Job Description

An opportunity has arisen for motivated and reliable individual to take on the roles of Healthcare Science Assistant in the Newcastle Genetics Laboratory.
The successful candidate will join a team of around 100 Scientific and Technical staff in the Newcastle Genetics laboratories and will be responsible for supporting the work of the laboratory. This post is suitable for a candidates with a mature attitude who is aware of the responsibilities involved in NHS laboratory work.
The Newcastle Genetics Laboratory provide testing for a wide variety of inherited and acquired conditions for a local population of over three million people and in addition provide specialised services to patients throughout the UK and internationally.

• Interview Date: 4th December 2025

37 hours 30 minutes/week * You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
NO AGENCIES PLEASE
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Literacy and numeracy skills to GCSE level or equivalent.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills
• Good time management skills
• Experience of working in an environment where attention to detail and the ability to concentrate are important
• Ability to work well with other staff and function as part of a team
• An understanding of the basics of good laboratory practice
• Approachability, reliability and willingness to accept responsibility
• An understanding of the importance of diagnostic laboratory work.

Main duties include:
General laboratory housekeeping duties.
Receipt of deliveries and ensuring each laboratory has sufficient stock.
Logging patient samples onto departmental databases.
About us
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Our staff oversee around 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:
o Freeman Hospital
o Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
o Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)
o Newcastle Dental Hospital
o Newcastle Fertility Centre
o Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
o Northern Genetics Service
o Cramlington Manor Walks
These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Details
Date posted
14 November 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 2
Salary
24,465 a year per annum
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
317-2025-46-06-DR
Job locations
Newcastle Genetics Laboratory, International Centre for life
Central Parkway
317 07 Northern Genetics Service
NE1 3BZ
Job description
Job responsibilities

• To work as a member of the laboratory technical staff, providing support to all sections of the laboratory.
• Under the direction of the Laboratory Manager, the post holder will be responsible sending samples to other centres, both within the UK and abroad for specialist tests; dealing with the delivery, storage and distribution of laboratory disposables, reagents and equipment; cleaning and basic maintenance of laboratory equipment, and preparation of laboratory reagents and solutions.
• The post holder will also deal with sample reception duties; storage of laboratory records, both manual and electronic and basic data entry into laboratory databases.

Job description
Job responsibilities

• To work as a member of the laboratory technical staff, providing support to all sections of the laboratory.
• Under the direction of the Laboratory Manager, the post holder will be responsible sending samples to other centres, both within the UK and abroad for specialist tests; dealing with the delivery, storage and distribution of laboratory disposables, reagents and equipment; cleaning and basic maintenance of laboratory equipment, and preparation of laboratory reagents and solutions.
• The post holder will also deal with sample reception duties; storage of laboratory records, both manual and electronic and basic data entry into laboratory databases.

Person Specification
KNOWLEDGE
Desirable

• Basic understanding of Health and Safety and Manual Handling

SKILLS
Essential

• Basic computer and keyboard skills
• Basic scientific skills

EXPERIENCE
Desirable

• Some experience in the use of Microsoft Word, Access, Excel and the internet
• Previous laboratory or similar experience

QUALIFICATIONS
Essential

• Good literacy and numeracy skills to GCSE level

Person Specification
KNOWLEDGE
Desirable

• Basic understanding of Health and Safety and Manual Handling

SKILLS
Essential

• Basic computer and keyboard skills
• Basic scientific skills

EXPERIENCE
Desirable

• Some experience in the use of Microsoft Word, Access, Excel and the internet
• Previous laboratory or similar experience

QUALIFICATIONS
Essential

• Good literacy and numeracy skills to GCSE level

Skills Required