Job Description

Are you interested in working in the field of newborn screening? Would you like to become part of a team screening over 55,000 newborn babies per year for inherited and congenital diseases? Do you want to make a difference to babies and their families?



A post is available for a Medical Laboratory Assistant in the Newborn Screening Department of Reference Chemistry, Synnovis. You will be joining a team 15 staff working together to provide the Newborn Screening service. You will also work along with over 70 scientists and support staff in the new hub building at Blackfriars, 5 mins walk from Southwark and Blackfriars station.



The successful candidate will be a key member of the South East Thames Regional Newborn Screening Laboratory based at the Blackfriars Hub. Providing results for over 55,000 babies a year, the team works closely with Biomedical Scientists and Clinical Scientists and is part of a network of 18 laboratories across the UK and Ireland providing this vital service.

The post is full time permanent role, 37.5 hours per week Monday to Friday 9.00-17.30 working. If this suits you and your interested in starting your career or moving into to this field then then please read on.



Our laboratory provides screening for newborn babies using various technologies for the following conditions: congenital hypothyroidism, phenylketonuria, medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, maple syrup urine disease, homocystinuria, glutaric aciduria type 1, isovaleric acidaemia, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disorders, Hereditary Tyrosinemia Type 1, Severe combined immunodeficiency.



Techniques include PCR, HPLC MS/MS, immunoassay and enzymatic techniques. Use of pipettes, centrifuges, plate shakers, and analytical equipment will be part of the role.

Other responsibilities will be to receive, book, sort and archive specimens, maintain and operate analytical equipment, prepare reagents and patient batches. The post-holder will be expected to work in accordance with laboratory quality and health and safety policies and standard operating procedures.



The successful candidate will work closely with Clinical and Biomedical Scientists and must be able to reliably and efficiently communicate with all grades of staff within and external to the department, as well as other external centres, being the point to call for external queries and referrals via telephone and email. Attention to detail and good communication skills are a must in this role. You will be expected to work under pressure both as part of a team and independently, maintaining accuracy. You will be accountable to the senior BMS of the section and ultimately the deputy and director of the newborn screening service.



Our department works to the guidance and Newborn blood spot screening standards and pathways laid out by NHS England and the national screening committee. The national screening committee is an evidence based programme which means tests offered are continuously evolving over time. Making this department a particularly dynamic.



Your development and learning



You will have a suite of learning opportunities available through The Synnovis Way Development programme, the Scientific Learning and Development Fund and the Synnovis Academy through which you can receive funding / support for advanced qualifications.

Through our Innovation Accelerator Fund, you can apply for finance to get that new innovative scientific project off the ground, and participate with the wider scientific community through symposiums, conferences and other peer group meetings.



At Synnovis, we are currently shaping the future of pathology services by creating a world-leading Hub and Spoke pathology network with our NHS partners. A large part of this modernisation will involve moving 70% of our services to a purpose built, state of the art Hub laboratory in the heart of London. For now, the job you are applying for will be based at one of our hospital sites however, from 1 April 2024 our people and services will start to move to our Hub laboratory in Blackfriars, Southwark, SE1, with some work remaining in refurbished essential services laboratories across our hospital network, focusing on the rapid turnover of urgent tests. Please do ask your recruiting manager if you wish to find out more.



You will hold a variety of accountabilities in the laboratory environment.

These may include, but are not limited to:

Handle and manage samples, in line with standard operating procedures (SOPs) and assessed competencies. Perform tasks and operate laboratory equipment within all safety standards and according to local SOPs relevant to your area. Prepare solutions, reagents etc, utilising a variety of laboratory equipment to carry out investigations. Ensure all laboratory consumables and equipment are maintained in line with SOPs and health and safety guidelines. Complete data entry that is accurate, reliable, delivered on time and in accordance with Information Governance (IG) procedures. Provide administrative support to all areas of the laboratory, as appropriate and dependent on experience and training.

Synnovis is a pathology partnership between SYNLAB UK and Ireland, and the NHS, including sites, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to deliver and transform pathology services across South East London.



The partnership provides services to 1.7 million people living in South East London, as well as to hundreds of thousands of patients from outside the region who use local healthcare services.

The partnership provides diagnostics, testing and digital pathology for hospital trusts, GP services and other healthcare providers.



The Hub



The hub is an eight-storey building, and we are working across 10 floors including the ground and lower ground floors. Synnovis' corporate function operates from the hub on the 8th floor, above the laboratories underneath. This is a total net internal area of almost 10,000m squared across the 10 floors.



Based in Blackfriars, it's less than a 5 minute walk from Southwark Tube or Blackfriars station and nestled closely to a vast array of entertainment and fabulous places to dine, relax and meet people.