Job summary
Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust invites applications for the post of Eye Bank technician based at City Road. The post is to begin October 2023 on a full time basis. The post-holder will be responsible for an efficient and flexible member of the Moorfields Lions Eye Bank team, providing a high quality service throughout the department.
PROBATIONARY PERIOD
This post will be subject to a probationary period of 6 months.
During the probationary period, your suitability for continued employment will be assessed and provided a satisfactory standard is achieved and maintained, your employment will be confirmed.The probationary period may be extended or your employment terminated either during or at the end of probation, in line with the trust Probationary Policy. For the duration of the probation period, the notice period will be in line with contractual obligations on either side.
Main duties of the job
The post-holder will be responsible for an efficient and flexible member of the Moorfields Lions Eye Bank team, providing a high quality servicethroughout the department.
To maintain an Eye bank service in accordance with the Codes of Practice for Tissue Banks and Human Tissue Authority (HTA).
To be involved in the department Quality Management System (QMS) and Quality Assurance (QA) procedures.
The post holder will be responsible for working in all areas of the department, ensuring proper organisation and functioning of these sections.To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of Tissue Banking and current working practices within this setting.
The Eye Bank departments boast of equipment, premises and facilities, staffing levels and activity in accordance to HTA regulation.
The successful applicant will have completed previous eye/tissue banking experience and/or other laboratory medical experience e.g. pathology,biomedical sciences and will be registered or aiming to fulfill the pre-requisites of the Institute of Biomedical.
About us
Based in the vibrant and fast developing high tech quarter centred around City Road, Hoxton and Shoreditch, we have:
- A lively working atmosphere
- Easy and quick transport links
- Affordable housing in the coolest new developments right on the doorstep
- Career development opportunities for staff at all levels
- A range of attractive benefits that include eye care, generous holidays, and an excellent pension scheme.
Job description
Job responsibilities
MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Communication and relationship skills
- To demonstrate politeness, courtesy and sensitivity when dealing with patients, colleagues and other healthcare staff
- Contribute towards sharing good practice within the department
- To work cohesively with all staff in the department in ensuring that the very best practices are provided at all times.
- To promote a positive image of the Eye Bank
- To provide and receive complex information to inform management, colleagues, service users and external contractors.
- To participate in departmental and external meetings and contribute towards effective communication in the department and beyond.
- Procurement, storage and quality assessment:
- To perform all technical and administrative duties associated with maintaining the tissue procurement programme as well as storage, testing, quality assessment, issue (clinical and research), import and export of human tissues.
- To participate in the department QMS, on the development, reviewing and writing of documentation, perform validation and verification as necessary, follow established departmental protocols and be fully involved in the department training program.
- Use and maintain iPassport to ensure SOPs are current, document control is maintained, audits are completed in line with set tasks and non-conformances are closed as appropriate.
- Record and report incidents and assist in investigations and any subsequent actions required to close those incidents.
- Be pro-active in identifying and implementing improvements to the running of the department. Flagging ideas to the Line Manager and assisting in the implementation of change where needed.
- Follow procurement and storage of ocular tissue standard operating procedures and perform any additional investigations needed to ensure the suitability of the tissue before use.
- Collating information on tissue in quarantine so these can be released from quarantine as necessary.
- Responsible for updating and maintaining both paper and electronic records (on multiple platforms) to ensure all donated tissue can be tracked and traced in accordance with the requirements of the HTA.
- Responsible for archiving donor files, for a period of 30 years, where all tissues are allocated. This involves checking all paper and electronic records are correct and present prior to archive. Further, ensuring the maintenance of an archive register in case the requirement to retrieve previous donor files arises.
- Maintenance and calibration of all equipment, particularly those which can affect the quality of human tissue for transplant.
- Identify donor eyes issued with consent for use in appropriate scientific research, and liaise with the Institute of Ophthalmology as appropriate.
- Inform and train other Eye Bank Staff under guidance from the Chief Technician.
- Responsible for prioritising and managing own time efficiently to ensure essential duties, regarding the preparation and issue of tissue for patients, are completed in good time.
- Tissue Transplantation:
- To order and provide tissue for transplantation and maintain all records associated with the tissue as required locally and by NHSBT and the HTA.
- Record and assess all tissue(s) entering and leaving the eye bank to ensure they are safe for transplantation and can be traced on various platforms (paper and electronic).
- Ensure material is available as and when required.
- Record type of material used.
