University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Senior Assistant Technical Officer

The closing date is 22 November 2026

Job summary
We require a Senior Assistant Technical Officer to work as part of a team within the Combined Laboratory reception area. Applicants must have good basic dexterity, numeracy and literacy skills; technical aptitude, proven knowledge of Health and Safety Issues; basic IT skills; be able to work within a busy environment within a team and have an eye for detail.

You will be part of a team working with scientific staff providing a valuable support function to our Diagnostic Service, handling and processing patients' samples as part of the analytical process, with a particular role in the management of samples and results referred to hospital clinicians, general practitioners and external laboratories.

The successful applicant will supervise, mentor and support the Assistant Technical Officers and other support staff and be responsible for and take part in the 24/7 rotas for evenings, weekends, bank holidays and overnight shifts as appropriate. Additional payments are made for these duties.

Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.

Main duties of the job

• Working with other senior staff ensure the reception area is organised and staffed appropriately to deliver timely processing of samples and test requests.
• Assist in the maintenance of SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for all activities within the sample processing area.
• Will be responsible for the production of rotas that provide adequate staffing levels in the 24/7 sessions where reception support for BMS (Biomedical Scientists) is required. This will include the EWD (Extended Working Day), weekends and bank holidays.
• Will chase and input the results of send away tests from the referral centres.
• Will assist in the training of Reception staff and ensuring that their training logs are reviewed on a regular basis.
• Will appraise ATO and NVQ staff as directed by the reception manager.
• Assist in the receipt, processing and storage of all samples derived from clinical trials including those for which the department derives income.
• Remove samples and request forms from their plastic bags whilst checking the data on the sample matches that on the request form.
• Following SOPs record and inform requestors of rejected samples.
• Prepare these samples for analysis including attaching bar code labels, centrifugation, separation and prepare aliquots as required.
• Book test requests into the computer system.

For further details please see attached JD&PS.

About us
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Details
Date posted: 09 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 3
Salary: £25,760 to £27,476 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 216-SF-DB8363822
Job locations: Derriford Combined Laboratory, University Hospitals Plymouth, Brest Road, Plymouth, PL6 8DH, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities

• The receipt of samples, sample preparation, request data entry, presentation for analysis and dispatch to tertiary centres as appropriate.
• To supervise, mentor and support Assistant Technical Officers and other support staff as directed by the reception manager.
• As directed, to be responsible to produce rotas for the 24/7 provision of ATO reception cover, ensuring that all rotas are filled at all times.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential: NVQ Level 3 in Laboratory Science or demonstrate proven equivalent experience to this level of technical acheivement
Desirable: Supervisory Course
Knowledge and Experience

• Essential: Knowledge of all assays performed and sent away by the department
• Essential: Knowledge of all relevant Health and Safety legislation and its application to the section
• Essential: Ability to manage staff in a very busy section

Aptitude & Abilities

• Essential: Excellent Communication skills, being able to deal with staff and patients at all levels of the organisation
• Precision in the reception process
• Attention to detail
• Accuracy
• Time Management Skills
• Organisational Skills
• Keyboard skills with a working knowledge of laboratory computer systems
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Manual dexterity, including fine manipulation for protracted periods of the day
• Desirable: Mature Outlook
• Desirable: Working knowledge of EPIC

Disposition/Attitude/Motivation

• Essential: Team Worker
• Able to cope under pressure
• Proactive, takes own initiative
• Ability to concentrate for long periods

Other Factors

• Essential: Required to work in an area of biological risk, frequently exposed to both biological and chemical hazards
• Participate in 24/7 service
• Flexibility
• Required to use VDU for protracted periods

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.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

Employer details
Employer name: University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Address: Derriford Combined Laboratory, University Hospitals Plymouth, Brest Road, Plymouth, PL6 8DH, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Specimen Reception Manager, Samantha Pethick, samanthapethick@nhs.net, 01752433325

Supporting documents
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