Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust
Associate Practitioner Andrology

The closing date is 24 November 2026

Job summary
Path Links is a networked Pathology Service offering a wide range of diagnostic investigations on tissue, blood, and fluid samples performed by a multidisciplinary Pathology team within the network delivering an effective, high quality and responsive 24hr services to patients, Clinicians and General Practitioners.

All Path Links laboratories work to national United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) standards. Regular assessments by external auditors from UKAS assess laboratory compliance with the published standards and ensure that the service provided meets the needs and requirements of users. A fundamental component of the Path Links quality framework is the application and integration of Lean principles, together with other continuous improvement tools, to all aspects of service provision across the organisation.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for the successful applicant to join our Andrology team and train as an Andrology Associate Practitioner.

This is a very interesting and niche area of pathology.

Main duties of the job
An Andrology Associate Practitioner is a member of an Andrology team which is part of the wider Blood Sciences team working within the Path Links Pathology service. They are required to examine semen samples to ascertain fertility status, and post vasectomy samples for the presence or absence of sperm.

Delegated work and duties will be arranged and performed under the indirect supervision of a State Registered Biomedical Scientist Advanced Practitioner utilising Standard Operating Procedures.

A period of "in house " training, practical assessment of competency, plus continuing acceptable performance in annual competency assessments and National External Quality Control are all required to continue to practice.

We are happy to support the successful candidate to complete their certificate of competence in diagnostic semen analysis from the Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists (ARCS) if they wish. This would mean they were a fully qualified andrology practitioner at the end of the contract and make them a very desirable candidate to future employers. In addition to this, skills and experience gained in the role would be transferable to other laboratory roles.

We are also happy to support other qualifications e.g. IBMS registration portfolio if the successful candidate holds a biomedical science degree.

About us
Path Links is a networked Pathology service working within Boston, Lincoln, Grantham, Scunthorpe, Grimsby and Goole hospitals. We are part of Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust which covers Scunthorpe, Grimsby and Goole hospitals.

We encourage all our staff to innovate and adopt 'best practice' so we can deliver excellent care to our patients. We ask staff to live our values; kindness, courage and respect. We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us. You could be one of them.

To learn more about Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, and discover the unique benefits on offer to employees, view our latest videos, plus more, please visit our recruitment website at https://joinnlag.co.uk/

Should we receive a high volume of applications for this vacancy, the advert may be closed earlier than stated. To view a full job description and person specification please see attachments on this advert.

Job responsibilities

• Meeting with patients and partners to take receipt of specimens for fertility testing and post vasectomy testing, ensuring that any problems are handled and communicated in a sensitive manner, whilst maintaining patient confidentiality.
• Preparation of samples for processing, including use of centrifuges where appropriate.
• Sample identification and numbering of andrology samples including investigation of missing / lost or mislabeled samples.
• Entry of patient & specimen data onto laboratory data systems. To assist in the collection of quality data as required.
• The processing of semen specimens under the indirect supervision of a qualified Biomedical Scientist (BMS)
• Using a microscope, to undertake subjective analytical screening of seminal fluid samples adhering to the latest WHO guidelines. This will include initial identification of sperm abnormalities, sperm counts, and analysis of fertility parameters for subsequent authorisation by BMS or Consultant staff.
• The post holder will have responsibility, where circumstances dictate, to request retests of samples, the recall of sample results, to analyse the samples and produce test reports, which inform future diagnosis and clinical pathways.
• After a post qualification period of at least 12 months and following further assessment, to examine External Quality Control samples as part of a National Quality assurance scheme).
• Maintain a minimum examination rate of 500 samples per annum.
• Use of laboratory equipment, for example staining machines, use of calibrated equipment to make accurate measurements, etc. as appropriate.
• Record keeping, including recording the temperatures of refrigerators, freezers, water baths, incubators etc. where appropriate.
• Equipment checks, including periodic maintenance and checking of equipment such as calibrated pipettes, and staining machines ensuring that they meet laboratory standards.
• The post holder will be responsible for assisting in the review of Andrology working procedures and proactively proposing changes to both Andrology policies and SOPs to improve the effectiveness of the department and services to its users.
• Stock management, including the recording of reagent stocks as they are delivered into the laboratory, and advising appropriate personnel when stock levels are low.
• Chemical reagent preparation and replacement as appropriate to the department.
• Pre-acceptance testing of reagents and consumables associated with andrology testing.
• Dealing with telephone enquiries and booking of appointments. To provide advice to patients and service users on patient preparation requirements prior to sample provision.
• Filing of laboratory requests, completed samples or microscope slides, and laboratory reports from reference laboratories.

Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
Relevant Healthcare Science Diploma, or comparable demonstrable occupational experience attained through a combination of: NVQ 3 (or equivalent) or two science A levels at grade A-C.
Experience in an NHS Pathology Laboratory
Desirable
IT Skills
Experience in Microscopy
Occupational Experience
Essential
Previous science based roles
Previous experience in customer facing roles
Desirable
Previous laboratory experience
Previous NHS experience

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

Employer details
Employer name: Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Diana Princess of Wales Hospital, Grimsby, Scartho Road, Grimsby, DN33 2BA, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.nlg.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Acting Blood Sciences Laboratory Manager, Sarah Bollington, sarah.bollington@nhs.net, 03033304408

Details
Date posted: 10 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 4
Salary: £28,392 to £31,157 a year per annum pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 208-D4429A-26-1
Job locations: Diana Princess of Wales Hospital, Grimsby, Scartho Road, Grimsby, DN33 2BA, United Kingdom

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