Job summary
Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust has an
exciting opportunityfor a Medical
Laboratory Assistant (band 2) to join our dynamic Cellular Pathology team at the Queen
Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth.
The Histopathology section of the Cellular Pathology
department processes over 40,000 specimens per year and plays an essential part
in supporting Cancer pathways for patients. The laboratory has full UKAS accreditation and is located within a
spacious, modern, purpose-built laboratory complex, which opened in August 2007.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to
join our dynamic, friendly laboratory team in providing a high quality, patient-
focussed service.
The MLA team provides essential
support to our Biomedical Scientists and Consultant Pathologists, assisting them
to prepare patient samples for diagnosis and maintain laboratory equipment and
functions. We are also embarking upon an exciting project to implement Digital
Pathology reporting which will require essential slide scanning support from the
MLA team.
The role is rewarding and
interesting, and is a great starting point for those wishing to gain experience
of working in a healthcare environment.
A visit to the department is
welcomed for more information please contact Priyen Patel, Histopathology
Operational Manager via priyen.patel@porthosp.nhs.uk
or call 02392 286000 ext 1775.
Main duties of the job
You will be working in a modern well equipped
department carrying out a wide range of tasks, which require attention to
detail with good hand-to-eye coordination and manual dexterity being essential.
You will assist with the receipt and processing of tissue samples and provide laboratory support to our team of senior Medical Laboratory Assistants, Associate Practitioners, Biomedical Scientists and Consultants. This involves data entry and requesting of patient cases, reagent changes and instrument maintenance, preparing and organising tissue blocks, filing of tissue blocks and microscopy slides, digital slide scanning, preparing specimens for sending away and archive maintenance.
This involves learning new techniques, as well as training to maintain analysers, manage archival material and quality control processes. You will be working with highly skilled Pathologists, assisting them while they analyse patient samples. The Histopathology department supports Cancer Services and works as a team to deliver a rapid, high quality cancer diagnostic service to the local population. This role provides a chance to be a part of this team and make a difference to the lives of thousands of patients each year.
About us
The Trust is committed to driving excellence in care for our patients and communities and was rated good by the Care Quality Commission report published 2020 and became a University Hospital. We are ranked as the third in the country for research; embedding education and training across the organisation and we continuously strive to achieve our core values which are at the heart of everything we do. The Trusts main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, starting life as a military hospital over a century ago and now one of the largest hospitals on the south coast and you may have seen us on the TV series Nurses on the Ward. The Trust provides comprehensive secondary care and specialist services to a local population of 675,000 people across South East Hampshire. The Trust employs over 8,000 staff and are #ProudtobePHU; our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not just because its the right thing to do, but because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for providing outstanding care and support for patients, colleagues and our community you will find a home at PHU. In recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in
terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender
identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veterans
status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Scientific
& Technical
- Maintain a safe and clean working environment., dispose of waste,
monitor basic laboratory equipment and prepare reagents.
- Assist
with pre-analytical preparation of clinical specimens according to
departmental policies and procedures.
- Defined
routine equipment maintenance procedures undertaken as scheduled.
- Undertake pre-analytical sample quality checks.
- Undertake post-analytic storage of clinical specimens and appropriate filing
or slides and paraffin wax tissue blocks to maintain well-ordered archives.
- To
ensure adequate supplies of in-use materials/reagents.
- Undertake the
retrieval and filing of stored specimens for additional work or for
multidisciplinary team meetings.
- Prepare
and load slides for digital scanning.
- Perform
routine maintenance on digital scanners and assist with troubleshooting.
- To
perform data entry on patient samples, inputting accurate data into a
departmental database.
- To
assist with the discard of tissue that has been deemed appropriate for safe
disposal.
- To
adhere to departmental SOPs at all times.
Communication & Relationships
- To respond to incoming telephone and email enquiries
in a helpful, polite and efficient manner.
- To contribute to sharing of good practice
within the department and across Pathology.
- To participate fully as a team member,
sharing knowledge and information, and supporting colleagues to promote a
cohesive team and the achievement of team objectives.
Administrative
- To ensure compliance with good work practices
required for the standards of UKAS.
- To assist in preparation and maintenance of
Standard Operating Procedures.
- To
train, develop and support the competence of other Medical Laboratory
Assistants if required.
- To participate in monitoring supplies of
reagents and consumables and assist in the ordering and receipting of stock,
informing senior staff when stocks are low and need to be replenished.
- To take receipt of laboratory consumables and
transfer to the appropriate storage conditions (ie room temperature, refrigeration
or freezing).
General
- To perform all duties to the best of the post
holders ability under conditions which are often stressful due to time constraints,
staffing levels and environmental condition.
- Maintain, update and develop personal and
professional knowledge and skills by participating in the Trust Annual Performance
Review system.
- Be familiar with all Health and Safety
policies of the Trust and Department to ensure a safe working environment is
maintained for employees and visitors.
- To cooperate with other departmental and
hospital staff to promote awareness of the professional image of Pathology
throughout the Trust.
Education & Training
- Participate in a structured departmental training
program to achieve required levels of competence in all assigned tasks.
Information Resources- Enter patient, test
and clinical information onto the laboratory information management system
(LIMS) in an accurate and timely manner (frequent periods of high
concentration).
