Job responsibilities
JOB
DIMENSIONS
As a qualified associate
practitioner you will be a fully competent member of the departmental team.
You will hold the Association of
Biomedical Andrologist Certificate in Diagnostic Semen Analysis (Module 1) or
equivalent
You will be expected to deal with
patients in a courteous and sensitive manner, ensuring their dignity at all
times
You will be expected to perform a
number of routine and more complex tasks either independently or under the
supervision of Biomedical Scientists and will contribute to the provision of
an accurate and timely service for patients.
You will be expected to apply
professional judgements and specialist skills to complex situations
Within the team you may be required
to organise the tasks of support workersYou will be required to communicate
complex information often related to patient management and care to
colleagues, healthcare staff, and other organisations.
KNOWLEDGE,
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
You will hold the Association of
Biomedical Andrologist Certificate in Diagnostic Semen Analysis (Module 1) or
equivalent
You will have developed a range of
competencies and specialist knowledge in all aspects of Andrology. This will
be acquired through successfully completing the ABA module 1 logbook in
Diagnostic Semen Analysis or equivalent, practical experience, in-house
training and structured study, and attending relevant courses as necessary.
You will have developed a range of
competencies and specialist knowledge in appropriate sections of the
Histopathology laboratory
There is a requirement to regular
participate in Internal Quality Control assessments and External Quality
Assurance
Basic computer skills are
essential.
In
contributing to the quality of the technical clinical service you will
understand the requirement to continuously develop appropriate skills and
accumulate relevant knowledge whether by formal or in- house training.
CORE
BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS
In
order to work effectively in the role, the jobholder must be able to
demonstrate a number of attributes. These will include:
To gain new knowledge through
experience, formal study and participation in relevant training schemes
To become an integral member of the
team providing a clinical technical service
To work independently when and as
required by the service
To communicate clearly and
effectively whether orally, graphically or electronically
To prioritise the designated
workload and assist in the organisation of tasks undertaken by support
workers in specific sections of the laboratory
To work with precision and follow
accurately the documented laboratory standard operating procedures
To operate highly complex
laboratory equipment safely and efficiently
To analyse semen samples for
infertility testing and PVSA
To input, extract and interpret
patient data from the laboratory computer system
To demonstrate relevant tasks to
others as appropriate
To contribute actively towards the
improvement of service quality by participation in relevant discussions with
other team members
To remain competent in established
procedures and to develop new skills as experience is accrued
To participate actively in the
departmental appraisal scheme
To take account of changes in
service delivery by demonstrating a flexible approach to work
CORE
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
As
the job holder you will acquire sufficient knowledge and understanding to:
Perform a range of complex
technical procedures. This will include instruction in the safe and effective
use of highly complex laboratory equipment. You will understand the need to
report adverse events in the event of errors and failures.
Participate actively in
departmental and external quality assurance schemes.
Participate in the maintenance of a
safe working environment. This will include an awareness of the hazards
associated with your work. In addition you will be made aware of any suitable
actions to take in the event of breaches in health and safety. Such hazards
include fire, manual handling, breaches of security, controlled and
uncontrolled exposure to chemical, biological and radioactive materials.
Maintain patient confidentiality.
You will recognize the absolute requirement to protect sensitive information
that is related to patient care.
Observe the requirements of
departmental policies relating to service provision, for example sample
labelling and adverse event reporting.
PRINCIPAL
DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Meet with patients and partners to
take receipt of semen samples requiring diagnostic semen analysis
(infertility testing) or post vasectomy semen analysis, ensuring that any
problems are handled and communicated in a sensitive manner, whilst
maintaining patient confidentiality.
Sample identification and numbering
of samples including investigation of missing / lost or mislabelled samples.
Preparation of samples for
processing, including use of centrifuges.
Entry of patient & specimen
data onto laboratory data systems. To assist in the collection of quality
data as required.
The processing of semen specimens
under the indirect supervision of a qualified Biomedical Scientist (BMS)
Use a microscope, to undertake
subjective analytical screening of seminal fluid samples to current WHO and
ABA standards. This will include initial macroscopic identification of semen
abnormalities, motility counts, concentration counts, morphology analysis,
screening PVSA samples for presence or absence of spermatozoa and any
subsequent test that may be taken on by the laboratory as recommended in the
future by the WHO or the ABA.
The post holder will have
responsibility, where circumstances dictate, to request retests of samples,
to analyse the samples and produce test reports which inform future diagnosis
and clinical pathways.
Be the named person on reports
responsible for both infertility and PVSA test results
To check and authorise PVSA reports
and certain infertility reports
To undertake routine and more
complex clinical technical investigations, in appropriate sections of the
Histopathology Laboratory eg pre-cassetted cut-ups, processing, embedding,
sectioning, automated special stains, antibody preparation,
To demonstrate relevant job related
tasks to new or more junior staff
Use of laboratory equipment, for
example staining machines, use of calibrated equipment to make accurate
measurements etc as appropriate.
Record keeping, including recording
the temperatures of refrigerators, freezers, water baths, incubators etc.
where appropriate.
Equipment checks, including
periodic maintenance and checking of equipment such as calibrated pipettes,
and staining machines ensuring that they meet laboratory standards.
The post holder will be responsible
for assisting in the review of Departmental working procedures and
proactively proposing changes to improve the effectiveness of the department
and services to its users.
Stock management, including the recording
of reagent stocks as they are delivered into the laboratory, and advising
appropriate personnel when stock levels are low.
Chemical reagent preparation and
replacement as appropriate to the department.
Dealing with telephone enquiries
and appointments, when relevant. To provide advice to patients and service
users on patient preparation requirements prior to sample provision.
Filing of laboratory requests,
completed samples or microscope slides, and laboratory reports from reference
laboratories.
to enter, manage, retrieve and
interpret complex patient information using the current LIMS system
To perform, appropriate technical
laboratory procedures and tasks that are consistent with the jobholders
levels of knowledge, skills and experience.
To perform tasks accurately and in
accordance with the departmental standard operating procedures.
To communicate accurately,
sensitive and/or highly complex information to users of the service in a
manner that is in accordance with departmental procedures
To participate actively in the
laboratory quality assurance programme.
To Participate in the External
Quality Assessment Schemes which the laboratory is enrolled on
Participate in the laboratory audit
processes and risk assessments.
This
list is not exhaustive and the changing needs of the service may from time to
time require the development of other appropriate tasks and skills. These
will be discussed with the post holder in advance of their implementation.
