Job Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and suitability qualified Senior Healthcare Science Assistant to join the Blood Sciences Laboratory in our Autoimmunity and Protein section and our Flow Cytometry Section. This laboratory performs immunology and haematology assays for Newcastle Hospitals, the wider region through the Northern England Haemato-oncology Diagnostic Service (NEHODS), and acts as a national and international referral laboratory for specialist immunology.
The Blood Sciences Department is UKAS accredited and is housed at both Freeman Hospital and Royal Victoria Infirmary. The laboratory is progressive, well equipped and is accredited for training.

• Interview Date: 18 June 2025
• Full & Part Time Hours
• 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.

Main duties of the job
Successful candidates will work alongside a team of other Senior Healthcare Science Assistants, Biomedical Scientists and Clinical Scientists, contributing to the day-to-day work of the section.
Duties will include

• specimen reception
• administrative tasks
• performing practical laboratory work.

You must have good attention to detail, organisation skills and be able to prioritise and manage your workload.
About us
Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:
o Freeman Hospitalo Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)o Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)o Newcastle Dental Hospitalo Newcastle Fertility Centreo Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbriao Northern Genetics Serviceo 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
08 May 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 3
Salary
xc2xa324,625 to xc2xa325,674 a year per annum
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
Reference number
317-2025-19-16-DR
Job locations
Royal Victoria Infirmary
317 02 Royal Victoria Infirmary
NE1 4LP
Job description
Job responsibilities

• A Senior Healthcare Science Assistant (HCSA) 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 Senior HCSA will use extended technical skills to carry out a variety of laboratory duties including reception and data entry of requests received and some routine pathological tests under the direct or indirect supervision and guidance of a Biomedical Scientist.
• To assist in the preparation of specimens for analysis, including the separation of blood, serum and plasma, and the cataloguing and storage of specimens.
• Entering requests into the laboratory computer system.
• To carry out, under direct or indirect supervision, some laboratory diagnostic tests and the operation of laboratory equipment. This may be in the laboratory or in Point of Care Testing environments such as wards an clinics where supervision and advice may be available by telephone or electronic means.
• To order blood products from the National Blood Authority and to transfer blood stocks as appropriate under the supervision of a senior member staff.
• To label and issue patient intended blood/blood products.
• To assist in the department Quality Assurance programmes
• To work in compliance with local health and safety rules to ensure a safe working environment for you, 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.
• Answering telephone enquiries and retrieving results in accordance with the standard operational procedure.

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.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate.The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay. Job description
Job responsibilities

• A Senior Healthcare Science Assistant (HCSA) 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 Senior HCSA will use extended technical skills to carry out a variety of laboratory duties including reception and data entry of requests received and some routine pathological tests under the direct or indirect supervision and guidance of a Biomedical Scientist.
• To assist in the preparation of specimens for analysis, including the separation of blood, serum and plasma, and the cataloguing and storage of specimens.
• Entering requests into the laboratory computer system.
• To carry out, under direct or indirect supervision, some laboratory diagnostic tests and the operation of laboratory equipment. This may be in the laboratory or in Point of Care Testing environments such as wards an clinics where supervision and advice may be available by telephone or electronic means.
• To order blood products from the National Blood Authority and to transfer blood stocks as appropriate under the supervision of a senior member staff.
• To label and issue patient intended blood/blood products.
• To assist in the department Quality Assurance programmes
• To work in compliance with local health and safety rules to ensure a safe working environment for you, 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.
• Answering telephone enquiries and retrieving results in accordance with the standard operational procedure.

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.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate.The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay.
Person Specification
KNOWLEDGE
Desirable

• Basic understanding of the biology of the blood

SKILLS
Essential

• Technical skills to support the routine use of laboratory equipment
• Good communication skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• Keyboard skills

EXPERIENCE
Desirable

• Experience as a HSA in Blood Sciences

QUALIFICATIONS
Essential

• NVQ 3 or equivalent in Biomedical Science related subject or equivalent plus laboratory working experience or significant Blood Science laboratory experience
• Educated to a minimum level of five GCSE at grade C to include English, Maths and Science or equivalent qualifications

Person Specification
KNOWLEDGE
Desirable

• Basic understanding of the biology of the blood

SKILLS
Essential

• Technical skills to support the routine use of laboratory equipment
• Good communication skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• Keyboard skills

EXPERIENCE
Desirable

• Experience as a HSA in Blood Sciences

QUALIFICATIONS
Essential

• NVQ 3 or equivalent in Biomedical Science related subject or equivalent plus laboratory working experience or significant Blood Science laboratory experience
• Educated to a minimum level of five GCSE at grade C to include English, Maths and Science or equivalent qualifications