Job summary
An opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated and enthusiastic team member to join the Histopathology team at Alder Hey Children's Hospital NHS Trust.
Alder Hey Children's Hospital is one of the largest paediatric hospitals in Western Europe. As a centre of excellence the Trust treats more than 200 000 children a year from the North West, North Wales, Shropshire, Isle of Man and further afield.
The post holder will act as a Medical Laboratory Assistant in Histopathology and hold the relevant qualifications and experience.
The role involves participation in the Digital Pathology Project, assisting with the day to day running of the laboratory and provision of a very high quality service in accordance with Trust and UKAS requirements.
The successful candidate will be expected to work flexibly alongside the Histopathology laboratory staff in performing basic laboratory duties. (Further training will be provided).
The laboratory is fully accredited by UKAS and licenced by the Human Tissue Authority and participates in External Quality Assurance schemes.
This is an excellent opportunity for an enthusiastic individual to join a team dedicated to providing the highest quality paediatric care.
Further information and informal enquiries to Pamela Ashton (Histopathology Laboratory Manager & Quality Manager for Pathology) on 0151 293 3615 or via email pamela.ashton@alderhey.nhs.uk
Main duties of the job
To practice as a Medical Laboratory Assistant specialising in Histopathology. The post holder will work with the Histopathology team for the timely delivery of a high quality service.
To participate in the reception, processing and cutting of tissue samples within the histopathology laboratory. The post holder will be required to enter data accurately on the hospital information system, help maintain stocks of Histopathology consumables and participate in housekeeping duties.
The post holder will also be required to assist with placental dissection, booking in samples, tissue disposal, cleaning, meditech ordering and scribing macroscopic descriptions.
About us
Alder Hey Hospital is one of the largest and busiest children's hospitals in Europe caring for over 200,000 children and young people each year, with 65,000 children and young people attending the A&E department each year. It is also a major teaching hospital of the University of Liverpool.
The Trust serves not only the local population of children, but is the tertiary referral centre for children from Merseyside, Cheshire, parts of Lancashire, Shropshire, North Wales and the Isle of Man for many sub-specialties of paediatrics. The Trust provides a range of community services including school nursing, home carers and a child development centre. The hospital has approximately 240 beds, including day beds for surgery. The paediatric services and expertise within the hospital are considerable and include paediatric ophthalmology, cardiology, cardio-thoracic surgery, neonatology, neurology, neurosurgery, nephrology, respiratory, trauma, general surgery and general medicine.
A purpose built education centre is situated on the hospital site and is available for all postgraduate educational activity. The successful candidate will have access to a library service, which provides a range of electronic and print resources to all staff to support evidence-based patient care, lifelong learning and continuing professional development.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Communication
- To communicate effectively with peers, senior colleagues and service users.
- Works within a team based environment sharing information verbally, electronically and in writing.
- Liaise with couriers for sample transport.
- To deal professionally with telephone enquiries using maintaining strict patient confidentiality. These may include calls that have been passed on by other departmental staff.
Analytical skills
- To work as part of the Digital Pathology Project team and the scanning of microscope slides.
- To perform bench work under supervision to provide a diagnostic service.
- To undertake a wide variety of non-automated operations requiring skill, knowledge and manual dexterity.
- To ensure proper and efficient use of equipment and consumables without wastage.
- To assist Pathologists with surgical cut up.
- To assist Biomedical Scientists with the handling of biopsy samples.
- To prepare non-surgical tissue sections using microtomy techniques.
- To embed placental tissue.
- To change reagents on the tissue processor and slide strainer.
Planning and organising skills
- To organise own work on a daily basis under the supervision of BMS & AP staff.
- To assist in the handling and processing of send away samples.
Physical skills
- To ensure the moving and handling of heavy objects are undertaken according to Trust manual handling guidelines.
- Exposure to repetitive movements and periods of standing whilst carrying out procedures.
- Exposure to VDUs and keyboard orientated tasks.
- High concentration levels required whilst processing samples.
- Daily exposure to potentially infectious samples, body fluids and harmful chemicals.
- To ensure hazardous chemicals and reagents are handled appropriately according to COSHH regulations and ensure they are recorded accurately.
- Exposure to 80C freezer, liquid nitrogen and dry ice.
- To participate in maintaining a system for the safe and confidential storage and retrieval of records and specimens, both physically and electronically.
- To perform housekeeping duties including general tidying, waste disposal, washing glassware and filing.
- To collect and receive stock and participate in inventory checks.
- To undertake water flushing in line with Trust requirements.
