Quality Associate Practitioner

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 30 April 2025

Job summary

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest integrated care providers in England, serving a population of around 600,000 people. We are a high performing organisation with a track record of success.

Our Pathology service covers a range of disciplines, providing 12million test results per annum Blood sciences (haematology, transfusion, biochemistry, immunology) and cellular sciences (microbiology, cellular pathology and mortuary), and is proud to promote career development pathways throughout the team, at all levels. An exciting opportunity has arisen for one new post within our pathology team. We are looking for one highly motivated and enthusiastic individual to join our Quality team in preparing reports such as trend analysis of incidents and workload and producing quality reports for internal meetings covering all disciplines of pathology. The successful candidate will assist the Quality Manager and Pathology departments with the implementation, management and maintenance of the Quality Management System for Pathology services, ensuring specific standards are met such as United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS),

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will assist the Quality Manager and Pathology departments with the implementation, management and maintenance of the Quality Management System for Pathology services, ensuring specific standards are met such as United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), Human Tissue Authority (HTA), Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority (MHRA), ISO standards 15189 and 9001.

The successful candidate will support staff at all AfC grades with maintenance of accreditation, internal and external quality assessment, record keeping, data analysis, audit, data input, production of reports and training and administration activities associated with the Quality management system (Qpulse) for all departments.

You must have an understanding of Pathology laboratory information systems and support document control and non-conformity reporting for these systems, and have an understanding how these systems integrate into Trust IT systems

The successful candidates must be able to travel independently to support cross-site working across Durham and Darlington.

About us

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents

Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two years of experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to consider sponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria and have a current visa expiring within 3 months)

Date posted

16 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9439-2526-0004

Job locations

University Hospital Of North Durham

North Road

Durham

DH1 5TW

Job description

Job responsibilities

A member of the Pathology department working as part of the Quality team, providing support to all disciplines to support maintenance and achievement of regulatory standards.

This support involves internal and external quality assessment, record keeping, data analysis, audit, data input, production of reports and training and administration activities associated with the Quality management system (Qpulse) for all departments

Directed by Pathology Quality Manager the post holder will assist the departments through the duties outlined.

They will be expected to work to the departmental standard operating procedure and policies.

The role will involve training of Pathology staff at various levels/grades

The post holder will be expected to work autonomously with direction form the Quality Manager

Job description

Job responsibilities

A member of the Pathology department working as part of the Quality team, providing support to all disciplines to support maintenance and achievement of regulatory standards.

Directed by Pathology Quality Manager the post holder will assist the departments through the duties outlined.

They will be expected to work to the departmental standard operating procedure and policies.

The role will involve training of Pathology staff at various levels/grades

The post holder will be expected to work autonomously with direction form the Quality Manager

Person Specification

Special Requirements

Essential

Able to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post

Qualifications

Essential

Any of:
NVQ 3 in Health (pathology stream) or equivalent
BMS Certificate of Achievement Part 2 or demonstrate equivalent competency.
Foundation degree in Healthcare Practice

Desirable

Experience

Essential

Previous Laboratory Experience

Desirable

Supervisory Experience

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

Follow protocols and instructions accurately
Communication, verbal and written
Computer literate
Medical / Scientific terminology

Desirable

Microsoft Office applications
Knowledge of UKAS ISO15189 standards

Person Specification

Special Requirements

Essential

Able to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post

Qualifications

Essential

Any of:
NVQ 3 in Health (pathology stream) or equivalent
BMS Certificate of Achievement Part 2 or demonstrate equivalent competency.
Foundation degree in Healthcare Practice

Desirable

Experience

Essential

Previous Laboratory Experience

Desirable

Supervisory Experience

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

Follow protocols and instructions accurately
Communication, verbal and written
Computer literate
Medical / Scientific terminology

Desirable

Microsoft Office applications
Knowledge of UKAS ISO15189 standards

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.