Job Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic individual to work within our Blood Sciences Department as a Healthcare Science Associate Practitioner in the Survey Team. There will likely be scope to work across other sections within the department You should be highly motivated with good interpersonal and organisational skills.

• Interview Date: 12 February 2026
• 37.5 Hours/Week and 15 hours/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

• Healthcare Science Associate Practitioners use practical skills to carry out tasks associated with the pre-analytical preparation of specimens, analysis of a limited range of tests and post analytical duties.
• Manage the day to day departmental Quality Assurance by distributing, monitoring and resulting tests on all schemes.
• Perform audits to ensure the Department is compliant with regulatory standards and guidelines.

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.
With around 2 million contacts with patients every year, we deliver care from:

• Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
• Freeman Hospital
• Newcastle Dental Hospital
• Cramlington Manor Walks
• Urgent treatment centres
• Newcastle Fertility Centre
• Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
• Northern Genetics Service

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 January 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 4
Salary
27,485 to 30,162 a year pro rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
Reference number
317-2026-03-13-DR
Job locations
Royal Victoria Infirmary
317 02 Royal Victoria Infirmary
NE1 4LP
Job description
Job responsibilities

• A Healthcare Science Associate is part of a clinical support team whose purpose is to provide timely and accurate high quality scientific information that will assist service users from the hospital and community, in the establishment of a clinical diagnosis and monitoring of patient treatment.
• The Healthcare Science Associate will use practical skills to carry out tasks associated with the pre-analytical preparation of specimens, analysis of a limited range of tests and post analytical duties. This includes day to day management of Quality Assurance Schemes within the Blood Sciences Department and managing Point of Care Testing analysers across the Trust.
• Specimen reception: To deal with the reception, sorting and labelling of patient specimens, identifying inadequate and mislabelled specimens and ensuring urgent samples are prioritised.
• Data entry, preparing specimens for analysis, including booking in-patient and specimen details, storing, retrieving and disposing of specimens.
• To analyse a limited range of tests, e.g. Urine Pregnancy Tests, Blood Gas Analysis, Ionised Calcium in line with departmental SOPs.
• Operate, maintain and basic trouble shoot departmental analysers, in line with departmental SOPs.
• To undertake simple analytical procedures under guidance and maintain and operate laboratory equipment in accordance with departmental SOPs.
• To manually transcribe and record laboratory data, input to and manipulation of the laboratory computer system and derivation of worksheets for qualified staff.
• To receive requests for information by telephone and respond appropriately.
• To prepare and reconstitute reagents and control materials and other processes as required, recording stock levels, maintenance of instruments and equipment, and keeping appropriate records both manually and electronic.
• To manage the day to day departmental Quality Assurance by distributing, monitoring and resulting tests on all schemes.
• To co-ordinate distribution of Quality Assurance reports and assist Team Leaders in review.
• To manage Point of Care Testing (POCT) devices across the Trust, including training, audit and quality control.
• To work in compliance with local health and safety rules to ensure a safe working environment for yourself, colleagues and visitors. To adhere to department and Trust Health and Safety policies (including COSHH, Risk assessments and Standard Operating Procedures) and to report any non-compliances to a senior member of staff.
• Oversee Healthcare Science Assistants (HSAs) working in the section.
• Train new members of HSA staff.
• The post holder will be required to provide cover for Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday duties in the department.

Job description
Job responsibilities

• A Healthcare Science Associate is part of a clinical support team whose purpose is to provide timely and accurate high quality scientific information that will assist service users from the hospital and community, in the establishment of a clinical diagnosis and monitoring of patient treatment.
• The Healthcare Science Associate will use practical skills to carry out tasks associated with the pre-analytical preparation of specimens, analysis of a limited range of tests and post analytical duties. This includes day to day management of Quality Assurance Schemes within the Blood Sciences Department and managing Point of Care Testing analysers across the Trust.
• Specimen reception: To deal with the reception, sorting and labelling of patient specimens, identifying inadequate and mislabelled specimens and ensuring urgent samples are prioritised.
• Data entry, preparing specimens for analysis, including booking in-patient and specimen details, storing, retrieving and disposing of specimens.
• To analyse a limited range of tests, e.g. Urine Pregnancy Tests, Blood Gas Analysis, Ionised Calcium in line with departmental SOPs.
• Operate, maintain and basic trouble shoot departmental analysers, in line with departmental SOPs.
• To undertake simple analytical procedures under guidance and maintain and operate laboratory equipment in accordance with departmental SOPs.
• To manually transcribe and record laboratory data, input to and manipulation of the laboratory computer system and derivation of worksheets for qualified staff.
• To receive requests for information by telephone and respond appropriately.
• To prepare and reconstitute reagents and control materials and other processes as required, recording stock levels, maintenance of instruments and equipment, and keeping appropriate records both manually and electronic.
• To manage the day to day departmental Quality Assurance by distributing, monitoring and resulting tests on all schemes.
• To co-ordinate distribution of Quality Assurance reports and assist Team Leaders in review.
• To manage Point of Care Testing (POCT) devices across the Trust, including training, audit and quality control.
• To work in compliance with local health and safety rules to ensure a safe working environment for yourself, colleagues and visitors. To adhere to department and Trust Health and Safety policies (including COSHH, Risk assessments and Standard Operating Procedures) and to report any non-compliances to a senior member of staff.
• Oversee Healthcare Science Assistants (HSAs) working in the section.
• Train new members of HSA staff.
• The post holder will be required to provide cover for Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday duties in the department.

Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential

• NVQ4, or Foundation Degree in Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities, or IBMS certificate of Achievement portfolio or equivalent level experience

Knowledge & Experience
Essential

• Experience as a Healthcare Science Assistant (HCSA) in a Blood Sciences discipline
• Basic computer and keyboard skills
• Understanding a range of routine Blood Sciences laboratory procedures and competence in pipetting, weighing, dilution, reagent preparation and quality checks

Desirable

• Knowledge / interest in Biomedical Sciences

Skills & Abilities
Essential

• Organised and methodical
• Ability to work under pressure and prioritise work
• Good communication skills

Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential

• NVQ4, or Foundation Degree in Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities, or IBMS certificate of Achievement portfolio or equivalent level experience

Knowledge & Experience
Essential

• Experience as a Healthcare Science Assistant (HCSA) in a Blood Sciences discipline
• Basic computer and keyboard skills
• Understanding a range of routine Blood Sciences laboratory procedures and competence in pipetting, weighing, dilution, reagent preparation and quality checks

Desirable

• Knowledge / interest in Biomedical Sciences

Skills & Abilities
Essential

• Organised and methodical
• Ability to work under pressure and prioritise work
• Good communication skills

Skills Required