Job Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and suitability qualified Senior Healthcare Science Assistant to join the Blood Sciences Laboratory. We currently have vacancies in the Specimen Reception andProteins & Autoimmunity sections of our busy Blood Sciences Department.

• Interview Date: 15th October 2025
• 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week (Various Hours Available)
• 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
Successful candidates will work alongside a team of other Senior Healthcare Science Assistant, Biomedical Scientists and Healthcare Scientists contributing to the day-to-day work of the sections including specimen reception duties, administrative tasks and performing practical laboratory work. You must have good attention to detail and organisation skills, as well as being able to prioritise and manage your workload.
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
17 September 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 3
Salary
24,937 to 26,598 a year pro rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
Reference number
317-2025-33-44-DR-A
Job locations
Trustwide
317 Trustwide
NE7 7DN
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.

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.

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

Skills Required