Healthcare Science Support Worker (higher MLA)

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 04 April 2025

Job summary

We are seeking to recruit a Healthcare Science Support Worker (higher MLA) to work within the busy paediatric Laboratory Medicine department. We are looking for an enthusiastic and well-motivated individual with good communication skills and attention to detail. Working as part of a team across disciplines you will contribute to the provision and further development of a high-quality diagnostic service.

Main duties of the job

To participate in the reception and pre-analytical processing of samples and to perform some analytical diagnostic functions within the laboratory. The post holder will be required to enter patient and specimen data accurately on the hospital information system, receive and process samples, deal with sample reception queries, help maintain stocks of consumables available to the laboratory and wards and participate in a variety of laboratory diagnostic and housekeeping duties related to all disciplines of pathology.

About us

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust is a provider of specialist health care to over 275,000 children and young people each year. In addition to the hospital site located in the West Derby area of Liverpool, Alder Hey has a presence in community outreach sites and, in collaboration with other providers, our clinicians help deliver care closer to patients' homes by holding local clinics at locations from Cumbria to Shropshire, in Wales and the Isle of Man. The Trust also provides inpatient care for children with complex mental health needs at our Alder Park building in the nearby borough of Sefton.

We currently have more than 4,000 staff working across our community and hospital sites. We're also a teaching and training hospital providing education and training to around 540 medical and over 500 nursing and allied health professional students each year.

As black and minority ethnic (BME) employees are currently under-represented in this area, we particularly welcome applications from members of our BME communities. All appointments will be made on merit.

You can expect a warm welcome at Alder Hey Childrens NHS Foundation Trust, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours.

Date posted

21 March 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£22,816 to £24,336 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

411-MED-25-7091217

Job locations

Alder Hey Children's Hospital

Eaton Road

Liverpool

L12 2AP

Job description

Job responsibilities

1 Key Responsibilities

1.1 Providing sample reception support to all disciplines within laboratory medicine and within specific work areas as required.

1.2 Carrying out analytical processes under the supervision of Biomedical Scientists (BMS) to provide a diagnostic service.

1.3 Receiving, collating and performing the preliminary processing of a variety of patient specimens for biomedical analysis, acting on any issues with unlabelled or mislabelled samples as required.

1.4 Manually pipetting plasma/urine samples prior to appropriate storage or analysis.

1.5 Dealing with reception and telephone queries from various Trust staff, GPs and visitors to the department.

1.6 Organising own day-to-day work, prioritising urgent and emergency workloads.

1.7 Perform clerical tasks such as inputting patient demographics and input/retrieval of test request details on laboratory IT systems.

1.8 Operating the pneumatic pod system and ensuring performance issues are reported.

1.9 Identifying and processing high risk/ infectious specimens safely and appropriately.

1.10 Prompt referral of non-routine issues to senior staff.

1.11 Perform general housekeeping including the cleaning of centrifuges, glassware and work surfaces; and the preparation of disinfectant for use.

1.12 Maintaining the safe and confidential storage and retrieval of records and specimens, both physically and electronically.

1.13 Processing and sending away samples to reference laboratories.

1.14 Attending meetings and maintaining an up to date knowledge of new developments in the laboratory.

1.15 Complying with Trust and Departmental Health and Safety policies; reporting accidents, hazards and defects as soon as possible.

1.16 Assisting in completing incident reporting forms when incidents or errors are identified eg mislabelled or incorrect samples.

1.17 Proposing changes and contributing towards improving working practices, turnaround times and SOPs (standard operating procedures)

1.18 Use of expensive complex equipment and where appropriate performing preventative maintenance in accordance with manufacturers instructions and local SOPs

1.19 Ensuring the proper and efficient use of consumables without wastage, performing stock checks and alerting the senior staff when stock levels are low.

1.20 Checking the delivery hub regularly, signing for deliveries and assisting in the distribution and storage of deliveries and stock according to departmental material management policies.

1.21 Performing Quality Control tests.

1.22 Dispense and collect liquid nitrogen following completion of safety training.

1.23 To undertake water flushing requirements

1.24 Participate in late shifts.