Job summary
The Pathology Point of Care Testing team at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) are looking for an enthusiastic, organised and conscientious individual to join as an Associate Practitioner. This is a full-time position primarily working Monday to Friday (9am to 5pm).
There is a wide variety of POCT devices in use across NUH, from dipsticks and lateral flow tests to more complex benchtop analysers. Over 1.7 million patient POCT tests are run at NUH annually, with over 500 POCT devices that include:
- Blood Gas analysers
- Glucose/Ketone meters
- INR meters
- Urinalysis meters
- Haemoglobin meters
- HbA1c analysers
- ACT meters
- TEG analysers
- Rapid Flu/RSV/Covid PCR analysers
- Cholesterol meters
- Dipstick/lateral flow tests - urine dipsticks, pregnancy tests, PROM, Partus, HIV and pH sticks.
The POCT team provide support to clinical teams at both Queens Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital. and there will also be a requirement to cover external locations ie NRC and CDC on occasion.
The post holder will assist in the delivery of innovative, quality driven, patient-focused service consistent with the Trust's objectives. Their main role is to provide technical support and training to Trust users of POCT devices in order to conform to POCT standards and guidelines. This will include performing or assisting with quality assurance testing on POCT devices in ward areas and providing training and competency certification of POCT users.
Main duties of the job
Under the direction of the POCT Manager the main duties of the job are:1. Participate in the operation, routine maintenance and troubleshooting of POCT analysers/devices, including maintaining appropriate records and documentation.2. Perform or Assist other Trust users with Quality Assurance Testing (Maintenance, Calibration, IQC and EQA) on POCT analysers/devices.3. Examine quality assurance procedures i.e. internal quality control and external quality assurance results to identify poor performance and report findings to senior staff.4. Liaise with POCT users, other Trust departments i.e. Clinical Engineering, Pharmacy, etc. or Suppliers of POCT with regards to POCT issues as part of the troubleshooting procedure.5. Perform or Assist with Training and Competency of POCT users.6. Production of barcodes and monitoring of IT systems for IT connected POCT analysers.7. Perform audits as required.8. Assist with the development of new methods and the implementation of new technology.9. Assist with the production, maintenance and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures and Competency documents.
About us
The NUH NHS Trust is a large, busy teaching hospital comprising of two sites, the Queens Campus and the City Campus with excellent transport services between them.
The Queens Campus provides acute services supporting a very busy emergency service and trauma centre and the City campus supports Clinical Haematology, transplantation, stroke and cardiac services.
The POCT service operates over both sites with a few satellite services such as upcoming CDC in Nottingham City centre and the NRC (near Loughborough).
We are home to the East Midlands Major Trauma Centre, the Nottingham Children's Hospital and in partnership with the University of Nottingham we host a Biomedical Research Centre carrying out vital research into hearing, digestive diseases, respiratory, musculoskeletal disease, mental health and imaging.As one of the NHS Trusts identified in the New Hospital Programme, a programme of investment in NHS hospitals, we have extensive plans to improve our hospitals and theservices we deliver for patients. As well as the redevelopment of the QMC and City Hospital, we are currently building a brand-new 70-bed NHS rehabilitation facility on the Stanford Hall Rehabilitation Estate near Loughborough which aims to transform rehabilitation provision in England.
Job description
Job responsibilities
In addition to the main duties of the job please familiarise yourself with full Job Description and Person Specification documents attached to this advert
Job description
Job responsibilities
In addition to the main duties of the job please familiarise yourself with full Job Description and Person Specification documents attached to this advert
Person Specification
Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Attained or working towards a Foundation Degree or holds equivalent qualifications, e.g. science degree, IBMS Certificate of Achievement - part 2, etc. in a science-based subject
- Must have a minimum of an NVQ 3 in a Sciences related subject
- Holds the appropriate Foundation Degree or willing to complete the IBMS Certificate of Achievement part 2, etc. in an agreed timeframe
Desirable
- Other Science-based qualifications
- ECDL or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Experience of laboratory work in an NHS or healthcare environment
- Shows ability to understand data from IT systems, some of which may be complex.
Desirable
- Able to demonstrate competency at Higher MLA level (Band 3) or equivalent
- Able to demonstrate competency in a range of laboratory procedures and equipment
- Experience of training and competency assessing staff in an NHS or healthcare environment
- Experience of performing audits in an NHS or healthcare environment
Communication and Relationship Skills
Essential
- Must have excellent interpersonal skills
- Must be able to clearly and accurately convey information verbally gathered from both verbal and documented reports
- Able to provide and receive complex information in various forms with colleagues, other Trust staff and external suppliers
- Excellent written and oral communication skills appropriate to working with different audiences
- Experience of engaging with the public, patient and staff
- Able to demonstrate team working and working under own initiative
Desirable
- Experience of communicating with clients or patients by telephone
Planning and Organisational Skills
Essential
- Able to prioritise and plan work to meet agreed targets on an ongoing basis
- Able to understand and recognise when to escalate issues/problems
- Has experience of working independently with minimal supervision
Desirable
- Experience of working with databases containing patient/quality information
Analytical and Judgement skills
Essential
- Evidence of handling complex situations requiring analysis eg troubleshooting
- Able to remain calm under pressure
- Able to interpret information from databases and record data accurately
Desirable
- Experience of working with databases containing patient / quality information
Physical skills
Essential
- High level of manual dexterity required to perform tasks i.e. Keyboard skills required
Desirable
- Flexible approach to working hours to help cover leave and sickness.
- Must be able to work across all NUH campuses
Person Specification
Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Attained or working towards a Foundation Degree or holds equivalent qualifications, e.g. science degree, IBMS Certificate of Achievement - part 2, etc. in a science-based subject
- Must have a minimum of an NVQ 3 in a Sciences related subject
- Holds the appropriate Foundation Degree or willing to complete the IBMS Certificate of Achievement part 2, etc. in an agreed timeframe
Desirable
- Other Science-based qualifications
- ECDL or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Experience of laboratory work in an NHS or healthcare environment
- Shows ability to understand data from IT systems, some of which may be complex.
Desirable
- Able to demonstrate competency at Higher MLA level (Band 3) or equivalent
- Able to demonstrate competency in a range of laboratory procedures and equipment
- Experience of training and competency assessing staff in an NHS or healthcare environment
- Experience of performing audits in an NHS or healthcare environment
Communication and Relationship Skills
Essential
- Must have excellent interpersonal skills
- Must be able to clearly and accurately convey information verbally gathered from both verbal and documented reports
- Able to provide and receive complex information in various forms with colleagues, other Trust staff and external suppliers
- Excellent written and oral communication skills appropriate to working with different audiences
- Experience of engaging with the public, patient and staff
- Able to demonstrate team working and working under own initiative
Desirable
- Experience of communicating with clients or patients by telephone
Planning and Organisational Skills
Essential
- Able to prioritise and plan work to meet agreed targets on an ongoing basis
- Able to understand and recognise when to escalate issues/problems
- Has experience of working independently with minimal supervision
Desirable
- Experience of working with databases containing patient/quality information
Analytical and Judgement skills
Essential
- Evidence of handling complex situations requiring analysis eg troubleshooting
- Able to remain calm under pressure
- Able to interpret information from databases and record data accurately
Desirable
- Experience of working with databases containing patient / quality information
Physical skills
Essential
- High level of manual dexterity required to perform tasks i.e. Keyboard skills required
Desirable
- Flexible approach to working hours to help cover leave and sickness.
- Must be able to work across all NUH campuses
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.