Advanced Laboratory Support Worker

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Purpose of the Post:

• The post-holder will assist in the provision of an efficient and smooth running service within the Department by following the departmental SOP (Standard Operating Procedures) and protocols throughout all sections of the department.
• The post-holder will be mainly involved in the reception and sorting of specimens, routine processing of specimens and associated tasks, input of patient information onto the laboratory computer, disposal of infected material and preparation of reagents.
• The work may include some weekend and evening or night duties, which requires a flexible approach to the hours of employment, according to individual contract.

PRINCIPLE RESPONSIBILITIES

SCIENTIFIC & CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Accepts a full range of clinical samples into the department, working with staff within the hospital and operating the air tube system and specimen hoist. Occasional use of stairs may be required for this purpose.
• Assesses samples for urgency and sorts by laboratory section.
• Matches samples and request forms and assigns unique laboratory numbers, requiring complete accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ensures that samples meet acceptance criteria for testing and dealing with any non-compliance in accordance with departmental protocols. Is aware of appropriate sample type for all tests.
• Is responsible for data entry into the laboratory computer system, requiring complete accuracy and attention to detail.
• Is fully conversant with relevant departmental policies and Standard Operating Procedures, ensuring that personal performance complies with ISO 15189-2012 standards.
• Under the supervision of Biomedical Scientists (BMS) staff ensures the validity of results by the use of appropriate control materials and takes the appropriate action with regard to anomalous results.
• Carries out simple maintenance and fault-finding procedures on automated, expensive (in the region of £50,000-£100,000) equipment.
• Works in cooperation with BMS staff to ensure workload is processed in a timely and efficient manner.
• Performs telephone duties that include making and receiving calls from and to the laboratory, verbally transmitting confidential results and conveying sensitive information to healthcare professionals, patients and their representatives.
• Participates in the preparation of disinfectants and reagents in accordance with SOPs and Health and Safety requirements.
• To be capable of occasional heavy lifting (up to 20 kg) e.g. disposable waste or boxes of new supplies.

ANALYTICAL & INTERPRETATION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs a variety of manual laboratory procedures under the direct supervision of qualified BMS staff. Procedures include the setting up of tests and pre-analytical sample preparation, including centrifugation, aliquotting and plating out.
• Under the supervision of qualified BMS staff conducts analysis of specimens, assessing the process and outcomes of investigations in line with quality control criteria and SOPs and reports any findings in the appropriate format to those who need them as laid out in departmental SOPs

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Works to achieve competencies across the repertoire of the department as appropriate to grade.
• Effective communication of information about specimens and test results with other staff groups both internal and external. To include healthcare professionals, patient representatives and commercial suppliers.
• Receives sensitive information from patients and their representatives where empathic skills are required.
• Displays and maintains an appropriate level of IT skills, in order to input patient and request data, maintain and amend patient records and interrogate the laboratory and hospital databases.
• Performs a range of administrative tasks in all sections of the laboratory as required. This includes archiving and retrieval of specimens and data, maintenance of archived material and collection of data for audits.
• Ensures efficient use of resources and is aware of stock levels and rotation, storage conditions, batch numbers and expiry dates.
• Ensures appropriate stock levels are maintained in own area of operation, this may include issuing stock to external departments and ordering stock from external suppliers under supervision.
• Maintains a clean and safe working environment through good housekeeping practices including the preparation of laboratory disinfectants. This may include disposal of clinical waste, autoclaving, decontamination of work areas.
• Is aware of Clinical Governance, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) and local Health and Safety polices, reporting problems, errors or breaches to the senior staff.
• Despatches biological samples to referral centres. Ensures that sample packaging is compliant with SOP guidelines.
• Solves day-to-day problems e.g. mislabelled and lost specimens.
• Provides training support and assistance to Support Workers, Trainee BMS and BMS staff. Includes the explanation and demonstration of procedures.

• Demonstrates excellent personal communication and team working skills.
• Complies with the requirement to practice within data protection and confidentiality guidelines.
• Works to ensure that departmental performance targets are met by continually assessing priority of work.
• Attends departmental and Trust-wide staff meetings as appropriate.
• Attends regular appraisal, maintains competence levels within the Department and assists in own personal and professional development
• Maintains good work relations with all members of staff and to promote effective team working.
• Treats everyone associated with the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with courtesy and respect.
• Demonstrates and promotes the OUH NHSFT core values and behaviours

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• To be aware of the inherent risks of the work and to take appropriate precautions at all times, reporting to the Head Biomedical Scientist or Safety Officer any potential hazards.
• Abide by current policies and procedures defined by the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and/or the Pathology Risk Management Team and to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act.
• Any matters of a confidential nature, including information relating to the diagnosis and treatment of patients, individual staff records must, under no circumstances, be divulged to any unauthorised person or persons.
• Demonstrates and promotes the OUH NHSFT core values and behaviours

Your attention is drawn to the confidential aspects of the post. Any matters of a confidential nature, including information relating to the diagnosis and treatment of patients, individual staff records and details of contract prices and terms must, under no circumstances, be divulged to any unauthorised person or persons. Breaches of confidence will result in disciplinary action, which may result in dismissal. You should also be aware that, regardless of any disciplinary action taken, a breach of confidence could also result in a civil action for damages.

Person Specification

Education, Qualifications, Experience, skills

Essential

• Health Certificate Level 2 in Clinical Laboratory Support or equivalent
• GCSE English and Maths or equivalent
• Manual dexterity
• Able to communicate well both verbally and in written English, including over the telephone
• Demonstrated competences from working in a microbiology laboratory environment
• Knowledge of microbiology
• laboratory Health and Safety
• Demonstrated competence in aseptic techniques and safe handling of specimens
• Knowledge of medical terminology
• Practical with good hand eye co-ordination and manual dexterity
• Able to work under pressure
• Fast and accurate keyboard skills
• Able to work to standard operating procedures
• Able to concentrate for prolonged periods of time
• Able to work to deadlines
• Prepared to work with biological materials and a variety of sample types
• Flexible approach to hours of work, including nights, evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays

Desirable

• ECDL or other computing equivalent
• GCSE or equivalent in Science
• Knowledge of laboratory Quality Management System and Clinical Pathology Accreditation
• Knowledge of and demonstrated competence in using Sunquest Information System (Roll and scroll and/or GUI)
• Ability to learn from experience

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Oxford University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

John Radcliffe Hospital

Oxford

OX3 9DU

Employer's website

https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)