Responsibility for patient/client care
- To participate in the reception, processing, referral, and storage of a variety of specimens, including those which may contain high risk organisms.
- To participate in and maintain Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
- To undergo all Trust mandatory training
- Report incidents to Senior BMSs or the Histopathology manager
- Participate in quality audits.
- To participate in annual performance review including the development of a Personal Development Plan (PDP).
- Maintain records in accordance with Human Tissue Act, professional guidance, ISO 15189:2012 standards, trust and local policies and procedures.
Responsibility for policy/service development
- Contribute to the review of department procedures.
- To comply with trust and Departmental Health and Safety Policies, including reporting of all accidents, hazards and defects as soon as possible.
Responsibility for information resources
- To have basic computer skills including the use of Microsoft Office.
- To enter data using the Meditech computer system
- To assist in the collation and retrieval of data using the laboratory Meditech computer system for audit purposes
Responsibility for research and development
- To assist Histopathology in any work relating to research projects.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Communication
- To communicate effectively with peers, senior colleagues and service users.
- Works within a team based environment sharing information verbally, electronically and in writing.
- Liaise with couriers for sample transport.
- To deal professionally with telephone enquiries using maintaining strict patient confidentiality. These may include calls that have been passed on by other departmental staff.
Analytical skills
- To work as part of the Digital Pathology Project team and the scanning of microscope slides.
- To perform bench work under supervision to provide a diagnostic service.
- To undertake a wide variety of non-automated operations requiring skill, knowledge and manual dexterity.
- To ensure proper and efficient use of equipment and consumables without wastage.
- To assist Pathologists with surgical cut up.
- To assist Biomedical Scientists with the handling of biopsy samples.
- To prepare non-surgical tissue sections using microtomy techniques.
- To embed placental tissue.
- To change reagents on the tissue processor and slide strainer.
Planning and organising skills
- To organise own work on a daily basis under the supervision of BMS & AP staff.
- To assist in the handling and processing of send away samples.
Physical skills
- To ensure the moving and handling of heavy objects are undertaken according to Trust manual handling guidelines.
- Exposure to repetitive movements and periods of standing whilst carrying out procedures.
- Exposure to VDUs and keyboard orientated tasks.
- High concentration levels required whilst processing samples.
- Daily exposure to potentially infectious samples, body fluids and harmful chemicals.
- To ensure hazardous chemicals and reagents are handled appropriately according to COSHH regulations and ensure they are recorded accurately.
- Exposure to 80C freezer, liquid nitrogen and dry ice.
- To participate in maintaining a system for the safe and confidential storage and retrieval of records and specimens, both physically and electronically.
- To perform housekeeping duties including general tidying, waste disposal, washing glassware and filing.
- To collect and receive stock and participate in inventory checks.
- To undertake water flushing in line with Trust requirements.
Responsibility for patient/client care
- To participate in the reception, processing, referral, and storage of a variety of specimens, including those which may contain high risk organisms.
- To participate in and maintain Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
- To undergo all Trust mandatory training
- Report incidents to Senior BMSs or the Histopathology manager
- Participate in quality audits.
- To participate in annual performance review including the development of a Personal Development Plan (PDP).
- Maintain records in accordance with Human Tissue Act, professional guidance, ISO 15189:2012 standards, trust and local policies and procedures.
Responsibility for policy/service development
- Contribute to the review of department procedures.
- To comply with trust and Departmental Health and Safety Policies, including reporting of all accidents, hazards and defects as soon as possible.
Responsibility for information resources
- To have basic computer skills including the use of Microsoft Office.
- To enter data using the Meditech computer system
- To assist in the collation and retrieval of data using the laboratory Meditech computer system for audit purposes
Responsibility for research and development
- To assist Histopathology in any work relating to research projects.
Person Specification
Education & Training
Essential
- GCSE in English or evidence of English language proficiency
- AND 5 GCSE's (A-C) or NVQ level 3 or level 3 laboratory technician apprenticeship
Experience
Desirable
- Experience of working in an appropriate pathology discipline
Skills
Essential
- Basic keyboard skills to allow inputting of results and data into the laboratory computer
- Ability to work as an effective team member
Desirable
- Skilled in the use of Microsoft office
Person Specification
Education & Training
Essential
- GCSE in English or evidence of English language proficiency
- AND 5 GCSE's (A-C) or NVQ level 3 or level 3 laboratory technician apprenticeship
Experience
Desirable
- Experience of working in an appropriate pathology discipline
Skills
Essential
- Basic keyboard skills to allow inputting of results and data into the laboratory computer
- Ability to work as an effective team member
Desirable
- Skilled in the use of Microsoft office
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).
