Associate Practitioner - Microbiology | East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
| Posting date: | 24 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £26,530 - £29,114 per annum pro rata |
| Hours: | Part time |
| Closing date: | 26 March 2026 |
| Location: | Colchester, CO4 5JL |
| Company: | Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust |
| Job type: | Apprenticeship |
| Job reference: | 7828351/432-HR1315-25 |
Summary
We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated individuals who are professional, reliable, innovative and flexible to join our friendly team in our Microbiology Laboratory at Colchester Hospital.
Our vision is to deliver innovations and high-performing pathology services that are focused on our customers whilst delivering high quality and fully compliant services. We are clinically led and designed to achieve the benefits of scale that can be achieved by working together, while remaining close enough to our customers to meet their needs and support the excellent clinical care provided by our hospitals.
Training will be provided however extensive knowledge of pathology would be advantageous. If you do not meet the full specifications for the Band 4 post, you will be offered a Band 3 developmental post whilst you undergo training and competencies.
These posts will involve shift and weekend working and we are happy to consider full and part time.
We are looking for a healthcare professional who can understand the changing services of pathology and represent the new service going forward.
Our pathology department is part of the collaborative East Coast Pathology Network (see attached document)
About our Pathology Service
The nature of this role requires extensive team working, self-management and an advanced knowledge of Specimen Reception. Training and developing others, leadership and processing referral work are key components of the role.
You will undertake cross training to extend your skillset and will need to be flexible to respond to the needs of the service. You will work as part of a team and need the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines. The role requires a high level of accuracy and attention to detail. Along with good communication skills you will need integrity and personal credibility, putting the patient first in everything that is undertaken.
We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients’ own homes.
We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.
We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.
Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.
Our philosophy is thatTime Mattersto everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.
We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.
Find out about living and working here -www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A
For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.
This advert closes on Tuesday 10 Mar 2026