Advanced Laboratory Support Worker | Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
| Posting date: | 11 April 2024 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £22,816 - £24,336 per annum/pro rata |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 11 May 2024 |
| Location: | Oxford, OX3 9DU |
| Company: | Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 6194747/321-CSS-6194747-B3 |
Summary
The Microbiology Department is based at the John Radcliffe Hospital and provide services to the Oxford University Hospitals NHSFT, primary care, South 4 Pathology Partnership, other NHS providers, private care, UKHSA and research trials.
The department undertakes bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, serology, and molecular microbiology; as well as high-throughput SARS-COV-2 testing. The successful candidate will be expected to rotate in all required sections of the department.
The laboratory is a 24/7 service and successful applicants will participate in working day, evenings, night, weekend & bank holiday sessions. The post is full time, average working hours over the shift pattern 37.5 hours.
The post holder will act as a Band 3 Advanced Laboratory Support Worker working within a busy Microbiology department. You will be enthusiastic and well-motivated, with good communication and attention to detail. You will undertake required duties to support the microbiology team in the service delivery and the pre-analytical processing of samples received. The post holder will be required to enter patient and specimen data accurately on the Laboratory IT system, receive and process samples, both manual and automated processes. You will deal with sample reception queries, stock control, waste management and other housekeeping duties related to the department.
Applicants should ideally have 12 months experience working in an NHS diagnostic laboratory as a Band 2, or experience of practical work in a laboratory environment. The post holder should hold a Level 2 BTEC Apprenticeship in Healthcare Science, or QCF Level 3 in Pathology Support or equivalent science qualification at QCF Level 2 / 3. NOTE: this post is not a trainee BMS position.
Successful candidates must be conscientious, enthusiastic, and able to work well as a team, as well as individually. You will be required to demonstrate competence and able to work as an autonomous practitioner to participation in all shift patterns required for the service delivery.
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trustis one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. Find out more here www.ouh.nhs.uk
The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.
Main Purpose of the Post:
• The post-holder will assist in the provision of an efficient and smooth running service within the Department by following the departmental SOP (Standard Operating Procedures) and protocols throughout all sections of the department.
• The post-holder will be mainly involved in the reception and sorting of specimens, routine processing of specimens and associated tasks, input of patient information onto the laboratory computer, disposal of infected material and preparation of reagents.
• The work may include some weekend and evening or night duties, which requires a flexible approach to the hours of employment, according to individual contract.
PRINCIPLE RESPONSIBILITIES
SCIENTIFIC & CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES
• Accepts a full range of clinical samples into the department, working with staff within the hospital and operating the air tube system and specimen hoist. Occasional use of stairs may be required for this purpose.
• Assesses samples for urgency and sorts by laboratory section.
• Matches samples and request forms and assigns unique laboratory numbers, requiring complete accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ensures that samples meet acceptance criteria for testing and dealing with any non-compliance in accordance with departmental protocols. Is aware of appropriate sample type for all tests.
• Is responsible for data entry into the laboratory computer system, requiring complete accuracy and attention to detail.
• Is fully conversant with relevant departmental policies and Standard Operating Procedures, ensuring that personal performance complies with ISO 15189-2012 standards.
• Under the supervision of Biomedical Scientists (BMS) staff ensures the validity of results by the use of appropriate control materials and takes the appropriate action with regard to anomalous results.
• Carries out simple maintenance and fault-finding procedures on automated, expensive (in the region of £50,000-£100,000) equipment.
• Works in cooperation with BMS staff to ensure workload is processed in a timely and efficient manner.
• Performs telephone duties that include making and receiving calls from and to the laboratory, verbally transmitting confidential results and conveying sensitive information to healthcare professionals, patients and their representatives.
• Participates in the preparation of disinfectants and reagents in accordance with SOPs and Health and Safety requirements.
• To be capable of occasional heavy lifting (up to 20 kg) e.g. disposable waste or boxes of new supplies.
ANALYTICAL & INTERPRETATION RESPONSIBILITIES
• Performs a variety of manual laboratory procedures under the direct supervision of qualified BMS staff. Procedures include the setting up of tests and pre-analytical sample preparation, including centrifugation, aliquotting and plating out.
• Under the supervision of qualified BMS staff conducts analysis of specimens, assessing the process and outcomes of investigations in line with quality control criteria and SOPs and reports any findings in the appropriate format to those who need them as laid out in departmental SOPs
ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES
• Works to achieve competencies across the repertoire of the department as appropriate to grade.
• Effective communication of information about specimens and test results with other staff groups both internal and external. To include healthcare professionals, patient representatives and commercial suppliers.
• Receives sensitive information from patients and their representatives where empathic skills are required.
• Displays and maintains an appropriate level of IT skills, in order to input patient and request data, maintain and amend patient records and interrogate the laboratory and hospital databases.
• Performs a range of administrative tasks in all sections of the laboratory as required. This includes archiving and retrieval of specimens and data, maintenance of archived material and collection of data for audits.
• Ensures efficient use of resources and is aware of stock levels and rotation, storage conditions, batch numbers and expiry dates.
• Ensures appropriate stock levels are maintained in own area of operation, this may include issuing stock to external departments and ordering stock from external suppliers under supervision.
• Maintains a clean and safe working environment through good housekeeping practices including the preparation of laboratory disinfectants. This may include disposal of clinical waste, autoclaving, decontamination of work areas.
• Is aware of Clinical Governance, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) and local Health and Safety polices, reporting problems, errors or breaches to the senior staff.
• Despatches biological samples to referral centres. Ensures that sample packaging is compliant with SOP guidelines.
• Solves day-to-day problems e.g. mislabelled and lost specimens.
• Provides training support and assistance to Support Workers, Trainee BMS and BMS staff. Includes the explanation and demonstration of procedures.
Other Responsibilities
• Demonstrates excellent personal communication and team working skills.
• Complies with the requirement to practice within data protection and confidentiality guidelines.
• Works to ensure that departmental performance targets are met by continually assessing priority of work.
• Attends departmental and Trust-wide staff meetings as appropriate.
• Attends regular appraisal, maintains competence levels within the Department and assists in own personal and professional development
• Maintains good work relations with all members of staff and to promote effective team working.
• Treats everyone associated with the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with courtesy and respect.
• Demonstrates and promotes the OUH NHSFT core values and behaviours
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
• To be aware of the inherent risks of the work and to take appropriate precautions at all times, reporting to the Head Biomedical Scientist or Safety Officer any potential hazards.
• Abide by current policies and procedures defined by the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and/or the Pathology Risk Management Team and to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act.
• Any matters of a confidential nature, including information relating to the diagnosis and treatment of patients, individual staff records must, under no circumstances, be divulged to any unauthorised person or persons.
• Demonstrates and promotes the OUH NHSFT core values and behaviours
Your attention is drawn to the confidential aspects of the post. Any matters of a confidential nature, including information relating to the diagnosis and treatment of patients, individual staff records and details of contract prices and terms must, under no circumstances, be divulged to any unauthorised person or persons. Breaches of confidence will result in disciplinary action, which may result in dismissal. You should also be aware that, regardless of any disciplinary action taken, a breach of confidence could also result in a civil action for damages.
This advert closes on Thursday 25 Apr 2024
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