Job summary
Looking to develop your career in a diagnostic lab?
Need that experience and training?
Are you available to cover days, evenings/nights and weekends?
Having passed your Biomedical Science degree, as a graduate you're probably looking to develop your laboratory practice skills, gain insights and practical experience in a diagnostic environment.
You might also have gained your HCPC registration and are looking for a Band 5 post to progress.
Here you can as a Medical Laboratory Assistant on our StaffBank.
Joining our Staff Bank you'll be registered to undertake long running assignments to support one of the largest transformation projects currently underway in the UK pathology space, this will give you some fantastic insights into large scale change programs whilst developing your scientific technical skills.
You'll be paid weekly for any hours worked and offered up to 37.5 hours per week. You'll predominantly cover one service line at a time and can be expected to start as soon as you're able.
Main duties of the job
This role supports the delivery of biomedical investigations as part of the laboratory and/or Central Specimen Reception team in Synnovis.
Reporting to the Senior Specialist BMS or designated role in Central Specimen Reception, you will hold a variety of responsibilities to ensure the successful delivery of pathology services, in line with our corporate objectives.
At Synnovis, we are currently shaping the future of pathology services by creating a world-leading Hub and Spoke pathology network with our NHS partners. A large part of this modernisation will involve moving 70% of our services to a purpose built, state of the art Hub laboratory in the heart of London.
You could be appointed to openings in Infection Sciences, Tissue Sciences, Blood Sciences and Genetics, all will help you develop your knowledge base and portfolio of skills.
As our labs are looking for support across a 24/7 hour period there are ample opportunities - you'll be working 37.5 hours each week.
Ideally you could cover a mix of days, nights and weekends, depending in the department you've been assigned. In some areas you'll only need to cover core hours (0900 to 1730)
There are numerous long running bookings available now, so please do register by applying so we can complete the onboarding process and arrange positions for you through our Staff Bank.
About us
Synnovis is a pathology partnership between SYNLAB UK and Ireland, and the NHS, including sites, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to deliver and transform pathology services across South East London.
The partnership provides services to 1.7 million people living in South East London, as well as to hundreds of thousands of patients from outside the region who use local healthcare services.
The partnership provides diagnostics, testing and digital pathology for hospital trusts, GP services and other healthcare providers.
The service lines include Blood, Tissue and Infection Sciences, catering for routine and special diagnostic testing, we also host the South East Genomics hub. The phlebotomy services operate across the estate at each of our main sites.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will hold a variety of accountabilities in the laboratory environment. These may include,
but are not limited to:
- Handle and manage samples, in line with standard operating procedures (SOPs) and assessed competencies.
- Perform tasks and operate laboratory equipment within all safety standards and according to local SOPs relevant to your area.
- Prepare solutions, reagents etc, utilising a variety of laboratory equipment to carry out investigations.
- Ensure all laboratory consumables and equipment are maintained in line with SOPs and health and safety guidelines.
- Complete data entry that is accurate, reliable, delivered on time and in accordance with Information Governance (IG) procedures.
- Provide administrative support to all areas of the laboratory, as appropriate and dependent on experience and training.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform cleaning activities in the laboratory and prepare laboratory equipment for use.
- Perform daily checks on laboratory areas as directed and complete all required paperwork.
- Perform environmental monitoring and waste management activities in a safe way, as required.
- Support and train colleagues in your area as required.
- Support with specimen reception and referrals processing, as required.
- Use departmental resources efficiently and apply good stock management of reagents, consumables and stationery. Receipt and unpack new deliveries and advise/order when approaching minimum stock levels.
- Report and record all incidents and adverse events under the direction of the senior members of staff.
- Participate in quality management activities including inspections and audits, as required.
- Use Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) to accurately record sensitive patient information, requiring frequent, long periods of concentration, whilst maintaining patient confidentiality and following IG guidelines.
- Organise day-to-day tasks, identifying and prioritising urgent work to ensure that deadlines are met, and that work is delivered to the highest standards possible. Escalate to senior member of staff, as necessary.
- Safely handle, use and dispose of biological specimens including infectious material or hazardous chemicals according to laboratory and health and safety protocols.
- Understand hazards and risks of working in a laboratory and use adequate precautions and personal protective equipment at all times.
- Answer the telephone, deal with calls politely and professionally, escalating requests when necessary to appropriate senior staff or other departments.
- Adhere to the laboratory SOPs and work with the team to review working practice to maintain a high quality and safe service.
- Perform specimen reception duties including checking details, receiving and logging patient requests on to the LIMS.
- Process referral specimens, receive samples dispatched from other laboratories and prepare samples for despatch to other laboratories or hospitals.
