biochemistry Laboratory Manager in the coordination of the day-to-day activities of the team
- Implementation of plans for service improvement
- Establish the reception area as a functional interface between the users and laboratory
- Provides specialist service e.g. training, advanced trouble shooting and problem
- Maintain and promote professional image of ESNEFT
Working for our organisation
We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients’ own homes.
We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.
We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.
Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.
Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.
We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.
Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.
Person specification
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of supervising people
- Experience of Pathology IT systems
- Recruitment and selection procedures
- Staff appraisal and development
Desirable criteria
- ECDL
- Previous relevant experience of working in the NHS
- Practical experience of Quality Management Systems
- Experience of evaluating Risk Assessments
Education
Essential criteria
- Degree or equivalent graduate level qualifications or demonstrated significant laboratory experience especially specimen reception
Desirable criteria
- Management qualification or equivalent
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Amy Easey
- Job title
- Biochemistry Laboratory Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01206 742244
If you have problems applying, contact
- Address
-
Colchester General Hospital
- Telephone
- 07789651269
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