Associate Practitioner – Point of Care Testing (POCT) – Band 4

Location: x1 Vacancy: Altnagelvin, x1 Vacancy: Enniskillen

Salary: Band 4

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Duration: Temporary, Full-Time

Application Deadline: 12pm Mon 26th October 2026.

Apple Recruitment Services are delighted to be recruiting two Associate Practitioners in Point of Care Testing (POCT) within the Pathology Department of our public sector healthcare client. One position is based at Altnagelvin and Enniskillen.

Key Duties

• Provide technical support to the Point of Care Testing team and clinical service users across hospital sites.
• Assist in the safe, reliable and continuous operation of POCT equipment through routine maintenance, troubleshooting and monitoring.
• Train nursing, medical and laboratory staff in the safe and competent use of POCT devices, including presentations and practical training sessions.
• Maintain equipment logs, registers, standard operating procedures, maintenance schedules, databases, asset registers and training records.
• Distribute external quality assurance (EQA) samples, collate data and assist with the reporting of EQA results.
• Participate in quality management activities within POCT and Pathology, including departmental and ward audits.
• Assess the performance and reliability of POCT equipment and identify faults or failures, escalating concerns to the relevant specialist.
• Remove unsafe or suspect equipment from use where necessary and identify issues relating to user competency.
• Assist with the maintenance and repair of technical equipment, including complex analysers such as blood gas analysers, following appropriate training.
• Help maintain adequate stocks of POCT consumables across hospital sites.
• Liaise with equipment suppliers regarding consumables, equipment faults, breakdowns and servicing.
• Monitor staff competency, maintain training records, issue training certificates and support the authorisation of trained equipment users.
• Assist with staff induction, mandatory clinical updates and additional training as required.
• Support the maintenance of relevant quality standards and compliance with departmental policies and procedures.
• Travel between hospital sites as required, sometimes at short notice.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and comply with health and safety, infection prevention and control procedures.

Essential Criteria

Applicants must meet one of the following qualification and experience combinations:

• Possess 5 GCSEs at grades A–C, including English Language and one science subject (or equivalent), plus 2 A Levels (or equivalent), one of which must be a science subject, and 1 year’s laboratory experience in a scientific, technical or support worker role, or 1 year’s experience working in a clinical setting.

OR

• Possess an NVQ Level 3 in a science-related subject or BTEC National Diploma, plus 1 year’s laboratory experience in a scientific, technical or support worker role, or 1 year’s experience working in a clinical setting.

OR

• Have a minimum of 4 years’ laboratory experience in a scientific, technical or support worker role, or 4 years’ experience working in a clinical setting.

In addition, applicants must demonstrate the following essential skills and abilities:

• Knowledge of laboratory quality standards.
• Knowledge of the role of Point of Care Testing within the healthcare system.
• Aptitude for figures and IT systems, with good keyboard skills and knowledge of Microsoft Office, databases and spreadsheets.
• Experience using technical equipment.
• Knowledge of health and safety issues.
• Ability to travel between hospital sites as and when required.
• Willingness to participate in a weekend and bank holiday rota.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Ability to use initiative and organise their own workload.
• Clear and effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• A positive, patient-focused attitude.
• Ability to work under pressure and solve problems.
• Reliability.

Applicants must also hold a current full driving licence valid for use in the UK and have access to a car from the start date.

Desirable Criteria

• Previous experience working with Point of Care Testing (POCT) equipment.

How to Apply

If you wish to apply for this position, please email your CV to Darcie at darcie.donohoe@applerecruitment.com

All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Apple Recruitment Services is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy. Apple Recruitment Services is an Equal Opportunities Employer.