Are you looking for a rewarding career in a state-of-the-art laboratory, located in the heart of Mid and South Essex, where customer‑centred medical excellence is at the core of everything we do?
Pathology First, part of SYNLAB UK & Ireland, is recruiting a full-time Laboratory Assistant on a permanent contract to join our Pre-Analytics team, working across multiple sites including the Basildon Hub Laboratory, Basildon Hospital, and Southend Hospital.
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
This role may include shift work, weekends, and bank holidays. Shifts operate on a 4–6 week rota, with 7.5 hour shifts between 8:00am and 8:00pm.
As a Laboratory Assistant within the Pre-Analytics team, you will play a vital role in supporting the end-to-end specimen reception process, helping to ensure that samples are processed safely, efficiently, and accurately to support high-quality pathology testing.
We are looking for candidates who are passionate about improving patients’ health and would like to work in a healthcare setting. No science/ medical background is required as full training is provided. We are ideally looking for candidates who are flexible with their hours and would like to work in a busy work environment.
Receive, check, and prepare patient samples for analysis, label accurately to traceability standards.
Enter patient details and results onto the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) with high accuracy.
Follow SPS standard operating procedures (SOPs) and uphold ISO 15189 quality requirements.
Maintain specimen workflow, prioritising urgent requests and meeting turnaround times.
Collaborate with colleagues across the HUB and hospital sites to ensure efficient, customer-centred service.
Uphold health & safety, infection prevention and data-governance standards; support general housekeeping.
SYNLAB UK & Ireland work closely with clinicians, hospitals, occupational health providers and clinical researchers to provide a complete pathology offering.
We operate in increasingly diverse environments which is reflected in our workforce, clients, customers, suppliers, communities and partners. We believe an inclusive workplace culture is the best way to source, attract and retain diverse and talented people, and create a sustainable, high-performing workforce.
We believe our staff is vital to the principle of making a positive difference to healthcare, therefore, we promote a culture of continuous personal development where scientists and staff have the support and resources to acquire new skills and build their careers through learning and development opportunities, coaching and clear career pathways.
We promote an open and collaborative culture where leaders act as role models and facilitate a two-way communication, engage with staff and stakeholders transparently and actively encourage feedback and suggestions.
- To perform all designated duties within Pre-analytics in accordance with local working practices, to maintain high personal standards and conform to Health and Safety regulations.
- To prepare and process clinical specimens for biomedical testing, within operating procedures and protocols.
- To work within agreed quality standards of service delivery and turnaround times under the supervision of Specimen Reception Supervisors.
- To continue with personal development through academic or practical experience.
- Be able to rotate through areas of Pre-analytics and Microbiology support roles, as required (dependent on experience and training), performing all designated duties in accordance with local working practices whilst maintaining high personal standards and conforming to Health and Safety regulations.
- Provide general advice to users of the pathology service, for example, sample type, test availability, transport.
- Prepare samples for routine investigations, working on own initiative to agreed protocols.
- Propose changes to standard operating procedures as required in order to develop and streamline the service or to reflect other changes. Propose changes to set task list for daily duties
- Utilise the laboratory LIMS, Q-Pulse quality monitoring system and other application software according to authorised protocols including assisting in computer data entry in all areas of the laboratory.
- Communicate efficiently, courteously and with clarity at all times, whether face to face, telephone or electronic methods referring enquiries to senior staff where appropriate.
- Attend and participate positively in laboratory and other meetings as directed by Laboratory managers
- As directed by senior laboratory staff, plan and prioritise work allocations, responding appropriately to the needs of routine and urgent activities.
- Encourage active participation in personal development, and support the introduction of new technologies and / or systems by being a change advocate.
- Use consumables and equipment within your allocated section responsibility and be responsible for stock control audits and recording through approved channels as required.
- Report all incidents and adverse events to senior staff and enter the information in the CAPA module of Q-pulse in a timely manner as directed by senior staff.
- Demonstrate on going competency against training plans.