- Record patients involved.
- Issue tissue to the patients at Moorfields or satellite sites.
- To track used tissue back to the external supplier.
- To dispose of tissue appropriately.
General Duties
- To follow the guidelines of the HTA Guide to Quality and Safety Assurance for Human Tissues and Cells for Patient Treatment to ensure accreditation.
- To complete all administrative and maintenance duties in the Eye Bank to the level compliant with NHSBT and HTA standards.
- Ensure all Eye Bank laboratory spaces adhere to GLP and GMP standards, as necessary. All rooms and equipment must be cleaned weekly and documented. This is to ensure the facility and equipment are in a clean, working order. Organise regular contract maintenance where necessary.
- Order all consumables and stationery ensuring stock levels are maintained.
- Record and verify all incoming goods and regularly monitor expiry dates for goods in stock, liaising with manufacturers for product return or exchange.
- Respond to all enquiries from the public (bereaved families and/or interested individuals) and health professionals about eye donation, as required.
- Extract and prepare workload and other statistics and figures of Eye Bank activity, as required.
- Participate in a department rota, as necessary.
- Ensure all paperwork in the department is recorded (scanned/filed) in the appropriate location.
- Adhere to Health & Safety policies to ensure a safe working environment.
- Provide information to the Medical staff when requested.
- Ensure mandatory and statutory training is kept up to date, attending any sessions as directed by the Line Manager and/or Trust as required.
- Any other duties commensurate to the role, as deemed appropriate by the Line Manager.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
ESSENTIAL
DESIRABLE
METHODS TO TEST FIT TO THESE CRITERIA
Education & Qualifications
HCPC registered health professional or have relevant work experience in Tissue Bank
State registered Biomedical Scientist
A/I
Further Training and Knowledge
Knowledge of computer packages including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access
Working to defined SOPs and taking part in their review.
Experience of working in an accredited laboratory.
Understanding Quality Management Systems.
A/I
Aptitudes and Skills
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Good telephone manner
Good interpersonal skills
Adaptable
Able to work under pressure
A/I
Experience
Hospital laboratory/tissue bank in health care service or similar
Working in a good manufacturing practice (GMP) environment
Working in a tissue bank
Experience of Specimen Reception processes
Tissue handling knowledge (histology, cytology or microbiology)
A/I
Organisation & Planning
Time management skills / Ability to priorities work load
I
Personality and Personal Attributes
Tactful
Team working skills
Ability to work alone and use own initiative
Ability to communicate with people
A/I
Job description
Job responsibilities
MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Communication and relationship skills
- To demonstrate politeness, courtesy and sensitivity when dealing with patients, colleagues and other healthcare staff
- Contribute towards sharing good practice within the department
- To work cohesively with all staff in the department in ensuring that the very best practices are provided at all times.
- To promote a positive image of the Eye Bank
- To provide and receive complex information to inform management, colleagues, service users and external contractors.
- To participate in departmental and external meetings and contribute towards effective communication in the department and beyond.
- Procurement, storage and quality assessment:
- To perform all technical and administrative duties associated with maintaining the tissue procurement programme as well as storage, testing, quality assessment, issue (clinical and research), import and export of human tissues.
- To participate in the department QMS, on the development, reviewing and writing of documentation, perform validation and verification as necessary, follow established departmental protocols and be fully involved in the department training program.
- Use and maintain iPassport to ensure SOPs are current, document control is maintained, audits are completed in line with set tasks and non-conformances are closed as appropriate.
- Record and report incidents and assist in investigations and any subsequent actions required to close those incidents.
- Be pro-active in identifying and implementing improvements to the running of the department. Flagging ideas to the Line Manager and assisting in the implementation of change where needed.
- Follow procurement and storage of ocular tissue standard operating procedures and perform any additional investigations needed to ensure the suitability of the tissue before use.
- Collating information on tissue in quarantine so these can be released from quarantine as necessary.
- Responsible for updating and maintaining both paper and electronic records (on multiple platforms) to ensure all donated tissue can be tracked and traced in accordance with the requirements of the HTA.
- Responsible for archiving donor files, for a period of 30 years, where all tissues are allocated. This involves checking all paper and electronic records are correct and present prior to archive. Further, ensuring the maintenance of an archive register in case the requirement to retrieve previous donor files arises.
- Maintenance and calibration of all equipment, particularly those which can affect the quality of human tissue for transplant.
