Associate Practitioner

Job summary

The post holder will provide specialist complex technical support for the Welsh Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Service (WHAIS) which provides laboratory testing for renal and hemopoietic stem cell transplant programmes and for the platelet immunology service for thrombocytopenic patients.

The post holder will work in rotation in the Clinical Antibody Testing, Molecular Genetics and Patient Services Sections of the laboratory. The post holder will be required to maintain technical expertise and knowledge to support these services and the testing performed across each of the Sections.

The post holder will work in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers in Wales under the supervision of the laboratory's Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered Biomedical and Clinical Scientists.

The post is fixed term/secondment for 8 months to cover maternity leave.

If applying for secondment, you need permission from manager to apply as this is mandatory for all secondment posts.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work autonomously in accordance with defined policies and procedures referring to HCPC Registered Scientists as required.

The post holder will be responsible for managing and prioritising their own workload according to agreed parameters.

The post holder will assist in the preparation, processing, testing and analysis of patient and donor samples.

Receive, check sample suitability, validate identifiers and log samples into laboratory database, assigning tests required according to agreed profiles.

Prepare genomic DNA, serum and lymphocytes from blood and other sources for use in laboratory assays.

Provide Human Leucocyte Antigen (HLA) typing services for clinical diagnosis of patient and donor samples using a range of DNA-based techniques E.g. RT-PCR, NGS.

Perform clinical HLA-antibody screening and definition testing of patient samples using Luminex assays.

Perform flow cytometry testing to support patient diagnostic testing.

Prepare and dispense laboratory chemicals and reagents in accordance with laboratory usage and current/projected usage.

Interpret and assign individual test results in accordance with agreed criteria.

Assist in maintaining a programme of cleaning, decontamination and basic preventative maintenance of equipment and the completion of appropriate records.

Use specialist scientific equipment requiring a high degree of concentration, co-ordination accuracy and precision e.g. DNA sequencers, luminex analyser, flow cytometer.

About us

Here at Velindre University NHS Trust we are extremely proud of the specialist services we provide across the whole of Wales in our cutting-edge Velindre Cancer Centre and ouraward-winning Welsh Blood Service, as well as the expertise of our corporate functions that bring the two divisions together. We are also fortunate to host the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership and Health Technology Wales and have developed strong partnership working with these expert services.

Formed in 1999, the Trust has a dedicated workforce that continuously strives to provide the key principles of prudent healthcare through a wide array of roles. We play a vital role in the communities we support and have ambitious plans for the future to continue to improve the services we deliver. We strive to maintain our core values in everything we do by being; accountable, bold, caring and dynamic, and ensuring the best possible care for our patients and donors.

If you want to work for an organisation that prides itself on making a real difference and offers exciting career opportunities then Velindre University NHS Trust is the place for you.

Visit our website to find out more https://velindre.nhs.wales/