Job Description

Exciting opportunities have arisen for Apprentice Healthcare Science Assistants at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; the posts are available to anyone who is interested in working within an NHS Healthcare environment while completing a Level 2 qualification in Healthcare Science.



Staff new to the Trust will be employed on an apprentice contract so that they have an opportunity to 'earn while they learn'.

Our apprenticeships offer:

the chance to earn a salary while studying.

training in job specific and transferable skills

protected time to study towards a related qualification (including literacy and numeracy if required)

regular pastoral support and personal development reviews

employment on a 16-month training contract

benefits such as paid annual leave, comprehensive mandatory training, protected time for your studies and NHS discounts



We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds.



This post does not guarantee permanent employment on completion; however, the apprenticeship will provide you with valuable skills and experience to apply for other healthcare science supporting positions within the NHS.



Please note we reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the closing date once the required number of suitable applications have been received.



You will be trained to perform a variety of Healthcare Assistant roles within a busy department, which will involve meeting, communicating and working with people from all backgrounds.



You will be working directly with other Pathology staff, preparing samples for diagnostic tests, undertaking basic diagnostic investigations, inputting data, following procedures, ordering stock and any other associated administrative duties.



There will be taught sessions (some of these may be online) and work-based assessment which contribute to the learning element of the programme. Apprentices will complete a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate their learning and skills in practice in accordance with the apprenticeship framework.



The Level 2 Healthcare Science apprenticeship is suited to those who are interested in the welfare of others and have a caring attitude to other people, with a keen interest in science. We are looking for an individual who can put the patient's needs before their own, be honest, friendly and have a professional attitude to work. The work will be based in busy departments; therefore, will suit individuals who like to deal with a variety of tasks. Through your working practices you will apply dignity, respect and maintain confidentiality, you will work well in a team, be courteous, sympathetic and professional. It is also important that you maintain a safe working environment and contribute to the safeguarding of patients.



We manage three major locality hospitals at North Tyneside, Wansbeck and Hexham, plus a number of smaller community hospitals and clinics from Tynemouth to Berwick on Tweed, in addition to our state-of-the-art Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, the first of its kind in England. We also care for people in their homes and provide services from facilities in local communities such as health centres. We give people greater choice and control over their care to help them to live independently at home and avoid hospital admission where appropriate. High quality patient care is at the heart of everything we do and we strive to ensure every single patient and service user has an exceptional experience with us. We have one of the most extensive patient experience programmes of any trust in England.



Apprentice Healthcare Science Assistants will undertake an initial structured departmental induction and then follow a training programme throughout the apprenticeship to enable them to:



work under the supervision of the Biomedical Scientist and other team members in the delivery of high-quality care. provide assistance and support to a broad spectrum of service users, and the multi-disciplinary team.

perform a range of routine healthcare science activities under supervision.

perform basic sample reception and process duties including the receipt, labelling and preparation of samples for analysis, loading of samples onto analysers or other laboratory equipment and sample archiving.

perform clerical tasks including data input of patient demographics and test request information.

perform general housekeeping duties including maintaining stock levels, general cleaning, media preparation and waste disposal.



gain relevant work-based learning within a Healthcare environment. become prepared and knowledgeable within the working environment and work towards gaining a Level 2 qualification in Healthcare Science.

The work of the service brings staff into constant contact with human body fluids, tissues, and hazardous chemicals. This may be blood, urine, other body fluids and faeces.



Please read person specification for essential qualifications before applying.