- Identify donor eyes issued with consent for use in appropriate scientific research, and liaise with the Institute of Ophthalmology as appropriate.
- Inform and train other Eye Bank Staff under guidance from the Chief Technician.
- Responsible for prioritising and managing own time efficiently to ensure essential duties, regarding the preparation and issue of tissue for patients, are completed in good time.
- Tissue Transplantation:
- To order and provide tissue for transplantation and maintain all records associated with the tissue as required locally and by NHSBT and the HTA.
- Record and assess all tissue(s) entering and leaving the eye bank to ensure they are safe for transplantation and can be traced on various platforms (paper and electronic).
- Ensure material is available as and when required.
- Record type of material used.
- Record patients involved.
- Issue tissue to the patients at Moorfields or satellite sites.
- To track used tissue back to the external supplier.
- To dispose of tissue appropriately.
General Duties
- To follow the guidelines of the HTA Guide to Quality and Safety Assurance for Human Tissues and Cells for Patient Treatment to ensure accreditation.
- To complete all administrative and maintenance duties in the Eye Bank to the level compliant with NHSBT and HTA standards.
- Ensure all Eye Bank laboratory spaces adhere to GLP and GMP standards, as necessary. All rooms and equipment must be cleaned weekly and documented. This is to ensure the facility and equipment are in a clean, working order. Organise regular contract maintenance where necessary.
- Order all consumables and stationery ensuring stock levels are maintained.
- Record and verify all incoming goods and regularly monitor expiry dates for goods in stock, liaising with manufacturers for product return or exchange.
- Respond to all enquiries from the public (bereaved families and/or interested individuals) and health professionals about eye donation, as required.
- Extract and prepare workload and other statistics and figures of Eye Bank activity, as required.
- Participate in a department rota, as necessary.
- Ensure all paperwork in the department is recorded (scanned/filed) in the appropriate location.
- Adhere to Health & Safety policies to ensure a safe working environment.
- Provide information to the Medical staff when requested.
- Ensure mandatory and statutory training is kept up to date, attending any sessions as directed by the Line Manager and/or Trust as required.
- Any other duties commensurate to the role, as deemed appropriate by the Line Manager.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
ESSENTIAL
DESIRABLE
METHODS TO TEST FIT TO THESE CRITERIA
Education & Qualifications
HCPC registered health professional or have relevant work experience in Tissue Bank
State registered Biomedical Scientist
A/I
Further Training and Knowledge
Knowledge of computer packages including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access
Working to defined SOPs and taking part in their review.
Experience of working in an accredited laboratory.
Understanding Quality Management Systems.
A/I
Aptitudes and Skills
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Good telephone manner
Good interpersonal skills
Adaptable
Able to work under pressure
A/I
Experience
Hospital laboratory/tissue bank in health care service or similar
Working in a good manufacturing practice (GMP) environment
Working in a tissue bank
Experience of Specimen Reception processes
Tissue handling knowledge (histology, cytology or microbiology)
A/I
Organisation & Planning
Time management skills / Ability to priorities work load
I
Personality and Personal Attributes
Tactful
Team working skills
Ability to work alone and use own initiative
Ability to communicate with people
A/I
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- HCPC registered health professional or have relevant work experience in Tissue Bank
Desirable
- State registered Biomedical Scientist
Further Training and Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of computer packages including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access
- Working to defined SOPs and taking part in their review.
Desirable
- Experience of working in an accredited laboratory.
- Understanding Quality Management Systems.
Experience
Essential
- Hospital laboratory/tissue bank in health care service or similar
Desirable
- Working in a good manufacturing practice (GMP) environment
- Working in a tissue bank
- Experience of Specimen Reception processes
- Tissue handling knowledge (histology, cytology or microbiology)
Organisation & Planning
Essential
- Time management skills / Ability to priorities workload
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- HCPC registered health professional or have relevant work experience in Tissue Bank
Desirable
- State registered Biomedical Scientist
Further Training and Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of computer packages including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access
- Working to defined SOPs and taking part in their review.
Desirable
- Experience of working in an accredited laboratory.
- Understanding Quality Management Systems.
Experience
Essential
- Hospital laboratory/tissue bank in health care service or similar
Desirable
- Working in a good manufacturing practice (GMP) environment
- Working in a tissue bank
- Experience of Specimen Reception processes
- Tissue handling knowledge (histology, cytology or microbiology)
Organisation & Planning
Essential
- Time management skills / Ability to priorities workload
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
