Job summary
Cross Site - Chelsea & Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex Hospital
The ACU is seeking to appoint a lab technician to provide basic administrative and technical support to the Embryology Team. The successful applicant will be required to actively participate in routine andrological procedures as well as supporting the Consultant Clinical Embryologist and Senior Staff in the day to day running of the IVF lab.
Chelsea & Westminster's Assisted Conception Unit (ACU) offers a full range of fertility treatments and is proud to have achieved some of the highest success rates in the UK.
Main duties of the job
This post provides an opportunity for a lab technician to provide basic administrative and technical support to embryologists. The post-holder must prioritise the workload effectively and be capable of working closely with the clinical embryologists.
About us
We provide services from two main hospitals, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital, and a number of clinics across London and the South-East.
We have over 6,000 members of staff that are PROUD to Care for nearly one million people. Both hospitals provide full clinical services, including full maternity, emergency and children's, in addition to a range of community-based services across London, such as award-winning sexual health and HIV clinics.
We're one of the safest and best performing Trusts in the country. We're also one of the top trusts to work for - our staff say they're engaged, motivated, and would recommend us as a place to work and receive treatment.
In 2020 Trust was rated by the Care Quality Commission as Outstanding in the well-led and use of resources domains and Good in the safe, effective, caring, and responsive domains. The Trust as a whole was Good, but the Chelsea site was Outstanding.
Our facilities are some of the best in the country. We have been investing around £10 million a year in our estate. We are currently spending £25 million on expanding our adult and neonatal critical care facilities at Chelsea and Westminster and redevelopment of our children's unit at West Middlesex - in partnership with our charity, CW+ and generous donors.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Cryopreservation and Long Term Storage
- Co-ordination of relevant consent forms for patients storage of samples and ensuring forms are filed accordingly.
- Filling and maintenance of cryotanks and dry shippers, including safe handling of liquid nitrogen (LN2).
- Ensure that accurate records of patient details and freeze records are kept and that appropriate written consents are obtained and adhered to, including those for utilisation/disposal of gametes/embryos.
- Ensuring that blood screening tests are obtained and up-to-date, and forms filed accordingly.
- Audit of embryo and sperm storage tanks.
- To undertake Roche testing (PCR) of prepared SWP (Sperm washing programme) samples.
- Handling gametes and embryos into and out of LN2.
- Appropriate labelling of dishes, vials, straws and canes.
Record Keeping
- Set up laboratory treatment notes.
- Maintenance and upkeep of confidential records in patient notes, laboratory data books, files and computer database.
- Collection of data and completion of forms for submission to the HFEA.
- Checking appropriate consents are in place for all licensed laboratory procedures.
Stocks & Supplies
- Monitor stock levels of all consumables and order laboratory consumables.
- Sonicate glassware and laboratory consumables for clinical use.
Administrative
- Maintaining up-to-date statistics for IVF, ICSI, IUI and FET, including computer entry of laboratory data.
- Liaising with administrative staff in invoicing patients for embryo / sperm freezing and annual storage fees.
- Maintenance of donor sperm records.
- To undertake other general duties including answering telephone enquiries and photocopying.
Clinical
- Prepare the environment for handling specimens.
- Appropriately identify patients, show them into the semen production room and give instructions for semen production.
- Formal witnessing of tasks as required by the HFEA.
- Correct use of centrifuge as per standard operating procedures (SOP)
- Correct use of laminar flow hood as per SOP
- Correct use of stereo and phase contrast microscopes as per SOP.
- Correct use of incubators as per SOP.
- Basic semen analysis.
- Aliquoting of media using sterile technique.
- Preparation of culture dishes for use in embryological procedures.
- Processing of surgically retrieved sperm.
Other Requirements/ Responsibilities
- Maintain close communication and liaison with Consultant Embryologist.
- To assist and participate in the provision of a high quality, safe and effective clinical service.
- To provide support for the Quality Management System at Chelsea site.
- To take lead on Quality Management System at West Middlesex site.
- Perform technical procedures in accordance with the laboratory SOP and under the supervision of senior scientist at all times; to include preparation of culture dishes/tubes for treatment and aliquoting media.
- Report to the line manager any untoward incident or problem that may impede the provision of the service.
- Maintain sterility and cleanliness within the laboratory continuously.
- Perform appropriate internal and external Quality Control and Assurance tests.
- Act as witness for all laboratory procedures.
- Organising courier services for the transport of donor sperm and patients embryos / sperm between clinics.
- Attend regular Laboratory and Team meetings, and participate in risk assessment.
- Participate in training programmes for Continuing Professional Development and in the Trusts appraisal KSF scheme.
- Participate in staff training and motivation schemes.
- Ensure all procedures are carried out within HFEA Code of Practice and relevant professional bodies ACE, BFS, ESHRE regulations.
- Ensure, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and COSHH regulations that agreed safety procedures are adhered to.
