Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) Edinburgh, Scotland
Job description
NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.
About the Organisation:
National Services Scotland (NSS) is a national NHS Board operating right at the heart of NHSScotland providing invaluable support and advice at a strategic and operational level. NSS supports customers to deliver their services more efficiently and effectively and we offer shared services on a national scale using best-in-class systems and standards. Our priority is always the same – to improve the health and well-being of the people of Scotland. We do this by working in partnership with colleagues across Health and Social Care to deliver fit for purpose solutions and systems, delivering high quality services that help our stakeholders to free up resources so they can be re-invested into essential services.
As a major Strategic Business Unit (SBU) within NHS National Services Scotland, the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) plays a vital role not only in the health of the people of Scotland but also on an international scale – through our leading position in manufacturing, product development, biomedical research, and donor services. Our goal is to maintain the highest standards to patient care whilst remaining internationally competitive.
The Post:
A vacancy has arisen for a Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) position within the Blood Processing and Distribution Department. Applications are invited from individuals, who are organised and enthusiastic with excellent interpersonal skills, scrupulous attention to detail and excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Full training will be given however experience of working within a Healthcare or Manufacturing environment would be advantageous.
The Candidate:
The departmental duties will include undertaking tasks, following controlled documented procedures, to manufacture blood components for transfusion from whole blood and apheresis collections and the subsequent distribution of blood components to hospital blood banks throughout Scotland. This will involve working as part of the team processing blood donations, receiving, and making telephone calls, manual lifting and moving of stock, record completion and the operation of various IT software applications. The successful candidate will be working with biohazard material (e.g., untested blood) within a Processing environment whilst adhering to the principles of Good Manufacturing Practice. The successful candidate must be willing to undertake shift working which will include weekends as well as night working. (Further information is available on request.
The successful candidate will be required to undergo a Disclosure Scotland check. Any candidate who has lived/worked overseas for more than 12 months in the preceding 5 years will also be required to provide a criminal record check from the appropriate overseas agency.
Location and Working Pattern:
The Jack Copland Centre, 52 Research Avenue North, Heriot-Watt Research Park, Edinburgh.
Monday to Sunday, 37.5 hours per week
It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with NSS.
Benefits:
Our benefits package includes pension scheme, comprehensive range of work life balance policies, occupational health services, learning resource centres and discounted leisure, financial and shopping benefits.
Further information:
For an informal discussion on the post, please contact Fiona Rooney; Components/Testing Hospital Services Manager at: [email protected]
Closing date for completed applications is Wednesday 5th April 2023
Further information on NSS is available from: www.nhsnss.org
Please note that the majority of correspondence is sent by e-mail only, so please check your e-mail regularly (including junk folders).
NHS National Services Scotland is an equal opportunities employer and as committed participant in the disability confident scheme, guarantees to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies
