Job responsibilities
PRINCIPAL
DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Provides
technical and scientific expertise
Uses a broad range of theoretical, practical and technical knowledge that is
often specialised.
Applies theoretical and practical knowledge and experience to solve often
complex problems.
Plans and manages their own workload in response to the demands of the
Service.
Plans and undertakes a range of routine and complex tests using standard
operating procedures.
Analyses and records test results and makes decisions about the quality of
results.
Manages and uses highly complex laboratory equipment and reagents and is
responsible for training others.
Suggests, develops and implements new procedures and equipment in
collaboration with more senior technical colleagues.
Assist in research and development projects.
Plans and undertakes troubleshooting and process optimisation in
collaboration with more senior technical colleagues.
Writes routine diagnostic reports for a defined set of disorders.
May check and authorise a defined subset of reports when deemed competent.
Helps implement regulatory guidance and standards within the Service.
May provide basic supervision and support to more junior members of the
laboratory.
Works
independently in accordance with relevant policies, protocols and procedures.
MAIN
DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
Ensure that the laboratory testing
workload is delivered to meet contracted times for patient reports.
Plan their own workload and help
supervise the work of more junior members of the technical team.
Work in close collaboration with
Biomedical Scientist and the Team Lead Biomedical Scientist
Participate in rotas and work
allocation to ensure that there is sufficient Technical staff for the
Service.
Maintain computerised records of
analyses undertaken and the results of investigations using the laboratory
database.
Access appropriate on-line software
and databases to facilitate data analysis.
Work safely with toxic substances
hazardous to health and help promote safe working practices within the
Service.
Maintain an accurate record of all
work undertaken and preserve the confidentiality of the patient and any
associated clinical information and potentially sensitive results of semen
analysis.
Access appropriate software and
databases to facilitate data analysis.
Compile routine normal and abnormal
patient reports
Check and authorise patient reports
once deemed competent.
Undertake rotation into other areas
of Service as required.
Maintain service and oversee the
use of highly specialised laboratory equipment used in diagnostic testing.
Provide detailed technical advice
on the correct and appropriate use of laboratory equipment.
Liaise with representatives from
suppliers of laboratory equipment and reagents.
Plan and undertake troubleshooting
to rectify technical problems with equipment or processes in collaboration
with a Senior Practitioner.
Assist in research and development
activities.
Participate in the training and
supervision of junior staff members.
Provide scientific and technical
advice to other healthcare science colleagues.
Participate in audit and IQC and
EQA activity in collaboration with the Quality Manager.
Write and review Standard Operating
Procedures as directed by the Quality Manager.
Take part in Continuing
Professional Development activities (e.g. attending directorate seminars,
journal clubs, attending local/national meetings and conferences, periodic
literature reviews and hospital training sessions) to acquire new knowledge
and skills for service and personal development.
Follow Health and Safety and COSHH
regulations, protocols and policies of the laboratory.
Undertake further training as
directed by the Laboratory Training Officer and Andrology Team Lead
Biomedical Scientist
THE
LEEDS WAY VALUES
Our
values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this
as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our
staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are:
Patient-centred
Collaborative
Fair
Accountable
Empowered
All
our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values.
Additionally,
the following are core values which relate specifically to this post:
Honesty
Integrity
Reliable
Confidentiality
Commitment to self-development
Support and value others
Uses mistakes as a continual
learning experience
WEST
YORKSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF ACUTE TRUSTS (WYAAT)
Leeds
Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is part of the West Yorkshire Association of
Acute Trusts (WYAAT), a collaborative of the NHS hospital trusts from across
West Yorkshire and Harrogate working together to provide the best possible
care for our patients.
By
bringing together the wide range of skills and expertise across West
Yorkshire and Harrogate we are working differently, innovating and driving
forward change to deliver the highest quality care. By working for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS
Trust this is your opportunity to be a part of that change.
WYAAT
is the acute sector arm of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care
Partnership, one of the largest integrated care systems in the country. The
Partnerships ambition is for everyone to have the best possible health and
wellbeing, and the work of WYAAT, and each individual trust, supports that
ambition.
INFECTION
CONTROL
The
jobholder must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS
Trust Infection Control policies, in particular by practising Universal
Infection Control Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before and
after contact with patients and their environment.
HEALTH
AND SAFETY / RISK MANAGEMENT
All
staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and
improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service
users. This includes complying at all
times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Policies, including Health
and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed security and safer
working procedures, and reporting incidents using the Trust Incident
Reporting system
EQUALITY
AND DIVERSITY
The
jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure
equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the
individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patient
or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender,
ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.
TRAINING
AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The
jobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for
his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional
Development remains a priority. The
jobholder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role.
COMMUNICATION
& WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
As
the jobholder you will communicate and work directly or indirectly with a
diverse range of other staff. Those shown below are examples:
Internal
- Junior staff, colleagues,
supervisors and managers within the speciality.
- Senior pathology staff working in
other specialities
- Members of clinical teams, including
doctors, nurses and other practitioners
- Administrative and secretarial
staff
- Estates and facilities staff
External
- Staff in primary care facilities
- Staff in hospitals
- Staff in non NHS organizations
- Patients
- Patients' relatives/friends
SPECIAL
WORKING CONDITIONS
i)
PHYSICAL EFFORT:
This
job requires a high degree of dexterity and precision when manipulating small
tools such as pipettes, handling very small volumes of clinical material or
when preparing microscope slides for examination. In order to achieve the
required turnaround times, for instance when working as a team member in an
acute laboratory area, rapid results are required. This work is unpredictable
and will require the job holder to plan, prioritise and analyse these samples,
working with both speed and accuracy.
These
tasks are repetitive and may involve the job holder standing at equipment or
sitting at the laboratory bench for extended periods.
This
job may require the holder to participate in stock control, including movement
of goods from the point of delivery to the point of storage. This will
require occasional movement of light and moderate loads up to 15kg.
There
is normally no requirement to lift people.
ii) MENTAL EFFORT:
As
a general requirement of this job, the holder will be expected to carry out a
number of clinical technical investigations where concentration is required.
These periods of concentration will be daily, for instance when performing
microscopy techniques or processing clinical samples.
The
job holder is expected to operate highly complex laboratory equipment. This
task requires concentration so that positive patient identification and
personal safety are maintained and equipment is not damaged.
There
is no requirement for the job holder to drive a vehicle
iii)
EMOTIONAL EFFORT:
In
certain circumstances the nature of this work can be distressing and
emotional when dealing with patients and their relatives.
Occasional
exposure to verbally aggressive patients
iv)
WORKING CONDITIONS:
The
job holder will be required to work with chemical and biological materials
such as blood, other body fluids, body tissue and faeces. The working
environment in a clinical laboratory is strictly controlled and under normal
circumstances these hazards are contained. There will be occasional exposure
to uncontrolled chemical and biological hazard after spillage or leakage.
