Job summary
Band 2: £24,465 per annum
Contract Type: Permanent
Full time hours: 37.5 per week (inclusive of late working to 20:00 and weekend working)
Do you have an interest in science, good organisational skills, a keen attention to detail, the ability to work under pressure and multi-task and are willing to go the extra mile? Are you friendly and able to work as part of a diverse team? If the answer is yes, then we would love to hear from you.
We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic team player to join us in the busy Microbiology Department at Queen Alexandra Hospital as a Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA).
You will undertake a range of duties which will include front of house reception, dealing with a diverse range of clinical specimens as they are received into the department and answering telephone enquires. You will also be required to process clinical samples, use and maintain laboratory equipment and perform data entry onto the Laboratory Information System. Full training will be provided but accurate keyboard skills are essential.
Microbiology operates a seven day a week service, with shifts operating between 08:00 and 20:00 Monday to Friday and 09:00 to 17:00 at weekends and Bank Holidays. Weekend and Bank Holiday shifts are worked on a rotational basis (weekends are 1 in 6 inclusive of both days) with additional unsociable hours payment as per Agenda for Change terms and conditions. We are also flexible in offering time off in lieu to fit your work/home balance.
Main duties of the job
Key Responsibilities
- To undertake a range of laboratory tasks, including processing clinical specimens.
- Receive and sort clinical specimens, prioritising urgent samples.
- Managing multiple tasks simultaneously, whilst remaining calm and focused.
- Disposal of laboratory waste, using autoclaves.
- Handle telephone enquiries in an effective and efficient manner, in accordance with departmental procedures.
- Ensure all appropriate records are maintained and completed according to departmental policies
- Undertake data entry of patient and test information ensuring accuracy at all times
About us
Here at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, we are proud to provide expert, compassionate care for our local population. We are ranked as the third in the country for research, embedding education and training across the organisation. Our main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals on the south coast employing over 8,700 staff.
Our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for getting it right for patients, colleagues, and our community, you will find a home at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.
The health and wellbeing of our staff is at the forefront of everything we do. We are proud to be able to offer our staff some fantastic benefits including our on-site Nursery, access to our free Beach Hut for those long summer days, our on-site Wellness Centre including a gym and a swimming pool, access to our fantastic staff networks including LGBTQ, Race Equality and DisAbility, and awards ceremonies to recognise your achievements. We believe we can offer support to all of our staff when they need it the most.
We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veterans status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Summary:
- To provide support to Biomedical Scientists and Associate
Practitioners in the provision of a high quality and efficient diagnostic
Microbiology Service.
- To undertake a range of laboratory tasks including
processing clinical specimens, receipt and sorting of clinical specimens, data
entry of patient and specimen related information and preparation of reagents
and disposal of Microbiological waste.
Technical:
- Maintain a safe and clean working environment, dispose of
waste, monitor basic laboratory equipment and prepare reagents.
- To take receipt of and process clinical specimens (swabs /
tissues / bodily fluids) for microbiological testing; with daily exposure to
infectious materials.
- To contribute to the care, maintenance and security of the
laboratory premises and equipment.
- To ensure accurate and efficient management of laboratory
Reception Area, including the prioritisation of urgent work.
Laboratory Informatics:
- To comply with local and national policies for the secure
and confidential storage of patient and other laboratory information.
- To, under suitable supervision, use the Laboratory
Information System according to authorised protocols.
- To maintain the integrity and accuracy of laboratory
databases.
- To undertake required and essential to training to keep
abreast of changes and meet legal requirements regarding use of information
systems.
Administrative:
- Enter patient, test and clinical information onto the
laboratory information system in an accurate and timely manner, involving
frequent periods of high concentration.
- To respond to incoming telephone enquiries in a polite and
efficient manner.
- On request, telephone validated/authorised results to other
healthcare professionals.
For additional information please see attached Job description.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Summary:
- To provide support to Biomedical Scientists and Associate
Practitioners in the provision of a high quality and efficient diagnostic
Microbiology Service.
- To undertake a range of laboratory tasks including
processing clinical specimens, receipt and sorting of clinical specimens, data
entry of patient and specimen related information and preparation of reagents
and disposal of Microbiological waste.
Technical:
- Maintain a safe and clean working environment, dispose of
waste, monitor basic laboratory equipment and prepare reagents.
- To take receipt of and process clinical specimens (swabs /
tissues / bodily fluids) for microbiological testing; with daily exposure to
infectious materials.
- To contribute to the care, maintenance and security of the
laboratory premises and equipment.
- To ensure accurate and efficient management of laboratory
Reception Area, including the prioritisation of urgent work.
Laboratory Informatics:
- To comply with local and national policies for the secure
and confidential storage of patient and other laboratory information.
- To, under suitable supervision, use the Laboratory
Information System according to authorised protocols.
- To maintain the integrity and accuracy of laboratory
databases.
- To undertake required and essential to training to keep
abreast of changes and meet legal requirements regarding use of information
systems.
Administrative:
- Enter patient, test and clinical information onto the
laboratory information system in an accurate and timely manner, involving
frequent periods of high concentration.
- To respond to incoming telephone enquiries in a polite and
efficient manner.
- On request, telephone validated/authorised results to other
healthcare professionals.
For additional information please see attached Job description.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience with the electronic handling of data.
- Customer service experience, including the handling of telephone calls.
- Experience of working flexibly and as part of a team.
Desirable
- Previous laboratory experience.
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Accurate and fluent keyboard skills.
- Prepared to handle clinical specimens.
- Ability to remain calm and focused under pressure.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Able to work using own initiative but also able to work within a diverse team.
- Able to demonstrate confidentiality and trustworthiness.
- Be flexible, punctual and reliable.
Qualifications
Essential
- Good general education with FIVE GCSEs at grade A* to C or 4 to 9, including Mathematics and English Language.
Desirable
- Science GCSE (grade A* to C or 4 to 9)
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience with the electronic handling of data.
- Customer service experience, including the handling of telephone calls.
- Experience of working flexibly and as part of a team.
Desirable
- Previous laboratory experience.
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Accurate and fluent keyboard skills.
- Prepared to handle clinical specimens.
- Ability to remain calm and focused under pressure.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Able to work using own initiative but also able to work within a diverse team.
- Able to demonstrate confidentiality and trustworthiness.
- Be flexible, punctual and reliable.
Qualifications
Essential
- Good general education with FIVE GCSEs at grade A* to C or 4 to 9, including Mathematics and English Language.
Desirable
- Science GCSE (grade A* to C or 4 to 9)
