Veterinary Laboratory Technician

Job description
If you are a current Linnaeus Associate, you will need to apply internally. In order to do this, please contact our Talent Acquisition team (details can be found via The Link) and someone will be in touch to discuss and progress your application.

North Downs Specialist Referrals is one of the longest established veterinary referral hospitals in the UK. We have a strong team ethos and promote a good work life balance. The hospital is purpose built and situated in an attractive, rural and sought-after part of Surrey, within easy access of Gatwick and Heathrow airports and 30 minutes from Central London by train.

We have a team of 34 Specialist Clinicians and 70+ Registered Veterinary Nurses and a large clinical and non-clinical support team.

We wish to recruit a Laboratory Technician, to take sole charge of our onsite laboratory. This is a permanent full-time position working 40h per week.

The role will involve
• processing in house samples
• preparing and packing samples to be sent to external laboratories and
• reporting all results in a timely manner to the correct department.

Process all lab samples including:
• Urinalysis
• Blood tests
• Prepare tissue samples for dispatch to external laboratories
• Ensure all reports are communicated to the clinician and recorded on the patients record.
• Train new members of the clinical team on lab SOP’s.

The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent organisational and processing skills. Lab experience is beneficial and full training will be given.

Tasks will include:
• Set up blood processing machines
• Quality check blood processing machines
• Ensure all patient and client data is recorded correctly
• Ensure the reports are sent to the clinician in a timely manner.
• Ensure maintenance of machines is optimal, reporting to the facilities manager regarding any faults or service needs
• Ensure samples for external laboratories are packaged appropriately and dispatched at the correct time
• Ensure the clinical team are informed, if a machine is unavailable for analysis
• Ensure the clinical team are aware, if there is a delay in the courier collection of the samples
• Liaise with external laboratories
• Maintain appropriate H&S regarding chemical handling, ensuring appropriate PPE is used
• Ensure optimum stock levels are maintained
• Maintain infection control policies
• Maintain optimum stock of Feline and Canine Blood products, ensuring date of expiry is noted
• Ensure new nursing team members and interns are trained sufficiently in lab to enable processing.

Benefits include:
• 5 weeks holiday + bank holidays + Birthday Leave
• Extensive free online Linnaeus CPD program
• Staff discount schemes
• Life Assurance
• Enhanced sickness pay
• Enhanced equal family leave
• E-car salary sacrifice scheme
• Employer contribution pension scheme
• Wellness program including:
• Employee assistance program
• Eyecare voucher scheme
• Free annual Flu jab
• Cycle to work scheme
• Recruitment referral reward scheme.

About Us:

North Downs Specialist Referrals are an internationally acknowledged referral centre of excellence for specialist veterinary care. Our RCVS accredited practice offers access to one of the largest groups of veterinary specialists within the UK and Europe. We are continuously aiming to provide the highest standards of medical and surgical care for our patients within a caring and compassionate environment. 

Our team consists of over 60 Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVN) and 31 recognised specialists in surgery, internal medicine, ophthalmology, oncology, neurology, cardiology, dentistry, diagnostic imaging and anaesthesia.

North Downs Specialist Referrals is part of Linnaeus and Mars Veterinary Health, the largest family-owned veterinary company in the world. Being privately owned, we can truly be driven by our purpose, to create a better world, and think long-term as opposed to being focused solely on short-term profits.

At Linnaeus, A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS starts with a better world for our people. Our Associates are over 6000 strong and empowered to speak up, step up and deliver quality services. You’ll have access to a huge network of specialists, worldwide development opportunities and an easily accessible, comprehensive wellbeing package that prioritises your physical and mental health, allowing you to focus on what you do best – care for pets.

We are committed to fostering a culture that is inclusive and diverse, we care about you and want you to be authentic, with everything you need to perform at your best. We are all individual but two important things bring us together: a commitment to excellence and our passion to achieve our purpose.

All applications with the relevant skills and qualifications will be carefully considered. If you need any support in completing your application or simply want to find out more about NDSR, Linnaeus or the role please contact our Talent Acquisition team at sofia.thackray@linnaeusgroup.co.uk

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