Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and suitably qualified Senior Healthcare Science Assistant to join the Blood Sciences Laboratory. We currently have a vacancy within the Maternal Serum Screening section of our busy Blood Sciences Department, based at the Royal Victoria Infirmary.
The Maternal Serum Screening section of the Laboratory provides first and second trimester screening for T21 and T18/13, analysing over 30,000 samples per year. The service is represented locally, regionally, and nationally.
Applicants should have excellent communication skills, be highly motivated, and be able to work effectively either independently or as part of a team.
- Interview Date 03/10/2023
- 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work as part of a team and carry out varied tasks including:
- Assisting in failsafe procedures and transcription checks.
- To assist in the preparation of specimens for analysis, including the separation of blood, serum and plasma, and the cataloguing and storage of specimens.
- Entering requests into the laboratory computer system.
- To carry out, under direct or indirect supervision, some laboratory diagnostic tests and the operation of laboratory equipment. This may be in the laboratory or in Point of Care Testing environments such as wards an clinics where supervision and advice may be available by telephone or electronic means.
- To order blood products from the National Blood Authority and to transfer blood stocks as appropriate under the supervision of a senior member staff.
- To label and issue patient intended blood/blood products.
- To assist in the department Quality Assurance programmes.
- To work in compliance with local health and safety rules to ensure a safe working environment for you, colleagues and visitors. To adhere to department and Trust Health and Safety policies (including COSHH, Risk assessments and Standard Operating Procedures) and to report any non-compliances to a senior member of staff.
- Answering telephone enquiries and retrieving results in accordance with the standard operational procedure.
About us
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest, largest and most successful teaching NHS foundation trusts in the country, with over 18,000 staff and an annual income of £1 billion.
We have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.
We're also proud to be the second largest provider of specialised services in the country. This means we support people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.
Our staff oversee around 1.84 million patients 'contacts' each year, delivering high standards of healthcare.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people's race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- A Senior Healthcare Science Assistant (HCSA) is part of a clinical support team whose purpose is to provide timely and accurate high quality scientific information that will assist service users from the hospital and community, in the establishment of a clinical diagnosis and monitoring of patient treatment.
- The Senior HCSA will use extended technical skills to carry out a variety of laboratory duties including reception and data entry of requests received and some routine pathological tests under the direct or indirect supervision and guidance of a Biomedical Scientist.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate.The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- A Senior Healthcare Science Assistant (HCSA) is part of a clinical support team whose purpose is to provide timely and accurate high quality scientific information that will assist service users from the hospital and community, in the establishment of a clinical diagnosis and monitoring of patient treatment.
- The Senior HCSA will use extended technical skills to carry out a variety of laboratory duties including reception and data entry of requests received and some routine pathological tests under the direct or indirect supervision and guidance of a Biomedical Scientist.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate.The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay.
Person Specification
KNOWLEDGE
Desirable
- Basic understanding of the biology of the blood
SKILLS
Essential
- Technical skills to support the routine use of laboratory equipment
- Good communication skills
- Good interpersonal skills
- Keyboard skills
EXPERIENCE
Desirable
- Experience as a HSA in Blood Sciences
QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
- NVQ 3 or equivalent in Biomedical Science related subject or equivalent plus laboratory working experience or significant Blood Science laboratory experience
- Educated to a minimum level of five GCSE at grade C to include English, Maths and Science or equivalent qualifications
Person Specification
KNOWLEDGE
Desirable
- Basic understanding of the biology of the blood
SKILLS
Essential
- Technical skills to support the routine use of laboratory equipment
- Good communication skills
- Good interpersonal skills
- Keyboard skills
EXPERIENCE
Desirable
- Experience as a HSA in Blood Sciences
QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
- NVQ 3 or equivalent in Biomedical Science related subject or equivalent plus laboratory working experience or significant Blood Science laboratory experience
- Educated to a minimum level of five GCSE at grade C to include English, Maths and Science or equivalent qualifications
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