- Prepare specimens and perform manual, semi-automated and fully-automated laboratory investigations within training parameters and where appropriate under supervision.
- Undertake preventative maintenance and basic troubleshooting on laboratory instruments and equipment prior to them being used for patient investigations.
- Process samples under supervision for clinical trials and research and development projects as and when required.
- File samples following appropriate protocols and keep records as required.
- Prepare, store and use reagents required for laboratory investigations.
- Maintain knowledge and skills as identified by line manager. Undertake periodic laboratory training and competence assessment.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will hold a variety of accountabilities in the laboratory environment. These may include,
but are not limited to:
- Handle and manage samples, in line with standard operating procedures (SOPs) and assessed competencies.
- Perform tasks and operate laboratory equipment within all safety standards and according to local SOPs relevant to your area.
- Prepare solutions, reagents etc, utilising a variety of laboratory equipment to carry out investigations.
- Ensure all laboratory consumables and equipment are maintained in line with SOPs and health and safety guidelines.
- Complete data entry that is accurate, reliable, delivered on time and in accordance with Information Governance (IG) procedures.
- Provide administrative support to all areas of the laboratory, as appropriate and dependent on experience and training.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform cleaning activities in the laboratory and prepare laboratory equipment for use.
- Perform daily checks on laboratory areas as directed and complete all required paperwork.
- Perform environmental monitoring and waste management activities in a safe way, as required.
- Support and train colleagues in your area as required.
- Support with specimen reception and referrals processing, as required.
- Use departmental resources efficiently and apply good stock management of reagents, consumables and stationery. Receipt and unpack new deliveries and advise/order when approaching minimum stock levels.
- Report and record all incidents and adverse events under the direction of the senior members of staff.
- Participate in quality management activities including inspections and audits, as required.
- Use Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) to accurately record sensitive patient information, requiring frequent, long periods of concentration, whilst maintaining patient confidentiality and following IG guidelines.
- Organise day-to-day tasks, identifying and prioritising urgent work to ensure that deadlines are met, and that work is delivered to the highest standards possible. Escalate to senior member of staff, as necessary.
- Safely handle, use and dispose of biological specimens including infectious material or hazardous chemicals according to laboratory and health and safety protocols.
- Understand hazards and risks of working in a laboratory and use adequate precautions and personal protective equipment at all times.
- Answer the telephone, deal with calls politely and professionally, escalating requests when necessary to appropriate senior staff or other departments.
- Adhere to the laboratory SOPs and work with the team to review working practice to maintain a high quality and safe service.
- Perform specimen reception duties including checking details, receiving and logging patient requests on to the LIMS.
- Process referral specimens, receive samples dispatched from other laboratories and prepare samples for despatch to other laboratories or hospitals.
- Prepare specimens and perform manual, semi-automated and fully-automated laboratory investigations within training parameters and where appropriate under supervision.
- Undertake preventative maintenance and basic troubleshooting on laboratory instruments and equipment prior to them being used for patient investigations.
- Process samples under supervision for clinical trials and research and development projects as and when required.
- File samples following appropriate protocols and keep records as required.
- Prepare, store and use reagents required for laboratory investigations.
- Maintain knowledge and skills as identified by line manager. Undertake periodic laboratory training and competence assessment.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good all round education to GCSE standard including English and Maths at grade 4/C or equivalent or L2 Healthcare Science apprenticeship
Desirable
- A Level / BTEC in Science (or equivalent or higher)
Experience
Essential
- Working as part of a team
- Working in a busy environment
- Experience of working with computer applications such as Microsoft Office / Google docs, data entry
- Experience of working accurately with an attention to detail
Desirable
- Experience of working in a pathology laboratory environment
- Handling of biological specimens
- Customer service
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Ability to operate the use of precision instrument and equipment
- Numerate and literate
- Willingness and ability to learn complex operating procedures and follow guidelines
Desirable
- Awareness of the role of medical laboratories
- Awareness of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good all round education to GCSE standard including English and Maths at grade 4/C or equivalent or L2 Healthcare Science apprenticeship
Desirable
- A Level / BTEC in Science (or equivalent or higher)
Experience
Essential
- Working as part of a team
- Working in a busy environment
- Experience of working with computer applications such as Microsoft Office / Google docs, data entry
- Experience of working accurately with an attention to detail
Desirable
- Experience of working in a pathology laboratory environment
- Handling of biological specimens
- Customer service
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Ability to operate the use of precision instrument and equipment
- Numerate and literate
- Willingness and ability to learn complex operating procedures and follow guidelines
Desirable
- Awareness of the role of medical laboratories
- Awareness of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)
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.
