Job summary

Please note this vacancy is only open to staff currently working in Kent and Medway Pathology Network (KMPN)

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
Medway NHS Foundation Trust

Applications from candidates in other NHS trusts will not be considered.

We are seeking a motivated Associate Practitioner to join our Microbiology service at William Harvey Hospital. This is a permanent, substantive Band 4 post, working 37.5 hours per week. Applicants will ideally hold a science degree or have equivalent experience working within a laboratory environment.

Microbiology at William Harvey Hospital is recognised for its inclusive, supportive culture and strong sense of teamwork. We foster open communication across technical and diagnostic teams, creating a collaborative environment focused on high-quality patient care. The department is UKAS accredited and an IBMS training laboratory, reflecting our commitment to quality, education, and continuous improvement.

This role offers an excellent opportunity for professional development. Depending on experience, the successful candidate will be supported to broaden their skills and may undertake specialist training aligned with their interests and career aspirations, within a rewarding and well-supported environment.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Trust's Pathology team and play an integral role in supporting and shaping future services.

Main duties of the job
The successful applicant will provide essential support to Biomedical Scientists within the Microbiology laboratory, assisting with the preparation of biological samples and the operation of laboratory analysers. They will have responsibility for supervising and supporting the development of Senior Associate and Associate Healthcare Scientists (Bands 2 and 3), including training and day-to-day oversight.

The role offers opportunities for further development, with additional training provided to enable the post holder to take a lead on defined aspects of service delivery, such as analyser management, Health & Safety, and Quality Management. The post holder will also contribute to more complex scientific investigations and undertake basic interpretive tasks in support of Biomedical Scientists. A commitment to Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is expected to ensure ongoing competence and professional growth.

The laboratory operates 7 days per week, with core working hours of 08:30 to 17:00. The post includes participation in a rota covering a range of shifts, including late shifts up to 19:00, 1 in 4 weekends, and bank holidays. We are happy to consider flexible working arrangements within core hours.

About us
We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is 'great healthcare from great people'. Everything we do is guided by our values: 'People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference'. We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called 'We care'. It's about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day. We're looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.

Kent and Medway Pathology Network
Kent and Medway Pathology Network is a formal partnership of seven laboratories across three pathology services in four acute Trusts. Our 1000 colleagues provide services across the health and care sector to a population of nearly 2 million.

We are at an exciting point of our network development with a recommendation to form a joint venture across the four Trusts leading transformation. Our projects including single IT solutions, procurement and digital projects, to ensure our services are able to meet growing demand for our service users, patients and communities.

Details
Date posted: 25 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 4
Salary: £28,392 to £31,157 a year
per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number: 344-2572DCB
Job locations: William Harvey Hospital, Kennington Road, Ashford, TN24 0LZ, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
KMPN: You will have a fantastic opportunity to grow your career in KMPN. We are developing a network academy, a platform for all network education and training from apprenticeships to advanced clinical and scientific qualifications with a single faculty making best use of our talented educators and trainers. You will not be expected to work at sites outside of EKHUFT. However, there will be opportunities for collaborative working within the network.

Please scroll down to access the full Job Description and Person Specification located in Documents to download.

If you have further queries please dont hesitate to contact the line manager using the contact details below.

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Kindly note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Please note that if you require a Certificate of Sponsorship to work in the UK you must declare this on your application form, even if you currently have a certificate of sponsorship or a work permit for another role and are already working in the country. Please note we are only able to sponsor candidates on a Skilled Worker Visa applying for BMS roles Band 6 and above.

Person Specification
Qualifications and training
Essential

• GCSE'S A-C, or equivalent in English and Maths, Level 4 qualification or equivalent / above
• IBMS Certificate of Achievement part 2, or equivalent relevant professional experience

Desirable

• HCS or Registered Scientist, RSci with Science Council or Technician
• Quality qualification

Skills and Experience
Essential

• Leadership experience
• Experience of working with a Quality Management System
• Experience of auditing
• Experience of working in Pathology
• IT skills: Q-Pulse or other electronic QMS, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability to organise own time effectively & work to schedules & deadlines
• Effective communication skills with other health care professional, both verbal and written
• Ability to follow set protocols and procedures without deviation

Desirable

• Experience of compiling reports
• Experience of external assessments
• Experience in change control processes
• Deal with complex and or sensitive information
• Used a range of Microbiology analysers
• Good aseptic technique
• Good basic manual bacteriology and serology skills
• Molecular and PCR skills

Knowledge
Essential

• Knowledge of quality management systems
• Knowledge of audit processes
• Basic understanding of Microbiology, laboratory and infection science
• Health and Safety in the laboratory
• An understanding of general developments in the NHS and how these affect pathology services

Desirable

• Knowledge of ISO 15189
• Basic knowledge of Healthcare associated infections and Infection Control
• Knowledge of training, learning and development processes
• Understanding of COSHH other H&S audits and laboratory legislation
• Knowledge of advances in Microbiology and Pathology practices

Personal / professional attributes
Essential

• Be self-motivated and work hard towards objectives
• Ability to work individually and as part of a team and develop effective relationships
• Ability to deal with complex and/or sensitive information
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Receptive and adaptive to change
• Ability to work in an environment where clinical specimens are handled and disposed

Desirable

• Willingness to undertake further training as required by the role

Other requirements
Essential

• To be aware of and demonstrate the Trust's Vision, Mission, Values and behaviours.
• Ability to work flexibly to meet changing needs of the service

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details
Employer name: East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
Address: William Harvey Hospital, Kennington Road, Ashford, TN24 0LZ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Head Biomedical Scientist
Rachael Arkley
rachael.arkley@nhs.net
01233616760