The post holder will also be expected to
- Work within the ACUs Clinical Governance plan.
- Provide input into the development and expansion of the existing clinical service.
- Update the ACU database and support ongoing audit of the infertility and assisted conception services.
- Take part in the undergraduate and postgraduate teaching program within the ACU.
General
Covid-19 vaccination is a condition of employment for this role, unless an exemption applies. The successful applicant may have contact with vulnerable service users and we will therefore seek proof of being fully vaccinated during the recruitment process.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Cryopreservation and Long Term Storage
- Co-ordination of relevant consent forms for patients storage of samples and ensuring forms are filed accordingly.
- Filling and maintenance of cryotanks and dry shippers, including safe handling of liquid nitrogen (LN2).
- Ensure that accurate records of patient details and freeze records are kept and that appropriate written consents are obtained and adhered to, including those for utilisation/disposal of gametes/embryos.
- Ensuring that blood screening tests are obtained and up-to-date, and forms filed accordingly.
- Audit of embryo and sperm storage tanks.
- To undertake Roche testing (PCR) of prepared SWP (Sperm washing programme) samples.
- Handling gametes and embryos into and out of LN2.
- Appropriate labelling of dishes, vials, straws and canes.
Record Keeping
- Set up laboratory treatment notes.
- Maintenance and upkeep of confidential records in patient notes, laboratory data books, files and computer database.
- Collection of data and completion of forms for submission to the HFEA.
- Checking appropriate consents are in place for all licensed laboratory procedures.
Stocks & Supplies
- Monitor stock levels of all consumables and order laboratory consumables.
- Sonicate glassware and laboratory consumables for clinical use.
Administrative
- Maintaining up-to-date statistics for IVF, ICSI, IUI and FET, including computer entry of laboratory data.
- Liaising with administrative staff in invoicing patients for embryo / sperm freezing and annual storage fees.
- Maintenance of donor sperm records.
- To undertake other general duties including answering telephone enquiries and photocopying.
Clinical
- Prepare the environment for handling specimens.
- Appropriately identify patients, show them into the semen production room and give instructions for semen production.
- Formal witnessing of tasks as required by the HFEA.
- Correct use of centrifuge as per standard operating procedures (SOP)
- Correct use of laminar flow hood as per SOP
- Correct use of stereo and phase contrast microscopes as per SOP.
- Correct use of incubators as per SOP.
- Basic semen analysis.
- Aliquoting of media using sterile technique.
- Preparation of culture dishes for use in embryological procedures.
- Processing of surgically retrieved sperm.
Other Requirements/ Responsibilities
- Maintain close communication and liaison with Consultant Embryologist.
- To assist and participate in the provision of a high quality, safe and effective clinical service.
- To provide support for the Quality Management System at Chelsea site.
- To take lead on Quality Management System at West Middlesex site.
- Perform technical procedures in accordance with the laboratory SOP and under the supervision of senior scientist at all times; to include preparation of culture dishes/tubes for treatment and aliquoting media.
- Report to the line manager any untoward incident or problem that may impede the provision of the service.
- Maintain sterility and cleanliness within the laboratory continuously.
- Perform appropriate internal and external Quality Control and Assurance tests.
- Act as witness for all laboratory procedures.
- Organising courier services for the transport of donor sperm and patients embryos / sperm between clinics.
- Attend regular Laboratory and Team meetings, and participate in risk assessment.
- Participate in training programmes for Continuing Professional Development and in the Trusts appraisal KSF scheme.
- Participate in staff training and motivation schemes.
- Ensure all procedures are carried out within HFEA Code of Practice and relevant professional bodies ACE, BFS, ESHRE regulations.
- Ensure, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and COSHH regulations that agreed safety procedures are adhered to.
The post holder will also be expected to
- Work within the ACUs Clinical Governance plan.
- Provide input into the development and expansion of the existing clinical service.
- Update the ACU database and support ongoing audit of the infertility and assisted conception services.
- Take part in the undergraduate and postgraduate teaching program within the ACU.
General
Covid-19 vaccination is a condition of employment for this role, unless an exemption applies. The successful applicant may have contact with vulnerable service users and we will therefore seek proof of being fully vaccinated during the recruitment process.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Biological Sciences Degree or Equivalent Experience
Desirable
- Higher Postgraduate Qualification
Experience
Essential
- Working in an employment setting in a laboratory
Desirable
- Previous NHS or private healthcare experience
Skills and knowledge
Essential
- Time management skills
- Understanding of need for patient confidentiality
- Knowledge of Health & Safety policy and procedure
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Biological Sciences Degree or Equivalent Experience
Desirable
- Higher Postgraduate Qualification
Experience
Essential
- Working in an employment setting in a laboratory
Desirable
- Previous NHS or private healthcare experience
Skills and knowledge
Essential
- Time management skills
- Understanding of need for patient confidentiality
- Knowledge of Health & Safety policy and procedure
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.