Job summary
- Main area
- Microbiology
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 2
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Will undertake all shift patterns required for service delivery. This includes core day, evenings, nights, weekend and bank holoidays.)
- Job ref
- 321-CSS-7105169-B2
- Employer
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- John Radcliffe Hospital
- Town
- Headington
- Salary
- £24,169 Per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 06/05/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 13/05/2025
Employer heading

Laboratory Support Worker with Level 2 Apprenticeship
NHS AfC: Band 2
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.
The Trust comprises of four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.
Many of our recruitment programmes use Value Based Interviewing to identify those who have the skills we seek, who share our values and who are able to deliver compassionate excellence from the outset. We know that this makes a significant difference to your job satisfaction and above all the outcomes and experience of our patients and their families. For more information about our Values and Value Based Interviewing please visit www.ouh.nhs.uk/about/vision-and-values
Job overview
The Microbiology Department is based at the John Radcliffe Hospital and is part of the South Four Pathology Partnership Network. The department provide services to the Oxford University Hospitals NHSFT, ICS BOB Primary Care, Oxford Health NHS, South 4 Pathology Partnership, other NHS providers, private care, UKHSA, Oxford University and research trials.
The laboratory is a 24/7 service and successful applicants, once competency achieved will participate in working day, evening, weekend & bank holiday sessions, (apprentices <18 years of age working pattern will differ). The post is full time, 37.5 hours.
Main duties of the job
The successful applicant will undertake a Level 2 BTEC Apprenticeship in Healthcare Science, whilst gaining valuable experience in a Microbiology department. Throughout your Apprenticeship you will be supported by a workplace mentor and training coordinator, provided with off-the-job learning time and be part of the OUH Apprenticeship team.
You will hold GCSE Level or equivalent Grade C/4 in English, Maths, Science and have a passion for practical laboratory work and science.
The Apprentice Laboratory Support Worker will be working in a busy Microbiology department alongside and supporting all other staff within the department. Duties will include sample receipt and data entry onto the Laboratory IT system, processing samples (using both manual and automated methods), maintaining laboratory analysers, stock control, waste management and other housekeeping duties related to the department.
Successful candidates will be required to uphold confidentiality, be conscientious, enthusiastic, and able to work well as a team. You will be required to demonstrate the OUH core values and behaviours and have the confidence to communicate with all members of staff at all levels.
Working for our organisation
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. Find out more here www.ouh.nhs.uk
The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For full details please refer to the job description link.
Works to achieve competencies across the repertoire of the department as appropriate to grade.
Effective communication of information about specimens and test results with other staff groups both internal and external. To include healthcare professionals, patient representatives and commercial suppliers.
Receives sensitive information from patients and their representatives where empathic skills are required.
Displays and maintains an appropriate level of IT skills, in order to input patient and request data, maintain and amend patient records and interrogate the laboratory and hospital databases.
Person specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential criteria
- GCSE English and Maths (Grade A-C; 9-4) or equivalent
- GCSE (Grade A-C; 9-4) or equivalent level in Sciences
Desirable criteria
- ECDL or other relevant computing qualification
- GCSE or equivalent in Chemistry
Experience & Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Good application, demonstrating written English
- Knowledge of Laboratories and relevant Health & Safety
- Knowledge of Laboratory techniques
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of disciplines within Pathology
- Knowledge of medical terminology
Other Requirements
Essential criteria
- Prepared to work with biological materials and a variety of sample types
- Flexible approach to hours of work, including nights, evenings, weekends and bank holidays
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Sarah Oakley
- Job title
- Laboratory Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01865 220858
- Additional information
Sarah Oakley
Laboratory Manager
01865 220858
List jobs with Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Health Science Services or all sectors