Higher Level Support Worker (XR03)

Leeds Teaching Hospitals

The closing date is 26 November 2024

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the serology/molecular department within Microbiology at Leeds General Infirmary as a Higher Level Support Worker.

The successful applicant will join an established team as a key person, providing supervision of support staff and operating complex equipment to deliver testing services.

This is an excellent opportunity for entry into a fast paced NHS laboratory and the successful candidates will have chance to rotate into various roles across the department to develop a diverse portfolio of skills.

Applicants should possess A level/NVQ level 3 qualifications and have previous experience of working within a laboratory. On a personal level you will be enthusiastic and friendly and have good communication skills. You should be computer literate, being familiar with Telepath or other laboratory information systems and be familiar with the use of Microsoft office applications. You will need to be highly self motivated and able to work accurately with attention to detail.

Continuing professional and self-development will be encouraged, and you will be expected to undergo some in house training to attain competence within the laboratory.

Expected Shortlisting Date

27/11/2024

Planned Interview Date

04/12/2024

Main duties of the job

The role is within the serology and molecular section of the laboratory. You will work within a team of higher level biomedical support workers and biomedical support workers assisting the biomedical scientist team to deliver diagnostic services.

On a daily basis you will be responsible for supervising Biomedical Support Workers, performing the initial stages of sample receipt, sample processing and waste disposal. You will also be responsible for the routine maintenance and quality control of a range of analysers. You will be expected to contribute to the on-going quality improvement programme, and have a role in quality assurance, health & safety and document control.

About us

The department is currently located at the Old Medical School at Leeds General Infirmary processing in excess of one million samples per annum. The department uses a number of technologies to deliver the service such as; Hologic Panther, Panther Fusion, Siemens Centaur, Diasorin Liaison, Qiagen NeuMoDx & MDx, DS2, alongside other manual methodologies. The successful candidate will work in a busy diverse laboratory delivering services to one of the UKs largest teaching hospitals, to healthcare providers across the county & nationally. The service is accredited to UKAS ISO 15189.

The department is also the lead laboratory for UKHSA in the Yorkshire and Humber region and plays an important role in delivering Microbiology & Virology services to support this function. The Pathology department is now starting to embark on an exciting opportunity as the laboratory prepares to move to a new purpose built laboratory located at St James Hospital.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Date posted

05 November 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,071 to £25,674 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9298-PATH-379

Job locations

Leeds General Infirmary

Great George Street

Leeds

LS1 3EX

St. James's University Hospital

Beckett Street

Leeds

LS9 7TF

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job description

JOB PURPOSE

To be responsible for training and day to day supervision of Biomedical Support Workers within the section

To collect, receive and assist in the processing of clinical diagnostic specimens for testing

To undertake routine and more complex clinical technical investigations, following standard operating procedures, some of which may be under supervision

To communicate effectively with colleagues and other healthcare staff

JOB DIMENSIONS

As a Biomedical Support Worker Higher Level you will work as a member of the departmental team. As part of the team, you will be expected to perform a range of routine and more complex investigations some of which may be under the supervision of more experienced scientific and technical staff. You will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute towards the provision of an accurate and timely service for patients. You will be expected to apply professional judgements and specialist skills to technically complex and sometimes difficult situations, and how to work, often under pressure, either independently or as part of the team. Within the team you may be required to organise the tasks of support workers. You will be required to communicate information, often related to patient management and care, to colleagues, healthcare staff and other organisations.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

In order to carry out the job sufficiently and effectively you will have successfully studied to A-level standard, preferably in sciences or other equivalent qualification. You will develop your competencies and further your knowledge in all aspects of the speciality through practical experience, in house training and structured study subject to the requirements of continuous professional development (CPD). In addition, basic computer skills are essential to carry out your work.

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:

The beliefs and attitudes that underpin effective performance within the job role. Emphasis should be on the requirements of the role not the individual when completing this section. Examples might include: quality focus, mistakes are used as a continual learning experience, honesty, integrity etc.

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

CORE BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS

In order to work effectively in the role the job holder must be able to demonstrate a number of attributes. These abilities will include:

- to gain new knowledge through experience, formal study and participation in relevant training schemes

- to become an integral member of a team providing a clinical technical service

- to work independently when and as directed by supervisors

- to communicate clearly and effectively whether orally, graphically or electronically

- to plan the designated workload and assist in the organisation of tasks undertaken by support workers

- to work with precision and follow accurately the documented laboratory standard operating procedures

- to operate highly complex laboratory equipment safely and efficiently

- to input and extract 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:

- Carry out a range of basic and more 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 internal and external quality assurance schemes. Your level of knowledge and understanding will allow you to recognise when expected levels of quality have not been met.

- 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, breach of security, controlled and uncontrolled exposure to chemical, biological and radioactive materials.

- Maintain patient confidentiality. You will recognise 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

- To perform, sometimes under supervision, appropriate technical laboratory procedures and tasks that are consistent with the job holders level of knowledge, skills and experience.

- To develop your competences in the department and to perform tasks accurately and in accordance with departmental standard operating procedures.

- To participate in departmental research and development projects, audit processes and support appropriate clinical trials involving the laboratory

- To enter, manage and retrieve patient information using the laboratory computer system.

- To communicate accurately sensitive and complex information to users of the service in a manner that is in accordance with departmental procedures

- To demonstrate relevant job related tasks to new or more junior staff

- To actively participate in the laboratory quality assurance programme

- To contribute to general departmental management, for instance, by assisting in the ordering, receipt and control of consumables

This list is not exhaustive and the changing needs of the service from time to time may require the development of other appropriate tasks and skills. These will be fully discussed with the post holder in advance of their implementation.