Job responsibilities
JOB
PURPOSE
To be responsible for training and
day to day supervision of Biomedical Support Workers within the section
To collect, receive and assist in
the processing of clinical diagnostic specimens for testing and maintain
records of relating activities
To undertake routine and more
complex clinical technical investigations, following standard operating
procedures, some of which may be under supervision
To communicate effectively with
colleagues and other healthcare staff
JOB
DIMENSIONS
As
a Healthcare Science Associate Practitioner you will work as a member of the
departmental team. As part of the team, you will be expected to perform a
range of routine and more complex investigations some of which may be under
the supervision of more experienced scientific and technical staff. You will
gain the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute towards the provision
of an accurate and timely service for patients. Within the team you may be
required to organise the tasks of support workers.
The
post holder will train technical colleagues with regard to diagnostic
processes. The post holder will undertake the quality assurance tasks as
required to maintain the laboratorys accreditation status.
Healthcare
Science associate practitioners will also undertake receipt of deliveries
arriving into the laboratory including entering audit details into the
laboratorys computerised chemical inventory system.
The
post holder is expected to participate in local CPD activities in order to
maintain and improve knowledge, skills and competencies.
There
will be close day-to-day working relationship with Translational Genomics
Unit, including shared use of space, equipment and other facilities.
KNOWLEDGE,
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
ESSENTIAL
NVQ3 or equivalent or a
diploma/foundation degree in a Science subject. Study at Foundation Degree
level must include biology and chemistry and a work-based module in
Biomedical Science.
The ability to understand and apply
a range of work routines and practices, for which formal on the job training
will be provided.
Problem solving skills and ability
to analyse changing situations.
Good hand eye co-ordination for
fine manipulation of instrumentation.
Ability to use standard software
packages including inventory, purchasing and laboratory computer analysis
systems.
Take personal responsibility for
own decisions.
Ability to maintain concentration
despite occasional interruptions.
Good oral and written communication
skills.
Ability to maintain effective
networks with scientific and technical colleagues within the department.
DESIRABLE
Previous experience of work in a
NHS diagnostic genetics laboratory technical post.
THE
LEEDS WAY VALUES
Our
values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this
as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our
staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are:
Patient-centred
Collaborative
Fair
Accountable
Empowered
All
our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values.
Patient centred: Relates activities
back to patient care and needs, and maintains patient confidentiality.
Accountable: Maintenance of highest
standards with reference to Internal Audit and Clinical Pathology
Accreditation. Respond to mistakes in a way that leads to learning and
service improvement.
Collaborative: Readiness to respond
in a timely fashion to procedural change in this rapidly changing field.
Fair: Demonstration of honesty,
integrity, self-confidence and self-control.
WEST
YORKSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF ACUTE TRUSTS (WYAAT)
Leeds
Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is part of the West Yorkshire Association of
Acute Trusts (WYAAT), a collaborative of the NHS hospital trusts from across
West Yorkshire and Harrogate working together to provide the best possible
care for our patients.
By
bringing together the wide range of skills and expertise across West
Yorkshire and Harrogate we are working differently, innovating and driving
forward change to deliver the highest quality care. By working for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS
Trust this is your opportunity to be a part of that change.
WYAAT
is the acute sector arm of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care
Partnership, one of the largest integrated care systems in the country. The
Partnerships ambition is for everyone to have the best possible health and
wellbeing, and the work of WYAAT, and each individual trust, supports that
ambition
CORE
BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS
In
order to work effectively in the role the job holder must be able to
demonstrate a number of attributes. These abilities will include:
shares information openly with
other team members and works in partnership with others to solve a problem
provides support and guidance to
other team members
listens to, values and acknowledges
contributions from others
supports and complies with team
decisions
open to new approaches and copes
with changing targets
develops and initiates strategies
in response to change
takes action to resolve issues
within their own control
makes active efforts to influence
events impacting on their own work
relates well to people at all
levels and backgrounds
shows tolerance and patience
towards others
fosters and maintains positive
working relationships
manages conflict diplomatically and
calmly
demonstrates honesty, integrity,
self-confidence and self-control.
consistently attempts to try
learning in the workplace and from experiences
makes conscious choices about their
own personal development identifies their own strengths and weaknesses and
orchestrates appropriate development opportunities
knowledge of when to delegate
appropriate tasks and responsibility and to report problems appropriately.
sets deadlines and timescales for
managing their own workload working in an organised and systematic manner
CORE
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
As
the job holder you will acquire sufficient knowledge and understanding to:
Knowledge of specified range of
diagnostic genetic testing and an understanding of clinical genetics.
Knowledge of equipment used for
automated genetic analysis.
Knowledge of IT resources in
relation to genetic diagnosis and the use standard software packages.
Understanding of health and safety
procedures.
Knowledge of department and Trust
policies and procedures
Awareness of the need for audit
Participate actively in
departmental internal and external quality assurance schemes. Your level of
knowledge and understanding will allow you to recognise when expected levels
of quality have not been met.
Maintain patient confidentiality.
PRINCIPAL
DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Clinical,
Diagnostic and Laboratory
To perform, sometimes under
supervision, appropriate technical laboratory procedures and tasks that are
consistent with the job holders level of knowledge, skills and experience.
To participate in departmental
research and development projects, audit processes and support appropriate
clinical trials involving the laboratory.
Use of the following routine
analytical laboratory techniques: polymerase chain reaction, fluorescent
sequencing, fluorescent mutation detection methods and restriction digests.
All require dexterity as they involve repetitive micropipetting of small accurately
measured volumes, gel manipulation or use of automated analysers.
Perform routine processing of
samples in a class II microbiological safety cabinet and working to
containment level 2+.
Maintain a high level of accuracy
and reliability in defined routine, preparative and associated procedures.
The post holder is responsible for
maintaining paper and computer records of diagnostic data including the entry
of data in to the Patient Management system e.g. test requirements,
worksheets, test results.
The post holder may be required to
contribute to troubleshooting of routine analytical laboratory techniques.
Use considerable manual dexterity
in the manipulation of a wide range scientific equipment.
Perform unsupervised activities at
the laboratory bench with a high degree of precision and accuracy.
Employ good sterile technique to
long-term tissue culture standards.
Develop skills, as required, when
new equipment or techniques are introduced into the laboratory.
Participate in the routine internal
audit requirements of the laboratory including checking tube alignments for
members of staff prior to tube transfers e.g. during polymerase chain
reaction tests.
Preparation and running of
agarose/acrylamide gels. This involves regularly work with carcinogens (e.g.
ethidium bromide).
Assist with the preparation of
diagnostic and research patient samples for dispatch to other laboratories,
including retrieval from storage, safe packaging and maintenance of
associated paper and computer records.
Managerial
The post holder would be expected
to demonstrate relevant job related tasks to new or more junior staff
To actively participate in the
laboratory quality assurance programme.
Suggest changes to Standard
Operating Procedures, generally within the laboratory and more specifically
to a particular nominated clinical technical area.
To contribute to general
departmental management, for instance, by assisting in the ordering, receipt
and control of consumables
