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Job summary

Main area
Transfusion
Grade
Band 4
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
120-ACS014-0826
Employer
Welsh Blood Service
Employer type
NHS
Site
Welsh Blood Service
Town
Talbot Green
Salary
£28,819 - £31,626 per annum pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
17/08/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Welsh Blood Service logo

Associate Practitioner Red Cell Immunohaematology (RCI) Laboratory

Band 4

Here at Velindre University NHS Trust we are extremely proud of the specialist services we provide across the whole of Wales in our cutting-edge Velindre Cancer Centre and our award-winning Welsh Blood Service, as well as the expertise of our corporate functions that bring the two divisions together. We are also fortunate to host the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership and Health Technology Wales and have developed strong partnership working with these expert services.  

As a division of Velindre University NHS Trust, the Welsh Blood Service (WBS) is an amazing place to work and develop your career.  Our caring and motivated staff are designing, developing and delivering improvements, which will enable the WBS to strive towards its vision of working with our staff & the people of Wales to deliver an easy to use, safe and sustainable service for blood and stem cell donation. 

As a trusted healthcare provider, we work tirelessly to maintain the highest standards of quality, safety and donor experience.

 

We are currently embarking an ambitious 5 year strategy called “WBS Futures” where we have set out our vision for blood and transplant services in Wales for the next 5 years. It sets out where we are now, where we want to be in 2028 and the steps we will take to get there.

You can read more about our strategy here: www.welsh-blood.org.uk/welsh-blood-service-strategy-2023-2028

WBS is a committed equal opportunities employer.

Take a look at what we do. Our dedicated career pages can be found at https://welsh-blood.org.uk/careers/ 

Applications may be submitted in Welsh.  Applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Please check your email account regularly. Successful applicants will receive all recruitment related correspondence via the email account registered on the application form.

The salary scale for a Band 3 has been adjusted as part of the NHS Agenda for Change pay award for 2026/2027 and will be implemented in August 2026 backdated to 01 April 2026 where applicable.

 

Job overview

Support routine and complex laboratory activity within the RCI department, contributing to safe, effective testing across WBS Transfusion Laboratories.

Role Rationale

This role requires someone who is accurate, organised and resilient, with the ability to work methodically in a busy specialist laboratory environment. The post holder must communicate clearly, build effective working relationships and remain focused when managing competing priorities or time-critical work.

The role offers the opportunity to contribute directly to patient safety and the delivery of high-quality transfusion laboratory services across Wales. The role would be applicable to someone who takes pride in precise, process-driven work, enjoys being part of a supportive team and wants to develop within a specialist service where quality, professionalism and continuous improvement are central to everyday practice.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will support the effective day-to-day running of the RCI laboratory by organising and prioritising their own workload, contributing to pre-testing processes, and, where appropriate, supervising and guiding Medical Laboratory Assistant staff.

·         Prepare, register and process patient and donor samples accurately and efficiently.

·         Use LIMS accurately and operate laboratory equipment in line with training and agreed scope of practice.

·         Support laboratory testing and related activities within defined responsibilities.

 

·         Troubleshoot sample, equipment and service queries, escalating issues to senior staff when required.

·         Communicate effectively with colleagues, hospital laboratories, medical staff and contractors.

·         Manage stocks and resources, maintain equipment records, and support routine maintenance.

·         Contribute to training, service improvement, incident reporting, audits, SOP review, and the implementation of policies and procedures.

·         Ensure the safe handling of samples, blood components and hazardous materials.

·         Carry out all duties in line with SOPs, health and safety requirements, Good Manufacturing Practice, Good Practice Guidelines, Good Documentation Practice and the WBS Quality Management System.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Working for our organisation

Here at Velindre University NHS Trust we are extremely proud of the specialist services we provide across the whole of Wales in our cutting-edge Velindre Cancer Centre and our award-winning Welsh Blood Service, as well as the expertise of our corporate functions that bring the two divisions together. We are also fortunate to host the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership and Health Technology Wales and have developed strong partnership working with these expert services. 

Formed in 1999, the Trust has a dedicated workforce that continuously strives to apply the key principles of value based healthcare through a wide array of roles. We play a vital role in the communities we support and have ambitious plans for the future to continue to improve the services we deliver. We strive to maintain our core values in everything we do by being; accountable, bold, caring and dynamic, and ensuring the best possible care for our patients and donors.

If you want to work for an organisation that prides itself on making a real difference and offers exciting career opportunities then Velindre University NHS Trust is the place for you.

Visit our website to find out more https://velindre.nhs.wales/

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will be able to find a full Job Description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click “Apply now” to view in Trac.

Person specification

Qualifications and/or Knowledge, Apptitude and Abilities, Values

Essential criteria
  • Basic level of education i.e. GCSE English and maths or equivalent experience
  • Higher National Certificate/Diploma (HNC/D) in biological science or equivalent experience working in a Blood Establishment/hospital pathology department
  • Level 4 Apprenticeship in health Care Science or equivalent experience working in a Blood Establishment/hospital pathology department
Desirable criteria
  • A level science qualification

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working in a team
Desirable criteria
  • Previous laboratory experience. Experience of working in a quality focussed environment

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoAge positiveDisability confident leaderInvestors in People: GoldImproving working livesStop Smoking Wales is the NHS Smoking Cessation Service in WalesStonewall Hyrwyddwr Amrywiaeth Diversity ChampionMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Core principlesDisability Confident Leader - Welsh

Applicant requirements

Welsh language skills are desirable

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Ceri White
Job title
Head of Red Cell Immunohaematology
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01443 622155
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