- Work under the principles
of GDPR and NHS Information Governance to ensure patient confidentiality is
maintained at all times.
Research & Development
- Under direction, participate in the delivery or
research, development and audit projects.
Freedom to Act
- To
work under indirect supervision with access to senior members of staff when
required.
- To
be able to organise own day-to-day work tasks within parameters.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Scientific
& Technical
- Maintain a safe and clean working environment., dispose of waste,
monitor basic laboratory equipment and prepare reagents.
- Assist
with pre-analytical preparation of clinical specimens according to
departmental policies and procedures.
- Defined
routine equipment maintenance procedures undertaken as scheduled.
- Undertake pre-analytical sample quality checks.
- Undertake post-analytic storage of clinical specimens and appropriate filing
or slides and paraffin wax tissue blocks to maintain well-ordered archives.
- To
ensure adequate supplies of in-use materials/reagents.
- Undertake the
retrieval and filing of stored specimens for additional work or for
multidisciplinary team meetings.
- Prepare
and load slides for digital scanning.
- Perform
routine maintenance on digital scanners and assist with troubleshooting.
- To
perform data entry on patient samples, inputting accurate data into a
departmental database.
- To
assist with the discard of tissue that has been deemed appropriate for safe
disposal.
- To
adhere to departmental SOPs at all times.
Communication & Relationships
- To respond to incoming telephone and email enquiries
in a helpful, polite and efficient manner.
- To contribute to sharing of good practice
within the department and across Pathology.
- To participate fully as a team member,
sharing knowledge and information, and supporting colleagues to promote a
cohesive team and the achievement of team objectives.
Administrative
- To ensure compliance with good work practices
required for the standards of UKAS.
- To assist in preparation and maintenance of
Standard Operating Procedures.
- To
train, develop and support the competence of other Medical Laboratory
Assistants if required.
- To participate in monitoring supplies of
reagents and consumables and assist in the ordering and receipting of stock,
informing senior staff when stocks are low and need to be replenished.
- To take receipt of laboratory consumables and
transfer to the appropriate storage conditions (ie room temperature, refrigeration
or freezing).
General
- To perform all duties to the best of the post
holders ability under conditions which are often stressful due to time constraints,
staffing levels and environmental condition.
- Maintain, update and develop personal and
professional knowledge and skills by participating in the Trust Annual Performance
Review system.
- Be familiar with all Health and Safety
policies of the Trust and Department to ensure a safe working environment is
maintained for employees and visitors.
- To cooperate with other departmental and
hospital staff to promote awareness of the professional image of Pathology
throughout the Trust.
Education & Training
- Participate in a structured departmental training
program to achieve required levels of competence in all assigned tasks.
Information Resources- Enter patient, test
and clinical information onto the laboratory information management system
(LIMS) in an accurate and timely manner (frequent periods of high
concentration).
- Work under the principles
of GDPR and NHS Information Governance to ensure patient confidentiality is
maintained at all times.
Research & Development
- Under direction, participate in the delivery or
research, development and audit projects.
Freedom to Act
- To
work under indirect supervision with access to senior members of staff when
required.
- To
be able to organise own day-to-day work tasks within parameters.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Sound education including GCSEs in English and Mathematics or equivalent.
Desirable
- GCSE in Science (either Biology, Chemistry or Combined Science) or equivalent.
- BTEC or NVQ 2 (Pathology Support) or equivalent.
Experience
Essential
- Experience with electronic handling of data and keyboard skills.
Desirable
- Previous laboratory experience.
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Evidence of ability to work using own initiative and without direct supervision.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Demonstration of manual dexterity through previous employment/interests.
- Demonstration of excellent numeracy skills through previous experience or employment.
- Good hand-eye coordination.
- Conscientious, methodical approach to duties with attention to detail.
- Demonstration of good interpersonal skills.
Personal Qualities
Essential
- An understanding of the political sensitivities of the Trust
- Ability to demonstrate confidentiality and trustworthiness.
- A willingness to be flexible and part of a team.
- Ability to demonstrate a high degree of concentration and attention to detail
- Deal calmly and politely with members of hospital staff who are working in areas of extreme pressure
- Ability to juggle many priorities at one time, whilst remaining calm.
- Prepared to handle clinical samples.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Sound education including GCSEs in English and Mathematics or equivalent.
Desirable
- GCSE in Science (either Biology, Chemistry or Combined Science) or equivalent.
- BTEC or NVQ 2 (Pathology Support) or equivalent.
Experience
Essential
- Experience with electronic handling of data and keyboard skills.
Desirable
- Previous laboratory experience.
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Evidence of ability to work using own initiative and without direct supervision.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Demonstration of manual dexterity through previous employment/interests.
- Demonstration of excellent numeracy skills through previous experience or employment.
- Good hand-eye coordination.
- Conscientious, methodical approach to duties with attention to detail.
- Demonstration of good interpersonal skills.
Personal Qualities
Essential
- An understanding of the political sensitivities of the Trust
- Ability to demonstrate confidentiality and trustworthiness.
- A willingness to be flexible and part of a team.
- Ability to demonstrate a high degree of concentration and attention to detail
- Deal calmly and politely with members of hospital staff who are working in areas of extreme pressure
- Ability to juggle many priorities at one time, whilst remaining calm.
- Prepared to handle clinical samples.
