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Job summary

Main area
Histopathology
Grade
Band 3
Contract
12 months (12 months fixed term)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (This service covers an extended working day 7 days per week.)
Job ref
287-DTC-6-26
Employer
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Liverpool Clinical Laboratories
Town
Liverpool
Salary
£24,937 - £26,598 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
05/02/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Medical Laboratory Assistant - Cellular Pathology

Band 3

Job overview

The successful candidates will play roles in the operation and maintenance of key equipment within either the Immunocytochemistry or Histology Services and will also be responsible for the operation, maintenance and troubleshooting of digital scanning instruments and IMS databases. The successful candidates will also undertake other routine tasks within each laboratory such as maintaining reagent stock levels and preparing simple solutions, archiving and retrieval of microscopic slides, tissue blocks and relevant paperwork and ensuring the safe disposal of various groups of laboratory waste.  The role in Histology also involves receiving specimens into the department ensuring correct patient identification and assisting pathologists and BMS staff at cut up.

Both posts are essential for the day to day running of these services and the successful candidates will work closely with all other staff within the directorate to deliver the highest quality standard of patient care.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidates will be responsible for participating in routine activities associated with a Cellular Pathology Medical Laboratory Assistant, including:

 

·         Operation and maintenance of equipment

·         Maintenance and operation of digital scanners

·         Preparation of staining solutions and reagents

·         Safe disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous laboratory waste

·         Monitoring and receipt of consumables and reagents

·         Retrieval and filing of tissue blocks, microscope slides and relevant paperwork

·         Retrieval of archive material

·         Receipt of specimens ensuring correct patient identification.

·         Storing samples safely and appropriately prior to and after processing

·         Keeping working areas clean and tidy

·         Assisting pathologists and BMS staff at cut-up

·         Embedding processed material

·         IHC and in situ hybridisation staining and routine HE-staining procedures

·         Embedding processed material

·         Basic quality control activities and completion of quality documentation as necessary.

.

Working for our organisation

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients.

UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond. 

For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.

Aintree University Hospital is the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility. Broadgreen Hospital is home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation. Liverpool Women’s Hospital specialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK’s largest single site maternity hospital each year. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.

 For roles at Liverpool Women’s, visit their careers page.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

See Job Description for further details.

The post holder will be required to carry out all duties relevant to a Medical Laboratory Assistant 3, including participation in all aspects of the Immunocytochemistry and Histology MLA3 rota. This post is essential for the day to day running of the service and will work closely with all other staff within the directorate to deliver the highest quality standard of patient care.

To provide a support role to the qualified staff of the department which provides a diagnostic service to the Trust and other Pathology users, working within the Health and Safety policy of the Trust

Key responsibilities
1.1 Maintain reagent levels and preparing simple solutions.
1.2 Filing microscope slides, tissue blocks and relevant paperwork.
1.3 Retrieval of material from the archives.
1.4 Taking receipt of solvent deliveries. Ensuring that the paperwork is completed fully and correctly.
1.5 Ensure the department is appropriately stocked with solvent.
1.6 To take delivery of cardice and other consumables as requested.
1.7 To safely store and monitor levels of consumables.
1.8 Move stocks to and from the consumable storage area as requested.
1.9 Ensure the safe disposal of various groups of laboratory waste (paper, chemical, human tissues, glass etc)
1.10 Receive specimens into the department ensuring correct patient identification.
1.11 Store specimens safely and appropriately prior to and after processing.
1.12 To keep working areas clean and tidy.
1.13 To complete the appropriate quality documentation as necessary.
1.14 To operate and maintain the department’s digital scanning and automated staining platforms.

1.15 To assist pathologists and BMS staff at cut-up.

1.16 To clean glassware for use by laboratory staff

1.17 Daily maintenance of equipment such as tissue processors, embedding centres, coverslipper and slide stainer in accordance with departmental protocols.


2.1 Adherence to the organisation’s health and safety policy, ensuring personal safety and to avoid putting others at risk.
2.2 To participate in the department’s appraisal scheme.
3.1 Use the departmental computer system as required.
3.2 Participate in meetings as required.
3.3 Ensure patient confidentiality at all times.
3.4 To process enquiries appropriately.
4.1 To clean glassware for use by laboratory staff
4.2 Daily maintenance of other laboratory equipment.

 

* The post holder shall as necessary provide cover for and undertake duties of absent colleagues.

* The post holder shall follow all the policies and procedures of the organisation.

Person specification

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Good verbal communication skills
  • Good written communication skills
  • Basic IT skills

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Science GCSEs or equivalent

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Demonstrable experience in a laboratory environment

Knowledge

Desirable criteria
  • General understanding of health & safety within a clinical laboratory settings

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Fair Employment Charter Status - Aspiring LevelNHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardTrust IDVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleInvestors in PeopleArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Carer confident logo, the employers for carers confident schemeDisability confident committedStep into health

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Sharon Forrest
Job title
Laboratory Manager • Histopathology
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0151 706 4485
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