Pathology IT Support Officer

Job description

Job responsibilities

To maintain and develop key aspects of Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) to ensure the timely and accurate reporting of diagnostic results to support efficient clinical patient care, both in the Acute Trust and Primary Care.

Monitor Pathology system stability and performance using LIMS dashboard (Clinisys Control Console) and feedback any issues to Pathology IT team and Pathology teams accordingly.

Log new system issues with relevant third party and monitor call progress providing effective communication regarding call status with Pathology IT and Laboratory teams.

To maintain the LIMS on daily, weekly and monthly basis by performing standard procedures across the system and logging completion of tasks accordingly.

To maintain system records of current and new users, applying agreed appropriate levels of access and removing staff leavers from the system.

To maintain all cross-discipline system dictionaries (e.g. GPs, Consultants, Locations etc).

To attend any meetings or user groups pertaining to IT and undertake actions from those meetings as required.

To produce activity data reports when required for Directorate Manager or appropriate in order to monitor performance for WAHT, particularly against Service Level Agreements (SLAs).

The post holder will support on the business intelligence support for the Directorate to ensure data is readily available, accurate and usable.

To assist the Pathology IT team in the management of the laboratory portion of the GP electronic links pathway.

To use the Laboratory and Trust computer systems according to the authorised protocols for example data and result entry, data retrieval and data manipulation.

To use, and ensure that others use, the Laboratory Information System according to the authorised protocols to record analyser results and patient data.

To provide advice and technical support for information technology issues for all Pathology the following departments.

In consultation with Pathology IT Manager, Laboratory Managers and/or Directorate Manager, take timely and effective decisions in response to changing circumstances to maintain service provision, e.g. IT or equipment failure

Contribute to the development of departmental policies and good quality management practices and quality improvement.

Participate in providing support out of hours for Pathology as and when required by the Pathology directorate.

The post holder will assist in providing technical support on all Pathology IT matters liaising with the Pathology IT team, Directorate Manager, Clinical Service Leads, Laboratory Managers, Biomedical Scientists and Medical Laboratory Assistants.

To co-ordinate and assist in the install/replacements/upgrades (as appropriate) IT hardware across all departments of the service or liaise with Service Providers appropriately.

To maintain aspects of the Document Scanning and Archive system. This includes trouble-shooting and repair in the event of system failures.

Review IT related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and policies to ensure compliance with good working practices required for UKAS standards ISO 15189.

Conduct appropriate trouble-shooting and take corrective action in the event of a systems failure and ensure that the Pathology IT team, Laboratory Managers, Directorate Manager and/or Clinical Service Leads are made aware of these circumstances.

Organise and co-ordinate third party engineer on-site visits as appropriate.

Liaise closely with the Trust Digital team colleagues supporting with any hardware, network, infrastructure issues affecting the performance of Pathology IT systems.

To produce activity data reports when required for Directorate Manager or appropriate in order to monitor performance for WAHT, particularly against Service Level Agreements (SLAs).

The post holder will support on the business intelligence support for the Directorate to ensure data is readily available, accurate and usable.

Ensure that all IT downtime and problem logs are regularly reviewed and reported to the Pathology IT Services Manager.

Ensure the process of incident reporting is followed when IT failures occur by reporting appropriately using the Trust incident reporting portal (DATIX)

To assist in the investigation all complaints associated with IT failures and provide report for IT Manager.

To undertake document control including Change Control, record keeping & corrective actions pertaining to Pathology IT.

To initiate and undertake internal audits appropriately and follow through any actions identified or relevant pertaining Pathology IT Services.

To undertake the assessment of the IT impact of certain new method and laboratory instrument evaluations as requested by the IT Manager.

To assist the Pathology IT team in the assessment of the IT requirements in the development of service and instrument specifications and undertake aspects of the evaluation of tender responses.

To assist in the implementation of new equipment e.g. office or laboratory based equipment in conjunction with the Pathology Department/s.

Provide IT support for service development projects as directed by the Pathology IT Services Manager, a laboratory manager and/or clinical service lead.

Deliver in house training and tutorial support to biomedical scientists, trainees, medical laboratory assistants, medical students, specialist registrars and visiting professionals and students from within the Trust and from external organisations.

To be familiar with and ensure compliance to national, Trust and departmental Health and Safety policies, procedures, rules and regulations, for example, the Trust and departmental health and safety policys, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health, Risk Assessment, and manual handling.

Review and update IT risk assessments/register and report to the IT Manager.

To contribute to the maintenance of a safe working environment for all members of staff and visitors.

Person Specification

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Demonstrate a high degree of professionalism.
• Excellent communication skills required when dealing with users Flexible and willing to adapt to changes in the service Demonstrate ability to multitask.
• Reliable and Punctual Excellent telephone manners required Ability to provide remote support for all WAHT Pathology sites when issues arise. Prepared to travel and work across site Confident and responsible approach to problem solving.
• Demonstrates cultural awareness.
• Ability to work and communicate effectively with people of all levels. Flexible and adaptable attitude.
• Work with a high degree of confidentiality.

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• Demonstrate good manual dexterity, keyboard and mouse skills.
• Able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing and with all Staff Groups internal to the Trust or Professionals external to the Trust. Excellent written presentation.
• Demonstrate prioritisation, organisational and co-ordination skills. Demonstrate logical thought processes, ability to use initiative and solve problems.
• Ability to make concise records of action, monitor and report on those plans appropriately.
• Proficiency in use and support of IT applications.
• Awareness of the NHS.
• Good knowledge of word processing and spreadsheets
• Aware of Data Protection Act, Caldicott principles and GDPR

Desirable

• Knowledge of Community Healthcare Systems Aware of and can explain the role of medical laboratories.

Qualifications

Essential

• BSC (Hons) or equivalent experience in Information Technology or Biomedical Science Evidence of continued professional development

Desirable

• MSc in Information Technology or Biomedical Science Additional industry qualifications, ICT service qualifications (e.g. ITIL).

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with a diverse range of complex ICT systems Experience of supporting a range of complex ICT system infrastructure technologies.
• ICT system infrastructure troubleshooting experience Experience of dealing with third party suppliers.
• Experience of liaising with staff at all levels in the determination of their IT and communications technology needs.
• Experience of working in a team Extensive experience of word processing and spreadsheets

Desirable

• Extensive experience of clinical laboratory information systems
• Extensive experience of software applications in a clinical laboratory working environment eg; ICE Requesting and Reporting
• Experience of project management and systems development

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

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD

Employer's website

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