Job responsibilities
JOB
PURPOSE/SUMMARY
To
collect, deliver, receive and assist in the processing of clinical diagnostic
specimens for biological testing
To
undertake routine clinical technical investigations, this may involve
operating complex equipment following standard operating procedures. Some of
this work may be under supervision.
To
enter and retrieve patient demographic details using the laboratory
information system
To
communicate effectively with colleagues and other healthcare staff
As
the job holder you will be required to work as a member of the departmental
team. As part of the team, you will be expected to perform a range of routine
tasks in support of biomedical, scientific and medical staff. You will have
problem solving skills that will allow you to make judgements and decisions
about job related situations. You will be required to communicate
information, some of which may be related to patient management and care, to
colleagues, healthcare staff and other organizations.
PRINCIPAL
DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
To perform appropriate technical
laboratory procedures and tasks that are consistent with the job holders
levels of knowledge, skills and experience. These tasks may vary from day to
day but examples would include:
receiving
diagnostic samples into the laboratory
preparation
of samples prior to processing, including sample/document collection and
delivery
preparation
of chemical reagents
processing
of certain clinical samples
safe
disposal of clinical / laboratory waste
To prepare materials for
distribution to clinical areas
To enter and retrieve patient
information using the laboratory computer system.
To respond to telephone enquiries
from users of the service in a manner that is in accordance with departmental
procedures
To assist in the day to day
monitoring, cleaning and maintenance of laboratory equipment.
To contribute to general
departmental management by assisting in the ordering, receipt and control of
consumables
To demonstrate relevant job related
tasks to new or more junior staff
To participate in laboratory audit
processes
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.
Additionally,
the following are core values which relate specifically to this post:
As
a healthcare worker dealing with sensitive (patient related) information the
importance and value of personal honesty and integrity as a commitment to
patient service and confidentiality will be recognised. In contributing to
the quality of a technical clinical service you will understand the
requirement to continuously develop appropriate skills and accumulate
relevant knowledge whether by formal or in-house training.
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.
INFECTION
CONTROL
The
jobholder must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS
Trust Infection Control policies, in particular by practising Universal
Infection Control Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before and
after contact with patients and their environment.
HEALTH
AND SAFETY / RISK MANAGEMENT
All
staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and
improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service
users. This includes complying at all
times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Policies, including Health
and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed security and safer
working procedures, and reporting incidents using the Trust Incident
Reporting system.
EQUALITY
AND DIVERSITY
The
jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure
equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the
individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patient
or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender,
ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.
TRAINING
AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The
jobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for
his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional
Development remains a priority. The
jobholder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role.
COMMUNICATION
& WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
As
the job holder you will communicate and work directly or indirectly with a
diverse range of other staff. Those shown below are examples:
Internal
- Colleagues, supervisors and
managers within the speciality
- Pathology staff working in other
specialities
- Members of clinical teams including
nurses, doctors and other practitioners
- Administrative and secretarial
staff
- Estates and facilities staff
External
- Staff in primary care facilities
- Staff in other hospitals
- Staff in non NHS organizations (for
example suppliers of consumables)
- Patients
SPECIAL
WORKING CONDITIONS
As
the job holder you will be required to work in a clinical laboratory
environment. As such you will work under controlled conditions where chemical
and biohazardous materials are handled. For your own protection you will be
required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment and for this you
will receive training. Frequent periods of light and occasional periods of
moderate physical activity related to stores management may be expected. The
service is delivered from a number of different sites and you may be
required, subject to consultation, to travel between sites.
i)
PHYSICAL EFFORT:
This
job requires a high degree of dexterity and precision when manipulating small
tools such as pipettes, handling very small volumes of clinical material or
when preparing microscope slides for examination by others. In order to
achieve the required turn around times the work must be performed with both
speed and accuracy.
These
tasks are repetitive and may involve the job holder standing at equipment or
sitting at the laboratory bench for extended periods.
Regular
requirement to sit at PC and regular requirement for post holder to be mobile
for collection & delivery of samples.
This
job requires the holder to participate in stock control, including the
movement of goods from the point of delivery to the point of storage. This
will require frequent movement of light and moderate loads up to 15kg .
Subject
to suitable and sufficient manual handling training the job holder may
occasionally be asked to assist in the movement of laboratory equipment (e.g.
centrifuges, incubators) or consumables that weigh in excess of 15kg. (e.g.
gas cylinders, containers of large volumes of fluid)
There
is normally no requirement to lift people.
ii) MENTAL EFFORT:
The
day to day repertoire of this job is diverse and the job holder can expect to
be asked by supervisory staff to change tasks at short notice. In order to
minimize errors concentration is required on a daily basis when processing
specimens. Occasionally this may require prolonged concentration and is
subject to workload.
The
job holder is expected to operate complex laboratory equipment. This task
requires concentration so that personal safety is maintained, and equipment
is not damaged.
There
is no requirement for the job holder to drive a vehicle
iii)
EMOTIONAL EFFORT:
In
normal circumstances there is little patient contact by the job holder and
exposure to emotional circumstances is limited. However, subject to the requirements of the
speciality some patient contact may occur such as in the collection of
capillary blood samples from children.
iv)
WORKING CONDITIONS:
The
job holder will be required to work with chemical and biological material on
every shift. The working environment in a clinical laboratory is strictly
controlled and under normal circumstances these hazards are contained. There
will be occasional exposure to uncontrolled chemical and biological hazard
after spillage or leakage.
Exposure
to physical aggressive behaviour is rare. Occasional exposure to verbal
aggression occurs during telephone communication with service users
