Paediatric Outpatients Care Assistant and Phlebotomist

This role supports high‑quality care for children and families in the paediatric outpatient department. As a trained phlebotomist, you will help deliver an efficient phlebotomy service while assisting the nursing team with tasks such as preparing patients for appointments, taking weights and heights, performing observations and ECGs, and acting as a chaperone when needed. Accurate documentation is essential.

You will work independently and liaise with clinicians, laboratory staff, and other healthcare professionals. While mainly based in outpatients, you may also support paediatric patients in other hospital areas. The role involves handling biological samples, including those from high‑risk or isolation patients, and requires adherence to all relevant policies and procedures, escalating concerns when appropriate.

Flexibility is important, as some shift or weekend work may be required.

• To be fully competent in all aspects of paediatric venepuncture and practice different approaches to the technique maintaining competency levels through annual reassessment protocols.
• Acting as the first point of contact for routine day-to day Phlebotomy queries and issues relating to their team. Using judgement to decide upon appropriate course of action and where necessary escalating these to the Service Manager / Paediatric outpatients sister / charge nurse for resolution.

To take samples for procedures such as glucose tolerance testing etc. and where fasting samples are required ensure appointments are offered for the early morning.

To assist in training of health care professionals in phlebotomy.

To carry out routine stock taking and monitor stock levels.

To act as receptionist in the Patient Waiting Area and help with patient enquiries when required.

To deliver high quality care to patients within the clinical setting and/or the ward environment .

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Olivia Zielinska Job title: CAU and Virtual Ward Manager Email address: olivia.zielinska@bedfordhospital.nhs.uk Telephone number: 01234 792204